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Chapter Sixteen

L ily thought about sneaking back to the train car where Colin was traveling.

That was how much his kiss had affected her.

She knew it was impossible. Not only were her parents in the car with her—not that they were paying her much attention—but she wasn’t even sure which car he was traveling in or how to get there.

Then there was the fact that Colin wanted nothing more to do with her, that he had likely only been taken over by the moment and hadn’t actually meant to become so close to her, despite what he might have said to make her feel better about how she had practically thrown herself at him.

Although that didn’t change that she had never felt anything like she had when he had kissed her.

When he had pushed her away – figuratively, not literally, for she knew he would never do that to her – it had hurt so much more than she would ever admit.

She jumped when something poked into her side, and she looked up to find Emmaline staring at her with her arms crossed and an expectant look on her face.

“Did you just poke me?” Lily asked incredulously.

“I said your name five times, and you never even moved!” Emmaline exclaimed, and Lily winced.

“Sorry.”

“I will forgive you on one condition.”

“I don’t think forgiveness is supposed to come with conditions.”

“Well, in this case, it does. You must tell me what happened when you went to the necessary.”

“I did my business. That is not something we speak about, Emmaline.”

“Lily Evans, we both know that far more happened than that. Not only were you gone for so long I had to come looking for you, but your face had all kinds of emotions written on it, and now I’m not sure whether you are happy or sad or what is happening in your head right now.”

“Very well. I know I will regret telling you this, but I also know that you will not leave it alone until I do.” Lily looked from one side to the other before leaning in and whispering.

“Lord Nathaniel trapped me and tried to prove I was making a mistake by declining him, though I think his pride was the main issue. Colin found me and rescued me, and then I needed a minute, and he kissed me but then pushed me away, and it was the best and worst moment of my life.”

Emmaline blinked rapidly, trying to process all that Lily had just let out in a stream of words that Lily knew were likely hard to understand.

“There is so much to discuss from that, but let’s start with the most important part,” she said. “Colin kissed you? As in Colin Thornton, the Manchester Central football player? The one who works as a foreman in your father’s mill?”

“That would be the one.”

“Oh, Lily,” Emmaline said, a smile growing on her face. “I am so happy and yet concerned for you at the same time.”

“I know,” Lily said with a sigh. “Do I ever.”

“You should have a secret love affair,” Emmaline said, her voice just above a whisper. “Think of all the fun you could have, judging by that man’s body.”

“Emmaline!”

“Well, we all saw it in rain-soaked clothes, Lily, and it was a sight to behold. Then there is his aggression on the field. How was the kiss?”

Lily sighed. “Incredible.”

“Of course it was. Well, you would be a fool to push him away.”

“Do you see a future for me with him?”

“Honestly, no, unless you are prepared to live the life of a foreman’s wife, away from your family, for there is a very good chance your father would forbid you from ever seeing Colin again, and he would also discharge him from the mill and the team.”

Lily sighed again, only this time, her sigh was one of resignation instead of infatuation.

“I know all of this already. He made that very clear. I should avoid him.”

“I never said that at all! Do I think you will likely be able to marry him? No. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have some fun.”

Lily thought about it. She really did. Not just the having fun part, but the thought of spending time with him, even if it wasn’t forever, was nearly too tempting to ignore.

Except she knew that she was not the type of woman who could have fun without attachment. She wanted romance and everlasting love.

The trouble was, Colin was the only man with whom she could picture that now.

As desperately as she wished for a glimpse, Lily didn’t see him again when they disembarked at the train station, although she thought she saw one of his sisters in the distance. What would they think of her if they ever met her? What did it actually matter?

Another week went by, and she wondered if she would ever see Colin again besides watching him on the pitch playing football. One thing was for certain – she wasn’t going to miss any more matches now.

“What are you looking at?” Mrs. O’Connor asked as Lily sat at the table in the kitchen, holding a piece of paper in front of her while Mrs. O’Connor prepared dinner for the evening.

She knew she was probably in the way more than anything, but Mrs. O’Connor would never turn her away.

“It’s an address,” she said with a sigh. She had told the cook about meeting Colin and their suspicions about the club, but she hadn’t shared her own thoughts about him.

From the way Mrs. O’Connor was eyeing her, however, she had a feeling that she already knew.

“I am going to assume the young man you’ve been telling me about lives there?”

“It is.”

“What are you to do with the address?”

“If I uncover anything, I can find him there to share information.”

“Have you found something?”

“No,” Lily said, remaining silent for a moment before continuing. “What if I just appear at his front door? What would he do?”

“What would be your purpose to do so?”

“Just to… see him again.”

“I don’t know the answer, Lily,” Mrs. O’Connor said gently. “All I know is the same thing I always tell you – to follow your heart.”

Mrs. O’Connor was right – it was the same advice she had always given, advice that Lily had always heeded as best she could. But it was a mix of following her heart and her head, and she decided all she could do now was wait for another opportunity to determine just which she should follow.

She put her attention into her work with the club, which not only gave her some purpose but also was a connection to Colin, as limited as it was.

All seemed fine for about a week, until she began to notice discrepancies in the ledgers – all related to one man.

Colin.

Of course.

Everything in her life seemed to be leading to him.

“This can’t be right,” Lily murmured as she sat at her desk, noting that it seemed all the receipts he had submitted for travel were higher than what was actually paid, like he was trying to swindle money from the club.

“Why would Colin be targeted for each one?”

There was only one thing to do – whether she liked it or not.

She needed to talk to him.

Sitting at her writing desk, Lily pulled out a piece of paper and an envelope, found the correct nib, dipped it in the inkwell, and set it to the paper, writing a quick note asking Colin to meet her.

Before the match against Notts County, she hadn’t found time to meet with him, and after that, she had been too nervous to spend time alone with him again.

But her parents were going out tonight. They had asked her to accompany them, but it was to a boring dinner that she had no wish to attend anyway. It would be a good night to sneak out.

Lily asked Colin to meet her at the club offices, where hopefully they could see if Mr. Pritchard had any additional records.

It was short notice. She had to hope that he would receive it in time.

And that he would still be willing to see her.

Colin returned home from his day at the mill, exhausted.

He was sore from Saturday's game, and one day of rest wasn’t enough to recover, not when he was returning to a job that was often just as laborious on his muscles as a football game. He was looking forward to one of his mother’s meals and then falling into a deep sleep for the rest of the night.

His plans, however, went awry the moment he walked through the door and Sally practically knocked him over in her excitement to give him the paper she held in her hand.

“What’s this?” he asked.

“It came for you,” Sally said, her eyes glowing. “It’s ever so fancy. Look at the handwriting. And the quality of the paper. It even smells nice, like lavender or flowers on a beautiful summer day.”

Colin took the letter, his heart racing as he knew exactly who it was from.

Only one woman could afford such elegant stationery and knew his address. Only one woman who held a scent that he would have described just as Sally had.

Lily.

He tried to move away from his sister to read the note peacefully, but she was relentless.

“Who’s it from? What does it say?” she asked, trying to jump high enough to read over his shoulder, and he looked at her in affectionate exasperation.

“I would have to be allowed to read it before I could answer any of those questions.”

“Fine.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “You have two minutes.”

He chuckled as he eased his sore body into a chair and read Lily’s note, asking him to meet her at the club offices again. Tonight. Of course.

He sighed. He supposed he wouldn’t be getting that sleep he had hoped for, although his pulse picked up at the thought of seeing her again, as much as he knew he should stay away.

“Well?”

Oh, yes. Sally.

“The note is from a young lady I am helping with something,” he said, hoping to appease her curiosity.

It did not.

“Ooooh, helping,” she said, fluttering her eyelashes. “And just how are you helping her?”

“Sally, that is enough!” their mother said as she walked into the room, shooing Sally away with a towel. The reprieve was only slight, however, as Colin’s mother now eyed him expectantly. “Well? Are you going to answer?”

He ran a hand through his hair.

“There are some issues with the football club,” he answered as honestly as he could. “Money is being lost, and Rhys is making up for it himself, but he’s bitter because he knows that I am being paid to play. The least I can do is figure out what’s happening.”

“I see,” his mother said, crossing her arms over her chest and leaning back against the counter as a delicious-smelling concoction simmered in the pot behind her. “And just how does a young woman fit into this?”

“She’s a bookkeeper with the team. She is helping me determine what is going on.”

His mother nodded, although she eyed him with that same knowing expression she always had when he was a child trying to get away with something.

Not much ever got by Peggy Thornton. He only hoped he could prevent her from discovering Lily’s true identity, for he was sure that she would have much to say about that.

“I’m supposed to meet her tonight,” he said. “But I don’t suppose I could have some dinner first?”

“Could never allow you to leave on an empty stomach,” his mother said with a grin. “Best hurry up and eat. Wouldn’t want to leave a lady waiting.”

Little did she know how true her words were.