A Kiss at Midnight

Chapter Thirteen

Alleyways were useful for two things; an escape for those who knew the town's routes well and to shield less than savoury activities from a patrolling constable's eye. Those reasons were also why Carrick hated them. Adding to that as he ducked his head to avoid a broken beam and the slap of a dirty, sodden rag hanging from it, his shoulders scraping against brick on either side; this particular alleyway was not fit for his size. He gritted his teeth, by the time he met Mack, he was not going to have skin left on his shoulders.

As luck would have it, he didn't encounter any shadowy figures with a knife in hand. The alleyway for once didn't smell of urine well at least at the moment, judging from the small puddle of suds at his boot.
In his right hand was the torn remains of a charcoal grey cravat, his excuse to visit the town.

The rules of his job were simple; survey, plan possibilities of something going awry and prepare to counter them. Then complete the task only his mind kept drifting back to Ilona as he walked along. He had to believe she was safe with her newfound friends but still, worry pinched his cheeks.

Breakfast had been one of silence and tinged with frostiness. Ilona found new and to him, infuriating ways to avoid eye contact with him. A dragged out sip of tea. The slight turn of her head to dab at her face. Angling her body away from him as she spoke to Lady Evergarde. At one point, he was strongly considering pulling the platter of bacon in front of him so she would have to look at him.

There were two new occupants at their table this morning who Fauna introduced as Lord and Lady Emsworth, old friends of hers.
Ian Emsworth was a man of slender build with barely a crinkle in his attire of blue silk and brown breeches. The features of his square face almost non descriptive except for his eyes. A startling shade of green, expressive as much as they concealed, drawing all to look.

At first glance, Carrick almost mistook him for Henry due to the rich, golden hue of his hair and Ilona saw his top lip curl back into a snarl before he realised his error.
Ilona would be a liar if she didn't admit to feeling a thrill run down her spine at his response.

Maryann Esmworth was a doe-eyed brunette, her willowy frame clothed in a day gown of tangerine. Plump lips of peach parted in shock at Carrick's appearance and Ilona bristled at her doing so.
He is not an animal at the zoo to be gawked at.

She was about to say so when Maryann leaned towards Fauna. Unknown to Ilona until she spoke but Lady Esmworth was often stricken with nerves while talking. "H-he is quite handsome."

Her voice louder than intended, causing Ian to swing his head towards his wife. One hand moved close to his face but not before Ilona saw Carrick smile.

Ilona couldn't ignore the parallels of the Emsworths's love story with that of her grandparents'.
A wallflower swept up into the arms of a nobleman. One waltz wasn't enough for them and how Ian saw beyond the reddening cheeks to the woman Maryann truly was and loved her no less. In a room of hundreds, Lord Emsworth's gaze only sought his wife's.

Ilona's wistful glance at them didn't go unnoticed.
Carrick's mouth a breath away from her ear. "I thought I overstepped a line but Ilona, what I said last night is true. You will be concealing half of you for the contentment of being on his arm."

A spark of anger in her gaze. "You don't know Henry like I do."

"Oh do I not?" His tone deceptively light. "I watched the bastard do nothing to ease your discomfort because the thought of telling the cousin of a lord no would have had him drowning in sweat. Tell me, what will happen when he see his own child transform in a wolf pup. Will he cradle the babe or will he grab it by the scruff and toss it to the streets?"