He Kept the Firm, So I Booked His Engagement Dinner novel · Chapter 10 of 24

Chapter 10: Tobias's POV

Tobias's POV

Marguerite Lowell had chosen the restaurant, and she had chosen the table.

It was a corner booth in a private dining club, with brass lamps and a waiter who knew her name.

From where she sat, she could watch the door.

She was already seated when I came in, in navy, with a single strand of pearls.

She did not wear the emerald.

"Mr. Radcliff." She gave me her hand and held mine a moment. "How good of you to come on short notice."

"Mrs. Lowell."

I had slept two hours.

Cora was still asleep when I left, with the three letters on the table beside her.

I had written a note and left it on her pillow.

I was in no mood for tea.

"I wanted to apologize," said Marguerite, "for the scene at the restaurant on Friday. My son's former wife is not herself. Grief does odd things."

"I didn't think it was a scene."

"You're generous." She smiled. "I'm hoping we can talk about the lakefront hotel. As a family, we've put a great deal of work into that pitch."

"I've seen the pitch."

"Then you know it needs a little polish. Cora, bless her, was the one who always did the polish." She turned a knife a quarter-inch on the cloth. "She has a gift for it. A narrow gift, I'm afraid. She isn't someone who can run a project."

I said nothing. I let the waiter pour water and leave.

"She's been very unwell, you know. Since her father died." Marguerite lowered her voice. "I've tried to keep her close, for her own sake. I'd hate to see her make decisions she can't carry. It would be unkind of anyone to rely on her."

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