a potential spouse. If my mother truly does know you, she would realize that.”
“I am considered one of the most eligible bachelors in New York.”
She stifled a grin at his surly tone of voice. “Of course you are, Mr. Wilder. You’re from a prominent family, attractive in a manly sort of way, and you enjoy an exciting career. I’m certain there are ladies flocking to your side at each and every society event you attend.” She frowned. “Speaking of society events, why do you suppose, given the fact you’re friends with Zayne, we have never met?”
“I try to avoid society events whenever possible,” he admitted slowly. “Matchmaking mothers always seem to have me in their sights, and since I have no desire to marry anytime in the near future, it’s better for my digestion if I simply avoid those particular situations. Quite honestly, I prefer to spend my time working or relaxing at my club.”
“May I presume no ladies are allowed at your club?”
“I knew it would be difficult for you to go more than ten minutes without bringing up something that pertains to your cause.”
And here she’d almost been enjoying his company.
“Ah, feel that?” Theodore asked before she could think of a clever retort. “The train is slowing. We’re almost home.” He picked up the newspaper still lying on his lap and held it up. “Would you like me to dispose of this for you?”
A thread of annoyance slid through her at his now-jovial tone. Apparently, he was thrilled to soon part ways with her. She held out her hand. “I actually need that back. I didn’t jot down the specific date and time of that suffrage rally I mentioned.”
He handed the paper to her. “Don’t you ever get tired of going to those?”
“Not when there’s so much work still left to be done to get women the right to vote.”
“When is the rally?”
“I believe it’s sometime next week in Central Park.”
“I might be able to go.”
She suddenly felt a little warm. “I beg your pardon?”
“I’ll have to look at my schedule, and hopefully I’ll be in town, but if you’d like, I could escort you there.”
“You want to go to a suffrage rally?”
“Of course not,” he said with a smile before he sobered. “But I still have grave concerns over what happened in Gilman, and I’m not certain you’re out of danger quite yet. You shot a man, and it’s been my experience that men who’ve been shot have a desire to seek revenge. A rally is a perfect spot for someone to ambush you, and since I went through so much trouble to bring you back, I’d hate for someone to harm you. That would make my efforts all for naught.”
Temper replaced the warm, fuzzy feeling of a moment before. Good heavens, what could she have been thinking?
It was not as if he’d shown any interest in her, so why in the world was she feeling a touch disappointed that he only wanted to attend the rally with her to keep her safe, not because he longed to be in her company?
Before she could contemplate that to satisfaction, the train shuddered to a complete stop. Theodore stood, extended her his arm, and then hustled her out into Grand Central Depot.
5
A rabella, darling, I’m over here.”
Arabella stood on her tiptoes and craned her neck, scanning the throngs of people that bustled around Grand Central Depot. A grin teased the corners of her mouth when the sight of her mother came into view. Her grin widened as she realized Gloria had climbed on top of someone’s luggage and was waving madly in her direction, completely oblivious to the owner of said luggage’s less-than-pleased look.
Arabella dropped her hold on Theodore’s arm and took off into the crowd, her pace increasing with every step. Muttering an apology after stumbling against a burly gentleman, she squeezed through a group of ladies, who sent her exasperated looks and barely glanced at another gentleman tipping his hat to her, until she finally found herself snatched into her
“I am considered one of the most eligible bachelors in New York.”
She stifled a grin at his surly tone of voice. “Of course you are, Mr. Wilder. You’re from a prominent family, attractive in a manly sort of way, and you enjoy an exciting career. I’m certain there are ladies flocking to your side at each and every society event you attend.” She frowned. “Speaking of society events, why do you suppose, given the fact you’re friends with Zayne, we have never met?”
“I try to avoid society events whenever possible,” he admitted slowly. “Matchmaking mothers always seem to have me in their sights, and since I have no desire to marry anytime in the near future, it’s better for my digestion if I simply avoid those particular situations. Quite honestly, I prefer to spend my time working or relaxing at my club.”
“May I presume no ladies are allowed at your club?”
“I knew it would be difficult for you to go more than ten minutes without bringing up something that pertains to your cause.”
And here she’d almost been enjoying his company.
“Ah, feel that?” Theodore asked before she could think of a clever retort. “The train is slowing. We’re almost home.” He picked up the newspaper still lying on his lap and held it up. “Would you like me to dispose of this for you?”
A thread of annoyance slid through her at his now-jovial tone. Apparently, he was thrilled to soon part ways with her. She held out her hand. “I actually need that back. I didn’t jot down the specific date and time of that suffrage rally I mentioned.”
He handed the paper to her. “Don’t you ever get tired of going to those?”
“Not when there’s so much work still left to be done to get women the right to vote.”
“When is the rally?”
“I believe it’s sometime next week in Central Park.”
“I might be able to go.”
She suddenly felt a little warm. “I beg your pardon?”
“I’ll have to look at my schedule, and hopefully I’ll be in town, but if you’d like, I could escort you there.”
“You want to go to a suffrage rally?”
“Of course not,” he said with a smile before he sobered. “But I still have grave concerns over what happened in Gilman, and I’m not certain you’re out of danger quite yet. You shot a man, and it’s been my experience that men who’ve been shot have a desire to seek revenge. A rally is a perfect spot for someone to ambush you, and since I went through so much trouble to bring you back, I’d hate for someone to harm you. That would make my efforts all for naught.”
Temper replaced the warm, fuzzy feeling of a moment before. Good heavens, what could she have been thinking?
It was not as if he’d shown any interest in her, so why in the world was she feeling a touch disappointed that he only wanted to attend the rally with her to keep her safe, not because he longed to be in her company?
Before she could contemplate that to satisfaction, the train shuddered to a complete stop. Theodore stood, extended her his arm, and then hustled her out into Grand Central Depot.
5
A rabella, darling, I’m over here.”
Arabella stood on her tiptoes and craned her neck, scanning the throngs of people that bustled around Grand Central Depot. A grin teased the corners of her mouth when the sight of her mother came into view. Her grin widened as she realized Gloria had climbed on top of someone’s luggage and was waving madly in her direction, completely oblivious to the owner of said luggage’s less-than-pleased look.
Arabella dropped her hold on Theodore’s arm and took off into the crowd, her pace increasing with every step. Muttering an apology after stumbling against a burly gentleman, she squeezed through a group of ladies, who sent her exasperated looks and barely glanced at another gentleman tipping his hat to her, until she finally found herself snatched into her
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