City of Secrets by Victoria Thompson

Author:Victoria Thompson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2018-11-12T16:00:00+00:00

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GIDEON HADN’T WANTED TO TAKE HER HOME SO EARLY, BUT HE agreed when she explained Jake was coming for supper. The two men had not yet met, and Elizabeth was in no hurry to arrange it. Meeting the Old Man was trial enough for someone as honest as Gideon Bates, and she knew Jake wouldn’t be nearly as circumspect as the Old Man had been with the person Jake gleefully called “Lizzie’s fellow.”

Jake arrived early and proceeded to charm his Aunt Cybil and her partner, Zelda. His flattery was carefully specific so they understood it was genuine, and his charm was respectfully polished so they saw him as a harmless yet adored pet.

He didn’t bother to use either skill on Elizabeth, who knew him far too well to be taken in by anything he did.

The meal was pleasant enough, with Jake keeping them entertained with stories and quips and feigned interest in the activities of the two older women. Throughout it all, Elizabeth watched for any sign that the Old Man was right about Jake losing his nerve. Dealing with his doting aunts and his tolerant half sister was hardly a test, however, and she saw nothing alarming.

After supper, Cybil and Zelda withdrew to their private rooms so Elizabeth and Jake could discuss the reason she’d invited him there in the first place. Cybil had long since decided to know nothing of her brother’s family business.

Elizabeth poured Jake a snifter of the brandy Cybil kept for male visitors and took a seat beside him on the sofa.

“The Old Man said you have a job for me.” He didn’t quite meet her eye. It was the first sign something wasn’t quite right.

“I told him I needed someone followed. It’s not much of a job, so I was surprised when he said he’d send you. Did you do something to make him mad?” she teased, the way she’d done a thousand times.

She’d expected a fierce frown and the feigned anger her teasing usually provoked. Instead he smiled sadly and took a swallow of his brandy. “Did he tell you?”

“Tell me what?”

“I’ve lost my nerve.”

Guilt swelled in her chest, but she managed a lighthearted “That’s not funny.”

“It’s not a joke. When I came back from Washington City, I was . . . not myself. I thought it would pass.”

“You’re recovered now, aren’t you? From the beating, I mean?”

“Physically, yes.” He flexed the fingers of his left hand absently. That arm had been broken. “But I can’t work. Not really, anyway. I can be a lookout or a shill, but if I try roping . . .” He shrugged.

“You are the best roper I know.” This wasn’t true, of course, but Jake had always thought it was.

He took another sip of brandy. “I freeze up when I talk to a mark. I’m afraid the Old Man is going to decide I’m excess baggage and cut me loose.”

“He’d never do that.”

Jake just looked at her, his eyes so sad she could hardly stand it.

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