Josephine waved a hand impatiently and crossed to her desk. “I mean last night,” she clarified, pulling up a chair and sitting down across from Kay. “I woke up in the middle of the night and you weren’t in your bed.”
Kay felt a jolt of alarm. “You didn’t tell Mama, did you?”
“Tattle to Mama?” Jo gave her a censorious look. “What do you think?”
Reassured, she tried to smile. “Thanks, Jo. You’re a brick.”
“But where were you?”
Kay opened her mouth to invent a lie—she couldn’t sleep, she’d gone for a walk, gone to the bathroom, she’d been sleepwalking, anything—but memories of where she’d actually been swamped her, and she couldn’t utter the words of a fabricated excuse. The pain she’d been holding back ever since leaving Devlin at dawn could suddenly no longer be contained, and a sob erupted from her before she could stop it. “Oh, Josephine!”
“Oh, my God!” Jo jumped out of the chair and came around her desk. Bending down, she wrapped Kay in a fierce hug. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she choked, shaking her head, trying to regain her control.
“Stuff!” Jo cried. “Tell that to the marines!” She straightened, hauling Kay to her feet, shaking her fiercely. “What is wrong? Tell me, this instant, and don’t lie. Not to me.”
Echoes of Devlin.
“He’s leaving,” she blurted out before she could stop herself.
“Who’s leaving?”
“Devlin. His hotel caught on fire and he has to go back to Egypt. Now. Today. He’s already gone.”
“And that’s what’s got you crying like your heart’s going to break? Sharpe?”
Kay stared into her sister’s face, noting the girl’s understandably confounded expression. Biting her lip, she nodded.
“But… but…” Jo paused, studying her. “You’re still in love with him.”
It wasn’t a question, but she nodded, answering it just the same.
“And you’re sure of that? In spite of everything?”
She nodded again. “And he still loves me,” she said, though she didn’t know why, for there was no point in telling Jo all this. But somehow, she couldn’t stop herself. “He asked me to go with him. He wanted us to elope. Again.”
“Heavens!” Josephine paused, digesting this bit of news, then to Kay’s complete astonishment, she said, “Well, then, what in blazes are you doing here? Why didn’t you go?”
Kay stared back at her. “You know why. It’s your season. You have to be presented. If I elope—”
“Don’t you dare!” Josephine scowled. “Don’t you dare turn down his marriage proposal because of me!”
“Goodness,” cried another feminine voice from the doorway before Kay could reply. “I could hear your voices from halfway down the corridor. What’s the fuss about?”
Josephine turned as Delia came in, answering her question before Kay could regain her composure enough to do so. “Sharpe has to go back to Egypt. His hotel caught on fire.”
Delia nodded. “Yes, I know. I was with Simon when Devlin gave him the news. Terrible. But at least no one was killed.” She waited, giving Kay an inquiring look, but again, it was Josephine who replied.
“He asked Kay to marry him. To elope and run away with him to Egypt, but she was a complete noodle and said no! Because of me, she says. I ask you, Dee, what can one do with such an impossible sister!”
“I had to say no,” Kay cried. “Otherwise your season would be ruined. You haven’t been presented yet, and you wouldn’t be if I eloped. The scandal would ruin your chances.”
“Hang my chances,” Jo said fiercely. “This wasyourchance. Your second chance to be with the man you love. How could you let it pass by?”
“He’ll be back,” Kay said. “By spring, he’ll be back. Maybe summer. And we’ll get married then.”
“Will you?” Jo gave an inelegant snort. “Given your history, I very much doubt it!”
