Read Online Otherwise Engaged by Amanda Quick - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Amanda Quick
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the soft leather shoes she wore indoors. She was discussing the weather with the tall, broad-shouldered man standing near the window.
It was not the topic of conversation that startled Amity. Everyone talked about the weather. It was the surprisingly animated expression on Penny’s face that caught her attention. It would have been going too far to say that Penny looked positively cheerful, but there was a subtle hint of the old, enchanting sparkle that had once characterized her.
All the evidence indicated that Inspector Logan was responsible for lifting Penny’s spirits, and if that was, indeed, true, Amity thought, she was quite prepared to like the man on sight.
“Oh, there you are, Amity,” Penny said. “Allow me to introduceyou to Inspector Logan of the Yard. Inspector, my sister, and her fiancé, Mr. Stanbridge.”
Amity winced at the “fiancé” but Benedict did not even flinch. Then again, he’d had more experience in covert work, she told herself.
Logan turned quickly. He inclined his head toward Amity. “Miss Doncaster. It is a pleasure to see you safe and sound this morning.”
Logan was in his early thirties. Blond-haired and almost handsome, he had a boyish innocence about him that was utterly belied by the watchful expression in his cool blue eyes. He spoke with the accent of a respectable, educated man. The quality of his coat and trousers was good but not exceptionally fine or in the first stare of fashion. Amity suspected that he was able to supplement an inspector’s pay with a small, independent income. Or maybe, like Penny, Logan had a knack for investments.
His attitude was both respectful and polite but he did not appear either intimidated or impressed with the expensive furnishings in the drawing room.
He gave Benedict a swift, assessing look and seemed satisfied with what he saw. “Mr. Stanbridge, I congratulate you on your engagement.”
“Thank you, Inspector,” Benedict said. “I am the happiest of men.”
Amity closed her eyes briefly at that. When she looked at Logan again, it was obvious he saw nothing unusual about Benedict’s statement.
Logan’s brows rose. “Would that be Stanbridge of Stanbridge & Company, sir?”
“Yes,” Benedict said. “You’re familiar with the firm?”
“My father wanted me to study engineering,” Logan said. “If he had lived, he would have been severely disappointed by my decision to apply for a position at the Yard.”
“It seems to me that your career requires engineering of a somewhat different nature from my own,” Benedict said. He smiled. “But we are both engaged in the business of trying to ensure that the trappings of civilization do not collapse beneath us.”
Evidently having concluded that Benedict was not going to try to intimidate him, Logan relaxed. He went so far as to smile.
“Indeed, sir,” he said. “That is a very insightful observation.”
Amity was not surprised by the ease of manner between the two men. She had spent enough time in Benedict’s company to know that he did not judge others by their social rank. He respected competence and professionalism in whatever guise it appeared and Inspector Logan gave the impression of possessing both qualities.
Mrs. Houston appeared with a tea tray and set it on the table in front of the sofa. Logan did appear briefly surprised when he was offered a cup but he recovered smoothly.
Amity sat down in a chair and hid a smile. She was well aware that Penny’s manners were not what the inspector was accustomed to from women of the upper classes. Policemen—even inspectors—were usually treated like tradesmen and servants by those who moved in the circles that Penny and Nigel had once inhabited. The very wealthy rarely had occasion to speak to the men of the Yard. When they did find it necessary to talk to an inspector, they did not receive him in their drawing rooms. Nor did they offer tea and cakes.
“Thank you for allowing me to call on you today, Miss
It was not the topic of conversation that startled Amity. Everyone talked about the weather. It was the surprisingly animated expression on Penny’s face that caught her attention. It would have been going too far to say that Penny looked positively cheerful, but there was a subtle hint of the old, enchanting sparkle that had once characterized her.
All the evidence indicated that Inspector Logan was responsible for lifting Penny’s spirits, and if that was, indeed, true, Amity thought, she was quite prepared to like the man on sight.
“Oh, there you are, Amity,” Penny said. “Allow me to introduceyou to Inspector Logan of the Yard. Inspector, my sister, and her fiancé, Mr. Stanbridge.”
Amity winced at the “fiancé” but Benedict did not even flinch. Then again, he’d had more experience in covert work, she told herself.
Logan turned quickly. He inclined his head toward Amity. “Miss Doncaster. It is a pleasure to see you safe and sound this morning.”
Logan was in his early thirties. Blond-haired and almost handsome, he had a boyish innocence about him that was utterly belied by the watchful expression in his cool blue eyes. He spoke with the accent of a respectable, educated man. The quality of his coat and trousers was good but not exceptionally fine or in the first stare of fashion. Amity suspected that he was able to supplement an inspector’s pay with a small, independent income. Or maybe, like Penny, Logan had a knack for investments.
His attitude was both respectful and polite but he did not appear either intimidated or impressed with the expensive furnishings in the drawing room.
He gave Benedict a swift, assessing look and seemed satisfied with what he saw. “Mr. Stanbridge, I congratulate you on your engagement.”
“Thank you, Inspector,” Benedict said. “I am the happiest of men.”
Amity closed her eyes briefly at that. When she looked at Logan again, it was obvious he saw nothing unusual about Benedict’s statement.
Logan’s brows rose. “Would that be Stanbridge of Stanbridge & Company, sir?”
“Yes,” Benedict said. “You’re familiar with the firm?”
“My father wanted me to study engineering,” Logan said. “If he had lived, he would have been severely disappointed by my decision to apply for a position at the Yard.”
“It seems to me that your career requires engineering of a somewhat different nature from my own,” Benedict said. He smiled. “But we are both engaged in the business of trying to ensure that the trappings of civilization do not collapse beneath us.”
Evidently having concluded that Benedict was not going to try to intimidate him, Logan relaxed. He went so far as to smile.
“Indeed, sir,” he said. “That is a very insightful observation.”
Amity was not surprised by the ease of manner between the two men. She had spent enough time in Benedict’s company to know that he did not judge others by their social rank. He respected competence and professionalism in whatever guise it appeared and Inspector Logan gave the impression of possessing both qualities.
Mrs. Houston appeared with a tea tray and set it on the table in front of the sofa. Logan did appear briefly surprised when he was offered a cup but he recovered smoothly.
Amity sat down in a chair and hid a smile. She was well aware that Penny’s manners were not what the inspector was accustomed to from women of the upper classes. Policemen—even inspectors—were usually treated like tradesmen and servants by those who moved in the circles that Penny and Nigel had once inhabited. The very wealthy rarely had occasion to speak to the men of the Yard. When they did find it necessary to talk to an inspector, they did not receive him in their drawing rooms. Nor did they offer tea and cakes.
“Thank you for allowing me to call on you today, Miss
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