Page 175

She was sorting through travel handbooks, shipping agent catalogs, and titles such as California: Its Scenery, Climate, Productions and Inhabitants and General Laws of the State of California. “This is no time for humor, John—I’m in the middle of serious logistical planning!”

John turned her around and fastened his mouth over hers. Lush and teasing, then roughening by degrees, tasting deeper, until she had relaxed against him fully, all her attention absorbed in the kiss.

He lifted his head to look into her heavy-lidded eyes.

“I understand your haste,” he said, “but if your request to share a ship’s cabin was a marriage proposal, it was somewhat lacking in romance.”

“I said stateroom, not a cabin,” Reina protested, and he gave a husky laugh.

“Aye, but you mentioned it between ‘luggage’ and ‘rats for Alan.’ I think we’d better leave the proposing to me, cariad.”

“You’re not going to insist on moonlight and roses, are you? There’s no point in a traditional proposal—who would you be doing it for?”

“For you,” he said gently, cradling her face in his hand, stroking her cheek with this thumb.

Recalling they weren’t alone, John glanced at the servants’ astonished faces. His smile lingered as he tilted his head toward the door.

The trio left the room promptly.

“He kissed Miss Martin right on the gob!” came Belinda’s aggravated voice from the hallway. “That weren’t proper a-tall!”

The door closed smartly.

“Come with me,” John said to Reina. She reluctantly went with him to the hearth and stood there with her arms wrapped tightly around herself.

“Let’s sit for a moment,” he coaxed.

“I can’t. There’s too much to do. My legs won’t bend.”

John could well believe that. Her entire body was as rigid as a hayfork.

Regarding her thoughtfully, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the little cloth bag Ned had given him. He shook the coal briquettes into his hand and tossed them onto the fire.

“What are those?” Reina asked. “What are you doing?”

“A coal sample from Crindle and Blink. Combustive marvels, they call them.”

“Novelty coal? John, I’m too busy for children’s amusements. There are more important things—” She broke off as the coals flared to life in an array of vivid ruby, cobalt, lavender, emerald. “What makes them turn those colors?”

“Copper and potassium salts, I would guess.” John smiled slightly. “Come, cariad.”

He sat in one of the club chairs. To his pleasure, Reina came to sit on his lap. She drew up her knees and feet and tucked her head against his shoulder. He circled his arms around the sweet bundle of her, holding her firmly as they watched the rainbow of dancing flames.

“You don’t have to be afraid,” he murmured, playing with one of her little hoop earrings.

“I can’t lose Benjamin.”

“You won’t.”

“I lose everyone. My father, my mother, Tuppence, and now William—”

“You’ve never lost June,” he pointed out. “You’re not going to lose Benjamin, or anyone else who lives here.”

“Including you?”

“Especially me.” John nuzzled and kissed her temple. “If it comes to leaving England to keep the family safe, so be it. But do you really want to take this unruly lot across an entire ocean?”

“I want to put as much distance between us and the Kingsleys as possible.”