Free Justice Done by Jan Burke Page B

asked.
    Ada gave a shout of laughter. “It’s best not to let everyone become too sure of what I’ll do next. Do you like it?”
    â€œYou look fantastic.” She gave her a kiss. “Happy birthday, Grandmother.”
    â€œThank you, my dear. How was your afternoon with Robert?”
    â€œVery pleasant. He said I should ask you about your relationship with him.”
    She raised an eyebrow. “He did, did he?”
    â€œYes. Now don’t tease or put me off, Grandmother.”
    Ada smiled into the mirror as she fastened an earring. “Do you like him?”
    â€œGrandmother!”
    â€œI’ll tell you this much. He’s not my employee.” She grinned wickedly, then added, “And he’s not my lover. Oh, don’t try to look innocent, I know what’s being said. But he’s not. I have no romantic interest in him—none whatsoever.”
    â€œBut you seem so close—”
    â€œWe are very close. But that has nothing to do with the price of eggs, so get off your pretty duff and pursue the man.” She turned and gave Sarah a quick kiss. “You were very sweet not to offer your old granny any competition for that young fox.”
    â€œGrandmother!”
    â€œYou’re attracted to him, Sarah. Have been from the day you met him.”
    â€œWhat utter nonsense.”
    â€œIs it?”
    Sarah opened her mouth to protest, and closed it again.
    Ada laughed and turned back to the mirror. “I thought so. Well, my dear, you have my blessing.”
    T he birthday party was wildly successful. Sarah, returning from one of her frequent strolls on one of the upper decks, saw Ada dancing an energetic fox trot with Captain Dolman—who was an excellent dancer, but still seemed very nervous. Ada, she noticed, had spent a great deal of time with Captain Dolman. Although Sarah had been dreading another encounter with Senator Hastings, she had not seen him since the first hour of the party, when he had been talking to Robert. Surprised that he would pass up an opportunity to work a crowd this wealthy and influential, she was, nevertheless, pleased that she had been spared another round of quizzing.
    She hadn’t seen much of Robert, either. She had danced with him once, but he had seemed so preoccupied that she had difficulty holding a conversation with him.
    â€œI’m terrible company tonight,” he said as the dance ended. “May we try this again, another evening? Just the two of us?”
    Telling him she would consider that a promise, she resolved not to make a nuisance of herself to him.
    Now, several hours later, she strolled near Ada’s table. Although the invitations had said, “No gifts,” a few of Ada’s friends had ignored these instructions. When her grandmother returned from the dance floor, Sarah offered to take the packages to her room.
    â€œThank you, Sarah!” she said, “How very thoughtful of you.” She gave Sarah the key to the room and turned to accept an offer to waltz with one of her other guests. Captain Dolman offered to help Sarah, but as there were only five boxes to be carried, she politely declined his assistance.
    As she came down the stairs, her arms full, she was surprised to see Robert leaving his suite, his face set in a forbidding frown. He did not see her, however, and quickly moved off in the opposite direction, toward the elevator. She nearly called to him, to ask what was troubling him, but decided not to delay him, as he was so apparently in a hurry.
    She managed to open the door to Ada’s suite, only to discover that she had entered through the servant’s door, rather than the main door, which opened into the sitting area. This part of the suite—this small room, and beyond it the bathroom and large bedroom, were closed off from the sitting room, and except for the light from the hallway behind her, it was in darkness. Sarah tried to reach for the old-fashioned