Page 74 of A Secret Correspondence
“If only I could sleep anywhere,” Ruth whispered.
Marguerite shook her head. “I do not have that luxury, either.”
Jacob stoked the logs in the hearth. “I will relieve Oliver shortly. You ought to try and sleep, Ruth. You will not be much assistance to us if you cannot stay awake tomorrow.”
She scowled playfully at him.
“You both ought to sleep,” Jacob said, lifting an eyebrow.
“I could not,” Marguerite said. “You should, Ruth. We have paid for the bedchambers already.”
Ruth yawned. “I suppose. If Oliver is coming inside shortly, it would do no harm.”
“He will be with you in a quarter-hour,” Jacob promised.
She did not need further convincing, but Marguerite nodded anyway, encouraging Ruth to sleep. The woman gathered herself up and stretched her arms before walking toward the door.
Jacob rose with her. “I will see to it you make it safely upstairs. We do not know who tarries in the taproom here.”
Once they left, Samuel’s steady, even breathing was the pulse of the room, the crackling of the fireplace the off-beat rhythm. Marguerite closed her eyes and listened to both sounds.
They were keeping a watch in case Leclair came at any point, and the watch kept a whistle to alert the others. But Oliver believed he would come in the early hours before the town awakened, long enough after Marguerite had left the bundle that he would not fear being watched any longer, but not so long that he feared the diamonds would be taken.
Thus far, it would appear Oliver had been correct. It had been a calculated risk to leave one man watching the grave all night in shifts, but they were confident in Oliver’s reasoning. Now, it was less than two hours until the man would likely be apprehended and everything would be over.
“You are deep in thought,” Samuel said from the opposite sofa, his scratchy voice thick with sleep.
Marguerite’s gaze dropped to his face. His blue eyes were clear but heavily lidded and trained on her. It sent awareness through her body and directly to her toes. “I was wondering how much longer Armand would force us to wait.”
“Indeed.” Samuel straightened on the sofa, covering his wide yawn. “It would be polite of him to arrive soon, so this matter could be dealt with.”
She smiled softly. “You speak as though we are drawing up contracts or discussing a new order for a gown.”
“It is of the same consequence to me. I will not allow him the pleasure of taking up more room in my mind than that. I would much rather fill it with more pleasant things.” Samuel ran a hand through his golden hair, patting it into place. “Like you.”
“You cannot say such things,” she hissed, ignoring the warmth flooding her body. “Jacob will return at any moment.” Marguerite shook her head to clear that thought. “And you are engaged.”
All levity fled Samuel’s countenance. “Not anymore.”
Marguerite could feel the oxygen seep from the room. She attempted to read his eyes, to understand, but he did not even smile. They had spent all afternoon and the entirety of the evening together, sharing dinner, a carriage ride, and hours in this parlor, and he had not spoken a word of this to anyone. Could it be true? What did it mean? His silence and distance did not indicate feelings for her…but even if hehad, she would not permit them.
There were a multitude of reasons a union between Samuel and Marguerite was not meant to be.
“I am sorry to hear that,” she finally said.
Samuel waited, watching her closely. His mouth pressed into a line, his eyebrows lifting. “Sorry? That is all? I had hoped you would begin to waltz about the room.”
“I never learned to waltz.”
“Of course. Forgive me. You could have done a Scotch reel.”
“You are being ridiculous.”
Samuel’s face showed his incredulity. “Me? I only just informed you I am no longer attached to another woman, and you are not overjoyed. I feel a little hurt, to be honest.”
“Samuel,” she said. “Be realistic. We are not?—”
“Do not say it, please.” He crossed the space between their sofas and sat on the cushion beside her. Taking her hand, he brushed his thumb over her knuckles, causing her breath to catch. “I do not wish to hear about any difference in status or financial needs at present. Do those things matter if I love you?”
