He Kept the Firm, So I Booked His Engagement Dinner novel · Chapter 15 of 24

Chapter 15: A Third Place

I told Tobias I would not go to that dinner, and at ten to nine on Thursday I was ringing Marguerite's doorbell.

He had left at seven, in a dark suit, after a long look at me that said he would not ask me to stay away.

I wore my mother's emerald on my right hand and a black dress with sleeves.

The housekeeper opened the door and did not seem surprised.

"Mrs. Lowell said you might come," she said. "She set a third place."

My stomach turned over.

The dining room had a long walnut table and tall candles, and Marguerite sat at the head of it in cream silk with her pearls.

Tobias was on her right.

He had barely touched his plate. When he saw me his shoulders came down, very slightly.

"My girl," said Marguerite, and held out both hands. "I'm so glad. Sit by Tobias, he's been terribly polite for an hour and needs rescuing."

I sat.

The candle in front of me lit a plate of glazed pears, set out for me.

"Mrs. Lowell has been telling me about Rodrick's childhood," Tobias said evenly. "He was a sweet boy."

"He was a sweet boy," said Marguerite, "and I raised him to be a husband. I'm afraid I raised him to be an easy one."

"You raised him to take my work," I said.

"Oh, Cora." She smiled at me with great tenderness. "Let's not begin with accusations. We're family."

"We're not."

"We are while there's a ring on your finger that I wore for four years." She glanced at the emerald, and for the first time something sharp showed behind the pearls. "I let you take it in front of my sisters-in-law, you know. I wanted you to feel brave tonight."

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