The Last Night in London by Karen White (reading list .TXT) 📕

There was an uncomfortable silence, and Eva found herself carefully putting on her gloves to avoid meeting anyone’s eyes.

“I do love an industrious woman,” Sophia said, hooking her arm through Precious’s. “And what a brilliant idea. I will be happy to let you choose what you’d like. If I had that sort of talent, I’d probably do the same.”

Sophia and Precious headed out the door while the men gathered their coats and hats. Eva stayed close by Graham’s side, needing not only to be near him, but to be as far away from Alexander Grof as she could manage.

She kept thinking of what he’d said to her, wishing she’d misunderstood. Yet no matter how many explanations she could think of, she knew that she had understood exactly.

She stayed back so that she and Graham were the last to exit. Standing behind the open door so no one could see, she reached for him. “Kiss me, darling. I can’t wait another minute.”

The light in his eyes that she loved gleamed as he leaned down to kiss her, his lips lingering over hers. “I wish we were alone,” he whispered. “Then I could kiss you properly.”

“Come on, old chap,” David called from the outside hall. “Before you’ve ruined Eva’s reputation.” His words were followed by a hearty chuckle, and a laugh from the women, but Eva registered Alex’s silence like a shout.

“Coming,” she managed, handing Graham the key so he could lock the door behind them.

When they emerged into the lobby downstairs, Alex led the way through the two sets of double doors and down the steps to the front drive, where a silver roadster was parked at the curb. He opened the passenger-side door and, with his eyes focused on Eva, said, “Ladies first.”

Eva shook her head, looking at Graham for an explanation. “We can’t all fit in that—there’s only room for four of us.”

“Not to worry, Eva,” David said. “I brought my own motorcar for my lovely fiancée and me. We don’t see nearly enough of each other, what with all those blasted engagement parties and so forth. I’m afraid I won’t know the woman approaching me down the aisle.”

“I daresay she’ll be the only one wearing white,” Graham said with a grin. “So, what sort of machine is this, Grof? It’s nice to look at, but can it move?”

“Oh, yes,” Alex said. “It’s a brand-new four-and-a-half-litre Vanden Plas Tourer. My own vehicles were left behind in Prague, unfortunately, so I thought I’d make the best of it here.”

“And you have,” Graham said. “It’s certainly attractive. I’ll admit to being quite envious.”

He took Precious by the elbow and began leading her to the front passenger seat. But she put her gloved hands on top of her small, brimmed straw hat with its extravagant bow; she’d modeled it just the previous day. “Oh, no. I can’t sit up front with the top down. My hat will blow off, and I will just die if I lose it. Let me run upstairs and get another one.”

“Or,” Alexander suggested, “you can sit in the rear with Graham, and Eva can sit in the front. I see she’s brought a scarf.”

“I’m really fine sitting in the rear seat with Precious,” Eva protested.

He looked genuinely disappointed. “And here I was hoping to show off my new car by driving with a beautiful woman in the front.”

“I agree,” David said. “No better way to display a new toy, right, old chap?”

He slapped Graham on the back. Graham’s smile never slipped. “Of course,” he said, his hands tucked casually in his pockets. “As long as the lady agrees.”

“Oh, go on,” encouraged Precious. “Alexander’s being kind enough to drive us all the way to Kew Gardens—it’s the least you can do.” She gave Eva a playful shove on her back, propelling her forward.

Seeing no way to escape without appearing rude, Eva allowed Alex to help her into the front seat while Graham and Precious settled into the rear. It was a gorgeous day with a bright sun and a cloudless sky, but Eva found herself praying for rain.

The wind made it difficult to carry on a conversation, but every time Eva turned around, she saw Graham’s and Precious’s heads bent together, and twice she heard Graham laugh out loud. Alex leaned toward her.

“I don’t believe I’ve told you yet,” he said, “but you look beautiful today.”

Eva quickly glanced at the rear seat to see if Graham had overheard, but he appeared to be listening intently to what Precious was telling him. She turned to Alex, facing him only long enough to thank him.

“Do you like how it rides?” Alex shouted over the wind in an attempt to get Graham’s attention, but Graham didn’t turn his head or respond in any way, as if he hadn’t heard. “And you, my dear Eva. Do you like it?”

“It’s nice,” she said, adjusting her scarf as it fluttered against her face. She focused on the road in front instead of those silver wolf eyes that she felt upon her.

“If you have need of transportation, it is at your service. As am I. I’m aware of how difficult it is to rely on public transportation every time you want to go somewhere. Especially when wearing beautiful clothes that might get soiled or creased. I’m living at the Savoy. All you need to do is send word.”

“It’s no bother.” Eva smoothed the skirt of her dress, then clenched her gloved hands in her lap so he wouldn’t see them tremble. Your accent is getting better. It was as if he’d just whispered the words again into her ear. “And Graham is more than happy to escort me wherever I need to go.”

“I’m sure. Except his work takes him away quite a bit, doesn’t it?”

She turned her head to look out her side window, pretending she hadn’t heard.

“He works at Whitehall, yes?” Alex pressed. “What exactly does he do at the Home Office,