An image of herself in the mirror, a man’s hands on her, flicked in her brain, but Josie shoved it away. No, Westman was not that man. She still wanted him as her lover, but it would have to be on different terms. She hadn’t been prepared last night, and she’d made a mistake with him. She had allowed her feelings to interfere with her mission. Now she saw her own folly. She placed her hand protectively over her reticule, where she’d placed her half of the treasure map. She was not so much a fool as to leave it out of her sight again.
Restoring her grandfather’s name and finding the treasure were the most important things. She wanted Westman, true, but she had to keep that separate. He was right. The treasure, their lovemaking, these were business ventures. She could not let her heart interfere. She needed Westman. All the clues were locked in crates in his attic. If she was going to have access to them, she couldn’t afford to throw a tantrum because giving her the most amazing sexual experience of her life meant nothing to him.
“You don’t look like your mind is on the punch bowl,” Ashley said. She was sitting on the bed next to Josie, and Catie and Maddie were on the chaise longue at the end of the bed.
Josie blinked and sat up. “Of course, my mind is on the punch,” she whispered back to Ashley. “It’s just that the punch doesn’t occupy my every waking thought. I have other things to consider as well.”
Ashley smiled at her, and Josie frowned. She didn’t like that little smile of Ashley’s. Her cousin looked like a cat with a feather sticking out of her stuffed mouth.
Drawing back slightly, Josie said, “And why are you smiling like that?”
“Like what?” Ashley’s smile never faltered.
“Like you know something you shouldn’t.”
“Well, by all means,” Maddie said, interrupting, “if Ashley knows something she shouldn’t, then she should tell the rest of us.”
“Either that or let us get back to what’s really important.” Catie shook her drawing. “The table configuration.”
Josie felt like ripping the table configuration into ten thousand tiny pieces and then stuffing them all in Ashley’s mouth so that she would quit grinning.
“Why do you think I know anything of interest?” Ashley asked. “Isn’t a girl allowed to smile anymore without it meaning something?”
“Of course, but you’re hiding something. I know that smile, Ashley,” Josie said. “What is it?”
“Why don’t you tell us, Miss Hale?” Ashley shot back. “I think you’re the one hiding something.” Now all of them looked at Josie, and she felt her face color. How ridiculous was that? Her cousins were making her blush?
But she wouldn’t be blushing if she didn’t have anything to blush about, now would she? And, really, they were going to find out about her and Westman anyway. What was the point in hiding it?
Then she looked at sweet, innocent Maddie and the happily married Catie, and she just couldn’t do it. She just couldn’t face all the questions and speculation. “Ashley, may I have a word with you outside, please?” Josie said, hopping off the bed.
“You two need privacy?” Catie widened her hazel eyes. “This is new.”
“It’s a surprise,” Josie said. Ashley still hadn’t moved to get off the bed, so Josie grabbed her arm and pulled. “For the ball,” she ground out. Lord, Ashley was heavier than she looked.
“Wait!” Catie stood. “I don’t want any surprises at the ball. I cannot manage surprises.”
Josie sighed. “It’s a good surprise, Catie. Nothing that will upset you. Trust me.”
And she pulled Ashley through the door and into the hallway.
“What was all that?” Ashley said, pulling her arm back and straightening her skirts. “I’m sure whatever you have to say to me can be said in front of Maddie and Catie.”
“But whatever you have to say cannot. Tell me.”
“Tell you what?” Ashley’s eyes looked big and green in the light of the hall. “I don’t know anything.” Josie was about to strangle her, when Ashley added, “I promised not to tell.”
Josie stepped back, bumping into the wall. “Promised who not to tell? Tell what?” Her heart was thudding now. She knew she would reveal her tryst with Westman to her cousins at some point, but surely she should be the one to tell them!
And only them. But if Ashley had already heard, then . . .
Josie grabbed Ashley’s arm. “Who told you? Is it all over Town now? Oh, God, please tell me my mother does not know.”
Ashley glanced down at her imprisoned appendage. “Do you know that’s exactly what he did to me?” She shook her arm. “And he was frantic, just like you.”
Josie slowly released her cousin’s arm. “Westman,” she whispered. “That’s what this is about. You saw him.”
“I promised not to say,” Ashley answered.
