Chapter Fifteen
The drive was accomplished quite quickly, since neither occupant of the gig seemed inclined to chatter, and the weather was brisk enough to keep the horse at a steady trot.
Hecate was warm enough. Her thoughts, her emotions—aroused by Finn’s kiss—sizzled within and it could have snowed heavily before she would have reached for her gloves.
Desire had not come easily to her, but had slapped her hard, then drowned her in its breath-taking wonder. Was she wise to trust in herself where Finn was concerned? Did she dare even think about naming this feeling she knew had blossomed in her heart?
She’d made a terrible mistake once, but did not want it to rule the rest of her life.
On the other hand, makinganothermistake would be the height of stupidity.
It was a difficult dilemma that tore at her, especially at moments like these when the taste of his kiss still lingered on her lips.
Why could she not see more clearly what lay ahead? That one glimpse of them, together in bed, and now nothing. There’d been a blank before, and she’d ended up close to death. Was this the same situation?
She tussled with the contradictions arguing within her mind. On the one hand was the lack of foresight. But on the other were the feelings that all shoutedyeswhen it came to Finn. Those, she had not experienced before. In fact, she’d ignored the ones that whisperednoto Dancey Miller-James.
There was still a gap in Finn’s memory, a large enough one to be of concern. Suppose he’d married during those months? Was there, even now, a woman desperately seeking her husband? Hecate closed her eyes for a second or two, praying that was not the case. For if she learned of a wife, after allowing herself the luxury of loving Finn…well, she could not envision the pain such a circumstance would bring.
Their pace slowed.
“I think this is Bridgeby,” said Finn, pointing to the houses clustered ahead. Smoke puffed from chimneys and one or two folks were out braving the cold.
“There’s the Inn,” said Hecate. “So the Willes’s should be…there?” She gestured to a little cottage next to what a large sign announced as the Dog and Duck.
“Why don’t you wait here and I’ll inquire,” Finn suggested. “I’ll be but a moment.”
Hecate nodded. “All right.”
She tucked her cloak around her feet, stuck her hands in the folds of thick wool, and watched Finn walk to the door and tap.
Within moments it opened and what appeared to be a small maid spoke to him and then nodded. He turned back to the gig. “It’s the right place.”
The excited smile on his face did more to warm her than all the cloaks in the world. “I’m ready.” She waited for him to help her down, liking that he did so without any fuss or fanfare, just lifting her away from the seat and down to the ground.
Offering his arm, she took it, again noting that he never made any comments about her leg or whether she was experiencing any pain. It was pleasant to be looked after, but sometimes she appreciated just being treated like everyone else.
Finn had managed to reach that point without difficulty. Another point in his favour.
He did slow his pace as they walked up to the door, but to any casual observer there would have been nothing untoward about their progress.
Her hip ached a little, but so much had been happening lately, that more and more she’d forgotten about it and even neglected to keep her cane at her side. Could that be the key to her improvement? Focusing her mind elsewhere?
“This is it,” said Finn, pulling her back into the present. “Mrs. Mary Willes is inside, according to her daughter. Are you ready to meet her?”
“Of course.” Hecate took a breath. “I am very much looking forward to it.”
Together, they stepped inside, finding a warm and snug hall and a young maid ready to help them with their cloaks.
“’Tis a cold day again, Miss,” said the girl as she accepted the thick wool bundle. “Mrs. Willes is in her parlour. Got a good fire goin’, so ye’ll warm up right away.”
“Thank you,” nodded Hecate, hearing Finn doing the same thing.
“If yer’ll follow me?”
A few steps took them to the warmth of the little room, and the lady sitting comfortably by that ‘good fire’. She looked up.
And gasped.
