He couldn’t think of a single thing to say. He also knew nothing needed saying. That kiss had said it all.
She sighed audibly, and then her freshly kissed mouth tipped up on the right. Shaking her head, she turned and walked out of the kitchen, leaving him to gather himself and bring the plate of sweets after her.
He knew he wouldn’t be able to eat any more of them in front of his family. They would only remind him of what had happened in the kitchen, and those memories were for him to savor when he was alone later.
He finally had hope that he could win her back all the way.
Chapter 7
It didn’t take a genius to know something had happened in the kitchen between Quinn and Francesca. They entered the room separately, but the air around them burned like it did in the Arizona desert where Clara and Arthur had spent their first honeymoon.
Assumpta’s arrangement of four love seats with a coffee table in the center suited a large family, but it was less conducive to matchmaking. Francesca had taken the seat Alice had kept open for her on one of them. The only seat left for Quinn as he set the sweets on the coffee table was next to J.T., on the other side of the coffee table. Strategically, Clara should have seen the problem earlier, but it was easy enough to rectify once they moved to the dining room, she supposed.
Clara liked the energetic Alice, but they needed to come to an understanding about this whole chaperoning gig. “Assumpta, let me summon Hargreaves. Maybe it was the long flight, but I’m suddenly starving.”
Arthur gave a harrumph.
She shot him a look. He knew she was full of it—Hargreaves had prepared them a lovely repast for the airplane—but he didn’t need to give her away.
“Yeah, Mom, I’m as hungry as a bear,” J.T. said with his usual winning solidarity.
Assumpta stood immediately. “Let’s wrap up the final stages, and we can eat straight away. Shawn, if you’ll help me.”
Clara pulled her phone out of her pocket and texted Hargreaves.
Would you please help Assumpta finish preparing the brunch? Also, you might mention to her about seating Quinn and Francesca together. I’m going to handle Miss Bailey.
She tucked her phone away without waiting for a reply. Arthur’s bushy white brows were raised when she looked at him. “I was just letting Hargreaves know he was needed.”
“I’ll bet.”
“Alice, dear,” Clara said, rising. “I wanted to introduce you to Hargreaves. Would you mind coming with me a moment? I bet we can catch him on the way to the kitchen.”
Alice glanced at Francesca before standing. “Of course, Clara. After everything you’ve told me about him, I’m eager to meet him.”
“He is equally eager, dear.” She smiled at the room. “We won’t be a minute. Quinn, you might sit next to Francesca while we’re gone. We Merriams can be overwhelming.”
“I’m not overwhelmed,” Arthur said, making J.T. laugh.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake…” she muttered and walked to the doorway with Alice, who looked over her shoulder and frowned as Quinn took a seat beside an amused Francesca.
Clara indicated for Alice to continue down the hallway, and they stopped outside the kitchen. The young woman was quite tall, something a picture couldn’t properly convey, but Clara simply straightened to her full height and held her own. She let her eyes track to where her brother and sister-in-law were working companionably in the kitchen. She didn’t wish to disturb them—or her chance to speak privately with Alice. “Hargreaves will be here in a moment. Alice, dear, I know you’ve heard we’re here as additional chaperones to make Francesca feel more comfortable around Quinn. The Merriam restructuring is very important to this family.”
Her big brown eyes were serious, her focus intent on Clara’s face, but she remained quiet. After her earlier enthusiasm, Clara understood the young woman knew that a message was being delivered.
“But so too is Quinn’s happiness—and Francesca’s, I might add. I’ve just met her, but it’s obvious they still love each other. I’m hoping we can find a way to give them space to see where that might go while still executing our duties. Do you know what I mean?”
“If you think I’m a pushover for true love, Mrs. Hale, and are trying to undermine my duty to Francesca, please don’t. I follow her guidance on how she wants things to go. I don’t act independently on that score.”
No, she was no pushover. “It’s Clara, and I respect that. You wouldn’t be the admirable assistant I imagine you to be otherwise. But it’s clear they have some things to work out, and I only want you to know our contingent will do our best to aid in that.”
“Understood.” The woman still hadn’t smiled, which was something, for she’d done nothing but until now. “And you need to understand that my loyalty is to Francesca.”
“Yes, I can see you’re as loyal to her as my dear Hargreaves is to me,” she said, spotting him coming down the hallway. “Clifton Hargreaves. Please meet Miss Alice Bailey.”
He nodded with a slight bow. “Miss Bailey. A pleasure.”
“Alice, please, and it’s my pleasure too,” she said, her mouth tipping up in a kind smile. “I hear we have some common interests. I look forward to discussing them. Are you a soufflé or crème brûlée kind of guy, Mr. Hargreaves?”
A butler quiz? Clara was intrigued.
“It’s only Hargreaves, Miss, and if I were pressed, I would say soufflé. You can make it either savory or sweet.”
“Oh, I like that answer,” Alice said, her smile coming out again. “Clara, I would ask you about being a diamonds or rubies kind of lady, but from the ice on your wrists, I already know the answer.”
Ah, so it wasn’t only a butler quiz. “Diamonds are so much more versatile, dear. Not only are they pretty, but you can sell a bauble or two if you’re on the run.”
Alice threw back her head and laughed, prompting Shawn and Assumpta to look over. “On the run! That’s awesome. I’ll have to remember that if I ever need to flee the country.”
Clara couldn’t resist smiling, noting Hargreaves was doing the same.
“Shall we see what Mr. and Mrs. Merriam need to finish brunch?” Alice asked, turning to Hargreaves. “That is, of course, if Clara is finished setting the ground rules.”
The girl had teeth, and Clara respected that. But she was also kind, polite, and funny. They were going to get along fine. “Absolutely, dear. It will be wonderful to get to know you better, and in the course of our time together, who knows what magic we might create?”
“Magic, eh?” Alice grinned. “I love the sound of that. I might have to buy a wand.”
Clara extended her hand to Alice and they shook companionably. “We’ll both buy wands then. Hargreaves will see to it. He’s adept at spreading his own brand of magic.”
“What magic have you worked lately, Hargreaves?” Alice linked her arm through his, and surprisingly he let her as they walked into the kitchen together. Moments later, she heard Alice laugh out loud, and Clara smiled. Hargreaves was ever so witty.