Chapter26
A Conversation Continues
Afew minutes later
As promised, the driver of the fourth hantour had returned with a horse and harness and was parked along with the others.Couples paired up for the return ride to the dock and the enticement of a late luncheon.
With Diana and Randy in one, Will and Barbara in another, and Harry and Stella in the third, that left three of them to ride in the fourth.
Rather than go with Tom and Helen, David elected to sit with the driver of the hantour carrying his parents.
After Tom assisted Helen into the last hantour, he glanced around to discover he would be riding with her—and no one seemed particularly bothered by it.Especially not her parents.Even after what had happened on the journey to the temple.
“You don’t mind if I ride with you, my lady?”he asked.
“Why would I mind?”Helen countered.She displayed a look of hurt.
He climbed up and took a seat next to her.“I feared you might have thought me bad luck, over what happened earlier.”
Helen sounded a huff.“What happened had nothing to do with you.Now Penton...”She sighed.
“What about David?”
“He was the one who pulled me out of the carriage and left me on my bum,” she complained.“Right in front of that snake.”
“Oh, I’m quite sure he didn’t mean for that to happen.He was probably concerned you might have been injured.As was I,” he replied.
She dipped her head, glad when the hantour jerked into motion and headed back toward the river.“Thank you for seeing to me.For making sure I could stand.”
“Of course, Helen.I...”He paused, as if he thought better of what he was about to say.
“What?”she prompted.
“I would have been devastated had you been bitten or if you had broken a bone,” he claimed.
“Devastated?”she repeated.
He nodded.“Of course.”
She stared at him, her blonde brows furrowing.“Last week...when we were at the back of the boat?—”
“I was a fool to leave you as I did,” he blurted.
Blinking, Helen inhaled softly.“Thomas,” she said on a breath.
“If we’d been alone, I would have...”He clamped his mouth shut and seemed to have trouble breathing.
“You would have… what?I beg you tell me.”
Dipping his head, he leaned closer and said, “I would have kissed you.”
“So why didn’t you?”
Tom gave a start, obviously not expecting her response.There were so many others that seemed more appropriate.
I would have slapped you.
I would have stomped on your boot.
