Read Online Shades of Earl Grey by Laura Childs - Free Book Online Page B

waiter’s hand. “For your trouble, young man.”
    â€œNo problem, sir,” replied the waiter.
    â€œI’d like a Kir Royale,” Delaine told the waiter. “Cassis and champagne?”
    The waiter nodded. “Of course, ma’am. Be back in a moment.”
    Â 
    â€œEvening, ladies,” boomed a rich male voice.
    Jory Davis, Theodosia’s on-again off-again boyfriend, grinned at them. Tall, well over six feet, with a square jaw, sun-tanned complexion, and curly brown hair, Jory Davis had a slightly reckless look about him. He didn’t look the way a traditional lawyer was supposed to look, all buttoned up and slightly pompous. Instead, Jory Davis had an aura of the outdoors about him. Dressed in casual clothes, he could have passed for a trout fishing guide. Or maybe a wealthy landowner whose life’s love was training thoroughbred horses.
    Jory Davis snaked an arm around Theodosia’s waist and pulled her close to him, touched his chin to the top of her head. Pleased, she snuggled in against him.
    The move was not lost on Delaine. “I see you two are still very cozy,” she said.
    â€œMmm,” said Jory. “And why not?” He smiled down at Theodosia. “I was thinking about taking Rubicon out tomorrow. What do you think? Are you up for an ocean sail?”
    Jory Davis’s sailboat, Rubicon, was a J-24 that he kept moored at the Charleston Yacht Club. He was an expert yachtsman and regularly competed in the Isle of Palms race as well as the Compass Key yacht race.
    â€œIsn’t it still raining?” asked Theodosia.
    â€œTonight it is,” said Jory, “but the weather’s supposed to clear by tomorrow. If there’s a chop on the water, it’ll just make our sail all the more interesting. And challenging,” he added.
    Clear weather and a chance to clear my head, thought Theodosia. Truly a heavenly idea. The past two days had been fairly fraught with tension, what with the terrible accident at the Lady Goodwood and Drayton’s fear that something might go wrong here tonight. Jory’s suggestion of a sail in Charleston Harbor and the waters beyond would be a perfect way to put it all behind her.
    â€œYou’re on,” she told him.
    â€œGood,” he said. “I’ll pick you up around nine, then we’ll go rig the boat. And bring that goofy dog of yours along. We’ll turn him into a sea dog yet.”
    â€œSailing sounds like fun,” said Delaine. The note of wistfulness in her voice was not lost on the two of them.
    â€œSay,” said Jory, “I’m going to slip across the room and have a word with Leyland Hartwell. He’s representing the Tidewater Corporation in a zoning dispute and I’m second chair. Be back in a couple minutes, okay?”
    â€œSure,” said Theodosia as she watched her tall, tanned boyfriend navigate his way through the crowd.
    Ligget, Hume, Hartwell, the firm Jory Davis worked for, was also her father’s old firm. He had been a senior partner along with Leyland Hartwell before he passed away some fifteen years ago. Her father had become a distant memory now, but he was always in her heart. As was her mother, who had died when Theodosia was just eight.
    â€œWhat kind of law does Jory Davis practice again?” asked Delaine.
    â€œMostly corporate and real estate law,” said Theodosia. “Deeds, foreclosures, zoning, leases, that sort of thing.”
    â€œSo he’s never faced off against Cooper in a court-room,” said Delaine.
    The thought amused Theodosia. She could see Cooper Hobcaw with his arrogant stance arguing torts against a bemused Jory Davis. But no, that would never happen. Cooper Hobcaw was a criminal attorney, Jory Davis a real estate attorney.
    â€œCooper Hobcaw seems like a nice fellow . . .” began Theodosia when, suddenly, every light in the place went out. Whoosh. Extinguished like the flame on a candle.
    Oh