said. “Unless, of course, you’re a collector yourself?”
“I have a mild interest in such things, though I certainly don’t know much about it.”
“It’s a strange hobby to outsiders, I suppose. But there’s something magnificent about fragile objects that have stood the test of time.”
“Yes,” I agreed. “Appearances can be deceiving.”
His gaze settled on my face for a moment.
“How long have you and Ramsey known each other?” he asked at last.
I almost suspected he was trying to throw me off guard with the sudden change in topics, but I had been prepared for questions. I was glad the major and I had gone over our story together. At least we wouldn’t be telling people different versions of how we met.
“Only a few weeks, but it seems like much longer.”
He smiled. “Yes, when one is young it always does.”
The words might have sounded sentimental, but I already knew Sir Nigel well enough to recognize the cynicism and the condescension in them.
“Everything happens faster in wartime, don’t you think?” I replied.
“I suppose so.”
I realized that I shouldn’t overdo it. After all, anyone who knew Major Ramsey would know that he wasn’t a “love at first sight” sort of fellow.
“Of course, I’m speaking only of myself,” I said. “I don’t really know how Gabriel feels. It’s difficult to tell with him, isn’t it? Do you know him well?”
“I’ve known the family for quite a long time.”
I spoke aloud the first thought that came to my head. “Do they all have such frightfully good posture?”
He laughed heartily. “That’s excellent, Miss Donaldson. Yes, I’m afraid they’re all a bit stiff upon first acquaintance, but you needn’t let that worry you. Lord Overbrook will like you very much indeed.”
“Lord Overbrook?”
Sir Nigel’s smile widened. “Ramsey didn’t tell you, did he? Of course not. He’s never been one to flaunt the connection. His uncle is the Earl of Overbrook.”
Since it was obvious I hadn’t known, I didn’t bother to hide my surprise. “No,” I said. “He didn’t mention that detail.”
The nephew of an earl. So Major Ramsey was upper crust indeed.
“I suppose an earl must have very good posture,” I said with a smile.
“Ramsey’s never been one to make use of his family connections, of course,” Sir Nigel said. “Though, I’ve no doubt it was his uncle’s influence that got him out of North Africa before things began to heat up too much. A desk is much safer than the desert, after all.”
I don’t know why I felt the need to defend the major against this insinuation, but I did.
“I don’t think he wanted to come back,” I said, though I, of course, knew nothing about the matter. “He’d much rather be in the field than behind a desk.”
“Oh, of course. But Overbrook is the sort of man who gets what he wants. And, after all, Ramsey’s a clever chap. I’m sure he’ll make his mark on things here in London.”
Sir Nigel seemed to be the sort of man who enjoyed making offhanded snide remarks, but I knew that if he thought the major had been recalled due to family connections, others must, too. And surely Major Ramsey must realize that people thought it. I knew it would be grating to him, to have people believe his uncle had pulled strings to get him a desk job safely away from the front lines.
“I’m sure Gabriel will acquit himself admirably in whatever he’s called upon to do.” I let just the faintest hint of irritation edge my tone, as it would have if this man had said such a thing about a man I was dating.
He smiled at me, a bit patronizingly, I thought. “No doubt. Now, as much as I hate to leave your charming company, I’m afraid I must go and speak with Turner-Hill about the proceedings.”
“Of course.”
He left me alone, Jerome Curtis following him like some great, ominous shadow, and I was still thinking about this newest revelation about Major Ramsey as my gaze began to move around the room again. It was a good thing I was accustomed to using both my mind and my eyes; if I hadn’t been paying attention, I would have missed the fact that one of the waiters serving champagne had unobtrusively slipped a piece of paper to Matthew Winthrop.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Matthew Winthrop took the piece of paper and, glancing quickly around the room, turned his back to the crowd and opened it, his eyes scanning the paper. Then he slipped it into his pocket. All very suspect behavior.
I looked around for