Not by Sight by Kate Breslin

Author:Kate Breslin [Breslin, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC042030, FIC042040, FIC027200, World War (1914–1918)—England—London—Fiction
ISBN: 9781441265241
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2015-06-15T04:00:00+00:00

“Well, what do you think of her?”

Jack sat beside his friend as Marcus drove them back to the manor.

“She’s pretty,” Marcus said. “So was the other one, Miss Danner. In all, they were quite charming.”

“I’d say you were the charmer.” Jealousy stabbed at him. Jack had heard enough to know Marcus Weatherford’s elegant manners and good looks had dazzled the ladies, including Mrs. Vance, if her animated tone was any measure.

His own entrance had certainly produced the opposite effect. Silence had descended over the barn when he’d followed his friend inside. Jack’s lip curled as he imagined the women of the WFC gaping at him, likely wondering when the hunchback Tin Man would start howling.

All except Grace. His heart warmed, remembering her comment. She’d enjoyed spending time with him, as well.

“I was merely being polite,” Marcus said. “Besides, it doesn’t matter anyway. I’m here on business, not to woo the ladies.”

“I thought you did a splendid job at both.” Had Grace been smitten with his friend, too? Jack recalled hearing the blush in her voice. In the past two weeks, he’d become well attuned to her inflections of tone—teasing, angry, frustrated, pleased. He could even detect when she was being shy. But Marcus could charm the bark off a tree, and when compared to Frankenstein’s monster, likely Grace was just as enthralled by him as the rest.

His hands curled into fists against the seat. “Tell me what she looks like.”

It was a moment before Marcus answered. “Pale skin, red hair, green eyes . . . oh, and pieces of straw sticking to every part of her.”

“You know, it’s hard to believe you’re an MI5 agent,” Jack ground out. “She gave me much the same information herself. Can you possibly elaborate?”

“Shall I wax poetic for you, Benningham?” Marcus sounded amused. “Milky-white skin, hair like fire, eyes the color of the sea—how’s that?”

“Stop or I may become ill,” Jack said dryly. “What do you propose for tomorrow?”

“Just a country drive, old boy,” he said, and Jack detected his note of evasiveness. “I can get to know her better and make my own evaluation. It might even require hanging on a few extra days.”

Jack would have preferred his friend’s hasty departure, but it would mean being left alone with Violet. “You’re certainly welcome to stay,” he bit out.

“That’s quite a change from your attitude toward me earlier.”

“Yes, well, you’re already here, so you can keep Miss Arnold entertained.” Gratitude overrode his irritation as he said gruffly, “I appreciate you standing in at meals in my absence.”

He was also relieved to postpone his confrontation with Violet.

“So why is she here, Jack? And don’t tell me it’s because she wants to be close to you.”

His friend knew that much, having been with him that day at hospital. Still, Jack wasn’t about to disclose any more information until Marcus revealed some of his own. “Why are you here?” he countered. “Aside from wanting to meet Grace and take a drive around the park?”

“Touché, old boy” was all Marcus said.

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