London Lace, #2 by Catou Martine Page A

saw that it was Todd ringing again. She would have to talk to him eventually, but not before coffee. After the ringing died off, another text buzzed through.

    Look out your window.

    The sky was gray and overcast. Looking down into the street, Eliza saw a luxurious black car parked outside her flat door. A man in a cap leaned against the driver’s side door. He looked up.
    “Albert?”
    He couldn’t have heard her, but he looked up and waved just then. He smiled and cupped his waving hand, beckoning her to come down the stairs.
    Was Todd in the car? Eliza felt a mess. She pulled her hair back and tied it in a knot at the base of her neck. She tightened her robe around her waist. Should she get dressed? Brush her teeth?
    She stepped back from the window. What was she thinking? She was losing control again. Her phone buzzed.

    I’m not in the car. Please, at least talk to Albert.

    Okay fine. Albert hadn’t done anything to hurt her. It looked like he’d stay there all day if she didn’t go down and talk to him. Barefoot, hair tied back, in her robe and without her coffee, she went downstairs and opened the door.
    “Good morning, Albert.”
    “Miss Eliza,” he said with relief as he tipped his hat. “So good to see you again.”
    He opened the back door to the vehicle as if she might just hop in and drive away with him.
    “Albert, I’m not…” Something caught her eye.
    Todd wasn’t in the back seat but it wasn’t empty either. On the seat lay a bouquet of pink and red roses, a stainless steel coffee thermos, and a copy of the Daily Mirror. Scratched across the front page, in thick black felt, were the words: Ignore These Lies.
    “Please, Miss,” said Albert. “He wants you to come to Devon.”
    “I can’t do that. I’ve got work to do. And he can’t even be bothered to come himself?” She heard her own voice rise in pitch and saw Albert wince at her rejecting tone.
    Just then, Carmen turned the corner on her way to open the shop. Eliza was standing on the pavement, half-dressed, yelling at a chauffeur.
    “Miss Keating? Is anything wrong?” said Carmen.
    Obviously, a lot was wrong. Eliza didn’t know where to start.
    “It seems I’m being summoned by Sir Todd Montgomery.”
    Carmen raised an eyebrow and ineffectively held back a smile. “Interesting.”
    “And out of the question. I’ve just told Albert here that we are swamped with work and I’m not going anywhere.”
    Carmen appraised the sleek car and glanced at the roses on the back seat.
    “I’m sure I can handle it all for a few days.”
    Now Carmen was undermining her?
    “At least give him a chance to explain, Miss Keating,” said Albert.
    “Why should I?” She crossed her arms over her silk-sheathed chest, aware that people on their way to work were looking at her strangely.
    “I’m speaking out of turn now,” said Albert warily. “But I believe he needs you. He’s not the same man since he met you. He’s… It’s like he was lost for a long time and then…. Well, he seems to have found something now.”
    “Like a fiancé?” She gestured toward the paper in the back seat.
    “No. I can’t say anymore than what I’ve said. Just give him a chance to explain. Can you do that?”
    “The work will be here when you get back,” said Carmen encouragingly.
    “Why are you on their side?” said Eliza to Carmen.
    Carmen sighed. “Now I have to speak out of turn. Something changed in you when you met Sir Montgomery. And in this last while, since he’s been gone, you’ve been distracted, unable to concentrate, even making some mistakes.” Carmen bit her lip and looked at the ground.
    “What?” Was that true?
    “Not big ones, not yet,” said Carmen. “But in all my years of working for you, I’ve never seen you so affected by a man. Go and sort things out, Miss Keating. Your work may depend on it.”
    Eliza looked at Albert. Then she looked at Carmen. They both waited for her to say something.
    “Fine.” She uncrossed