She was getting desperate for new ones. Since she’d begun she’d asked hundreds of questions, but most of the answers didn’t further anything of what she had already gained from her own household.
Lately she’d sensed that the vendors had become less open and friendly to talk with her. With every shrug and non-answer, she felt the bars closing in on her family.
At least now she had a reason to be here.
Twelfth night would come soon, the time to exchange gifts, and though she needed information far more than baubles and frivolity, she also needed to shop. She loved her family’s warmth and generosity, but could never appreciate their need for presents when there were families worse off.
But it was easy enough to find the ribbon Elizabeth had mentioned. It was a beautiful weave of blue and green that would be perfect for her sister. Perfect, but not good enough.
It wasn’t the market making her maudlin, it was merely her work on the project she and Mitchell had planned with the spinners. It was merely that morning with William, who had complained and moaned in frustration because he had not been able to do his sums. It was the fact that for the first time she had lost her patience with him.
Her slamming of the abacus on the table had shocked him—andherself—and he’d scrambled off the bench and out of the room. His eyes had held tears of frustration at himself more than hurt, but she felt terrible. She’d always had patience with him before.Always.She would apologise to him as soon as she’d finished her shopping.
Her heart eased a little, but not enough. She had to face the truth.
It wasn’t this morning with William that was weighing on her, nor the fact she was shopping when she’d rather be helping with the spinning project. Nor even the fact that Hugh had returned to Swaffham or that it’d been a fortnight since she’d talked to him.
Her feeling out of sorts had everything to do with the fact it’d been weeks, and she no closer to finding the Seal.
The King had been specific on the size of the Seal, which was quite small, but other than that she had no idea if it was made of metal or wood...if it came with a handle or not. So she had to search everywhere, for anything. She was blind—searching for something she’d never seen.
He had said he wanted the information as soon as she knew it, but how long would the King give for her search? It was winter now, and freezing, which made travelling almost impossible. Would that be a valid excuse for her delay—?
‘Isn’t it a bit early for shopping?’
Alice didn’t need to turn to know it was Hugh. But she did pause to brace herself. Every meeting they had was full of confrontation when she needed matters to beeasier.
Glancing over her shoulder, she arched her brow. ‘It’s almost noon—hardly early.’
Whereas she knew the crisp air did nothing for her but make her skin hurt and her nose red, Hugh stood proud, strong, and as unfailingly beautiful to her as always. The harsh winter air had coloured his skin, accentuating his jaw, his nose and brow. The wind had ruffled his short blond hair, loosening the curls she had thought lost. The sun highlighted the depth of the eyelashes that framed his blue eyes.
His cold, unreadable blue eyes.
He stepped until he faced her. ‘True, but in the past when it came to Twelfth Night you always shopped the day before.’
She didn’t want to be reminded of those times when she had begged Hugh to shop in the market with her. She also didn’t want to talk about herself. Not when it seemed Hugh was always underfoot.
‘Is that why you’re here?’ she said. ‘To shop?’
‘Why else would anyone be here?’
Again, he hadn’t answered her question. ‘When it comes to you—’
‘Are you paying for that?’ The vendor’s reedy voice interrupted them.
Alice looked at the ribbon tightly wound in her hand. Sighing, she nodded to Cranley, who followed her today, and he released the coin the vendor asked for. Though it was customary, she didn’t negotiate. She’d already crushed the merchandise. She also didn’t want to play games with Hugh. Not when she had work to be done.
‘We should continue,’ she said to Cranley.
‘Allow me to accompany you?’ Hugh said, as if she wasn’t pointedly ignoring him.
She opened her mouth to disagree, but then realised she’d tried to ignore him on St Martin’s Day and every day since then. He was still here.
Whywas he?
She could not shake the feeling that it had to do with her. Or that the King had sent him here because of the Seal.
The Seal... She had distracted Elizabeth from making further enquiries, but despite her best efforts to hide what she was doing, her sister was suspicious.
