She used her chin to indicate the crowd. Hadn’t he noticed the way all eyes had been following him tonight? Every single woman here, with the exception of Sawyer, had her sights set on becoming Mrs. Lincoln Thurston.
“Your mother and sister have delivered every eligible female in Charleston to your doorstep. All you need to do is choose.”
“Truthfully, they all look the same to me. Not one of them stands out as someone I want to get to know.” He sighed.
“You haven’t given any of them a chance,” Claire said, secretly hoping that it would take him a while to settle on just one. For the moment, she liked having him all to herself. “You should pick three tonight and invite each of them out for dinner.”
Linc’s blue eyes glinted with irritation. “I can’t believe you’re okay with this.”
“I’m a realist.” Claire hoped her voice didn’t betray the lie. “It’s what has to happen.”
“It doesn’t have to happen this way.”
“You know that it does. You might have been okay marrying a woman your mother didn’t approve of, but I’ll bet it was hard on London knowing Bettina would never fully welcome her.”
Before she’d finished speaking, a lovely blonde appeared at Linc’s side and wrapped her hand around his arm in a possessive gesture. From what Claire had observed, Charleston seemed to have an overabundance of slender, elegant blonde women with perfect teeth and fine manners. She almost pitied Linc having to choose one, because none had stood out for her
and she couldn’t imagine him settling for a woman who was interchangeable with a dozen others.
“There you are,” the newcomer said, behaving as if Linc had been having a conversation with thin air. “I’ve been dying for a chance to catch up with you all night, but you’ve been surrounded.”
Although Claire expected to be treated as if she didn’t exist, Linc wasn’t the sort to play along. Claire had noticed that he gave everyone his full attention, treating them like they mattered. From the gardener who maintained the meticulous landscaping around the Jonathan Elliot House to the mailman and his neighbor’s dog walker.
“Phoebe Reed,” he said, gesturing toward Claire, “this is Claire Robbins. She is responsible for all the delicious food.”
Forced to be polite, the blonde tore her rapt gaze from Linc and glanced in Claire’s direction, giving her a perfunctory nod. “I’m sure it’s all quite yummy.” Minor courtesy out of the way, she returned her full attention to Linc. “Your sister tells me you’re going to be a part of the holiday home tour. I can’t wait to see what you’ve done to the Jonathan Elliot House.”
Rather than be an awkward third wheel, Claire murmured, “I have to get back to the kitchen.” And before Linc could stop her, she faded into the dwindling crowd.
As much as she wanted to dwell on Phoebe and the dozen other beautiful, wealthy, socially connected women who’d been brought here with the purpose of getting acquainted with Linc, Claire had a job to do. Taking up one of the big trays she’d brought from the kitchen, she moved around the room, collecting empty dishes and glasses. The guests thinned out more still as she worked.
She was making her third round of the rooms when someone spoke from just behind her. “Hello.” The cultured female voice sounded familiar. “It’s Claire, right?”
Claire turn to face Everly Briggs and her stomach dropped.
“Yes,” Claire said cautiously, with a polite smile fixed on her lips. “And you’re Everly.”
She was dying to ask how the woman knew Bettina, but she figured Everly fell into the same category as most of the women attending the party: Charleston social elite.
“I hear you were in charge of the food tonight. I just knew you were talented.”
The woman’s enthusiasm wasn’t winning Claire over. Something about their encounter at the grocery store and the assumptions Everly had made, followed by her appearance tonight, left Claire feeling uneasy.
“Thank you.” She glanced to the side, hoping Everly would take the hint and let Claire get about her task.
“I suppose you’re a little surprised to see me here,” Everly continued, relaxing into the conversation and missing Claire’s subtle signal.
“A little.” Claire told herself to let it go, but curiosity had a mind of its own. Maybe if she hadn’t heard about Everly’s sister from Jenny, she wouldn’t have cared. After all, in certain circles, most everyone in Charleston was connected in one way or another. “From our last conversation, I got the impression you didn’t know Linc.”
“I don’t. I tagged along with a friend of mine, Augusta Hobbs.” Everly gave Claire a conspiratorial smile. “Although we’ve been at several of the same events, I’ve never actually met Linc. Turns out he’s as wonderful as you said.”
Had Claire described Linc as wonderful?
“I can see why you’d enjoy working for him,” the woman continued. “He’s very genuine. As well as handsome and wealthy. How have you managed to be around him all the time and not fall in love?”
Claire felt herself flushing beneath the woman’s keen regard, but she kept her gaze and voice cool as she said, “He’s my boss.”
Everly smirked. “Yes, I know, but haven’t you fantasized about him even a little?”