“For once, I would like to enjoy a significant moment with you without there being some extraordinary component to it,” Andrew groused, massaging his temples with one hand as he returned to the parlor after seeing Ned out. Evelyn slumped against the sofa back. In this particular circumstance, she might have to agree. Setting aside her confusion and seeking a more positive mental attitude, she replied, “We did manage to get married without issue.” His fingers on his temples stilled, then he looked up at her and flashed her a handsome beaming smile. “So we did.” His smile faded and he simply stared at her in amazement. “Nothing could dampen the way that makes me feel, darling. You take my breath away.” They both turned hearing Mary softly clear her throat at the parlor door. “If there’ll be nothing else, Mr. and Mrs. James, I’ll be retiring for the night.” Andrew glanced at his watch. “Dear God, it’s nearly eleven. Yes, of course, do go rest. I’m so sor

“It’s beautiful country up here, Mr. James,” Tank said. Andrew’s eyes focused from his blank stare and flicked to meet Tank’s briefly in the rearview mirror. “So it is.” “You seem a little distracted. Is everything alright, sir?” He glanced out the windows, watching the scenery blur by. “I’m fine. A lot of memories on this route.” Not least of which were of Charlotte, since he was on the Taconic State Parkway, headed north of the city to go speak to his mother. Originally, the road had been designated as the Bronx Parkway Extension, and he could still remember when the route had been approved by the state legislature in 1923. There’d been a great deal of discussion at the dinner table in the James family household over the parkway’s approval. A great many fights over it too. In combination with the completed section of the Bronx River Parkway, the Taconic was to provide motorists both a scenic and rapid route from the city to t

“Andrew, there must be at least a thousand people in this city with connections to Tammany Hall,” Evelyn countered. “Right now, you’re angry with her. I don’t think you’re thinking clearly on this.”It had been a long time since he’d lost his temper with her, but she could see it the instant he hit flashpoint. A dark scowl settled over his face and his mutable blue-green eyes glittered dangerously with cruel shards of green.Wide-eyed, she cringed, watching in bewilderment when he sat up abruptly, then turned his head so he could go on staring down his straight, narrow nose at her. “A few days ago after we listened to Ned Jenner’s story, you told me I should trust my intuition. Well, my intuition says my mother has something to do with all of this.” His smooth Ivy League voice carried an edge.She was sorely tempted to disagree, but given the circumstances, it would only serve to rile him more. Se

“Evelyn James?” Staring blankly at the typeface before her, Evelyn didn’t hear her name called. The Ladies’ Home Journal’s ‘provocative’ survey article on What Men Think of Women had scarcely proved interesting beyond the title, especially when pitted against her own meandering and worried thoughts. Despite Lily’s concerns about the unplanned pregnancy, Evelyn was positive that circumstance would work out beautifully for her best friend and Justin. She was genuinely happy for them. Still, the surprise news brought her own insecurities to the fore. Andrew’s negotiation with her about having children on the night he’d muscled the televised baseball double header into existence had given her both reason to hope and something delightful to daydream about. If Lily had missed two cycles already, then it was abundantly clear she and Justin had been amorously engaged with a far more regular frequency than she and Andrew had. At least up until recently. Once September had rolled around, h

While Andrew walked Alexander Lowell out, Evelyn sat still on the sofa, staring blankly into the fire. The smell of the wood soothed her, as did the dance of the crackling flames as the logs burned, but everything else inside her felt as thought it had been blasted into a million tiny pieces. Pieces she had no hope at all of reassembling. Of course Alexander Lowell would know. How many times had she heard Andrew say it? That Lowell wasn’t the best lawyer in town because he was better at lawyering than anyone else, but because he had eyes and ears everywhere. With an eidetic memory, every piece of information he ever acquired was readily available the instant he needed or wanted it. She had no reason to doubt that what he'd told them was true. Besides that the lawyer had already been in Russell James’ debt, long before there was any demand for secret identities. What benefit to him would it be to lie now? “Do you want something to drink?” Andrew asked softly,