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54: Mystery
Even after the soothing strains of the music died and only the faint scratchy hiss of the gramophone’s turntable filled Andrew’s office, he and Evelyn swayed together. The ring he’d purchased still rested between their clasped hands, but there was no rush for either of them to change a single thing. Her head rested against his broad chest, and he nuzzled kisses into her hair.
“You’ve been distant because you thought I wasn’t going to do what I said,” Andrew said softly. “Or is there something else still bothering you?”
Lifting her head reluctantly, Evelyn met his eyes. “I’m sorry I doubted you,” she replied remorsefully. “It’s just—things had gotten so out of hand last week. I could understand if you had doubts.”
He gave a tight shake of his head. “No doubts. A rather unfortunate bit of bad timing. With all the extra work, there’s been little chance to make amends. If I’m good for a singl
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World of Tomorrow 55: Commotions
Evelyn had no idea how long it took for the insistent persistent banging on her apartment door to wake her. She had no idea what time it was, only that bright sunlight beat against the drawn curtains, illuminating her bedroom in a soft warm glow.Exhausted still, she became aware of the irritation’s source with an annoyed and pained groan. It was echoed in a low grumbled curse from the solid warm body of Andrew wrapped around her.“Oh, go away.” Her voice was sleep-rough and barely recognizable as her own.Beside her, Andrew’s response was less cordial. “It’s too damn early for this kind of nonsense.” With a frustrated groan, he rolled away from her, thrashed about to disentangle from the blankets, then sat up on the edge of the mattress with another rough groan.“Where are you going?”Rustling through their discarded clothes, Andrew retrieved his tuxedo pants from the floor, yanking them over his long legs before standing to secure them at the waist. He cursed again as the banging con
World of Tomorrow 56: Unexpected Surprises
Biting the tip of her thumb, Evelyn studied the contents of her suitcase. “Three day suits, plus what I’m wearing. Evening gowns. Stockings and undergarments. Robe and slippers. Toiletries and make-up. What am I forgetting?” Before she could think on it more, the apartment door opened and Lily strolled in, waved and smiled. “You do know you only have an hour before the train leaves, don’t you?” “You do know you just waltzed right into my apartment without so much as a knock, don’t you?” Lily flashed her an impish smile and shrugged. “What else am I supposed to do? You constantly complain when I do knock, and now you’ve got Andrew doing it too.” “Lily, you don’t knock,” Evelyn laughed. “You make a nuisance of yourself, but never mind. I need your help. I just know I’m forgetting something.” Closing the door behind her, Lily came to stand at her side. “Day and evening clothes?” “Have them.” “Underwear and stockings?” “Have them.” “Sleepwear? Oh, don’t bother answering. I’ve alre
World of Tomorrow 57: Realizations
The train had long since reached speed and the cityscape faded into rolling landscape. Evelyn leaned against Andrew with her feet tucked under her watching the greenery through the wide window as he read through the Times she’d bought to sneak onto the train.“What’s happening in the world?” she asked to re-engage him.“Some not so good things I’m afraid,” he replied with a sigh, but nuzzled a kiss into her hair. “A journalist in Europe reported Germany is aligning along the Polish border with a significant number of armed troops supported by hundreds of tanks, armored vehicles and field guns. And in Philadelphia, an amateur golfer is being held for involuntary manslaughter. Apparently, after he hit his ball into a sand trap, he swung his niblick wide in a fit of temper and it slipped his grip, striking a nearby caddie in the temple. The caddie died a couple hours later in the hospital of deep cerebral lacerations.”“Oh my word. Maybe I don’t want to know after all.”“I’m happy to tell
World of Tomorrow 58: Understanding
Andrew knew. He knew the instant she’d asked him about Justin’s motivations for marrying her best friend what Evelyn had been thinking. Not that he blamed her—in her position, he’d have thought the same thing. Long before now, in fact. With their meal finished and the dining car growing crowded and noisy, they took their leave, drifted silently through a quiet, nearly empty lounge car, then through the corridor of the first sleeper car before crossing into their own. There was no sense denying—either to himself, or to her assuming she’d press, which she wouldn’t—that he’d thought it. In fact, he’d thought she might be carrying his child two months ago, after that ridiculous row with his mother when he’d almost lost her. When she’d fainted and spent the night in the hospital. The mere notion had made him giddy, had made him feel like more of a man than he’d ever b
World of Tomorrow 59: Gala
“Who are we looking for tonight?” Evelyn asked, lounging in the luxurious bath as Andrew stood at the sink, shaving in the mirror. They’d arrived at the Ambassador earlier that afternoon after successfully avoiding society journalists by assuming casual disguises as they departed the train. His had included the entirely uncharacteristic facial hair he was presently in the process of removing, a light cashmere jersey, blue jeans and pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses they’d picked up Chicago. In her humble opinion, it had done little to make him less noticeable—by her estimation, that and his dark hair left to dry without pomade gave him a certain rugged attraction that upped his masculine appeal. By the same token, he’d scarcely been able to keep his eyes or hands off her, wearing her own blue jeans, a dusky blue shirt with a navy chiffon scarf wrapped over her hair and tucked into the neck of her blouse, and her own chunky sunglasses that completely overpowered her face. While he agreed it
World of Tomorrow 60: Ebbs and Flows
Through the heavy haze of sleep, Evelyn dragged herself to the surface, coming aware in lazy pieces. The whisper soft caress over her hip sent a delicious shiver racing across her skin despite the surrounding warmth. Detecting she was awake, Andrew nuzzled the back of her neck, curling himself closer against her. It was better this time—the argument they’d had. She’d seen how hard he worked to keep from lashing out and she was grateful. It had made it easier to see her own mistakes and apologize for them. To say nothing of how nice it had been to find her forgiveness in the strength of his arms, tucked against his gorgeous body as the dark closed around them and the steady reassuring rise and fall of his chest lulled her to sleep. Warm. The bed’s so warm, she thought, turning into his embrace as he adjusted around her. Their legs tangled together and she pressed little kisses along his collarbones, receiving a contented sigh in return. Of the few people she knew, only he generated bo
World of Tomorrow 61: Feast of Colored Light and Shadow
The evening calls with Andrew’s adopted children that became a nightly occurrence after the September third start of the new war in Europe greatly lifted Evelyn’s spirits. So did the regular communications they received from the New York branch of the Trust, predominantly filtering through Justin and Lily.Unfortunately, the latter especially didn’t have the same positive effect on Andrew. While he was happy to speak to Sarah and Peter, to learn about their new experiences attending school instead of studying with a governess, his conversations with Justin Mitchell consistently led to increased personal stresses for him.“Andrew.” Evelyn stared across the breakfast table at the front and last page of the first section of the New York Times that his nose was buried in, listening to him grumbling in curses to himself. She let him continue a few more seconds, then repeated louder, and with an edge in her voice, “Andrew.”Flipping the paper down so he could just see her over it, he barked
World of Tomorrow 62: Intrepid
Lifting away the drawing room’s sheers, Evelyn looked out over the Ambassador’s wide lawns and gardens visible from their upper story hotel suite. Behind her, Andrew answered the door, standing aside so that room service could deliver their breakfast. Outside, the wind whipped across the open spaces in waves, flattening the grass and sending leaves and debris flying like shrapnel. Overhead, the sky roiled with dark threatening thunderheads. “Is it always like this in autumn?” Evelyn asked as Andrew joined her at the window, then slid a large warm hand around her narrow waist. “Yesterday, it was so bright it was almost hot. Today, the weather turns on a dime. Same thing last week. It’s like spring in New York, though at least it’s not snow.” “Sir?” Releasing her, Andrew took the offered tab from their delivery person and signed it, then handed the young man a cash tip. “Thank you.”
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