Chapter 41
Chapter Forty-One
Millie’s bright smile was a welcomed sight to an overwrought and exhausted Haven.
After leaving Logan’s bed, she’d spent the rest of the early morning hours weeping into her pillow.
She hadn’t done that since the night Elgin left.
Something about being rejected for a dead woman just didn’t sit right. It hurt.
A lot.
Even after every other man in her life robbed her of joy, she thought Logan would be worth the effort, but he took her gift and tossed it aside for a beautiful specter. She’d hoped he was different. She wanted to believe her heart was safe with him, but she couldn’t have been more wrong.
Forcing a smile, she took a seat at the table, and allowed a footman to pour her a cup of coffee. It smelled like a skunk would taste, but caffeine was the best medicine for a sleepless night. The stronger, the better.
She could really go for a java face slap.
Millie’s voice cut through the morning like a cleaver. “I can see you had a late night.”
Startled, Haven nearly spilled her steaming coffee into her lap.
“What do you mean?” Haven stammered.
The footman brought a plate of steaming eggs and ham, but despite the mouth-watering scents, it didn't appeal.
Her stomach was tied in knots.
“You look as though you’ve spent the night staring into the ceiling. Your eyes are red, and you don’t look your usual self, my dear.” Millie’s look of concern nearly undid her.
She stopped short of sobbing into her coddled eggs. “I had a long night. I couldn’t sleep, that’s all.”
“What kept you awake? Are you worried about getting home?”
“Yes.” The coffee tasted like tar mixed with ass extract, but she drank it anyway.
Yes, she worried about never seeing her friends again, but those worries weren’t holding her mind, body, and heart captive. She’d experienced the most intimate and blazing-hot sex she’d ever known, and it scared her to death.
Millie laid aside her fork, and sat forward in her chair. She had a sympathetic look on her darling face.
“While I know nothing of time travel or the magic needed to achieve such a miracle, I can imagine how you must feel to be so far from everything you know and love. I cannot promise you’ll get home, dear, but I can promise that while you’re here, you’ll have a friend and a safe place to stay—no matter how long you need it. ”
Tears sprang to Haven’s eyes.
“Thank you, Millie. You’re like the aunt I always wanted, but never had.”
“I like you, Haven, and I don’t like many people. Just ask my oldest friends. They’re my oldest friends because I don’t have any new ones.”
Haven smiled, glad of the company and the uplifting chatter.
Even though the food tasted like cardboard, she dug in anyway, determined to act like her life wasn’t spinning toward chaos.
Millie motioned for the footman to take her plate, and sat back in her chair.
“Have you made any progress in your search for answers?”
Haven swallowed the pasteboard ham, and replied, “Well, I did have an interesting encounter with the watch. Apparently, there’s a soul trapped inside, and it reached out and showed me a few jumbled images.
” More like a frantic onslaught of pictures and other sensory data.
“I didn’t get any concrete information, but I did snatch a clue from the mess. ”
“Oh?” Millie’s eyes twinkled with interest.
“The name Ahmi.” At Millie’s puzzled look she continued, “I’ve never heard it before, but at least it’s something.”
“Do you know where to find more information?”
She nodded. “During the migraine inducing information upload, I saw a few images that made me think of the Rom.” One image showed a gorgeous, tall, dark man striding through a camp filled with dark eyes, and colorfully dressed people.
She made assumptions based on stereotypes, but what other group of people lived in wagons and tents, and dressed in that particular fashion?
“That’s someplace to start. Why not ask them if they have any information?” Rising from her seat, Millie came to stand beside her. “Why don't you ask Logan to take you to their camp?”
Logan? She swallowed. “That’s right. He did say he visited them a few weeks ago. Are they still around?” Maybe she could find them on her own.
“I believe so. The only way to know for sure is to ask him.”
“Ask who what?” Logan’s deep voice thrilled through her, setting her pulse racing.
Stepping into the room, he avoided direct eye contact with her, but nodded to his aunt.
“Good morning, Aunt Mildred. I hope you’re well this morning, not too exhausted from last night’s diversions.”
Last night’s diversions....
Haven shuddered.
Smiling up at her nephew, Millie replied, “Oh poo, I may be well into my sixtieth year, but I am not a doddering old ninny. I can manage to survive a dinner party, and still wake the next morning without feeling as though I’d been plowed over by a herd of elephants.”
“Of that I have no doubt.” He took a seat at the furthest end of the table. “Who is this him you’re looking to question?”
“Why you, of course. Haven and I were discussing her watch, and the possibility that someone at the Romany camp will know something about it.”
Narrowing his eyes, he furrowed his brow. “That is a possibility, but making the trip to the camp, and then poking around asking strange questions, might not be the best idea.”
He finally turned his deep, black gaze upon her, and a blush warmed over her skin.
While last night was the best night of her life, it was also the most awkward and painful.
She’d never slept with a man who held a torch for a dead woman, refused to speak about her, and just laid in strained silence while she bumbled toward the bedroom door in shame.
“What do you need to know?” Of course he would completely ignore anything having to do with last night. She didn’t blame him. She’d ruined it with her questions.
Haven fought back the heat of the blush tugging at the roots of her hair.
“During a particularly interesting experience, I discovered there was a spirit living in my watch. When it connected with me, I picked out the name Ahmi. I want to ask if anyone in the camp knows this person. Maybe Ahmi is in the camp, or is part of another tribe. Who knows, but at least it’s a place to start. ”
He hesitated before responding, his voice a rumble of suspicion. “If you wish to ask questions, I will take you.”
While the thought of riding beside him sent anticipatory tremors through her, it also sent electric shocks of fear.
How could she sit beside him for however long it took to get to the camp without talking about what happened last night?
Sure, she could keep her mouth shut, but the curiosity about the woman in the painting nibbled.
Haven needed to know the woman’s identity, and what she meant to him.
“I would appreciate it. Thanks.” Her voice wobbled.
Maybe he wouldn’t notice.
Millie had. Her knowing gaze missed nothing.
Millie glanced between her and Logan, and her gaze finally rested on Haven.
“I’ll ask Chef to pack a basket with some finger sandwiches and such.” Millie’s expression said she wanted to say more, but the wise older woman kept those words to herself.
For now.
Confused, emotional, hungry for Logan’s touch, and fearful of the future staring her down, Haven didn’t have a clue what she’d say when Millie finally cornered her.
“Thank you.”
“Yes, thank you, aunt.” He turned to Haven. “Please be ready to depart half past the hour. It will take an hour or more to get there by carriage.”
“Why not take two horses?” Millie’s suggestion startled Haven.
Ride a horse?
A pensive expression crossed his face. “It would make better time than the carriage.” He focused on her. “Miss Edwards, can you ride a horse?”
Hell no. “Um, I did take horsemanship classes at summer camp ten years ago.”
“Knowing the basics is enough when your mount is an easy ride.”
Mount...easy ride....
Her mind swam circles in the gutter.
“I guess I can give it a try.” When did her throat get so dry?
“It’s settled, then. I will have two horses saddled.”
Dismissing her with a nod, he picked up a newspaper and hid his face behind it.
Fighting back the urge to rip the paper in half and stuff it down his starched, too tight shirt, she flexed her fingers, and followed Millie from the table.
As much as she’d love to sit there and throw barbs at his head, she had to get ready for the day ahead. She had a lot of questions to ask, and no idea what to expect.