In the Palm of His Hand novel · Chapter 11 of 24

Chapter 11: The Rule

The man in the lobby was not the man with the ring.

He was younger, in a navy suit, and he held a cream envelope in both hands.

"Mrs. Ransome," he said. "Mr. Crowninshield sends his congratulations."

Cal had come down with me.

He stood a step behind my shoulder in a black T-shirt and sweatpants, and I could feel the heat coming off him.

"Give it to me," Cal said.

"It's for the lady."

"Give it to the lady's husband, then."

The man smiled, set the envelope in my hand, and left.

I opened it standing in the lobby.

The card inside was thick, with a handwritten line in blue ink.

The fourteen months are up on the thirty-first. A man who leaves is settled or he is not.

Bring your wife to my table, and let her say she stands for you. G.S.

I read it twice.

Then I handed it to Cal.

"Upstairs," I said.

"Penelope."

"Upstairs. Now."

I didn't speak in the elevator.

I didn't speak in the hall, or in the huge bright living room.

He closed the door behind us and stood there with the card in his hand.

"Tell me."

"That card isn't an invitation," he said. "He's counting."

"Counting what?"

"Whether I'm loose. Loose men get found."

"Found."

"The way I was found on Dalton Street."

I stared at him.

"You knew."

"I knew from the day I left."

"You knew when you saw me in the alley."

"Yes."

"You knew when you asked me to marry you."

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