ERIK JOGGED TO HER side a few minutes later. He slapped his hands against the table and bent over, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. Nelly didn’t even look at him. Her eyes were trained on a point across the lawn, and her mind still tripped over the words Mrs. Wu had flung her way.
“What did she say?” Erik asked between gasps.
Nelly startled and looked at him. “Why are you here?”
“What did she say, Nell?”
“Did you leave Mei Lin in the garden alone?” Nelly leaned over to see into the distance, wondering if the pretty girl was waiting for Erik to return. All that greeted her eyes was the moonlight dancing over cobbled paths and fragrant bushes.
“Nell!” He grabbed her shoulders and forced her to look at him. “Did she say something to upset you?”
“It’s nothing I haven’t
