missing.”
He ducked his head to hide a smile. “Does that mean you believe me?”
She was distracted momentarily by the waiter. “Another shot of tequila, please.” Odette ignored his question and asked, “So how did you change all this?”
“Me?”
“I found you, Odell,” she replied firmly. “Do you remember what you kept asking me?” He shook his head. “ ‘What have I done?’ ” “ ‘What have I done?’ ” she repeated breathlessly.
He clenched his jaw and looked away. The waiter returned with Odette’s drink, which she quickly emptied. She then sat back and crossed her arms. “What did you do?”
“I’d published some of my findings in an obscure journal. I was an outsider. No one really took me seriously. I’d lost my place at the university and was trying to do independent research. But it was hard. I had no money and couldn’t get any grants.” He looked down at his hands and continued. “A man approached me. He said he could fund my research with money left over from a family trust. His only stipulation was to be the first to use my technology.” Odell took a sip of water and cleared his throat. “This man wanted to go back to a time when his family first lost their money and prestige. He wanted to change that so as to retain his social standing in the present.”
Odette’s mouth dropped open, and she released a little huff of air. “Drake.”
“I said you weren’t stupid.” Odell swallowed and shook his head ruefully. “I thought it was harmless enough. In my arrogance I believed I was in complete control. I had nothing holding me back… nothing grounding me.”
“Me.” Tears started in her eyes. “You had me.”
He looked away. “Nothing mattered but my work. I could only think of the recognition I would receive when we returned. I wanted to throw it all in the faces of those pompous professors who doubted me.” He laughed with bitter self-awareness. “I wanted mother to be proud of me.”
She looked intently into his eye. “Are you even my Odell?”
“I am.” He squeezed her hand so tightly she felt her bones crack.
“Why are you telling me this now?”
“I need your help. I need you to help make this right.”
Chapter 6
Odette wove her way gracefully between the couples on the dance floor. She was a lovely sight. Cara had worked a miracle in only two short days and produced a gown of exquisite beauty. It was made of sea-blue silk and cut low across the bosom in a shirred bandeau-like neckline. The sleeves were small and capped just off the shoulders. The bodice fitted to a place directly above the waist. It was the skirt, however, that drew looks of surprise and envy. Cara had eschewed the fashionable narrow skirt and transparent materials for a full, flowing silhouette. The blue silk was intercut with the softest of gauze to create a rippling effect when in motion. Hip-high slits throughout the skirt gave the tantalizing impression that a flash of bare leg was imminent. Men watched in vain for a glimpse of prohibited flesh that never came.
For Odette the beauty of the garment was superseded only by its comfort and the freedom of movement it afforded her. “I can’t accept this,” she said with little conviction as Cara fitted it to her slim frame. “Besides, I’ve nowhere to wear it.”
“Nonsense,” Cara mumbled through a mouthful of pins. She sat back on her heels and stuck the remaining pins in her wrist cushion. “I heard Janie tell some of the girls that Lady Adelphia Montagu was providing a late supper for the company at the Chelsea Hotel.”
“Yes, but I won’t be going. I’m meeting Odell after the performance. I think we may be dining elsewhere.”
“Even better. He’s sure to take you somewhere fashionable. I couldn’t buy better advertising than you in this dress.”
Always the astute businesswoman, Cara had been right. But it wasn’t the dress alone that caused a stir. More than one pair of eyes admired the woman in
He ducked his head to hide a smile. “Does that mean you believe me?”
She was distracted momentarily by the waiter. “Another shot of tequila, please.” Odette ignored his question and asked, “So how did you change all this?”
“Me?”
“I found you, Odell,” she replied firmly. “Do you remember what you kept asking me?” He shook his head. “ ‘What have I done?’ ” “ ‘What have I done?’ ” she repeated breathlessly.
He clenched his jaw and looked away. The waiter returned with Odette’s drink, which she quickly emptied. She then sat back and crossed her arms. “What did you do?”
“I’d published some of my findings in an obscure journal. I was an outsider. No one really took me seriously. I’d lost my place at the university and was trying to do independent research. But it was hard. I had no money and couldn’t get any grants.” He looked down at his hands and continued. “A man approached me. He said he could fund my research with money left over from a family trust. His only stipulation was to be the first to use my technology.” Odell took a sip of water and cleared his throat. “This man wanted to go back to a time when his family first lost their money and prestige. He wanted to change that so as to retain his social standing in the present.”
Odette’s mouth dropped open, and she released a little huff of air. “Drake.”
“I said you weren’t stupid.” Odell swallowed and shook his head ruefully. “I thought it was harmless enough. In my arrogance I believed I was in complete control. I had nothing holding me back… nothing grounding me.”
“Me.” Tears started in her eyes. “You had me.”
He looked away. “Nothing mattered but my work. I could only think of the recognition I would receive when we returned. I wanted to throw it all in the faces of those pompous professors who doubted me.” He laughed with bitter self-awareness. “I wanted mother to be proud of me.”
She looked intently into his eye. “Are you even my Odell?”
“I am.” He squeezed her hand so tightly she felt her bones crack.
“Why are you telling me this now?”
“I need your help. I need you to help make this right.”
Chapter 6
Odette wove her way gracefully between the couples on the dance floor. She was a lovely sight. Cara had worked a miracle in only two short days and produced a gown of exquisite beauty. It was made of sea-blue silk and cut low across the bosom in a shirred bandeau-like neckline. The sleeves were small and capped just off the shoulders. The bodice fitted to a place directly above the waist. It was the skirt, however, that drew looks of surprise and envy. Cara had eschewed the fashionable narrow skirt and transparent materials for a full, flowing silhouette. The blue silk was intercut with the softest of gauze to create a rippling effect when in motion. Hip-high slits throughout the skirt gave the tantalizing impression that a flash of bare leg was imminent. Men watched in vain for a glimpse of prohibited flesh that never came.
For Odette the beauty of the garment was superseded only by its comfort and the freedom of movement it afforded her. “I can’t accept this,” she said with little conviction as Cara fitted it to her slim frame. “Besides, I’ve nowhere to wear it.”
“Nonsense,” Cara mumbled through a mouthful of pins. She sat back on her heels and stuck the remaining pins in her wrist cushion. “I heard Janie tell some of the girls that Lady Adelphia Montagu was providing a late supper for the company at the Chelsea Hotel.”
“Yes, but I won’t be going. I’m meeting Odell after the performance. I think we may be dining elsewhere.”
“Even better. He’s sure to take you somewhere fashionable. I couldn’t buy better advertising than you in this dress.”
Always the astute businesswoman, Cara had been right. But it wasn’t the dress alone that caused a stir. More than one pair of eyes admired the woman in
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