“Oh, dear me, that’s troublesome,” Fiona said. “I’d hate to cause Mrs. Lind to think badly of me.”

“I don’t think she could,” I said. “She’s simply old-fashioned.”

“It’s not like you’re throwing back the cocktails all night.” Cymbeline rolled her eyes. “Fiona’s all about the music.”

“Cym’s all about dancing,” Fiona said. “She’s a real Oliver Twist.”

“What’s that?” I asked.

“A good dancer,” Cymbeline said. “Goodness, Lou, we’ve got to get you out of the house more often.”

Lou? I had a nickname. I quite liked it. There was Cym, Fi, and Thee. Now I was Lou. Part of the family.

After wishing them a good night, I walked down the hallway to the stairs. About halfway to the main floor, I saw Theo standing at the bottom waiting for me. He looked my way and smiled up at me. When I reached him, he picked up my gloved hand and kissed it. “You look beautiful.”

He looked nice as well in his evening suit and slicked-back hair. Freshly shaved, too. I spotted a small nick on his chin. “I’m looking forward to the evening.”

“I am as well.”

He escorted me out to the foyer. “Do you know if my mother’s inside?”

“No, they’re all out back.”

“Thank goodness. She wouldn’t approve of my face.”

“I certainly do.” He held open the door, and I walked outside. His car had been washed and shone under the setting sun. I smiled to myself as he helped me into the passenger seat. Tonight, I would put all my troubles aside and simply enjoy myself.

15

Theo

* * *

Built from the logs cut from the ski slope, the lodge had twenty guest rooms, a dining room, and below, where a speakeasy hosted those willing to risk the law for a drink. I wasn’t sure I approved of the illegal nature of Flynn and Phillip’s enterprise, but as my brother had said, they were businessmen, not preachers. I’d purposely not mentioned the dance hall to Louisa. I wasn’t sure what she would think. Her mother’s opinion, however, wasn’t hard to figure. We’d have supper, and I’d take her straight home. No funny business to get myself into trouble with the woman I hoped would be my mother-in-law.

The restaurant’s host, Maxwell, greeted us with an Irish brogue as thick as molasses on a winter’s day. “Good evening, Mr. Barnes.” My mother had written to me that Flynn’s host at the restaurant was as colorful as his boss. I’d expected someone like Flynn, handsome and charming. Unfortunately, Maxwell didn’t possess either of those qualities. Tall and gangly, slightly stooped shoulders and a rounded stomach made him seem like an old man. His face, though, was unlined and as smooth as a baby’s bottom. In fact, he didn’t appear to have had the light of day on his pasty skin. His dark hair, as thick as a horse’s mane, was slicked back from his forehead. Ridges from his comb separated the strands in perfect rows.

He looked at Louisa and then back at me with disapproval and disappointment in his eyes. “Where is the lovely Mrs. Barnes this evening?” Maxwell could dish out the guilt as well as any of the women in my family.

“I’m Theo Barnes. His twin.”

Maxwell placed a hand over his heart. “Thank goodness. I thought you were stepping out on the missus. We can’t have that now, can we? You’re the doctor, then. Have I got that right?”

“The same.”

“Well, now, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Your brother’s been keen to have you back in town.”

“I’m glad to be back, although I haven’t seen much of my brother. We’ve both been busy.”

“I reckon that’s the way it is when you’re important,” Maxwell said before turning to Louisa. Apparently now that he knew she wasn’t a wanton hussy, he’d realized how pretty she was. “Who is this bonnie lass? Have I met you before?”

“I don’t think so,” Louisa said. “My father was pastor at the church until he passed away recently.”

“Ah, then, no, I wouldn’t have been at church.” He lowered his voice. “I keep meaning to go, but then I don’t. My mother always said the way to meet a woman was at church.”

“There are other ways, but surely that’s the best,” I said.

Maxwell drew closer, as if we were conspirators. “I’ll keep that in mind.” He grinned, revealing surprisingly nice teeth. His eyes were a nice shade of green as well. Mama always said people looked better when they smiled. “My old pop said there was a lid for every pot, but I don’t know if a man like me can find a lid willing to top off my pot.”

Tags: Tess Thompson Emerson Pass Historicals Historical
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