Page 82 of A Slipper in the Smoke
“Right,” he said, “perhaps now is… not the time to be talking about my grandmother.”
“I could listen to your talk about anything until your voice turned hoarse with age or the world was dust around us,” Elena whispered, surprised by the sound of her own words.
Pip’s eyes widened. He was surprised too. “I can talk all night, if you wish.”
Elena blushed. “I can’t stay the night,” she told him. “My stepmother—”
She still needed to go home and grab her belongings before meeting the rebels before the ball tomorrow night. If the Baroness decided to punish her for being out all night, if she somehow stopped her from meeting them at the rendezvous… the consequences could be disastrous for everyone.
Including Pip.
Oh, gods and gears, how she wanted to tell him everything.
But she couldn’t risk it.
“Right,” Pip said, looking mildly disappointed.
“I still have a few hours.”
“A few hours…” He stroked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Gears, Elena, how is any amount of time with you supposed to be enough?”
Elena’s heart raced. She drew him in for another kiss, her arms circling round his neck. His hands went to her waist, bunching into her clothes, as the kiss grew and trembled inside her, rumbling like thunder. They backed into the table, upsetting the glasses—
“Perhaps we should have a drink—” he suggested.
“No,” she murmured in his mouth. She didn’t want to imbibe anything buthim.
Pip placed his hands down on the table to steady himself, his hands brushing against something. He sighed, pulling away, holding up the golden envelope.
“I should at least give you this,” he said.
“What is it?”
“Open it.”
Elena took it, peeling back the seal and removing a small oblong card from the inside. She stared down at the writing on it, certain it must be a mistake.
It was a one way ticket to Navarra.
Leaving the day after tomorrow.
“But this… how did you…”
She couldn’t use it, could she? Could she stay in the city for a day after liberating the prince? Would any trains even be leaving after the events of tomorrow?
Well, they would leave eventually. The ticket would be honoured.
But how had Pip secured it in the first place?
She looked up at him, searching for an explanation. He couldn’t possibly have afforded it himself, not on a servant’s salary. He must have connections, be owed a favour, something—
Pip stared back at her, registering her confusion. “I need to tell you something—”
“Don’t,” she said, claiming his mouth with hers. “Don’t tell me anything that might break this moment. Just one night, Pip. One night. Please.”
Whatever it was that Pip had been about to tell her, he clearly decided it could wait. His hands were on her again, roaming and teasing, grabbing at the laces on her bodice, stroking her thighs.
“Just to be clear,” he said, his lips against her neck, “when you say ‘one night,’ do you mean—”
