Chapter 57
Eleanor stood up briskly and locked the door behind her.
Thankfully, lan didn’t come knocking on her door that night, and she finally let out a sigh of relief.
The next morning, the piano was delivered right on schedule. Eleanor had it placed in the conservatory, adjusted the sound, and then sat down to play a piece. When she finished, Joslyn smiled and said, “Ma’am, I may not know much about music, but you play beautifully p>
Eleanor smiled back, glancing over her shoulder just as lan came down the stairs. Joslyn brought breakfast to the table. “Ma’am, sir, breakfast is ready p>
Eleanor got up and headed to the dining room. Out of the blue, lan asked, “Are you free at noon p>
She didn’t answer right away, but her eyes met his, quietly questioning.
lan held her gaze, then picked up his coffee as if dismissing the idea. “Never mind p>
Eleanor lowered her eyes and went on eating. She’d long since made up her mind to avoid his social engagements whenever possible—if she could decline, she would; if she couldn’t, she’d find a way to slip away. She had no intention of getting involved with his circle of friends.
After lan left, Eleanor turned her attention back to her dissertation, gathering materials and hammering away at her laptop. Around midday, she received a text from Trent, the private investigator. He’d sent over a few photos.
lan was dining with a foreign couple, Vanessa by his side, the group looking perfectly at ease and cheerful.
Eleanor set her phone aside and, at last, typed the final sentence of her dissertation. She exhaled deeply in relief.
After a final check, she sent the document to Jude Vaughn, along with a message: “Jude, does my name have to be published with this paper p>
“Ellie, this is going to an international journal. It has to be your real name. Is there a problem p>
She smiled faintly at the screen. “No problem p>
“Alright, I’ll go over it first, then have Dr. Lyman review it. If everything looks good, we’ll get it published p>
Eleanor replied, “Sounds good p>
Later that evening, around nine, Joslyn took a call and came upstairs. “Ma’am, I need to head home for something tonight. I’ll be back first thing in the morning p>
Eleanor nodded. “Of course. Be careful on your way p>
She heard Joslyn’s car pull out of the drive. Alone in the house, Eleanor took a long, hot shower, then changed into comfortable pajamas and curled up with a book on the bedroom sofa. Whenever she could steal a moment, she’d lose herself in her books-she loved anything on medicine, always hungry for knowledge.
By eleven, she was in bed with her book hugged to her chest, drifting off to sleep. Half-asleep, she thought she heard a car pull up outside. Ian, maybe? But she was too tired to care.
Suddenly, her bedroom door swung open. Eleanor jolted upright, heart racing. In the doorway, silhouetted by the hall light, stood a tall, broad-shouldered figure.
Her mind snapped to the fact that Joslyn was gone, her daughter wasn’t home, and she’d forgotten to lock her door. Ian stood there like a dangerous wolf at the threshold, and panic shot through her.
She caught the faint scent of whiskey in the air.
“Still awake? Waiting for me?” His low voice carried a teasing edge.
“I was just about to sleep. Go back to your room,” Eleanor said, clutching the blanket to her chest. She couldn’t help but suspect Joslyn’s sudden departure had been orchestrated by him.
“I’m staying in your room tonight.” Ian stepped in as if it was the most natural thing in the world, tossing his suit jacket onto the sofa and unbuttoning his shirt.
“Ian, go back to your own room p>
He spoke in a deep, measured voice. “It’s the twenty-sixth p>
Once a month, four nights-nights she had once begged him for, through tears.
He hadn’t forgotten, and he meant to keep his word.