Apple swallowed her disappointment. Ridiculous to miss him berating her in his usual fashion. She could not prevent the burning question. “You won’t try to stop me?”
He shrugged. “Not much use if I did. You’d only be off the moment my back was turned.”
“Yes, I should,” she said, goaded.
“There you are then.”
Apple finished her scone in silence. Had she convinced him of her indifference? Or did he really not care? She found that hard to believe, but his ready acquiescence was puzzling. And unwelcome, if she must be truthful.
Within a few moments, Reddy stood up and began to gather the empty plates and cups onto the tray. Apple went to help her and was waved away.
“You’ve to settle matters with Master Alex, my dearie, before he goes off. Sit you both down now while I clear this lot away.”
Thus adjured, Apple moved back to the chair by the fire and watched Alex follow suit. He did not speak for several minutes, staring into the fire in a way that began to prey upon Apple’s nerves. What was he thinking? A resurgence of the grief lodged in her bosom startled her.
“I wish you weren’t going.”
It was out before she could think and heat flew in her cheeks as his head turned, a frown between his brows.
“Yet you won’t come with me.”
“I can’t, Alex.”
Her throat was tight all over again, and she cursed her own slip.
He leaned forward and held out his hand in an imperative way. Without even thinking about it, Apple put hers into it and his touch sent a flitter down her veins. Her heart began to beat a little faster.
“Won’t you trust me, Apple?”
She could barely speak. “How trust you?”
“Made you a promise, didn’t I? Said I’d take you to Vergette. You didn’t think I wouldn’t come for you when the time came, did you?”
“But, Alex…”
“No buts. If you won’t come back, you won’t. Can understand that. But if you think I can walk out of this cottage and never see you again, you must have windmills in your head.”
His hand tightened on hers as he spoke, and Apple’s eyes pricked. She knew her voice was husky, but it must be said. “You’ll have to, Alex, in the end.”
“Don’t know that.” He grinned. “Might decide to go to perdition myself and come adventuring with you.”
She gave a watery chuckle. “What, and make me the one to bring madness into your life?”
“You did that already, my — young Apple. My life changed from the moment you hid yourself in my coach. And the devil of it is, I don’t want it changed back.”
Apple could not speak. If she said anything at all, she’d end by weeping into his coat. His hold had loosened and she gently withdrew her hand, sitting back in the chair. He didn’t move, just sat where he was, regarding her in a way that made the rhythm of her pulse uneven. Apple struggled to contain the sob rising in her throat. She forced it down, swallowing hard.
With a brisk movement, Alex rose from his chair and moved away to the centre of the little room. “I’ve got to go.” He went to the door through which Reddy had disappeared with the tray a few moments since and called through it. “Reddy, I’m off.” He came back and looked down at Apple. “Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be back for you.” He raised a finger. “You know I mean it. Disappear and I’ll come after you.”
Apple managed a tiny smile. “I know you will.”
He came a step closer, dropped to his haunches and found her hand, raising it briefly to his lips. The tiny kiss sang through her veins.
Then Reddy was in the room, and her voice and Alex’s mingled briefly in the fog in her mind. Next instant, he was gone, leaving only the imprint of his lips upon her fingers.
Chapter Twenty-two
Much as he wished to see Apple again before leaving Romsey, Alex chose instead to make an early start. If he went to Reddy’s cottage, he knew he would find it hard to tear himself away. Because the devil of it was, Apple had it down with an accuracy that gave him a restless night. His wishes aside, there was no overcoming the obstacle of her birth.
