Hello Stranger (The Ravenels #4)(49)

“Exactly.”

She realized Ethan intended to steal whatever it was he’d come for while the guests were being entertained.

A familiar gravelly voice intruded on her thoughts. “I seem to have been replaced as your escort, Dr. Gibson.” It was Dr. Havelock, who appeared to be in a jovial mood. “However, since you’re in the company of Mr. Ravenel, I will relinquish my role with good grace.”

Garrett blinked in surprise, having never known the keen-minded Havelock to make such a mistake before. She glanced quickly at Ethan’s expressionless face, and back to the older man. “Dr. Havelock, this is Mr. Randolph of Durham.”

Perplexed, Dr. Havelock looked more closely at Ethan. “I beg your pardon, sir. I could have sworn you were a Ravenel.” He turned to Garrett. “He favors the earl’s younger brother, does he not?”

“I couldn’t say,” Garrett replied, “since I haven’t yet been introduced to Mr. Ravenel, although Lady Helen has promised it will happen someday.”

“Mr. Ravenel came to the clinic,” Dr. Havelock remarked, “to visit Lady Pandora after her surgery. Were you not introduced to him then?”

“Regretfully, no.”

Dr. Havelock shrugged, and smiled at Ethan. “Randolph, is it? A pleasure.” They exchanged a firm handshake. “In case you weren’t aware, my good fellow, you are in the company of one of the most skilled and accomplished women in England. In fact, I would say Dr. Gibson has a male brain in a woman’s body.”

Garrett grinned wryly at his last comment, which she knew had been intended as a compliment. “Thank you, Doctor.”

“Despite my short acquaintance with Dr. Gibson,” Ethan said, “her brain seems entirely female to me.” The remark caused Garrett to stiffen slightly, as she expected a mocking comment to follow. Something about how a woman’s mind was changeable, or shallow, the usual clichés. But as Ethan continued, there was no hint of teasing in his tone. “Keen, subtle, and quick, with an intellect strengthened by compassion—yes, she has a woman’s mind.”

Thrown off guard, Garrett stared at him with a touch of wonder.

In that brief, private moment, Ethan looked as if he really did prefer her to everything else in the world. As if he saw all of her, the good and the bad, and wouldn’t change a thing about her.

As if from a distance, she heard Havelock’s voice. “Your new friend has a silver tongue, Dr. Gibson.”

“Indeed, he does,” Garrett said, managing to tear her gaze from Ethan’s. “Would you mind if I continue to keep company with Mr. Randolph?”

“Not at all,” Havelock assured her. “That spares me from having to listen to the musicale, when I would much rather indulge in a cigar with friends in the smoking room.”

“A cigar?” Garrett repeated, pretending to be shocked. “After all the times I’ve heard you refer to tobacco as a ‘poisonous luxury?’ Not long ago you told me you hadn’t smoked a single cigar since your wedding.”

“Few men can defeat a willpower as strong as mine,” Havelock said. “But by Jove, I’ve done it.”

After Dr. Havelock had left them, Garrett studied Ethan closely. “He was right about something—you do have the look of the Ravenels. Especially your eyes. I can’t think how I missed that before. What an odd coincidence.”

Ethan didn’t reply to that, only frowned as he asked, “Why does Lady Helen want to introduce you to Weston Ravenel?”

“She seems to think we would enjoy each other’s company, but I haven’t had the time to meet him yet.”

“Good. Don’t go near the bastard.”

“Why? What’s he done?”

“He’s a Ravenel. That’s reason enough.”

Garrett’s brows lifted. “You bear ill will toward the family?”

“Aye.”

“Even Lady Helen? She’s the gentlest, sweetest-natured woman in the world. No reasonable person could dislike her.”

“’Tis none of them in particular I hate,” Ethan said in a low tone, “but all of them in general. And if you ever take up with Ravenel, I’ll have to throttle him with my bare hands.”

For a moment Garrett was too taken aback to respond. She stared at him with cool disapproval. “I see. Beneath that smartly tailored evening suit, there’s nothing but a jealous brute with no ability to control his primitive urges. Is that it?”

Ethan regarded her without expression, but after a moment she saw a glint of humor in his eyes. Bending his head over hers, he murmured, “It’s probably best for both of us, acushla, if you never find out what’s beneath my evening suit.”

Garrett had never been the kind of woman who blushed easily, if at all, but she found herself turning as red as a beetroot. Looking away from him, she tried to bring the rampant color under control.

“How can you hate an entire family?” she asked. “They can’t all have done something to you.”

“’Tis not important.”

Obviously that wasn’t true. But Helen hadn’t mentioned a word about any conflict between the Ravenels and Ethan Ransom. What in the world could have made him so hostile? She decided to take the matter up with him in the future.

They lingered in the refreshments room until most of the crowd had departed for the double salon, and they drifted out with the last few stragglers. Lady Tatham’s voice could be heard in the distance, announcing the first of the entertainers. The serene piano notes of Chopin’s Polonaise in E-flat Major rippled into the hallway like the cool, soothing water of a brook. Instead of heading toward the music, however, Ethan took Garrett along a hallway to the other end of the house, and down a set of private stairs.