“How did you find David?”
“Nervous, but trying to remember, almost as if he’s sorting dream from reality. He recognized Chase’s name, though he’s not quite sure when it was that he witnessed that shipboard fight.”
“Hopefully, it will come to him.”
“He also mentioned a watch that Chase looked at somewhat surreptitiously in the Crown and Anchor. Which makes me think it was valuable. It would be interesting to know if the watch was still on him when the body was found.”
“It would. Perhaps Lenny or Janey could find that out, too. Do you want a bath before we dine?”
He blinked. “A bath?” He appeared to think about it. “I’m not sure I have the energy. Even to eat.” He bent and lifted the box from the floor, carrying it across the room and placing it on the desk in front of her. “I bought you a present before Christmas.”
“You gave me presentsatChristmas.” A ring to symbolize their betrothal, a silk shawl that was exactly the same color as her eyes. Personal gifts that touched her heart.
“This is different.”
Intrigued, she cut the ribbon that held the wrapping in place and opened the box. Inside seemed to be a sea of tissue paper. She fished her way in, coming up with a round object, from which she removed the tissue paper. It was a delicate porcelain cup, so beautifully painted and unique that she recognized it at once.
“This is the tea set we saw in my mother’s shop!”
“I could see you liked it, so I went back and bought it. I meant to give you it when we settled on a house.”
“Oh, Solomon.” She turned to him, impulsively throwing her free arm around his neck. “That was so thoughtful, so… But we don’thavea house yet.”
“I know. But it came to me that we have been waiting too much.”
There was a deeper significance in his words that resonated with her. What truly mattered was not respectability or success. It was each other, being together, love.
She rested her forehead against his. “Thank you.”
For a moment, his arms closed around her and she let herself bask. But exhaustion radiated from him in waves. There were other gifts she could give him. She took his hand and led him through to the bedchamber.
“How would you like a picnic in bed?” she asked.
He sighed. “That sounds like heaven. If you join me.”
“I will.”
He drew her down on the bed beside him and kissed her. More than warmth and gratitude, excitement ignited. He began to unbutton his coat.
“Get into bed,” she said huskily. “I’ll arrange for our private feast.”
He was tugging off his necktie, his eyes glinting, as she tore herself away. It was enough to keep desire humming through her as she went to the kitchen and collected a tray of tasty delicacies from Bibby. Her heart beat hard, and she was smiling and breathless as she crossed the sitting room back to the bedchamber.
He had closed all the curtains and lit only a couple candles by the bedside. His clothes were in a neat pile on the chair in the corner. Solomon himself lay in bed, naked beneath the covers and sound asleep. Constance’s flimsy nightgown was clutched in his hand, half hidden beneath his cheek.
“Oh, Solomon,” she whispered.
He didn’t wake, even when she climbed into the bed beside him. So she sat close to him and ate by herself while he breathed beside her and radiated warmth and a strange kind of contentment.
Chapter Four
Dr. Chadwick wasas good as his word and met them at the Sutton May railway station, which was more of a brief halt with a long jump from the train to the ground. Constance, curiously refreshed after her undisturbed sleep next to Solomon, had no complaints. Solomon, fully rested, seemed much more like himself. They had talked mainly about the Sutton May case on the journey, leaving David’s much more complicated matter until they returned.
“Good morning! Welcome to Sutton May,” Dr. Chadwick said in his brisk yet friendly way. He shook hands with Solomon and with Constance before picking up one of the bags and leading the way. “It isn’t far to the inn. How was your journey?”
“Pleasantly uneventful,” Solomon replied. “How are matters here?”
“Oh, just the same, so far as I can tell. I have warned those who received letters that you would be coming and asking questions, so I expect the whole village knows by now.”
