Love Between the Lines by Kate Rothwell Page A

help.”
    “ No,” she said firmly. “I think it is a terrible idea.”
     
    Less than an hour later, she found herself in a carriage heading to her parents’ upper East Side house to discuss her future career as a writer in London.
    “ Possible future,” she warned him. One nod didn’t mean he had won. He just smiled.
     
     
     
     

Chapter Five
     
    How had Sir Gideon managed to convince her this visit to her parents was a good idea?
    Lizzy stood outside the gloomy brownstone and felt like a guilty child as always. Her heart had lodged itself somewhere about the middle of her gut. “I don’t understand why you think their blessing is necessary. You won’t get it, you know.”
    “ Are you so certain?” Sir Gideon leaned forward and slammed the heavy brass knocker harder than necessary.
    She winced at the noise. “My father informed me that I was not to return until I come home to stay for good. He doesn’t approve of my work.”
    He watched her, his bright gaze far too interested. She twisted to look behind her, pretending to scan the area for Mr. Brinker or Oyster, but they’d been sent off by Langham in search of copies of the afternoon papers and had vanished around a corner.
    “ I can’t believe you’d arrange to meet your usual employee’s family. I think you’re just curious about my parents,” she muttered. “I don’t know why.”
    “ You are a young lady—for all that you’ve been running wild on the streets of New York.”
    Her stomach tightened. Had he been lying when he ’d called her a professional? “I haven’t been running—”
    “ I know, I know. I’m simply imagining it from their point of view. I wish to reassure them in person that I will keep you safe. Perhaps that will be enough for your father to feel less antagonistic about your career.”
    “ It won’t.” She gave up. Let the demanding Sir Gideon find out for himself. Although Papa probably wouldn’t thunder in front of a guest he would make his attitude clear.
    A maid she didn ’t know opened the door. The girl in the familiar black uniform with white cap looked at Sir Gideon and smiled. She didn’t spare a glance for Lizzy, who wondered if the portrait of her in the blue sitting room had been taken down. Or perhaps the plump, dark-haired maid was a flirt.
    “ Sir Gideon Langham here to see Mr. and Mrs. Drury,” Sir Gideon said. He had adopted the lord-of-the-realm manner again and frowned. He and her father ought to exchange notes on how to behave like oppressive tyrants.
    The maid curtsied far too low. Her mother tended to hire the showi est sort of staff—perhaps in a misguided attempt to make herself seem subdued in contrast. The maid led them into a front hall, allowed them time to put their cards in the crowded card tray, which they didn’t, and then led them to the receiving chamber just off the entrance, a pleasant room with several sofas and armchairs. The maid scurried away and Lizzy sighed.
    “ You realize I’ve never set eyes on that maid before?” she said. “She didn’t know me. I suppose it’s best you didn’t give my name as well. My father might have the servants show us the door before we even see the other side of it.”
    She felt like a caged bear and paced the room, stopping to prod a dried flower display in a n open shadow box. Something new since the last time she’d been home. A petal floated to the floor. “Whoops,” she muttered. She took off at a slow walk, picking up doilies from tables and putting them down again.
    She lifted the porcelain figurine of the dancer from the mahogany fireplace mantel and stared into the insipid blank-eyed smile of the girl. Lizzy had never liked that piece.
    Absently running her fingers over the figurine, she walked a few paces and put it down next to a bell jar covering the delicate and costly glass flower display—one of a matched set her papa had bought years ago. She’d managed to break the other one and father’s anger came back to