He took her hand in his, enjoying the feel of her warm, soft skin. “I had a lovely time with you this evening, Mrs. Harbaugh, and look forward to many more dinners together.”

She pressed her lips together in order to keep from smiling. “I appreciate the sentiment, but I have a pressing social calendar.”

“Do you?”

“Yes. Many, many engagements.”

“That will be my loss.”

“One I’m sure you will bear bravely. Good night.” She withdrew her hand and started up the stairs.

Halfway up, she paused and looked back at him. For a second, there was nothing. Then she smiled.

Zeke nodded properly, watched her until she turned onto the landing, then laughed out loud. Damn, it was good to be home.

“How was your dinner?” Daisy asked.

Alethea held on to her morning cup of tea. She’d stopped in to see her friend, as she did every day before school.

“You know about my dinner with Mr. Titan?”

Daisy looked up from the bread dough she was kneading. “Everyone knows. Zeke has quite the reputation, as you know, but…” Daisy drew in a breath. “You’re not going to like this.”

Alethea stiffened her spine. “Tell me, anyway.”

“The men are placing bets. Apparently Zeke has agreed to run you out of town.”

“What?” Alethea nearly dropped her cup. “He wants me to leave Titanville?”

Was that possible? Last night he’d been so charming. She’d been intrigued by the different sides of his character and had even convinced herself she might have been hasty in her judgment of him.

“Not Zeke so much as all the other men. It’s the society.”

“Of course,” Alethea murmured. “Big, strong men don’t want anyone threatening their authority. But how is Zeke supposed to make sure I leave?” And if that was his goal, why had he been so warm to her last night?

Daisy wiped her hands on a towel and walked to the wooden table. She sat across from Alethea. “You know that Zeke gambles. He started when was young and it’s how he made his fortune.” She frowned. “Now he has several successful businesses, but back then, he had a reputation for being impossible to beat. Gamblers came from all over to play cards with him. When they lost, they got angry. There were several gunfights. The streets weren’t safe.”