Page 71 of The Art of Theft
“That is a marvelous idea,” enthused Mrs. Watson. “You devised a magnificent scheme, Miss Olivia, to come and visit, but we haven’t been able to show you a proper good time. Let us make it all up to you next time.”
“My goodness, no one around this table owes me anything. I came to spend time with you all and I have done exactly that. But the south of Spain does sound so very enticing.” Miss Olivia placed a hand over her heart. “And so very sunny.”
Lord Ingram glanced at Holmes. Maybe this could be the beginning of their tour around the world, it if was meant to be a real trip.
Holmes, on the other hand, seemed not to be thinking of warm, bright Spain at all. “My lord, after dinner, we will need to consult with you on the architectural plans.”
He sighed inwardly but was already looking forward to poring over the plans with her.
Yes, m’dear.He tried the phrase in his head—and shuddered. No, that would not do at all.
“Over port or cigars?” he asked instead.
And that, at least, got a very slight smile from her. She turned to Mrs. Watson. “You have both, I believe, ma’am?”
?When they adjourned to the late Dr. Watson’s study, Mrs. Watson was the only one to take a cigar, from her fine Cuban collection. Livia imbibed a little port. Lord Ingram, probably too long accustomed to not doing either in mixed company, abstained. Charlotte, too, refrained.
Her vice was the consumption of sweet, delicious foodstuff that was, alas, largely unnecessary for the sustenance of the body. Perhaps because of the current lack of sweet, delicious foodstuff in her life, she found herself more aware of Lord Ingram’s nearness. Of the brush of his knuckle against the architectural plan as he traced a line in thought, the neat, close crop of his hair around his ear, and the set of his chin in the valley between his thumb and forefinger as he considered the locations of fireplaces and chimneys.
Livia and Mrs. Watson, as if by unspoken agreement, slipped out. He appeared not to have noticed their departures, but he must realize that they were now alone.
He did not take advantage of the situation, but moved to where a globe stood and frowned at it. The numbers she’d decoded, if read as longitudes and latitudes, landed them in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, halfway between Cape Verde and the Lesser Antilles, not exactly a useful locale for anyone.
Which was why she had decided that they were not coordinates.
At last he glanced in her direction—and considered her.Would he?she wondered rather idly. Would her dear stick-in-the-mud friend overcome his many scruples to consort with her on this fine night, with a fog rolling in and the outside world disappearing beyond the windows?
There was no lust in his eyes. A slight bemusement, perhaps, as if he were regarding an artifact he’d unearthed, something that seemedto share a surface resemblance to other objects he’d come across, only to turn out, on closer examination, to be utterly different.
No lust, but a greater and starker intensity to his gaze, that of someone who has lost sleep over his artifact, who pondered its mysteries in every spare moment.
“Do you think...” he said slowly. “Do you think I could meet Miss Holmes?”
He was speaking of Bernadine.
“Yes,” she said. “Come with me.”
Bernadine, who had no obligations that she must fulfill, did not keep particularly early hours. Charlotte brought Lord Ingram to her door and went in first. Livia was there and she was surprised to see Charlotte.
“She’s fine,” said Livia. “She’s better here than she was at home.”
“That is not saying much,” answered Charlotte. “Lord Ingram wishes to meet Bernadine. Is it all right if he enters?”
“Yes, of course,” said Livia, though she sounded a little befuddled. It wasn’t every day—in fact, it was exactly never—that anyone had sought an introduction to Bernadine.
Charlotte admitted Lord Ingram, who glanced toward Bernadine, seated at her usual spot before the rack of spinnable objects, and immediately looked back at Charlotte.
She had told him that she and Bernadine shared a great resemblance, but still he seemed stunned to see this alternate version of her, the same hair, the same features, but rail thin, and in a world that contained only herself.
“Bernadine, this is our good friend Lord Ingram, who has come to pay his respects. My lord, my sister.”
Bernadine did not look at either Charlotte or her visitor, but Lord Ingram inclined his head. “A pleasure, Miss Holmes. I’ve heard a great deal about you.”
And then, as if he often met with those who didn’t even returnhis greeting, he turned to Charlotte and said, “Shall we leave Miss Holmes to her occupation?”
Livia came out with them into the hall. “She really is doing much better. She looks... more settled.”
“Even though we’ve been away,” said Charlotte.
