Page 35 of Ties of Legacy

For some reason it had never occurred to him that their rooms might be so far apart. In the past—when he was still tied to the candelabra—it might not have made too much of a difference. But the bond had become more potent since the brass had been melted down and reformed. He couldn’t spend a whole night so far from the lamp.

He gazed over at Avery again, noting the lump of her satchel beneath the blanket. She always kept it strapped to her and even kept it at her side while she slept. But knocked out by the sleeping potion, she wouldn’t notice if he removed the lamp or even took the entire satchel. If he had the lamp with him, he could go sleep in his own room.

But staring at her peaceful face, he was haunted by the thought of how she would feel when she woke up. If she awoke alone in the room with the lamp gone, she would assume he had taken the opportunity to steal it and run. Just imagining her panic and horror made him sick to his stomach. Such potent feelings of betrayal would likely linger even after she discovered the truth.

Better to intrude on her privacy by remaining at her side than to leave her to panic when she woke. And it would make him more comfortable as well. He didn’t like the idea of leaving her alone in the room while she was under an enchanted sleep. Even when doctors were the ones to administer a sleeping potion, the patient usually had a trusted caregiver sitting with them at all times to monitor their health. Avery might not have been sick, but he wasn’t leaving her alone.

Elliot leaned his head back against his chair and sighed. He just hoped Avery woke up sooner rather than later.

Chapter 13

Avery

The first thing Avery noticed was that she was lying on a comfortable mattress with a blanket tucked around her. And yet she had no memory of returning to the inn for the night. She frowned, her eyes still closed, and the memory of the strange sweet returned.

She sat bolt upright, gasping. The blanket slid off her, and she clutched at the satchel, her eyes scanning the room.

Elliot turned toward her from where he had been gazing out the room’s window. The early evening light behind him obscured his features, but she thought he was smiling.

“You’re awake.” He sounded pleased. “I wasn’t sure how long you’d be sleeping. Even the stall holder wasn’t sure.”

“You’re still here,” Avery said, ignoring the issue of the sweet for the moment.

Elliot stepped toward the fire, his features becoming clearer. He looked uncertain.

“Sorry,” he said, “but our rooms aren’t next to each other.”

“What?” Avery asked, feeling unusually dense.

“I just assumed we’d have rooms next to each other,” he said. “But mine is all the way down the hall. So I had to stay here. Youwere asleep so I couldn’t ask what you’d prefer, but I thought…” He trailed off, looking at her satchel.

“Oh,” she said, finally realizing why he was apologizing.

She could feel the shape of the lamp inside the satchel, but there had been no need to check it was still inside. Elliot’s presence proved that. While she had been worrying he might have stolen the lamp and left, he had been concerned about her privacy being violated by his presence in her room. He was busy considering her feelings while she doubted his integrity.

“What happened?” she finally asked.

“Those weren’t just sweets,” he said with a grimace. “That stall holder had come across the river from Oakden.”

“Ohhh,” Avery said, feeling foolish. “I thought it had an odd taste. I should have recognized it.”

Elliot grimaced. “Even if you had, it would have been too late. But you had a child’s dose, so you’ve only been out for a bit over an hour.”

“She knew me.” Avery sighed. “She must have thought I knew who she was.”

“She was very apologetic,” Elliot offered. “If that helps at all.”

Avery nodded, but her mind had already moved onto the second, more pressing point. Elliot’s room was at the end of the hall.

“Did you ask about a room next to mine?” she asked.

Elliot took the change of topic in stride. “Yes, but she said they’re busy because it’s market day. She said there aren’t two rooms next to each other.”

Avery sighed. Yet another pitfall she hadn’t considered.

“How did I get back here?” she asked, swinging topics yet again.

“I carried you.” Elliot said the words simply, but her eyes widened.

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