‘I remember a time when I perhaps knew that happiness you speak of. When my parents lived.’ Sadness crept into his features for a moment, but just as quickly it was replaced with a hard glint. ‘But sometimes love can be suffocating.’
Her head spun, on the point of drifting off to sleep, no matter that she was sitting up in a curricle. Too sluggish to respond in any sensible fashion, she sat there staring at him. She was aware enough, however, to note that his vibrant gaze travelled over her face and paused at her lips. His eyelids dropped a little and his expression became serious.
‘Do you know how alluring you are in the moonlight, Serena?’
Was she dreaming? Had she slipped into sleep and now her mind played out intimate fantasies? Was he really leaning that close to her? She shook herself awake with a jerk. ‘What?’
Mr King straightened and cleared his throat. ‘Nothing.’ He flicked the reins and gestured with his head toward the horizon. ‘Look. The sun is rising.’
Serena followed his gaze. Sure enough, the sky out over the sea was greying as the sun heralded its coming. ‘Oh dear. We’ve been touring all night. Won’t your family worry?’
He pursed his lips. ‘They shouldn’t. They know I can look after myself.’
‘How am I to work today when I’ve had no sleep?’
Mr King flung her a wide smile. ‘Have the day off. I’m the master, you know.’
‘But what will Mrs Jones think?’
‘Do you regret coming out with me, Miss Bellingham?’
From where did that question come? And what was the answer? It was tiring when one wanted to sleep, and Mr King had annoyed her at times, but mostly it had been an adventure. ‘No. No regrets.’
‘Well then, do not worry what my sister or anyone else might think.’
Serena did not reply. It might be a simple thing to say, but it still gnawed at her conscience. What would his family think of her now she’d been together with him all night, unchaperoned?
As they headed back through the city, Mr King sat up straighter, his nose in the air. ‘Do you smell that?’
‘Smell what?’ Serena could barely take in anything at this point.
‘Freshly baked bread, that’s what.’ The next moment, he drew up before a baker’s shop and jumped down. ‘I’ll be back anon.’
True to his word, a few minutes later the small carriage swayed as he climbed up beside her. Mr King handed her a small package wrapped in linen. ‘I’m sure you must be hungry.’
Serena peeled back the cloth to reveal a delicate pastry. Heat from the fresh-out-of-the-oven package warmed her hands and the aromas of cinnamon and apple tickled her nose. She peeked at Mr King holding his own pastry, but also watching her.
‘Go on.’
She bit off a corner of the pastry and groaned with delight at the buttery sweetness. She had eaten nothing quite like it. ‘This is wonderful.’
Mr King grinned and began his own breakfast.
Serena could only shake her head after each morsel. The pastry was so crisp and light, she couldn’t get enough of it. When she finished, she could not resist licking the sticky remainders from her fingers, as ill-mannered as it made her appear. ‘Thank you, Mr King. I’ve never had a breakfast to equal it.’
His smile spread wider than she’d seen yet, and his eyes sparked with animation again. Without a word, he leapt from the carriage again and ducked into the store. He returned soon after with two large bundles.
‘What do you have there?’
Mr King gave her an indulgent smile. ‘I bought all they had.’
Serena’s pressed a hand over her open mouth. ‘You didn’t.’
‘Yes. If you enjoyed them so much, you should have more.’
‘You bought them for me?’
‘Well, I may eat one or two myself.’
Serena was left speechless. Extravagant. That was the only word for it. Surely those pastries would spoil before she could eat them, and she wasn’t enough of a glutton to eat them all in a day. ‘You needn’t do that, Mr King.’
He shrugged. ‘I wanted to.’
Again, he left no room for argument. Mr King flicked the reins and, at long last, they headed for Aleron. Soon, the sway of the carriage rocked Serena into a senseless trance and sleep dragged her away from wakefulness. She was only vaguely aware of an arm around her shoulders that pulled her into a warm chest, where she snuggled in and relaxed with a sigh.
13
Serena woke up in her bed at Aleron and sat up, groggy, her head pounding, and still wearing her day dress. What was the time? She stumbled out of bed and drew the drapes back. The sky remained bright, although there was plenty of cloud cover. Massaging her temples, she moved to the mantel, above which hung a clock. Almost one o’clock. She’d slept half the day away. Well, with thick curtains and little noise, it was easy to do.
She trudged back over to the bed and flopped onto the mattress. What had possessed Mr King to stay out the entire night? Not that their tour was dull in the least. Serena groaned. What possessed her to join him in the first place? Did she fall asleep on his shoulder? How embarrassing. He would judge her as presumptuous now, added to being the daughter of a thief. She could not face him today, or any day soon. With any luck, she could stay in this room forever. And yet, the dryness of her throat and her aching head told her she needed a drink, and her stomach rumbled. Apart from the pastry early this morning, she hadn’t eaten since supper last night.
Serena resigned herself to visiting the dining room, hoping Mr King kept to his suite. His presence would only disquiet her further. She pushed herself to her feet and changed her dress, pausing at the basin in the corner to freshen her face.
The dining room was deserted. The family had probably eaten and gone on with their chores for the afternoon.
