The kissing had gone well—more than well. But she wanted more last night. I’d never done more. Hell, I’d never had a kiss like the one at the masquerade. And unfortunately for me, my only friend was Kit.
Summoned by my reluctant thoughts, the bell chimed against the door. His usually dour expression was nowhere to be seen, and in its place, amusement.
“You seem… refreshed this morning.”
“Smug does not become you, Christopher.” He wandered off to the side table where we kept treats. I had not gone to Hudson’s this morning, worried about the work that awaited me. His disappointed groan echoed through the empty room.
“I gave you the afternoon off; the least you could do is bring tarts.”
“My name is above the door, same as yours. But I appreciate your efforts yesterday all the same.”
“You can appreciate my efforts with pastries. Or one of those fancy little cake things she makes,” he said, stripping his coat off and tossing it over Matthews’s desk for the sole purpose of irritating the man.
Gathering my courage and dignity, I made what was sure to be a terrible choice. “I’ll go now. Come with me? I have something I would like to discuss.”
“I just took off my coat. What is it that you cannot discuss here?” He whined at me from across the office.
That is precisely why I want to be elsewhere, Christopher.
“I could discuss it here, I just prefer to discuss it elsewhere. It’s not strictly related to our work.”
“Fine, but you’re buying three of those little cake things.” He appeared in my doorway, his coat halfway on. I followed him out and locked up behind us.
The bakery was just down the street, and we had traversed nearly a quarter of the distance before he goaded me. “Are you planning to discuss whatever it is sometime before we get there?”
I hesitated, uncertain of where to start. Coward that I was, I started with the easiest. “I will need to step away for a few hours this afternoon.”
“Again? You couldn’t take care of whatever it was yesterday?”
“The circumstance only arose because of my afternoon off yesterday.”
“I can manage the office. Are you going to tell me what it is? Or am I to guess?”
“I am calling on someone. A lady.”
He actually froze on the pavement. When I turned, he was staring at me wide-eyed and open-mouthed. I would feel somewhat resentful of his astonishment, but even I had to admit the situation was worthy of such a reaction. “You… Who?”
“As I said, a lady.”
“A… Oh! Oh! You’re calling on Lady Rycliffe?” He nearly shouted the comment and several nearby heads turned.
“Keep your voice down.”
“That’s not a ‘no,’” he said, more sedate this time. Finally, he lurched forward to join me and continue to Hudson’s.
“Yes, but you needn’t tell the wholeton.”
“How did that happen?”
“That is not relevant nor is it something I will be sharing. You will manage the office?”
“Yes, of course. Anything for true love. You’re perfect for each other. I don’t know why I didn’t see it yesterday when you were hissing at each other in your office like angry cats.”
We reached the shop and tucked inside to wait in the substantial line. Hudson’s had become a destination for the rich and beautiful, but that was in the afternoon. The beau monde came to sit in front of the curved bay windows to be seen while they enjoyed mouthwatering tarts and delightful cakes.
In the mornings, the peasants like me stood in an infinite line, taking our treats with us. Each and every bite had been worth the hours of my life spent in this line.
Kit had the good sense to set the conversation aside while we were inside. When, at last, we made it to the counter, an exhausted Ainsley slumped against it in his wife’s usual place.
