Page 50 of It's a British Christmas

Until he met Eve.

They burst through the last of the wooded area, the village Common about a quarter mile down the road. There were little shops surrounding the Common, a blacksmith, cobbler, baker, and a dressmaker on one side, with a row of trees blocking the other side, although he did get a glance at an inn, and bookstore.

“You have a bookstore?”

“Yes, we do.” She lifted her chin. “Do you think we are all illiterate?”

“No, not at all. I just assumed, wrongly it seems, that small villages such as this would not be able to sustain a book shop.” He was, indeed, impressed. Books were expensive, and few people could afford the luxury. Eve had already told him how her papa took her on a trip to London once a year to visit her sister, and while they were there visited the bookstore to purchase a book. He assumed that would be the only place she could acquire new reading material.

“Miss Allen.” A young woman waved her arms, causing Eve to pull on the reins of the horse and stop the wagon.

“Good afternoon, Miss Davis.” Eve’s greeting was far from friendly, although not ill-mannered.

The young woman hurried across the Common and stopped in front of the wagon. Perhaps she thought Eve would roll away before she had her say. She looked up at Adam. “My lord. Good afternoon.” She curtsied and smiled brightly.

Eve snorted.

“Good afternoon, Miss Davis.” He bowed from the waist and removed his hat.

The girl giggled. Lord deliver him from giggling misses. Apparently, they were not confined to the London ballrooms.

“Yes, Miss Davis?” Eve’s not-too-friendly voice had grown chillier.

“Oh, nothing very important. I wondered if you were attending the assembly on Friday evening?” Since Miss Davis would not be so bold as to ask him outright if he were attending, she directed her question to Eve, but kept glancing in his direction.

“Yes, I am attending.”

When Eve said nothing further, Miss Davis stepped back. “Oh, well that is nice. I will see you there, then?”

“Yes.” She snapped the reins and moved forward, her face flushed, and her lips tight.

Adam smiled to himself. Being very attuned to women, and with all his experience over the years, he was certain Eve was showing signs of jealousy. Why that amused and encouraged him was best left unexamined for now. But, truth be known, it left him with a warm glow.

As if Miss Davis cared if she was attending the assembly or not? Eve snapped the reins with a bit more vigor than necessary. All these women falling all over themselves trying to attract Adam’s attention was wearing on her nerves. Of course, he was new, and interesting, and handsome, and everything else. But why didn’t they realize he was beyond them. And most likely a cad like poor Becky’s gentleman.

Weren’t they all?

Adam’s warm hand covered hers where she held the reins. “Are you well?”

“I am perfectly fine.”

No, I am not perfectly fine. I want you to go back to where you belong, so I can forget you, and resume my normal life before you came into it, and turned it upside down.

She arrived at the spot where she generally met the villagers, and pulled the wagon to a stop. Already several people had gathered, awaiting her arrival. She plastered a smile on her face and greeted them as she wrapped the reins around the dash. Before she even moved, Adam had jumped from the seat, and rounded the wagon.

Raising his hand to her, he said, “I would love more than anything to scoop you into my arms and lower you to the ground, but for now this must suffice.”

She took his hand, and used it to steady herself as she climbed from the wagon. He gave her hand a squeeze, and she looked up into those beautiful brown eyes and her heart thudded.

Yes, please return to your life before you destroy mine.

Later that evening, Eve and Adam sat across from each other with the chess board between them on a low table. Their game was reaching a draw once again. Of the five games they’d played so far, Adam had triumphed once, Eve once, and the rest had been draws. It amazed her how evenly matched they were.

Adam studied the board, then looked up. “Do you want to call it a draw again?”

Eve sighed and nodded. “Yes. There is no way either of us can win.”

He stood and stretched. “I believe I would like a short walk in the night air before bed.” He held out his hand. “Care to join me?”