He headed to his bedroom, leaving her with an odd ache in her chest.
Keith couldn’t helpbut smile at Violante’s enthusiasm.
The train to Bakewell wasn’t particularly fast or luxurious. Hell, he’d travelled on board the recently developed Orient Express, the most lavish and comfortable train in the world. In comparison, this modest train was a hay cart, especially considering that it was crowded and their compartment was so narrow that Mrs. Collins—now officially Violante’s lady’s maid—and Murray had to travel on another train.
But Violante couldn’t sit still and kept sticking her head out of the window, touching the hard wooden seats, and watching the green fields stream past with wide eyes.
“Look, sheep!” She pointed at the white dots in the middle of a pasture.
He laughed. “There are more sheep than humans in this part of the country.”
“I won’t complain.” She giggled. “It’s been so long since I saw the country that it’s like seeing it for the first time.”
He loved it when she giggled. Her whole body transformed and radiated happiness. It was a joy to look at her. She returned her attention to the field, placing her hands on the glass.
It was funny how he’d become accustomed to wealth in a matter of a few years. Until Mr. Sharpe had employed him, he’d known nothing but deprivations and pain. Yet money and a title had made him forget about the nights he’d spent awake because hunger wouldn’t let him sleep. He was glad Violante reminded him of his humble past. It was his turn to make her forget hers.
“It’s so fast.” She propped her elbows on the lowered window and let the gusts of wind ruffle her hair. She closed her eyes, seemingly in ecstasy.
He would immortalise this moment if he could. “Fast? Tosh! You should see the Orient Express.”
She whipped her head towards him. “You have been on the Orient Express?”
“Yes, I have. The entire route from Paris to Constantinople. I met a few investors in Constantinople. Amazing city, great food, lovely weather, and friendly people.”
She sat in front of him, her eyes larger than the stars. “You must tell me everything. I’m so envious. I’d love to see the world. I’d love to travel on the Orient Express.” A delightful colour like that of a spring dawn coloured her cheeks and lips.
He wished he could immortalise this moment, too.
“I’ll be happy to take the Orient Express again with you and eat some dolmas in Constantinople. They’re vegetables stuffed with rice and spices…” He must have said something wrong because all the light radiating from her vanished. “What is it?”
She shut the window and sat stiffly in front of him. “Travelling with you would be impossible.”
“No, it wouldn’t.”
“Keith.” She exhaled. “Why would you takemeto Constantinople?”
Why? It was obvious, wasn’t it? “I think it’s clear why.”
“We were friends. Now it’s different, even if we might consider ourselves friends,” she said. “We’re accomplices. Once each one of us gets what we want, we’ll go separate ways.”
No.Thatwould be impossible. He’d found her. He wouldn’t let her go. “What if I want to employ you?”
She pulled the lapels of her coat closer as if she were cold. “Do you think if you become my employer, the situation will be different?”
No, likely more complicated and awkward, but he was desperate. Desperate to keep her close. He’d make sure she wouldn’t starve again. She might still hate him deep down or not want to be close to him. He would help her anyway. But she was right. They weren’t friends as they’d been before because he didn’t feel the urge to kiss and hold his friends, take care of them, and protect them from any discomfort life might throw at them.
“I don’t care,” he said, touching her hand. She seemed to like it when he touched her hand. “I’d love to take you to Constantinople. I’d love to be with you. The rest is your choice. Would you accept?”
He got lost in the way the tip of her tongue darted over the plush pink flesh of her bottom lip. The view was rather arousing, judging by how much his body tensed.
When she stopped tormenting her bottom lip, he exhaled.
“I guess I would.” She flushed again. “I’d love to see the world.”
He grinned. “Excellent.”
Her answer lifted his mood for the rest of the journey, even though she didn’t talk.
