Evening Star (Star Quartet 1)

“I wasn’t born yesterday, sir.” Jake fell into a brooding silence for a moment. “Well, I didn’t think I should do that without your permission, sir.”

In Anesley’s office outside, Giana heard Alex laugh, and wondered if he was mocking her to his foreman. “I don’t particularly care for Mr. Saxton’s office, Mr. O’Leary,” she said. ‘’The furniture is too heavy and dark. But the windows are nice. Show me what we have at the opposite end of the floor.”

“I don’t understand, ma’am.” Anesley fidgeted, wishing that Mr. Saxton would appear.

“Why, Mr. O’Leary, I wish an office. As you doubtless know already, Van Cleave and Saxton have merged. I will be directing the Van Cleve interests here in New York, as well as my own business affairs.”

A half-hour later, Alex emerged from his office to see a trail of clerks looking numbly at him, hauling ledgers down the stairs to the second floor. He found Giana, a stunned Anesley at her side, directing his employees as they moved desks, chairs, and files out of the large accounting office. He frowned, put out that Giana would begin to take over without even a word to him.

Giana turned to him, a smudge of dirt on her cheek and a happy smile on her face, then hurried toward him, wiping her dusty hands on her gown. “Oh, Alex, it will be perfect. You needn’t worry about your clerks, there is a fine room for them on the second floor. Anesley tells me that we can have the space decorated within a week. I’ll go to the furniture warehouse today to select pieces.”

Alex pasted a smile on his face. Seeing her obvious excitement, he couldn’t bring himself to blister her ears. He mumbled something unintelligible.

“Good heavens.” Giana’s eyes darted to a large clock on the wall. “I am supposed to meet Derry for lunch. Please continue directing the workmen, Anesley. I will see you this afternoon, Alex.”

And she was gone in a whirl of taffeta skirts.

‘’But I like having my clerks on this floor,” Alex mumbled under his breath.

“Sir?”

“Nothing, Anesley.” He smiled. “I think the British have landed again.”

“I don’t know where to begin, Giana. It will take us weeks to catch up.”

Giana regarded the young matron seated opposite her in the large dining room of the Astor Hotel with a fond eye. Her eyes held four more years of life, but Derry was still as lovely as ever.

“For shame, Giana. Married to Alex Saxton, the prize catch of New York.”

“Is he really?” Giana grinned a bit uncomfortably. “A prize catch, that is?”

“Beware, Giana. There are parents and young ladies alike who want to scratch your eyes out. Not to mention my stepdaughter, Jennifer. Lord, what I’ve had to endure from her ever since she read of your marriage in the newspaper.”

“Jennifer has a tendre for Alex?”

“She does, but Alex has never given her the least encouragement,” Derry said. “I mention it only to give you fair warning. Jennifer can be the most bothersome creature.”

“I’m surprised Jennifer isn’t married yet.”

“I am more distraught than surprised,” Derry said. “She is as you saw her four years ago, only more so.”

“Poor Derry.” Giana gave her a sympathetic smile. “At least my stepdaughter is but nine years old.”

“A nine-year-old child would do. Would you care to trade?”

“I am afraid I would not have your patience. At least,” she added, “you have no need to worry about governesses.”

“Jennifer wouldn’t mind a tutor, if he spent his days quoting romantic poetry to her, praising her eyebrows.”

The two young ladies laughed gaily, and toasted each other with glasses of white wine.

Giana reached over and clasped Derry’s hand. “I am so glad you’re here, Derry.”

“I am here as always, still a fluttering butterfly with no children to hang on my skirts.”

“And so? I am sure Charles is more than delighted simply to have you for his wife.”

Derry smiled, but her eyes didn’t quite meet Giana’s. “Enough about me,” she said. “Tell me how Alex managed to drag you to the altar. The man must have worked wondrously fast.”