“I need more time to observe your sisters.”

Backing away from him, she wanted to pound the shelves, noted that his brother was nowhere to be seen, had no doubt gone down the stairs to prepare for going over to the hotel or perhaps he’d noted the tension and realized a private discourse was needed. “You should have been observing them all afternoon instead of being up here with me.”

She should have thought of that earlier, should have insisted he not assist her. Only she enjoyed his presence so much. Still it had resulted in his not being able to make an assessment.

“Watching them place books on shelves hardly tells me what I need to know. What are you afraid of, Selena?”

That she might come to like him more than she already did, that seeing him with his family might make her reconsider her stupid plan.

Again, he touched his knuckles to her cheek. “It’s only dinner.”

With him, nothing was ever only anything. Still, she disliked leaving knowing his mother had gone to such trouble. Besides she was curious about the woman. Ettie Trewlove had not been in the shop, so she had yet to meet her. She wondered what sort of woman would provide a home for bastards when many considered them not worthy of breath. While her own son would be considered legitimate under the law, in truth his status would mirror his father’s, because she would not be married to his sire.

She nodded. “If you can ensure we will not be seen.”

An edge of triumph made its way into the smile he bestowed upon her. “I am nothing if not a planner.”

Taking her elbow, he escorted her down the stairs and into the main portion of the shop. Her sisters were hovering near the door, looking somewhat concerned and uncertain. Fancy seemed not to know what to do with her guests either.

“We’re dining with them?” Connie asked as soon as she clapped eyes on Selena.

“Yes. They kindly issued an invitation and I thought we should accept.”

“We’re in mourning.” The words were whispered in the same tone one might use to announce one wasn’t fully clothed.

“I’ve been assured we won’t be seen, and it’s not as though it will be a formal dinner with a great many guests.”

“But we’re not dressed for dinner.”

“What you’re wearing is fine,” Aiden announced with authority. “We never dress formally for dinner. Come along.”

It was difficult to argue with a man who was ushering her and her sisters out the door before all his words had reached their ears. She wasn’t accustomed to his impatience, feared he might view Connie’s argumentative nature in a bad light and might decide she wasn’t worth his trouble. “It’ll be lovely,” she assured her sisters, glancing back to see Fancy locking up her shop.