He opened his mouth to ask another question, but Kate heard the front door open and raised a hand to stop him. “I’m sorry, I must see to the shop.”
“Of course, ma’am.”
“Close the door when you’re through,” she said as she rushed back to the front.
As if she’d been sent to counter every ounce of Kate’s anxiety, Lucy Cain rushed in on a cloud of snow. “Good afternoon!”
Kate grinned at Lucy’s dramatic entrance. “That’s a happy response to such weather,” Kate said, though she felt the same joy at the storm.
“Oh, it’s not the snow that has me grinning. It’s the company.”
“Me?”
“No, not you! I just dined with two handsome bachelors.”
“Is your stance on marriage evolving then?”
Lucy gave a look of horror as she swept off her cloak. “Heavens no. If I marry, my days of flirting with bachelors will be over.”
“I suppose you’re right.” Kate rose to prepare two cups of coffee in her sampling pot, no longer nervous about Lucy’s presence. She’d stopped by nearly every day since her father’s party to gossip and laugh and even to discuss coffee.
“Aren’t you going to ask which handsome bachelors I dined with?”
Kate wracked her brain, trying to snatch up a few of the names Lucy had mentioned, but the girl talked so quickly that names always seemed to fly right past Kate’s ears. She pressed down on the coffee. “Was one of them the gentleman with the pink waistcoat?”
“No. One of them was Aidan York!”
The handle slipped out of her hand and her knuckles rang the pot like a bell. “Oh! Mr. York, you said?”
“Yes, indeed. And his secretary, Mr. Penrose. He’s quite serious, isn’t he?”
Kate set her hands back to the pot, hoping to buy herself a moment of thought. Lucy had dined with Aidan this afternoon? Anxious curiosity filled Kate’s chest, urging her to blurt out question after question. Instead, she cleared her throat and spoke very carefully. “I’m not sure. I’ve never met Mr. Penrose.”
“Well, you must meet him. He’s quite striking. Golden hair and lovely blue eyes! But I think I made him nervous.”
It shamed Kate to admit it, but Lucy’s interest in Mr. Penrose inspired a sharp stab of relief. But her heart still hammered as she carried the cups to the counter. “So? How did you find yourself dining with them?”
“My father finally found out more about your Mr. York’s investments. Impressive, I gather. Father was quite eager to invite him to luncheon. If I’d had any warning at all, I would’ve invited you as well.”
“Oh, I’m sure that’s—”
“You know . . .” Lucy put her chin in her hands and leaned over the counter. Her eyes glowed with innocence, and that was never a good sign.
“What?” Kate asked warily.
“When I mentioned your name, I could’ve sworn I saw Mr. York’s eyes light up.”
“Lucy . . .”
“Oh, fine.”
“I’m a married woman—”
“I know. I know. It’s just that . . . There’s something about him, isn’t there?”
Yes. My God, yes, there was something about him. There always had been. Something that drew people to his side. Something that made people smile. Kate had felt honored to be a part of that once, but she couldn’t be part of it now.
She tapped the countertop. “Tell me more about this Mr. Penrose.”