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“Indeed. He was very apologetic, insisting that I wait here until you or he came back.”
“And you’re not hurt?”
“What could possibly befall me here, other than trying to amuse myself while I wait? The pianoforte is in terrible need of tuning. Several of the bass keys don’t even work.”
I wanted to laugh at the absurdity of such a statement.
And I might have, except she seemed to realize something was amiss. “Tell me, what troubles you so?”
“Nothing.”
“’Tis something,” she said. “I can see it in your eyes.”
I considered shielding her from the truth, not because she was a woman too delicate to hear, more because I wanted to see her again and worried she might recoil after hearing the sordid truth. Still, I wanted no lies between us. “My cousin was the mastermind behind the train robbery. He killed the engineers and the detective.”
As my words rushed out, telling her everything, a look of horror clouded her eyes. She shook her head. “No . . .”
Fearing that my revelations had forever turned her against me, I apologized.
She said nothing for several seconds, then, “He was lying to me? About men following you?”
“No. His men were following me. They knocked me out. When I came to, I— I managed to call for help. When I couldn’t find you—” The very memory caused me pain. I ignored it, drawing her to the pianoforte bench so that she might sit.
“I was in the same carriage as that madman?”
“I’m so sorry,” I said again. “If I could change things, I would.”
Her hand went to her mouth, covering her trembling lips. Suddenly she reached for my hand, encouraging me to sit beside her. “You came looking for me?”
“I was worried about you.”
“At great risk to yourself.”
“I cared nothing for that. Only to find you.”
“Mr. Payton—”
“Jonathon.”
“Jonathon . . .” Her voice softened to barely a whisper, as though trying out my name for the first time, to see how it felt.
“Miss Atwater?” I said when nothing more was forthcoming.
“Surely you’re not going to leave Mr. Bell to face your cousin all on his own?”
“I— I hadn’t really thought about it. I— I needed to see you safe.”
“And I am. But Mr. Bell . . .”
Miss Atwater’s concern made me realize the truth. Isaac Bell was out there because of my cousin. “I owe him my assistance.?
?? I said, standing. “I’ll see you safely home, then go to him straightaway.”
She stood as well. “I think you should go to him first. And I shall go with you.”
“You couldn’t possibly. What if something happens to you?”
Her dark brows arched, a look of determination on her face. “Please, don’t think me too forward, but you’ve stolen my heart. I’d never forgive myself if something happened to you when we’ve only just found each other.”