Ah, but Stuart still didn’t know that Matthew was the one to bring the Bandit to life. Even if he never stooped to use them, holding such trump cards over Waterhouse was a rare moment indeed. He’d rather have spent this moment in more private company with Georgia, but polite society had other plans. Instead, he found himself reduced to engaging Miss Waterhouse in a series of bland pleasantries as the other guests persisted in drifting in and out of their conversation. Stuart soared in for a moment, waving a white ribbon and pecking his sister on the cheek before a pair of his business associates whisked him away to meet someone “most important.” After three more such distractions, Matthew finally secured a moment of privacy with her, and dived into the subjects he had wondered about for days. “Why has Stuart never married?” Miss Waterhouse put down the punch cup she was holding. “A bold question, Mr. Covington.” He tucked his hands in his pockets, rocking back on his heels.
