“Have you read it?” she asked. To think he might enjoy the same books she did only made her more certain of how perfect they were for one another.
“Parts.” He frowned as if regretting his answer. “Perhaps during my stay, I will be able to read it in full.”
Disappointment speared through her. At least he’d read some of it. Then again, he’d been in the military for years. It wasn’t as if he’d had access to books during that time. Instead, he’d been experiencing things she had only read about.
But his mention of the holiday was also a reminder that he would only be home briefly.
If she were smart, she’d keep her distance from the handsome man. Allowing her affections to deepen would only cause more pain.
As he spoke with the shop clerk about the book, she had a chance to admire him. He was so handsome with dark, straight hair swept to the side and the back clipped short. His easy smile reflected his relaxed personality. Few things seemed to ruffle him.
Blue eyes the color of sapphires sparkled with amusement more often than not and were framed by well-defined brows and long lashes. His strong jawline, along with a slight bump on the bridge of his nose, gave him a rugged appearance that was softened by a charming smile.
His gaze shifted to her briefly, and her entire body heated in response.
That he bothered to speak to her was a surprise given her shyness, but that he acted so pleased to see her was an even bigger one. It made her wonder if perhaps she hadn’t imagined the sizzle of awareness between them toward the end of the house party.
But what point was there in showing her interest in him when he no longer lived in England? The thought had her smile faltering, along with her good spirits.
She waited for a break in the conversation, then cleared her throat.
Thomas glanced at her, and she gave what she hoped was a polite smile. “I must be going. It was a pleasure seeing you again.”
He nodded. “Likewise. I’ll call on you soon regarding the ticket.”
“Oh.” Her heart completed a full somersault in her chest. “Yes. Of course.” How silly of her. He would only be calling on her regarding the ticket. Nothing more. It wasn’t a social call.
If she were smart, she would direct him to Mr. Seaton for the ticket. But she wasn’t. At least, not when it came to Thomas Sinclair. He was everything she longed for and more.
Chapter Three
“I’m sorry, Peter.” Thomas placed a hand on the boy’s thin shoulder and squeezed. “Please know that I will continue looking.”
He’d hit another dead end with the fourth workhouse.
Peter pulled away to pace the small sitting room near Thomas’s bedroom, his upset visible in the tense lines of his body. “I don’t understand. Vhere could they have gone?” His German accent tended to emerge when he was upset.
“Clearly, I haven’t visited the right workhouse yet. I didn’t realize there were so many in London.”
The boy ran a hand through his hair, leaving several pale strands standing on end. “I wish I could remember more. But we didn’t talk about the name of the place. Not when we were all so concerned about what would happen once we moved in.”
“That’s understandable.” Very much so. First had been the injury to the boy’s father and then they’d lost their apartment. The whole experience had to have been terrifying, especially for a family new to the country.
Peter had no other relatives in London. They hadn’t been there long enough to make many friends, though Peter had mentioned his mother had been acquainted with the woman who ran a bakery in Whitechapel. A trip there was next on Thomas’s list. Though unlikely, Peter’s mother might have visited the baker if the family had left the workhouse.
Thomas had already discovered that the rooms they’d lived in beforehand had been let to another family months ago. No one in the building knew where they’d gone.
“Please don’t worry.” Thomas hated to see the boy so upset. “We will do everything possible to find them.”
Peter spun to face him, eyes wide, his chin trembling. “But what if we can’t? What if they returned to Germany? What if they were sent to Australia or the like?”
That was a very real possibility given Thomas’s lack of success thus far. But what purpose would be served in thinking the worst?
“Then we will send letters to those places until we find them.” Thomas couldn’t believe the family would go far until they found Peter. Not if they had any choice in the matter.
While some desperate parents sold their children when they could no longer take care of them, it seemed doubtful that Peter’s parents would willingly let him go. From what Peter had shared, the family was close. Besides, Peter was the eldest and could help the family get back on their feet.
If the worst happened, and they couldn’t find them, Thomas hoped either his parents or his brother could find a position for the lad. Whether Peter would agree remained to be seen.
