Booth showed up at Nettie"s unannounced, but she welcomed him warmly as always.
“I"m sorry if you have someone else here.” He peered over her shoulder for visitors, dead or alive. He never knew who he"d find at Nettie"s.
“No, Wilkes, it"s a slow day. I"m so glad you"re here. Please come in.” She guided him in by the elbow, though with nowhere near as much force as Mary. Like the effusive Mrs. Surratt, Nettie now exposed her emotions to the world. Gone was her pallor and cadaverous bearing. She beamed, leading him into the parlor.
“What can I offer you? Brandy? Wine? Tea and crumpets?” She fawned all over him.
“Nothing, thank you, Nettie. I haven"t much of a yen for anything, solid or liquid, right now.”
Her shoulders slumped.
He turned his back to her and sat in her fireside wing cha
