“Then I’ll join him as he dines. He complained I haven’t gone round to see him, so I thought I might.”
Donovan looked dubious. “Hmm... Has it anything to do with Mr. Brendan’s call last night?”
Hollis unthinkingly sat up straighter. “Of course not. Beck was very clear that he was displeased I never called. That’s all.” She’d learned this trick of diversion from Percy. He’d once complained that a man he often did business with never answered a question directly, but answered another one that hadn’t been asked, and before he knew it, they were talking about something else entirely.
But Donovan was not easily put off the scent. He looked her in the eye. “Did you learn anything from Mr. Brendan?”
Hollis hesitated only briefly before shaking her head. Oh, but she hated to lie to Donovan, but she’d given her word to a man last night who had kept something to himself for half his life. He trusted her.
“You’re certain?” Donovan asked skeptically.
“I don’t think a team of horses could drag anything out of that man.”Thatwas not a lie, at least. But Hollis thought it best to be on her way before she found herself talked into a corner she could not talk herself out of. She stood up, walked to Donovan, and pressed her palm against his cheek. “Please be careful. I’d be utterly lost without you.”
He gave her a wry smile and wrapped his hand around her wrist. “You would not be lost without me, Hollis. You would miss me, I would hope, but you’d be perfectly fine.”
“That’s what you think. I can’t do without you.”
“I think you do very well without me all the time.” He pulled down her hand and laced his fingers with hers. “Should you not prepare for the possibility of it? One day you will want someone or something more than this.”
“For heaven’s sake.” She yanked her hand free of his. “Why would you say such a thing?”
“Because it’s true.” Donovan turned back to the mirror to tie his neckcloth.
Hollis turned away from him before he could see the wild fear in her eyes. Do without Donovan? That was impossible. Whom would she talk to? Who would tell her the truth? Who would be there when the nights were the longest and coldest and loneliest? “I really must go. I don’t want to miss Beck.”
“Good day, madam,” Donovan said.
She walked to his door and glanced back. “Take care,” she said softly. She didn’t wait for him to assure her he would when they both knew he wouldn’t change a thing.
She was determined that her ebullient mood return to her on the brisk walk to Beck’s house. She had a purpose, an important task, and it mattered to someone other than her. By the time she reached Beck’s doorstep, she was smiling again.
Garrett, the longtime butler at the Hawke home, gave Hollis the barest ghost of a smile when he opened the door. “Mrs. Honeycutt, how do you do?”
“Very well, Garrett, thank you! Is Hawke in? His sister perhaps?”
“Both are in residence. Won’t you come in,” he said, and stepped aside.
“Mrs. Honeycutt!”
That was Beck’s deep bellow from down the hall. He’d just come down the stairs in his dressing gown. Hollis handed her hat and cloak to Garrett, and hurried forward. “Beck!” she cried, and upon reaching him, threw her arms around him in a hug.
“What in blazes?” he demanded before kissing her cheek. “You can’t just go about hugging people, Hollis. What are you doing here? I’ve become quite accustomed to having breakfast at my leisure now that you’ve all gone off and are not eating all the food before I have a bite.”
Hollis linked her arm through his and pulled him toward the dining room. “You admonished me for not calling, so I have come to call.” She let go of Beck once they entered the dining room and went straight to the sideboard. She was famished, she realized, and accepted a plate from the footman.
“Coffee, Brockman. And for the lady.”
Hollis filled her plate with food and set it down on the table.
“Do make yourself at home,” Beck drawled, watching her. Another footman entered and began to fill a plate for him.
“This looks divine,” Hollis said appreciatively. She cut a piece of bacon and put it in her mouth, closing her eyes at the delicious taste of it.
“Save some for the prince and his bride,” Beck said, and picked up a toast point.
“Where is Caro? Still abed?”
“I most certainly am not.” Caroline sailed into the dining room, her golden hair down her back, her silk dressing gown flowing behind her. She took one look at Hollis and frowned. “What are you doing here so early? Has something happened? Is it the judge?”
