Page 63 of Snapdragons
Niles wrapped his other hand around the one of hers he already held, cocooning it in warmth and comfort. “That must have been a difficult leave-taking.”
“He has done imprudent things before when he was upset, but this is different.” She swallowed against the thickness in her throat. “He left without a single word, without telling me he was going, without bidding me farewell. He just left, as if saying goodbye to me didn’t matter at all, as if I wouldn’t want to say goodbye to him.”
“Oh, Penelope.” It wasn’t pity that filled his voice but kindness and concern.
And with that simple response, he broke the dam that had been holding back all the overwhelming emotions she’d felt for days. Tears spilled over as her heart cracked painfully open.
Niles pulled her into his arms, and she clung to him. For the first time in memory, she simply let herself fall apart.
Chapter Twenty-One
“I hugged her.” Niles lookedaround the sack of grain hung from the joists of the outbuilding Digby had given him use of. Aldric stood on the other side, stopping the bag from swinging. “I realize that’s a pathetic thing for a gentleman of thirty to be both new at and exhilarated by, but—”
“Niles, I’ve known you for sixty years now—”
“Thirteen,” Niles corrected with a laugh.
Aldric waved that off. “Semantics. The Gents have all known for as long as we’ve known you that you aren’t one to feel an inclination toward physical shows of affection without a deep and abiding emotional connection. That does not and has not ever made you anything resembling pathetic.”
“Thetonwould disagree.”
“Pummel while you talk, Niles,” Aldric said. “You need to be ready for this tournament.”
Niles raised his fists once more. “I never ignore an order from the General.”
“Rubbish. Every one of the Gents has ignored orders from the General over the years. To your cost, I would add.”
Aldric resumed his braced position on the other side of the grain bag. Niles returned to his series of punches and jabs, repeatedly changing the angle and force in an effort to make certain his muscles remembered how.
“Do you suppose Penelope let me hold her because she... feels...?” Niles couldn’t bring himself to finish the question, so he focused on his punches once more.
“When you were holding her,” Aldric asked, “did she pat you awkwardly on the back while pulling away? Or look at you the way one would a cut of venison that had gone off?”
Niles paused and looked at his friend. “Does that often happenwhen a man hugs a woman?”
“Apparently.” Aldric preened a bit. “Personally, I’ve never had any complaints.”
“I remember quite a few complaints from Céleste Fortier.” Niles landed a solid blow with his left.
“Those complaints were lodged against our idiot brothers,” Aldric pointed out.
“I am going to tell Henri you said he’s an idiot.”
Aldric shook his head. “You know perfectly well I meant Jean-François.”
“But you said, ‘Céleste Fortier’s brother is an idiot.’ Henri is her brother. Therefore...”
“People looking in on the Gents from the outside insist you are a quiet, sheepish person,” Aldric said dryly.
Niles laughed again. “They’d never believe I was the only one amongst all of us who campaigned to be included in the group and the one most able to beat the others to an absolute pulp.”
“Far too many people have underestimated you, Niles. Let us hope your opponents at the pugilistic tournament do as well.”
“I heard it whispered in Hamblestead that there is some hope that Sam Martin will be among those vying for the purse,” Niles said.
The revelation had precisely the impact it ought. Aldric looked both impressed and concerned. “Blazes, Puppy. He’ll murder you.”
“He’s a clean fighter.” Niles landed two successive punches at just the angle and force he wanted. “I might very well get pulverized, but I’m highly unlikely to actually die.”
