Living Out Loud (Austen, #3)(22)

Elle blushed at that, looking down at her fork as she rolled a green bean away from her. “Oh, I—”

Susan brightened up and interrupted, as she so often did. “Oh! I nearly forgot! John, Elle was a secretary in Boerne; do you think we could place her at one of the magazines? I think she’d be quite an addition to your staff.”

John nodded thoughtfully. “Yes, of course. I’m sure we have something you could do, if you’d like.”

“Exactly what kind of secretarial work did you do in Boerne?” Fanny asked with her eyes on her fork, which politely stabbed another green bean. She glanced at Elle as she lifted her fork.

Elle’s hands fell to her lap, and I imagined she was twisting her fingers under the table, her voice gone a little soft. “I worked for a small insurance agency.”

Fanny hummed. “How charming. But I wouldn’t want you to overextend yourself, dear. The magazine is very busy. Things move quickly, and if you’re not prepared, I fear you’d be swept away.” She laughed—at least, I thought it was a laugh—an odd, successive intake of air, followed by a sound of mild amusement.

I set my fork down with a clank and glared, breaking my vow of silence. “Elle happens to be one of the most organized, composed women I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. She works tirelessly and thanklessly just for the sake of a job well done, and I honestly can’t think of a better person to nominate to handle such a busy environment.”

Fanny glared back at me.

“Thank you,” Elle started quietly, “but—”

“I was only stating the nature of the competitive, high-level work, so your sister could make a wise decision,” Fanny said, her eyes like fiery laser beams.

In that moment, I didn’t have a single wonder as to how she managed to steamroll her entire family.

Fortunately, I wasn’t part of her family.

“Oh, I think we all understood you quite well.”

Her mouth popped open in furious shock at that, but Susan laughed, a big, happy sound that I sensed was orchestrated.

“Maybe we could all use another glass of wine—Annie included.”

Elle was still staring down at her hands, and I endeavored to keep the spotlight on me.

“I’d love one,” I sang cheerily.

Mama didn’t think it was funny.

Frank chose the moment to speak up. “Elle, we’d love to have you at one of the magazines.” He completely ignored Fanny when her head swiveled on her neck to gape at him. “I’ve never known Susan to recommend anyone who wasn’t exactly what we needed. In fact, Ward just lost his executive assistant. Think you could come in Monday and take a look around? See if it interests you?”

“You can’t actually be serious!” Fanny hissed half under her breath as if we weren’t all sitting right there.

Frank looked at her like she was crazy. “Of course I’m serious. It’s not your concern, Francis.”

Her face somehow soured even more, but she shut up.

“Good!” Susan said.

No one asked Elle what she wanted, and I watched her, wishing she would meet my eyes so I could comfort her, but she was refolding her napkin with the focus of a Tibetan monk.

“So,” Susan started, “I don’t know if you all know, but Annie is quite the pianist. She played for us and was brilliant. I must say, she blew me away and down Fifth!”

Everyone looked at me with interest, and I smiled, fully prepared to tap-dance until Elle felt more like participating.

“Annie, you have to play for us. John! John, tell her how much you’d like to hear her!”

He chuckled and smiled at me. “Would you do us the honor?”

“Of course,” I answered.

Susan clapped her hands together and held them. “Oh, wonderful! I think we’re all quite through with dinner. Come, come, we’ll take dessert and coffee in the music room.”

We all stood, except Mama. Everyone’s eyes drifted to her for a simultaneous millisecond before shifting away. Regardless of the brevity, Mama saw it.

I motioned for Meg to take the wheelchair and hung back for Elle, taking her hand. In the shuffle, we’d been left in the back of the pack.

“That was awful,” I whispered. “Are you okay?"

Before she could answer, her gaze shifted to look past me. I followed her eyeline to find Ward.

He merged with us, his handsome face apologetic. “I’m sorry about my mother. I’d like to say she’s not always so…”

“Rude? Condescending? Snobbish?” I offered.

Elle pinched my arm. “Annie!”

But Ward laughed. “All of those things are true, and I’m sorry for each one.” He paused, his eyes moving to Elle. “But mostly, I’m sorry that no one asked you if you wanted to work at the magazine.”

I nearly sighed with thanks that someone else had noticed, keeping my thoughts to myself with some difficulty.

Elle didn’t answer right away. “I…I do want to find a job, and I did enjoy working as a secretary, very much. But…”

He waited for her to speak as we neared the music room where Susan was already arranging chairs and ushering everyone around. And on observing his patience and thoughtfulness, I decided I liked him very much.

“I have the same fears as your mother,” she finally said. “I don’t know if I can do the job well.”