“I didn’t think Joseph’s Well was a large enough village to have so many talented people living and working here.”
Dash chuckled. “Most of them are traveling merchants.”
“But of course! Foolish of me. I should know that.” She shook her head, embarrassed, but he pulled her to a halt, drawing her closer to him at the same time.
“Not foolish. You are never foolish, princesse.” He was so close that she had to tilt her head back to see into his eyes, her hand coming to rest upon is chest. His lips were parted, and she could feel his heart racing as quickly as hers.
“You are enjoying yourself, Wife?” His voice held some laughter, but also something else, as though her answer mattered a great deal.
“Immensely.” And as she often did while in his presence, she found herself grinning up at him. “And you, Husband? Is this leg-shackle as uncomfortable as you might have imagined?”
The playacting was bittersweet. Embrace the here and now…
“Quite the opposite.” His gaze fell to her mouth just before he bent forward and settled his mouth on hers again.
It was sweet, tender… too short.
He lifted his head, blinking, and ran one hand through his hair. “Come this way, Mrs. Beckman.” And then he was tugging her along, into yet another tent, this one selling the wares of a jeweler.
Reflections of the waning sunlight bounced off of the neatly arranged rows of gold and silver and colorful gemstones. The overall effect was rather pretty.
Ambrosia hesitated to look too closely at the display. She had never worn jewelry of any sort. Not when she was younger, and most definitely not after she’d married.
Vanity, Harrison had never hesitated to remind her, was a sin.
“My wife needs a ring,” Dash announced. He took a moment to study the different pieces and then lifted one up for closer inspection. A moment later, he took her hand and slipped it on her finger. “It’s perfect, don’t you think?”
“Oh, no. I couldn’t.” But it fit her perfectly and she never would have guessed at the pleasure she felt to see something sparkling on her hand. The metal was a twisted silver with one small stone embedded in the setting. A pale blue, reminding her of his eyes.
“It’s only paste,” he argued.
“Oh, but it is n—” the merchant began but was halted by a hard glance from Dash.
“It is too much,” Ambrosia insisted.
“It’s only a trinket.” He stared down at her hand, seemingly as pleased with the effect as she was.
Ambrosia was going to keep it.
And even if it was made of the cheapest of materials, she’d cherish it forever.
With a quick perusal of the other offerings, she lifted a second ring, similar but designed for a man. “Then you must have one as well.” She took his hand—slender but strong, and large enough to dwarf her own—and slid it onto his ring finger. It looked quite elegant, and she found herself even more satisfied looking at his than her own.
“Well, then.” He laughed. “That settles it.”
She pulled some coins from her reticule, but when she went to pay, he shook his head. “Put that away.”
“But it is my gift to you!” She folded the coins into his hand, and before he could argue added, “I will wait outside while you pay.” And then, leaning forward conspiratorially, “Be certain to haggle. I imagine he expects it.”
Laughing, Ambrosia stepped out of the jeweler’s tent and stared up at the sky. Stars already twinkled in the twilight and a gentle wind cooled her cheeks. It was a moment she’d embrace with all of her soul. She would hold it tight to keep it vivid.
The fortune teller’s words whispered in her mind once again. She would enjoy every second she had left with Dash.
Arms wrapped around her from behind, sending even more spirals of giddiness through her. “The ring… merci, princesse.” His voice sounded gravelly, and his French accent was thicker than normal. She held out her own hand for inspection.
“And thank you for mine.”
She wanted to keep things light, fun. They could pretend for the rest of today and however long they had left. The music struck up again a short distance away, and as the volume of the revelry increased, dancers came into view. This part of the road had been blocked off and lanterns were strung overhead.
