Mara felt her lips twitch before she said, “It’s all right, really.” She held out her needles and the narrow row of stitches that she had completed. “You see, it’s called knitting.”
He cocked his head to the side and swung his feet back and forth. “Knittin’? Aye, I’ve heard o’ it before, but ain’t never seen it in real life.” Then he surprised her by asking, “Can I try?”
With a glance at his mother, Mara asked, “Do you mind?”
The woman shrugged. “It makes no difference t’ me as long as he shuts his trap.”
Mara didn’t care for the disagreeable attitude the woman had toward the boy, but seeing as how it wasn’t her place to get involved, she patted the seat next to her after Annie gave aharrumphand slid further down to the opposite side. However, she handed him yet another set of needles and a ball of fresh yarn.
Mara had to wonder if she had been in this position before for the Scotswoman certainly seemed to have an endless supply of materials at her disposal.
Mara turned her attention to the lad. “What’s your name?”
“It’s Henry, ma’am.”
“What a lovely name.” Mara smiled kindly. “I’m Miss Smith. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” After that, she instructed him how to hold the needles properly, before showing him how to thread the yarn over the sharp tips.
“Blimey,” the boy breathed, obviously impressed as a small string began to take shape.
As a soft conversation between Henry and Mara ensued, Roarke couldn’t help but risk another glance at her. Every muscle in his body was stiff from maintaining his careless pose, but he couldn’t help but appreciate the warm smile she bestowed on the young lad, who looked at her, in turn, as if she were some sort of goddess descended from Mount Olympus. But considering the rather sour faced woman beside him, he imagined it was the nicest expression he’d received in some time.
He continued to watch as Mara worked with the lad. Roarke couldn’t have imagined learning such a feminine trade at that age, but then, he didn’t have anyone as lovely as Miss Miller to teach him.
For the first time, Roarke finally considered things from a different point of view. Perhaps Lyra was right. He didn’tknow the kind of hardships that Mara had been forced to face, because he wasn’t there. Granted, he would have gone to the ends of the earth for her if she’d only let him. But all this time he’d been bent on the truth, having felt the sharp sting of betrayal, the fact of the matter was that he hadn’t even thought to consider herfeelings.
“Oh, you’re awake.”
Again, Roarke attempted to conceal most of his face for he was confident that Mara hadn’t recognized him yet. If so, he doubted she would have such a hesitant tone.
“I thought you might be hungry since you slept through luncheon, so I…brought this back for you.”
Roarke could just see that she was holding out a basket to him. He felt an unwelcome stab of guilt as he took it from her, but until he decided it was time to end the charade, he merely grunted in return.
Mara tried to ignore the man’s rather discourteous attitude and focused on her new friend instead. Henry only made a couple mistakes before he managed to make quite a bit of progress, but as the hours and the miles passed, the boy grew tired and gave up his new trade. With a yawn, he leaned against her. His mother had already fallen asleep, so Mara gently brushed back a strand of the boy’s hair and began to hum a light lullaby. Her heart lodged in her throat when he clasped his small hand around hers.
It was then that she finally decided that she would accept a portion of what Athena offered her once Bentley was found and start a new life, perhaps on the continent, or even the Americas. In truth, that might be the better choice for she doubted she’d ever run the risk of seeing Roarke. And surely there she could find a proper place to care for Lily, so she wouldn’t have to rely on anyone ever again.
Most notably, Lady Eversleigh.
After only two more brief stops where the occupants were asked to remain inside unless they needed to use the necessary, the driver called to his team, and the chaise finally drew to a halt at Salisbury close to the midnight hour. This time, they were allowed to stretch their legs if they wished, before getting back on the road.
Mara decided that another bite to eat wouldn’t hurt, so she gently moved Henry back to the opposite side of the carriage next to his mother. As she did so, the boy moved an arm in his sleep and managed to knock the hat completely off the man in the corner.
She had imagined the stranger to be asleep, yet again, so when she turned to apologize, she gasped when her gaze fastened onto a very familiar face, those hazel eyes that haunted her dreams looking directly at her.
