“You know, there will be a great deal of society in Edinburgh.”
“Yes,” I replied neutrally, hoping she wasn’t about to suggest that I accept every reluctant invitation I received. I might have been less nervous about reentering civilization than I had been two months prior, but that did not mean I was ready to jump in with both feet just yet. Society had not yet forgotten my forced involvement in the dissections my late husband, the great anatomist Sir Anthony Darby, had carried out, or the subsequent charges of unnatural tendencies. And even though my assistance in helping the authorities capture a grisly killer two months ago had done much to calm their fear of me, I knew that just one such incidence of heroics was unlikely to repair my reputation. As such, I had decided to approach my reentry into society with great care. Any minor faux pas could destroy all the good my turn as an investigator had done, and since I had never been very interested in following the rules to begin with, I was already at a distinct disadvantage. Fortunately my sister and brother-in-law would be there to guide me. As long as Alana’s health improved once we reached Edinburgh.
“And, if I remember correctly, didn’t Mr. Gage venture to Edinburgh upon leaving Gairloch?”
I could tell my sister’s casual observation was far from innocent, just as I knew her memory was far from faulty in regard to this matter. “I believe so,” I replied obscurely.
“Perhaps he’s still there. Wouldn’t it be lovely to see him again?”
My heart tripped at the possibility. Not that I hadn’t already thought of it, had been thinking of it ever since Philip and I realized we would need to take Alana to Edinburgh. In fact, Mr. Sebastian Gage had not been far from my thoughts since the night I trailed him down to the makeshift crypt below Gairloch’s chapel to assist him with the murder investigation I helped to solve. I had been uneasy with my fascination with him back then, and still was, especially considering my ignorance of his feelings toward me. The idea that we might meet again in Edinburgh both thrilled and terrified me. But I wasn’t about to admit any of that to my sister.
I could tell that, upon his departure two months ago, Alana had suspected some sort of involvement between Gage and me, but we had never discussed it. I preferred it that way, not able to name my feelings for the exasperating inquiry agent even to myself, let alone someone else. I still didn’t want to have that conversation, least of all when trapped in a carriage with my nosy sibling. So I proceeded with caution.
“Of course,” I replied, satisfied that neither my voice nor my face gave away just how anxious I felt about seeing Gage again.
Alana narrowed her eyes up at me from her reclined position. “Of course? That’s all you have to say? The man saved your life, for heaven’s sake.”
I stiffened. As if I could forget. “What do you want me to say? Yes, it would be lovely to see him.”
Her mouth pursed in frustration. “I thought you’d grown fond of him. Philip thought you two were getting along rather well near the end.”
I ran my hands over the skirt of my russet brown traveling dress, trying to hide the tension vibrating through my frame. I wondered just how much my brother-in-law had told my sister. Had he witnessed the kiss I thought Gage and I had shared in the loch just before I fell unconscious? Did he tell her about our final confrontation on the morning Gage departed? I had not believed Philip to be a tattler, but perhaps relaying such information to one’s spouse was not considered tattling.
“I did. We were.” I sighed in exasperation. “I don’t know what you expect me to say. The man helped me unmask a murderer and then went on his merry way. I doubt he expects to see you or me again, just as I never expected to see him. So, yes, it would be lovely to see him, but it’s not a blessed event.” I sank back against the squabs and scowled at the curtains blocking the light from hurting Alana’s eyes but also obstructing my view.
“Are you angry about that?”
“What?”
“Are you angry that he ‘went on his merry way’ with no intention of seeing you again?” my all-too-perceptive sister clarified softly.
“What? No,” I lied. “The only thing I’m angry about is that you keep trying to make more of this than there is.” I glared at her and she lifted her hands in a staying gesture.
“All right, all right. I’m sorry I pressed you.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Besides, chances are he’s not even in Edinburgh.” I ignored the sick feeling in the pit of my stomach at the thought. “He probably returned to London weeks ago. So this entire discussion is for naught.”
“Probably,” Alana agreed.