Page 23 of My Gentleman Spy
A wistful look appeared on hisface.
“I have two sisters and one brother. Evelyn, who we call Eve, is in her early twenties. Caroline who is three years younger. And Francis who fits somewhere in the middle, though at six feet four he struggles to fit in anywhere. I am especially looking forward to getting reacquainted withthem.”
The joy in his voice when he spoke about his family brightened Hattie’s mood. It had been a long time since her whole family had been together and exchanged kind words with one another. It was nice to hear of other people who still had loving familyrelationships.
Another group of tourists entered the cave and began to look around. The private moment between them was at anend.
The sun was sinking slowing in the west and the air rapidly cooling when they began to make the slow descent back down the mountain and into town. They had spent several hours in the cave walking around seeing the various limestone formations. Will had shown her one which had been cut across the top and had growth rings like atree.
He was an excellent guide, warm and engaging. By the end of their time in the cave, Hattie felt a small tendre beginning to bud forWill.
The excitement which continued to course through her veins, had her quietly asking if they could walk back into town rather than take the cart. Will paid their guide and sent him and his donkey on their way as they left St Michael'scave
Hattie was exhausted when they finally reached the town square, but her soul felt alive. The day spent with Will was a world away from the strict and dull existence to which she had become so accustomed over the past fewyears.
“Let's find somewhere private for us to enjoy some more of the local cuisine. I don't know about you, but I am starving,” hesaid.
When he turned and looked at her, Hattie's gaze immediately settled on Will's lips. Only a matter of a day ago he had held her in his arms and given her that swoon worthykiss.
A blush burned on her cheeks and she lifted a tentative finger to feel it's heat. Turning away, she hoped he had not seen her moment oftemptation.
They found a tiny cantina a few streets away from their hotel. Stepping into the cool stone building, Hattie felt the exhaustion of having been out in the late afternoon heat descend onto her shoulders. She would sleep welltonight.
The walls of the cantina were painted white. A collection of mismatched chairs and tables filled theroom.
“There is no one else here,’ shesaid.
“Most of the local population here will be resting in their homes until after sunset, we are just a little early. In an hour this place will be crowded to all four walls,” Willexplained.
He ushered her over to a table in the corner. She thought it odd when he took the seat with its back to the wall, leaving her to take the one opposite. She knew enough of society's rules to know it was not the proper thing to do when out in mixedcompany.
While she pondered his behavior, Hattie watched as Will took a slow account of the room. His lips moved ever so slightly as he did so. Turning, she looked in the direction of hisgaze.
She glanced briefly back at him before turning away once more. Had Will been counting the steps from the table to the door? She did a rough count herself and turned back to him, convinced of her theory. What sort of a man needed to know the exact number of steps from his seat to the front door; like herself, Will too had hissecrets.
“No one stays in their homes in the evening here. They dress up and promenade. A bit like the five o'clock crush at Hyde Park in London during the social season. Have you ever been?” heasked.
“No,” shelied.
Only the upper crust of London society made the journey to Hyde Park in the afternoon. If she had said yes, it would have given him the perfect opening to ask whom she knew among theton. She was not setting foot on that slipperyslope.
The owner of the cantina brought them over a bottle of wine and some fresh olives before disappearing into the kitchen to cook the fish Will had chosen from the simple menu painted on the whitewashedwalls.
Hattie took a sip of her wine. She had forgotten how much she used to enjoy the simple pleasure of a glass of wine at supper. Her brother Edgar had an expert nose for a good bottle of redwine.
She missed the nights when seated around the table with her parents and brother she had enjoyed the light heartedness and simple pleasure of theircompany.
“So?” saidWill.
She looked at him and she saw a now familiar look appear on his face. His Spanish Inquisition look, she dubbed it. The relaxed Will of the afternoon was now replaced with the Will who was full of uncomfortablequestions.
“Pardon?” shereplied.
Whatever line of questioning Will was about to embark upon, she knew he was intent on tripping herup.
Disappointment that their easy friendship of the afternoon had been set aside stung her. She didn’t like people who played games, and it hurt to think that Will’s friendly demeanor in the cave had somehow been an act. An act to make her relax and trust him enough so that the next time he questioned her, she would slip up and reveal more of hertruth.
“You were saying that your father considers wine to be the work of the devil. Yet you do not seem to share that same opinion. That must be an interesting tale totell.”
