Page 54 of His to Keep
“Nope,” she says decisively. “The daisies are too childish.”
“You liked it yesterday.”
“I still like it today, but not for this.” She tosses the dress down and picks up another white one with roses on it. I hadn’t noticed before now, but she really loves those flowery patterns. “Do you think Sandy’s as jittery as I am?”
I don’t point out that’s the first time she’s addressed her brother that way, but I do wonder what it means in terms of how she’s thinking about him.
“Of course he is,” I assure her. “He’s desperate to see you.”
When I called her brother last night to tell him Eilidh wanted to meet, he wanted to come straight over. I had to persuade him to hold off until this afternoon to give my wife time to get her head around the idea.
“Hmm,” Eilidh murmurs skeptically.
“What does thathmmmean?”
She doesn’t get the chance to answer. A soft knock at the door precedes Rosalia entering the room.
“Are you not dressed yet?” she scolds as she spots Eilidh in only her bra and panties. “SignoreCameron is downstairs. I’ve shown him to the sitting room and given him refreshments.”
Eilidh scowls. “He’s early.”
“He’s obviously keen to see you, kitten. Now, why don’t you let Rosalia help you get ready, and I’ll go and keep Alexander occupied until you come down?”
“Okay.”
Hoping Rosalia is more up to the task of helping Eilidh pick an outfit than I was, I leave the women to discuss the pros and cons of dresses versus pants and head downstairs. I find Alexander in the sitting room. He’s perched on the edge of one of the sofas, looking ill at ease. He’s wearing a navy suit with a white shirt and gray tie, despite how hot it is. There’s a gift bag by his feet. When I enter the room, he sets down his coffee cup next to a plate of amaretti cookies and rises to greet me.
“Has she changed her mind?”
“No, she’s just getting dressed.” I offer him my hand and we shake. “It’s an arduous process, believe me.”
Alexander smiles. “It’s stupid, but I changed my shirt three times.”
Grabbing one of the cookies from the plate, I sit on the armchair opposite Alexander and motion for him to retake his seat. “Make yourself comfortable.”
He sits and leans back against the cushions, but he looks anything but relaxed. I don’t imagine he’s a man who allows himself to show weakness, but right now his nerves are fully on display.
“I hear you had a run-in with Barevsky’s son,” he says.
I don’t bother to ask how he heard about it. I’m getting used to the idea that everything in my life is public knowledge.
“We did, but it went okay. Eilidh took charge, kept things civilized.”
Alexander laughs. “That doesn’t sound like her. When she was a kid, she was always the instigator, provoking fights between me and Jamie and egging us on until one of us drew blood.”
I grin, totally able to see my wife doing that. She likes to poke at people, to get a reaction.
“Barevsky is going to take care of his father for us.”
“That’s welcome news, but Barevsky isn’t my main concern.”
“Have you made a move against Henry yet?”
Alexander shakes his head. “No, but rest assured by the end of the week the Drummond organization as we know it will be wiped out.”
We stop talking as Eilidh comes into the room. She’s wearing jeans, a t-shirt, and white tennis shoes. I guess she opted for a casual look.
Alexander gets up and opens his arms wide. She hesitates, before walking to him for an awkward hug. When she pulls back, her face is flushed like she’s embarrassed. She takes a seat on the other armchair on this side of the coffee table and Alexander sits back down. He reaches into the bag next to him and takes out a cuddly toy. It takes me a moment to realize it’s a small orange cat.
