Page 14 of The Gilded Lady (The Gilded West #3)

Stopping at the door that took her directly to her suite, she chanced a quick glance over her shoulder at him as she dug the key out of her pocket.

His jaw was clenched and he was too busy looking at each door as if the person who’d left the letter might be hiding behind one to notice her.

She let herself indulge for a moment in the secret thrill she got every time she looked at him.

In profile, his strong features appeared even more chiseled.

She lingered on the braid near his ear, half hidden by his hair which flowed free to his shoulders.

He was so different from her, yet she felt this strange kinship with him and didn’t understand it.

Exploring it would be pointless, nothing could come of them, but knowing that didn’t stop her curiosity about him.

He looked down at her abruptly as if he’d felt her scrutiny so she gave him what she hoped was a casual smile and pushed her key into the lock.

Her heart nearly beat itself out of her chest when he put his hand on hers to stop her from going inside.

The tingle of warmth that shot up her arm made her pull her hand back as quickly as she could.

His brow rose, but he didn’t comment. Instead he pushed the door open and stepped in front of her.

She realized that he only meant to make certain that no one lurked inside.

“Come on in,” he said a moment later.

She shook her head at his unnecessary attention to detail and followed him inside.

He stood in the center of the room, seeming to almost fill the whole place up with the breadth of him.

When he shrugged out of his coat as if he meant to stay for a while, she sighed and closed the door behind her.

Apparently they needed to make this arrangement work for at least one more night.

“I take it Hunter wasn’t able to find out any information. ”

He shook his head and relayed the information he had from Hunter, which wasn’t a lot.

It was too early to be disappointed though.

Hunter had only started his search this morning.

They still had days to find the person. “And you’ve made no headway in finding out how the letter made its way to my desk? ”

“I have my suspicions.” He eyed her as he hung his coat on the rack beside the door.

“Which are?” She prompted.

He shook his head. “You’ll find out when I know for sure.”

“At least tell me the top suspects.”

He merely shook his head again and the corner of his mouth ticked up. “You’re too loyal. If I tell you, you’ll give me a list of reasons the people I need to question further couldn’t possibly be involved and it won’t get us anywhere.”

She frowned. “Well, none of the people who work with me would be in cahoots with this person, so I suppose you’re right.”

“And yet no one else had access to your study.”

He tossed the words out there so casually.

She knew that he had to be right, but at the same time she couldn’t fathom someone conspiring with this secret person.

When she realized he was simply standing there, she gestured toward the sofa.

“Please have a seat.” Exchanging verbal barbs with Zane wouldn’t get this problem fixed, so she planned to drop the subject.

He didn’t move right away. Instead he stared down at her as if trying to solve a puzzle. “I never realized how close you were with the children in the boardinghouse.”

She shrugged. She’d tried not to get too close to anyone there.

Most of the people she helped stayed at the boardinghouse for only a few weeks or months.

It seemed pointless to form attachments.

But she hadn’t been able to figure out a way to keep herself from the children, especially those who lived here full-time. She’d seen them grow up from babies.

Before she could answer, someone knocked on the door. Zane made to answer it, but she got there first. This was still her home. He gave her a look of dismay but allowed her to open it. To her surprise, Beth, one of the kitchen staff stood there holding an oversize tray.

“You ordered a plate to be sent up for supper?” the girl asked when Glory simply stared at her.

“Of course.” She’d nearly forgotten that she’d stopped by that morning to give the order, preparing to spend most of the evening in her room reading since business would be slow.

She’d hoped, perhaps naively, that Zane would be gone by now and the mystery solved.

What surprised her now, however, was that there were clearly two plates on the tray.

Catching her eye going to the second one, Beth gave a shy smile and said, “I thought your gentleman might be hungry too.”

Glory’s face flamed as she realized that rumors had already spread to the staff.

Instead of commenting on it, she stepped back and Beth walked into the room to set both plates on the table.

If Beth thought that he’d want a plate, did she also know that he’d spent the night here last night?

It seemed a silly thing to worry about. She was a brothel owner, they were in a brothel, but the idea of everyone thinking that she and Zane had slept together twisted her up inside.

After Beth had unloaded the plates laden with food, the bread basket, a pitcher of water and two glasses, she turned back to them and seemed to read the awkwardness in the room.

“Did I misunderstand? Is he not eating here?” When no one answered immediately, she pushed a strand of hair behind her ear and turned back to the table.

“I’m sorry. I’ll take the extra plate away. ”

Finally gathering her senses, Glory rushed forward.

Zane was apparently allowing her to take the lead in how to handle this with the staff.

She needed to act casually so as not to stir up unneeded drama.

In the end, it really didn’t matter if anyone thought they were seeing each other in a way that wasn’t business-related or not.

The only one who seemed torn up about it was her.

“No, it’s fine and very thoughtful of you, Beth. Thank you.”

The girl paused but glanced over her shoulder as if to ask if she was certain. Glory gave her a nod and an encouraging smile. “Thank you,” she said again. “I’m sure Mr. Pierce is hungry.”

They both looked to him for confirmation, but he was staring at Glory with a strange expression on his face. Amusement mixed with something she couldn’t name. Something that had her breath catching as her stomach tilted.

“If you’re sure…” Beth said.

Glory assured her again that she was and showed her out.

When she turned around, Zane had made his way to the table, eyeing the beefsteak on his plate as if he were famished.

She found that she was a little jealous to have lost his focus and immediately admonished herself.

She kept going back and forth with what she wanted from him, which was driving her mad.

She was always in control of herself and what she wanted.

This was an entirely new situation for her and she was disappointed that she wasn’t handling it very well.

She wanted him, yes, but she couldn’t have him. It was simple.

Pulling in a deep, fortifying breath, she took her seat at the table, noting how he waited until she was seated comfortably to take his own.

Her stomach rumbled as she took in the bounty of food before her.

Beefsteak, creamed peas, roasted potatoes and a steaming basket of bread.

Fresh baked bread slathered in butter was her absolute favorite so she picked up one of the small loafs and took a bite.

He hesitated before picking up his knife and fork. “Are you certain you don’t mind me eating here?”

Why was everyone questioning her certainty so much lately? Deep down she knew it was because of him. Or more appropriately her reaction to him. Because she couldn’t keep her head straight with him around. “Of course.”

She must’ve torn off a piece of her bread rather savagely, because his eyebrow rose and his lips twitched before he finally cut into his steak and brought the bite to his mouth.

She couldn’t help but watch how his full lips closed around the fork, and the way his eyes half closed as the flavor hit his tongue.

She’d never been so jealous of an eating utensil in her life.

His tongue came out to swipe over his bottom lip and she couldn’t help but imagine that tongue tasting her own lips, tasting other parts of her.

Would he be as focused on her as he was on his meal?

The question did outlandish things to her belly.

How did he do this to her? He was simply a man like any other man. And he’d be gone soon, a tiny voice inside her said, so she’d better look while she had the chance.

Catching her watching him, he said, “The food’s as excellent as always.”

The dryness of her mouth made it impossible to stay anything, so she nodded a little too vehemently and grabbed her water glass. As she drank she resolved not to look at him anymore.

They ate in silence for a while. Finally, when he’d finished his steak and she was halfway through hers, he said, “Tell me more about the children.”

“There’s not much to tell.” She did her best to focus on the food on her plate as she spoke. “Sarah has grown up here as have Emily and Edward.”

“You seem partial to the twins.”

Had he watched her from the hallway? “Their mother recently left to marry a man in Chicago. He was a customer here and they kept up a correspondence after he returned home. One thing led to another and…well, you know how things go.” Glory was genuinely happy for their mother, but at the same time she had a terrible feeling about it all.

“The twins have been sad since she left, so I try to give them extra attention.” Lord knows how bereft she’d felt when her own mother had abandoned her, and Glory had been fourteen at the time.

She couldn’t imagine how a child of four must feel. Alone, scared, heartbroken.

“He’s not the children’s father?”

She shook her head. “No, their father is long gone. We haven’t seen nor heard from him since before they were born.”

He seemed pensive as he took a drink of water. When he swallowed he asked, “Why didn’t she take them with her?”

Glory sat down her fork, attempting to swallow down the sudden lump in her throat.

She’d been concerned ever since their mother had asked if they could stay for a while, until she got settled in Chicago.

A part of her had wondered then if the time would ever come when she’d send for them or if her new husband would disapprove of having them around.

“She wanted to get settled before sending for them, but it’s been months now and though she’s sent letters, she’s not mentioned having them join her. ”

“You think she’s going to abandon them.” It wasn’t a question. Anyone with a working brain could tell what was happening.

“I hope that’s not the case, but I fear that it is.”

“What will you do?” Lines formed between his handsome brows as he asked that—how could anyone’s brows be handsome?

She was annoyed at herself, which was quickly followed by frustration.

Frustration with herself. Frustration with the twins’ mother.

Frustration with him for being so nosy. She wanted to ask him what business was it of his, but at the same time she wanted to tell him everything—every fear and worry that she had.

Staring into his dark brown eyes she had the feeling that he would welcome that, which immediately soothed her pique.

“I’ll keep them, of course. Or perhaps I’ll send them away to a boarding school.

Maybe they’ll have a better chance at life that way without the taint of a brothel soiling them.

” Lord knew that everyone in Helena would never let them forget they were brothel children if they stayed here.

“You want them to stay though?” he asked, correctly reading what she didn’t want to say.

“They’re very clever children. I’d like them to stay, but that wouldn’t be in their best interest I’m afraid.

” She took a bite of creamed peas before she could say anything more.

She’d come to realize a long time ago that the people she encountered in this life were transient.

Victoria House wasn’t a place where anyone came to stay forever.

Everyone left eventually, except Able, and now that Clara was going to have a baby soon, Glory had started to wonder when they’d leave.

This was her home and she loved it, but even she could admit this wasn’t a place to raise children.

Not that children would ever be in her future.

He had made sure of that. And it seemed her current profession precluded even the option of adopting children.

She’d yet to become accustomed to all the ways life could be unfair.

Her independence came at a heavy price. When she realized that her hand was absently rubbing the scar hidden beneath her gown on her belly, she discreetly put it back on the table.

If he’d noticed, he didn’t say anything and simply stared at her.

When it became apparent that he wasn’t going to stop, she met his gaze, but she couldn’t speak immediately.

There was that look again, the one that saw everything.

Her heart skipped a beat in her chest. “Wh-why are you looking at me like that?”

“Like what?” he said, his voice low and intimate.

“Like you see things in me.” It was an odd way to say it, but it was the truth. He looked at her as if he could see everything that she was.

If he thought her wording was strange, he didn’t comment on it. Instead, he simply said, “Perhaps because I do.”