“No.” Slowly, he pressed a kiss to each of her fingers. “I will long for far more than these hands of yours.”
Men’s bantering, Penny’s laughter, and a great chuckle from his uncle entered the sitting room. Bram stepped away from Eva as Uncle Pendleton approached and folded into a formal bow.
“Well now, my dear, it is never easy to part, but we are not really, for I shall take a piece of you along in my heart back to Cambridge.”
Eva smiled. “You are quite the charmer, Professor.”
“Where do you think my nephew comes by it?” His dark eyes twinkled behind his spectacles.
A tug on Bram’s sleeve pulled his attention down to a brown-haired twelve-year-old with a pixie face.
“Good-bye, Professor Webb. Thank you for allowing me to be part of your crew.”
“Good-bye, Miss Penny. You are very welcome, and try not to give your sister too much trouble after I leave, hmm?”
The girl’s face clouded. “I wish you weren’t going.”
He squeezed her shoulder. “Here, I have a little something for you.” He handed over a canvas-wrapped tool kit from inside his coat.
Penny’s fingers examined the thing. Nimbly, she untied the cord and spread it open, touching the small picks and brushes. “My own field kit!”
“Indeed.” He grinned. They were old tools, not particularly effective for fieldwork but good enough to suit her. “But no wandering out to that dig site alone, you hear?”
“Of course.” Clutching the pouch in one hand, she flung her other arm around him, hugging him tightly. “Thank you. I shall treasure it always.”
He kissed the crown of her head, more moved by her reaction than he cared to admit—for it just might be his undoing.
Picking up his hat, he punched the felt back into shape. “Time to leave, lads.”
One by one, the students bid their thanks and good-byes to Eva.
“Safe travels, everyone.” Though she spoke to the room, Eva’s gaze lingered on him.
He dipped his head and turned away, saying nothing more—for there was nothing more he could say. He’d failed at proving the relics on Eva’s property belonged to Caelum Academia, so there was no way Grimwinkle would pay for him to return tothe site. He’d be lucky to keep his job as is. Perhaps another team would poke about the remains of all their hard work, if Eva allowed it, but by all that was holy, how he wished it would be him to return. His shoulders sagged, defeat bitter on his tongue.
Good-byewas too harsh of a word indeed.
Eva grabbed the back of the overstuffed chair, grateful for something solid to hold on to. She’d known seeing Bram leave would be hard, but this? It felt as if someone had carved a great hole in her chest, leaving nothing but an empty space for cold wind to whistle through.
She lifted her fingertips to her mouth, remembering the feel of Bram’s lips against them. There’d been several times over the past few days when she was sure he’d kiss her—had longed for him to do so—and yet it was probably a good thing he hadn’t, for the pain of his leaving would be even greater.
And it was bad enough as is.
Penny leaned her head against Eva’s arm. “It will be very empty around here without them, won’t it?”
“It will.” Eva glanced down at her, inhaling deeply. She’d reached a decision about the school, and now was as good as any time to say as much. “But it will be even emptier without you.”
Penny jerked up her head. “What?”
“You heard me, for those ears of yours are very keen.” She ran her hand over her sister’s plaited hair. “Though I regret there is no extra money to order you some new gowns.”
“Do you...” Penny’s lips parted and closed several times. “Do you really mean I can go to school?”
“I really do.”
“Oh, Eva!” Penny flung both arms around her, hugging her so tightly it hurt to breathe.
Eva peeled her off, laughing. “Now there is the happy poppet I remember. I love you, you know.”
