Read Online Brenda Joyce - [Francesca Cahil 03] by Deadly Affairs - Free Book Online

affairs.”
    “I am sorry,” Francesca managed, mortified.
    “Wut’s the ruckus? She’s a beauty, an’ we saw her in some play when I was ten. I ain’t niver forgot her,” Joel said, looking from Evan to Francesca and back again.
    Evan took Joel by the arm. “Come with me a moment, young fellow,” he said. He pulled him to the other end of the hall, and, as he was six foot tall, he leaned over to mutter in Joel’s ear. There was nothing harsh or unkind in his manner, and Francesca smiled a bit, watching the pair. Joel turned red, looking abashed.
    Francesca faced Maggie. “I am sorry about that,” she said.
    Maggie had been watching the exchange between Evan and Joel as well. “So am I. I didn’t mean to cause your brother embarrassment. I will speak with Joel. He doesn’t understand etiquette, Miss Cahill, but that is my fault,” she said firmly.
    Francesca felt a rush of warmth toward the other woman. “It’s not your fault.”
    “No. I know the difference between your class and mine. But I haven’t had time to teach Joel proper manners,and it didn’t seem so very important—until now.” She glanced toward Evan and Joel again as they returned, Joel still flushed, Evan apparently having recovered from the brief moment of embarrassment. Blushing, Maggie said, “Mr. Cahill, please forgive me and my son. We have been terribly rude.”
    Evan smiled at her, but he seemed a bit puzzled again. “There is nothing to forgive. If one dares to overstep oneself, why, I suppose one must face the consequences.”
    Maggie avoided his eyes. She nodded. “Joel? We have to go.”
    “Are you all right, Mrs. Kennedy?” Evan suddenly asked, reaching out to detain her.
    She somehow sidestepped him. Very much like a skittish filly. “I am fine.” She still refused to look at him. She smiled at Francesca, but it seemed strained. “Thank you again.”
    “I will not let you down,” Francesca vowed. “But may I keep Joel for a while? I will see that he gets safely home by suppertime.”
    Maggie nodded. “Of course.”
    “Here, I will see you to the door,” Evan said amiably.
    Maggie barely looked at him. As she had never taken off her navy blue wool coat, she nodded and allowed him to walk with her to the front door, where a doorman opened it for her. Evan turned and hurried back to Francesca. “Has she been crying?” he asked with some concern.
    Francesca hesitated, and gave Joel a look that meant, be quiet. “She has lost a dear friend.”
    “I am so sorry,” Evan said, his expression turning grave. “If I had known, I would have been more gallant.”
    “You were very gallant,” Francesca said.
    Evan glanced back at the closed front door. “I would swear to it, though, that we have met before.”
    “Evan, I do not think so. She is a seamstress.”
    He shrugged. “Perhaps it was at one of Grace’s performances.”
    “Perhaps. So why have you come looking for me? I am on my way out.”
    He faced her squarely. “Your friend the police commissioner called. He has asked me and my fiancée to join you and him at the theater this Saturday night.”
    Francesca stared.
    “Am I missing something?” Evan asked.
    “No, no, we thought to take in the new musical which had received such rave reviews. It would not be proper for us to go alone, so clearly Bragg thought you might wish to join us.”
    “I accepted, as I saw no graceful way not to,” Evan said. “But let’s make it a short evening, if you don’t mind?” With that, he walked away.
    Francesca did not know how to feel. Clearly, Evan had no wish to spend any time with his fiancée, Sarah Channing. And, as clearly, Bragg thought to keep the evening innocent by having another couple present.
    Francesca realized she was disappointed when she had no right to be.
    She turned to Joel, shrugging her disappointment aside. It was better this way. To yearn for a romantic evening had been terribly foolish—and wrong. Besides, she had more important matters