Murder on Charles Street - Leighann Dobbs Page 0,58

Even if Pru didn’t return, she would do this on her own.

“We’ll return tonight,” Pru promised.

With a soft groan, Wayland unfolded his big frame. “Where else would we be?”

That night, when Katherine opened the door, she met Wayland’s scowl with one of her own.

“What are you doing answering the door?”

Katherine crossed her arms over her chest, even though the movement left her to balance on one leg. “You aren’t the first person here tonight. Harriet is busy.”

He narrowed his eyes, clipping off his words. “I could have waited.”

“Carrying that…” Katherine frowned. “Why did you bring a chair?”

Wayland grunted. “Your floor is unforgiving. And don’t change the subject.”

Katherine stepped backward, trying to hide her limp from him by putting the door between them.

He stepped inside, depositing his treasure on the floor. He shut the door, stripping off his gloves. “You should be resting your ankle.”

Heaving a sigh, Katherine returned to her armchair in the parlor, the same she had occupied last night. Lord Annandale, Pru, and McTavish had already arrived and claimed the same seats they had the night before. “My ankle is much improved.”

“Much improved” did not mean “healed.” With every step, pain jarred her. She tried her best to conceal it.

Wayland drawled as he followed her, “Oh yes, your limp makes it perfectly clear that you healed overnight.”

She glared at him as she sank into her seat. “I said improved, not healed.”

Fortunately, Emma called attention to herself. Having been kept up late the night before, she had slept the day away with Katherine and remained full of bubbling energy. She raced around the room, interfering with the banal conversations they carried on for the next few hours. After she shamelessly begged attention from everyone, she jumped onto Katherine’s lap and settled in for a nap. Katherine fought the urge to do the same.

Night had fallen shortly after Wayland had arrived. Despite the company, they had exhausted any possible means of conversation during the long night before. With little to say to one another, the conversation was stretched and thin, pregnant with pauses that made Katherine’s eyelids feel heavier. She blinked, shaking her head to wake up.

Harriet stifled a yawn with her fist. She stood, stretching. “I’ll fetch some more tea. Or perhaps coffee. I sense we’ll need something strong.”

Mumbles of assent drifted from the ring of visitors. When Harriet turned and stepped toward the door, she did so alone. The warmth and crackle of the hearth did little to dispel the sleepy atmosphere.

Harriet nudged McTavish with her foot. “Aren’t you going to help?”

He yawned, his jaw cracking. “’Tis not my household.”

She kicked him harder.

“Ouch!”

Harriet shook her head in disgust and bustled away. “I scarcely touched you. You’re on duty, even if you aren’t in your own home.”

McTavish stood and winked. “It seems the lady needs me.” As he followed her out, he hid another loud yawn behind his hand.

Katherine sighed, settling deeper into the armchair and wishing for the freedom to move. She didn’t want to rouse Emma, not when it had taken so long to quiet her. But her ankle throbbed, and she could use a stretch.

On the loveseat opposite, Pru suddenly seemed wide awake. She leaned forward, fiddling with the folds of her skirt. “Wayland, I’m surprised you weren’t the first here today.”

Wayland exchanged a glance with Katherine. Patiently, he explained, “Katherine and I did not go out this evening.”

“I can see that,” Pru countered, her voice syrupy sweet. “Why didn’t you invite us to the theater? We were free yesterday evening.”

Wayland’s expression darkened for a moment before it smoothed to one of ennui. “You and Annandale have so little time alone with each other. I didn’t want to impose.”

Her smile broadened. “Oh yes, I can see that privacy was foremost on your mind.”

Katherine’s head was too fuzzy from sleep to want to engage in that thorny conversation. Surreptitiously, she nudged Emma with the back of her hand, waking her. The dog leapt to attention with a full round of barks. She scrambled off Katherine’s lap, circling the room with such canine vigor that Lord Annandale winced and tried to cover his ears. The conversation dropped. Fortunately, when Harriet and McTavish returned with the coffee, Pru held her tongue.

They managed to stay awake for the rest of the night, but it was a battle. By the time hints of gray lightened the windows, they were all ready to fall asleep in their chairs. Pru looked haggard, with deep circles under her eyes. Wearily, she leaned her elbows