CHAPTER FOUR
Stepping onto the boardwalk, Ethan pulled his duster closer. The night was damn cold, the promise of snow weighting the air and pushing against the scant skin he hadn’t covered. He’d left his gloves in his mother’s room, but there was no way he was going back for them. He’d collect them tomorrow night prior to their dinner.
The distant sound of piano music pulled his gaze. From the Diamond, light and laughter spilled. Maybe he should seek a steadying drink. He ignored the voice that said he didn’t so much need a drink as he needed to see Pearl.
It was warm in the Diamond, filled with bodies as it was and the roar of the fireplace, and his usual spot on the wall was unoccupied. Collecting a whiskey took a moment, and then he was resting again in his usual post, his duster and woollen vest now making him overly warm. He hadn’t spied Pearl yet, but the tension in his body faded as familiar sights and sounds washed over him. It didn’t even matter Jake Wade were at the bar, sparking on one of the Diamond’s girls.
Pretending he wasn’t searching for her, he swept his gaze over the crowd again. Something settled inside him when he spied her at the roulette table, holding court amongst the players. He could well understand their fascination. She always stirred him, but she especially did when she was in her element, charming and flirting with those around them while maintaining a distance most didn’t discern. She lit up on the saloon floor, but she was truly herself when she was on stage, her voice soaring to the heavens, raising bumps on skin and holding the audience spellbound. Holding him bound.
The man next to her leered into the cleavage revealed by her emerald-green gown. Ethan’s hand curled into a fist but he restrained himself. He’d defended her before and she hadn’t thanked him for it. There was no need, in any event. If anyone knew how to take care of themselves, it was Pearl La Monte.
She said something sharp to the leering man and he averted his gaze, his cheeks ruddy, and in the next instant she had a smile for him, one that rewarded him for heeding her warning. Still smiling, she looked up toward where he stood.
Their gazes met and the saloon fell away. He heard nothing, saw nothing but herm, and all the cares his mother brought disappeared. Her lips parted, stained a vibrant red. Her hair cascaded over her shoulder, the soft curls resting on the creamy skin of her cleavage, framed by her low-cut gown. Christ, how was he any better than the cur who’d leered at her?
But her eyes…green pools held his. His breath caught in his chest. The strangest shine lit her eyes—was she pleased to see him? No, that couldn’t be—only look how now she scowled.
The saloon returned in a rush. Brows knitted, she stared at him until one of those around her drew her attention. She replied, and he was content to watch her but instead she started toward him.
The weight of the glass in his hand registered and he downed its contents. Straightening, he wished he had a hat to remove in deference. Bowing would be too much, wouldn’t it?
“Garrett,” she said upon reaching him, and the disdain in her voice slid along his spine.
“Miz Pearl.” What was it about her scorn he found so alluring? He swallowed, and saw she followed the movement of his throat with her gaze.
Her scowl deepened. “And where have you been these last four nights past? Been burdening some other body with your presence?”
Surprise filled him that she’d noticed his absence and that she didn’t know what he’d been about. Usually, she knew all. He didn’t even hesitate to tell her “My mother is in town. I just came from dinner with her, in fact.”
Her face went blank. “Your mother? She’s your mother?”
So she knew a woman occupied him but not his relationship to her. “Yes.”
She frowned. “A woman of wealth is your mother.”
“Yes.” He waited.
“So you have wealth.”
“No, my family does,” he corrected her gently.
“Garrett…” Her eyes widened. “You’re one of those Garretts?”
He supposed he couldn’t be surprised she knew of his family. The only surprise was it had taken this long for her to make the connection. She was from Boston, as was he, and his family were wealthy enough and notorious enough to be well-known by most who had called Boston home any time in the past seventy years. “Yes.”
She recoiled, her face pale.
Her reaction almost had him reaching for her before he remembered himself. What had happened for her to look so?
For some reason, he felt the need to explain. “My mother wants me to return to Boston. I have been gone over ten years and have made my own way the entire time, but she says I must return home and take up the Garrett mantle, the one my brothers already wear. They have no need of me, and they didn’t much notice me there when I was, but I am to heed her wishes, give up my little rebellion, and return.”
Still she said nothing, only stared at him with that stricken look on her face.
“I was always different. I was never what they wanted me to be. I can’t return. I won’t.” He couldn’t stop the torrent of words falling from him. He hadn’t spoken so much in years, but the look on her face compelled him. “Pearl?”
The sound of her name seemed to snap her from her daze. “I need to— I have to—” Wild-eyed, she bobbed a curtsy.
He didn’t know which of them was more shocked.
Horror and desperation warred on her features before she mumbled his name in farewell and then fled.
He watched her rush through the crowd, utterly stupefied by both his behaviour and hers. He didn’t’ know what had happened, but the warmth had gone out of the room. He wanted to pursue her, to assure himself she was well, to offer assistance however he could, but he knew she would not want such from him. For the whole of their acquaintance he’d borne her contempt and her ire, taken it as his due and as his protection, but something about learning of his family had disturbed her, to the point where she acted nothing like the Pearl he knew and admired.
If Mrs Llewellyn were here, he would seek her out to offer her own comfort to her friend, but Mrs Llewellyn was not here and so he could do nothing.
Nothing but wonder what it was about learning of his family that had turned her face white and offer a deference he knew she did not feel.
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