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‘Twenty altogether.’
‘All right. Where’s the tin?’ Quickly, he scooped up a handful of marbles and dropped them in one by one. ‘That’s eight.’
‘I have another five!’
‘I’ve only got two.’
‘Keep looking.’
‘I can’t find them!’ Michael wailed after a few minutes. ‘Maybe they rolled outside?’
‘Are these what you’re looking for?’ A grey-haired gentleman with a round, friendly face and wispy hair appeared in the taproom doorway, holding the last five marbles. ‘Wouldn’t do to lose them.’
‘Thank you, sir.’ Michael darted forward with a grin.
‘Here. I’ll carry them in my pocket from now on.’ Sebastian gave a nod of thanks and reached for the tin. ‘So that we don’t have any more accidents.’
‘Sorry, Sebastian.’
‘Come on.’ He ruffled Michael’s hair. ‘Let’s go for that walk. Good morning.’
He tipped his hat to the gentleman, surprised when the man only stared quizzically back, and went outside. The stagecoach had already departed and the courtyard was relatively peaceful now, most people preferring to stand in the sunshine of the main street. That was wider than he’d given it credit for the previous evening, with several shops interspersed with neat-looking grey houses. A number of shoppers were out and about, too, milling around and chattering. Altogether it was a pleasant place for a stroll, he thought, made even pleasanter by the touch of Henrietta’s hand on his arm.
He couldn’t help but watch her out of the corner of his eye, wondering whether she was having regrets about kissing him at all. Her words the previous evening implied it. Or maybe she was simply having more doubts about whether or not she could trust him. Or maybe she was genuinely worried about what his family might think? Or was it about his intentions in general? And what were they anyway?
He tipped his hat to a group of ladies as they walked by, considering the question. He probably ought to have thought about it sooner, especially after the way Miss MacQueen had chided him, but everything had happened so quickly. What were his intentions? Honourable, yes, but how honourable? Marriage? Was he really prepared to tie himself down just when he’d become a free man?
He sighed. Whatever his intentions, he was back in friends territory just when he wanted to kiss her more than ever.
* * *
They had made their way through the town and along a path to the river. The water was fast, but not particularly deep, and there had been stones to throw, branches to race under the bridge and stepping stones to jump across, after which the boys had been so hungry that Henrietta had had to pop into a bakery for some bread for them to share. All of which meant that it was past noon by the time they headed back to the inn to collect their bags.
‘Sebastian?’ Henrietta lowered her voice as they wandered back.
‘Mmm?’ He liked the way she said his name. Sebastian...with an emphasis on the B. Nobody else said it like that.
‘You know it might just be better to get it over with?’
He gave her arm a small nudge. ‘Are you suggesting that I’m delaying the last leg of our journey on purpose?’
‘It crossed my mind.’ She nudged him back. ‘Although I wouldn’t blame you if you were.’
‘I’m not saying you’re wrong, but I’ve run out of excuses anyway. I’ll go and ask the innkeeper about that cart n—’
‘Sebastian!’
He stopped mid-stride at the sound of his name, looking up to see two women emerging from an apothecary’s just ahead of them. Quickly, he let go of Henrietta, opening his arms just in time for one of the women to launch herself at him, moving faster than he’d ever seen her move in, well—ever. If he hadn’t taken a moment to brace himself, they would surely both have been sent sprawling into a puddle.
‘Sebastian!’ the woman repeated, pummelling him in the face with her bonnet as she tightened her grip on his neck. ‘I thought you were still in Bath. Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?’
‘It was a last-minute decision.’ He tipped his head back with some difficulty and smiled. His mother had a few more wrinkles and grey hairs than the last time he’d seen her, but her face was just as kind and loving as he remembered. ‘It’s good to see you again, Mama.’
‘You’ve no idea how good it is to see you.’ There were tears in her eyes now. ‘It’s been so long!’
‘I know, but I’m here to make up for it now.’
‘Yes, you are. I can hardly believe it. Oh!’ She noticed his companion finally, a surprised expression passing over her face. ‘Henrietta? How lovely to see you, my dear.’
