She smiled. “Of course, go right in, it’s pretty crowded,” she warned him. He pressed into the crowd, and saw de Vaumont in the distance, recognizing him from his pictures. But he didn’t recognize Theo from hers. He didn’t see her anywhere and wondered if she hadn’t arrived yet. He had come to see her himself, and meet her if possible, since he was so intrigued by her case, and why the French authorities hadn’t solved it and brought the killers to justice. This might be his only chance to meet her.

He combed the front rooms, looking for her intently and didn’t see her, and then he saw the double red velvet curtains at the very back and wondered. He approached cautiously, and with a gentle gesture, pulled one panel aside, and found himself inches from Theo, who had been peeking through them. She looked embarrassed and took a step back as he smiled down at her. He had never seen eyes as blue or skin so white, and her hair looked sexy and voluptuous cascading to her shoulders in waves. He felt as though an electric current had gone through him and struck him dumb. He hadn’t expected the impact of seeing her to be so powerful, nor to be so close to her. He didn’t know what to say to her, which was rare for him. He usually had the gift of gab of his Irish ancestors. But this time all he could do was stare at her, mesmerized, as he struggled to find the words he needed to put her at ease. She looked startled as he filled the doorway, and a little frightened to be discovered.

“Ms. Morgan, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to intrude. I was looking for you, and I thought this might be another room for the public.”

“It is,” she said softly. “We’re using it as a stockroom. I’m handling the stock tonight, the others are too busy to do it.” He was sure that wasn’t the reason, but he could see in her eyes that she was hiding, from the party and from life.

“I need a birthday gift for my sister, her fortieth, and she said I had to talk to you, you’d know just the right thing. She thinks you walk on water, as far as fashion goes,” he said, recovering himself, and hiding how moved he felt. She seemed so gentle and so vulnerable, and everything she’d been through was in her eyes.