The Winter Garden (The Ingenious Mechanical Devices Book 2) by Kara Jorgensen

Author:Kara Jorgensen [Jorgensen, Kara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fox Collie Publishing
Published: 2015-03-14T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty:

Promise and Disappointment

Adam Fenice straightened his tie and smoothed his teal vest under his coat before grasping the mandible of his cousin’s doorknocker. The smile refused to leave his lips, but when he caught his toothy reflection in the mirrored surface of the knocker’s forehead, he smothered his mirth back to an acceptable level. He was dying to tell Immanuel his news, but as he waited on the steps, he recalled how not so long ago Immanuel had been closer to death than he had ever seen another being. For over two weeks, he had watched him progress from an invalid to a prospective partner, and while he was still haunted by the ghost of his attacker, he admired him for his strength. It had taken a lot to admit he was afraid.

He was about to push the doorbell when the front door creaked open, and a haggard Immanuel Winter leaned against the threshold for support. He rubbed his hooded eyes with his knuckles before feebly attempting to smooth down his curls and rumpled shirt, which had come unbuttoned at the top and hung on his thin frame without a vest or jacket. Upon seeing Adam, his tired eyes lit up.

“Are you ill? You look positively dreadful!” Adam cried as he came into the foyer and quickly shut the door behind him to prevent the sleety chill from worsening his friend’s condition.

“Ich habe nicht gut geschlafen,” he yawned but caught his slip back into German. “Sorry, I did not sleep well last night. Dr. Hawthorne was called out to a murder scene in the middle of the night, and he brought me along. I have only had about two hours sleep since.”

“If I woke you up, Immanuel, I can come back later.”

He caught Adam’s arm. “No, stay. I’m happy to see you. How have you been? I have not seen you in nearly a week.” Immanuel paused at the parlor door. “Would you like me to put on some tea?”

“Thank you, but I cannot stay long.”

His companion’s smile drooped to a lopsided frown as he whispered, “No one is home. Mrs. Hawthorne and Miss Jardine went to the Spiritualist society, and Dr. Hawthorne is at Scotland Yard.”

Adam reached up and tugged Immanuel’s tie back into place before smoothing his collar. “It isn’t that.”

Immanuel wanted to tell him not to bother with his clothing as he planned to return to bed, but the occasional brush of Adam’s fingertips against his neck arrested his protests.

“I promised my sister that I would help her sort through some invitations and linens her future mother-in-law sent over for her to look at. I came over because my boss gave me two tickets to La Basoche at the Royal English Opera House since he cannot make it. I do not know if you like opera, but I was wondering if you would like to accompany me.”

“I would love to,” he replied with the same grin that had appeared after they crashed on the ice.

“Good.” Adam’s cheeks burned until they nearly matched his hair.

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