Chapter 18: The Foundation Gala

Eliza's POV

The Ardmore Foundation gala filled the great hall of the Field Museum, under a dinosaur skeleton wearing a garland.

I walked in on Eli's arm in a black dress my sister had pinned at the hem.

I had a clutch, and in the clutch was a ring box.

I hadn't planned to bring it.

I had picked it up off my nightstand and dropped it in the bag without deciding.

Two hundred people turned.

I felt the room do what it had done in the Garden Room, one face at a time.

This time I knew how to walk through it.

"Chin up," Eli murmured.

"It is up."

"I know. I like watching it."

A waiter passed with champagne, and Eli took two glasses and handed me one.

The old investor in the navy blazer found us at the foot of the stairs.

He was leaning on a cane, and he took my free hand in both of his.

"Miss Farraday. I told that whole ballroom what I saw in Singapore. Nobody has called me since, except to tell me I was confused."

"Were you?"

"I'm eighty-one, young lady. I'm never confused about a baby." He patted my hand. "I'm seated at the board table. I'll be watching her."

Eli thanked him.

Past his shoulder, across forty feet of marble, Otto sat on Constance's hip in a velvet jacket, grinning at the skeleton.

Chase stood beside them in a black tie, and Greer stood on his other side with her smile fixed in place.

Her eyes met mine and went away.

I let go of the old man's hand.

"Don't," Eli said.

"I'm only looking."

"You're calculating the distance to the child."

"Yes."

"We have a plan," he said, low. "Hold on to it."