Page 53 of An Unwitting Alliance
Longbottom shrugged Tom off, glaring. “Cease this nonsense at once.” At any moment the man would pull back and see Alan. Cassandra had to do something. Faint or scream or anything. Releasing Tom’s hand, she stepped close to Longbottom, her heart racing.
“Darling, you are irritating this man, who is only trying to perform his business.” She smoothed Longbottom’s jacket, grateful her voice did not tremble. “Oh dear, he has given you a crease. I am terribly sorry.” She feigned a glare at Tom. “My betrothed is easily excitable—worse than a puppy and as sappy as a poet. How shall I ever manage?”
Tom sputtered in mock disbelief, but in reality, he seemed much calmer than Cassandra felt.
Longbottom leaned away from her. “I do not care how you manage, madam, but do so elsewhere, please. We have a situation we are dealing with that requires all our attention.”
Cassandra stole a glance to the side of him and saw Alan slip inside the workhouse. She exhaled before realizing what Longbottom had said.
She whipped her eyes back to his. “Whatever has happened? My betrothed is in your debt now, and he is happy to assist, aren’t you, dear?” She strung out the last word, adding a bit of censure.
“You cannot help me, unless you happen to have seen a runaway,” Longbottom said.
Cassandra gasped. “Not a child, I hope.”
“Precisely that.” Longbottom grabbed the porter’s jacket by one lapel. “There will be consequences, of course.”
Cassandra put her hand to her mouth. This time, her fear was not at all pretend. What would he do when he discovered Alan inside? Would he forget everything, or would he punish Alan anyway?
Tom slid his fingers between hers. “We were all boys once. It is in our nature to get in a scrape or two. A good talking-to with a stern look like the one you gave the porter here and everything will be right in the world again.”
“A romantic idea,” Longbottom said. “But a foolish one. I am running an institution, not a nursery.” He whirled on his heel and marched away from them, yelling back over his shoulder, “I’ll be back, Johnson!”
The porter winced and replied weakly, “Yes, sir.”
Tom gave Cassandra a tug, and she did not have to be told twice. Her heart pounded, but she managed to walk at his casual pace. Sensing her need to collect herself, he directed her back into the alley.
Cassandra leaned against the warehouse wall and tipped her head back. “I thought I would expire when Alan slipped past us. I was sure he was going to get caught.”
“You did wonderfully.” He squeezed her hand, reminding her that he was still holding it. The simple touch, coupled with his nearness, eased some of the desperation she’d felt, but it did little to settle the speed of her pulse.
Talk. She needed to keep talking. “We will have to pray Mr. Longbottom’s temper has cooled by the time he finds Alan.” When Tom nodded, she spoke again. “Next time let’s make a plan first.”
Tom shook his head. “What fun would there be in that?”
“You call what we did fun?”
His expression turned somber. “Not fun, no. But you have to admit you did enjoy comparing me to an excitable puppy. I resent that, by the way.”
“What about the part where you announced our engagement?”
Tom batted the thought away with a toss of his free hand. “Longbottom cannot possibly run in the same social circles as your family. Besides, he never got our names.”
“You are lucky I went along with it.” She wanted to keep going along with it. Maybe he would keep holding her hand. Maybe he would even kiss it again.
“Lucky and relieved you played along.” Tom glanced back at the road. “Do you think you are ready to walk back to the emporium? We should probably find your aunt. I am just beginning to get on her good side, and since we now share the same walls, I dare not change that. Besides, two little girls need their sweets.”
Cassandra nodded, and he stepped away from the wall. Just then they heard footsteps closing in on them, the pace hurried and coming from the direction of the gate.
Cassandra grabbed Tom’s arm. “Longbottom!” she hissed. “He said he would be back! He will wonder why we are hiding here. He will connect us to Alan; I am certain of it. And the boy will be punished—” Fear cut off her words as she whirled in every direction, searching for a nonexistent hiding place.
Tom stepped protectively in front of her, moving his hands to her shoulders and stilling her shaking form. “Listen, there isn’t time to run.” She saw the smallest hint of panic flash over his eyes just as she saw Longbottom’s shadow on the ground. Tom squeezed her tighter, leaned forward, and mumbled, “Forgive me once more,” right before he effectively captured her mouth with his own.
Shocked, she stood motionless while Tom’s warm lips moved over hers. Instinctively, she closed her eyes and relaxed her mouth. Tom was a proficient. His kiss made her forget all about Longbottom. It made her forget all about her resolutions too. She was supposed to push him away, to despise his touch. But hating him was not nearly as enjoyable as loving him.
So she kissed him back.
She had thought him one way, but Tom had proved his heart was good and kind. She knew it as well as she knew that there was an undeniable connection between them. His arms came around her and enveloped her in his warmth. She was safe with him. He made her feel beautiful, wanted, and cared for. And for that sweet, blissful moment, she saw in her mind a glimpse of endless possibilities they alone could create. How she wanted to chase after that potential. She did not want their kiss to end, nor his comforting, stirring touch, nor the fire building between them.
