Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Lily and Colin didn’t stay long as they had to return to their daughter, but Lily gave Ada the longest, most comforting embrace as she left.
“If you need to stay with us, please do send a note and we will make it happen,” she said, and Ada nodded in thanks before saying her farewells to Minnie and Tommy, who also had to get home to their baby. Finally, only Emmaline and Rhys remained with them.
“I must return to the bank,” Rhys said, leaning down and giving his wife a kiss. “But you are more than welcome to stay here. You need to be safe, Ada, understand?”
She nodded, before only Emmaline remained with them, her lips quirking up in a grin. “I would also offer for you to stay here, Ada, but I have a feeling you have other plans.”
Her eyes flicked over to Jonny with a mischievous grin, and Ada’s entire face warmed as she couldn’t bring herself to look up at Jonny.
“We… have a lot to speak about,” she finally finished.
Jonny obviously cared for her, yes, but he had also told her time and again that he had no wish to be married nor to give his life to another person.
She appreciated all that he had done for her, his willingness to see her happy and free, but she would have to be satisfied with that, no matter what she felt for him, which was more than she would like.
“Ready?” he asked her, and she nodded, not telling him the truth – that she would likely follow him anywhere he led. Her parents had always provided for her, yes, but she had never had anyone who looked out for her best interests above all else.
“Where are we going?” she asked as they descended the outside stairs to the street beyond.
“Home,” he said.
“Whose home?”
“Mine.”
She said nothing as she followed him, understanding the implications of what he was saying.
If anyone found out that she was staying with a single man, she would be thoroughly ruined, and he would take much of the blame.
Ada wondered what her father would do if he found out.
He would never force Jonny to marry her, that was nearly certain.
Knowing her parents, they would still try to insist marriage to David, no matter how ruined she was.
She would rather be a ruined woman than married to a man she didn’t want.
As for Jonny… he was a mystery entirely.
They walked through winding streets and up a gently sloping road to a row of terraced houses.
The small green space was visible behind, as Jonny unlocked a door nearly identical to all of the others that stood in a row down the street.
He led Ada into the house, saying nothing as he closed the door behind her.
He walked through the front home, the sound of a struck match echoing before the hiss and pop of the gas jet.
A faint whiff of sulfur curled into the air before the light steadied into a warm, wavering glow.
Shadows leapt along the walls, softening the worn edges of the furniture.
While the room was not overly decorated, there was something about it that was…
warm. Homey. And it was more than just the low-burning coal fire in the hearth, which Jonny was now prodding until it finally pulsed to life, his broad back muscles straining beneath his shirt, as he had tossed his jacket onto a chair.
“So, this is home,” she said, walking through the room and perching on the edge of the sofa.
“This is home, in a sense,” he said with a shrug. “My mother’s house still feels like my true home, but my sister and her family live there with her now.”
“Do you visit often?” Ada said softly, enjoying these small pieces of information about his life that Jonny was providing, pieces she wasn’t sure he would ever offer again. She didn’t want to pry too much now and scare him off.
“Very often,” he affirmed, pausing before adding, “it’s where Will and I met up again. My mother basically forced us into talking, but I’m glad she did.”
“I’m sure she loves you. Very much,” Ada said, looking around, drumming her fingers against her knee as she wondered just how this was going to work.
Where would she possibly sleep? She had brought nothing with her.
She was still wearing the white gown her mother had selected for her wedding without even telling her.
“You look beautiful,” Jonny said, as though reading her thoughts. Ada’s cheeks flushed as she looked up at him, but he would no longer meet her gaze.
“Thank you,” she said softly. “I have nothing else. No clothing, none of my belongings…”
“Maggie will help you,” he said, and suddenly Ada’s formerly unjealous streak spurred to life. That is, until he added, “my sister. She’s about your size and the house isn’t far.”
“I wouldn’t want to impose,” Ada said, feeling foolish, hopeful that he hadn’t noticed her momentary lapse in judgment. Although, if she wasn’t mistaken, that was a smirk directed her way.
She longed to ask what they were doing here and how he foresaw the arrangement’s duration, yet for one of the first times in her life, Ada remained silent.
For she had a fairly good idea of what the answer would be, and she didn’t want to hear it.
She didn’t want to hear that he felt this was partially his fault and he was looking out for her to assuage some of his guilt.
She didn’t want to hear that he might be interested in having some fun for a night or two, but not anything long-term.
And she most certainly didn’t want to hear that she should get herself together and go try to marry David Carter again.
“I know this isn’t what you’re used to,” Jonny said after stealing a glance at her, obviously reading correctly that she was upset, but making the wrong assumption as to why. “But I can promise it’s clean, and you’ll be safe. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“I know you won’t,” she said softly. If there was one thing she had learned, it was that Jonny looked after those who he cared for, and, apparently, she was, for the moment at least, one of those people.
Ada’s stomach rumbled — loudly and embarrassingly — and she closed her eyes, hoping that Jonny hadn’t heard it.
But when he stood without a word and walked into the small kitchen area, it was obvious that he most certainly had.
“Eggs and toast all right?” he asked, and Ada jumped up, coming up behind him.
“I can make it if you show me where everything is.”
He raised his eyebrows as he looked at her. “Can you?”
Ada bit her lip, understanding exactly what he was asking, and she hated that he was right.
No. No, she could not make eggs and toast, as awful as that sounded.
She had never had to do it before, as they had always had the means to hire a cook.
She just had to tell a servant what she’d like, and a short while later, it appeared before her.
It was a reminder of the different upbringings they’d had, but then, what did it matter when she had parents like hers, who would use her as a pawn?
“Could you teach me?” she asked, looking up at him from beneath her lashes.
“Sit,” he said, pointing a wooden spoon toward a chair beside the table.
She did as he said, watching his every motion.
Everything he did was with intention; from greasing the pan to cracking the eggs to wiping up any spills he left behind.
She watched his thick, broad fingers with fascination as he plated her eggs and toast, placing one serving in front of her and the other opposite on the table, then sat across from her and handed her a knife and fork.
“Eat,” he said brusquely, gesturing to her plate, and she nodded, so many questions forming within her, but she let her hunger overtake all else.
“Thank you,” she said, looking up at him, meeting those hazel eyes that seemed to see right through her soul, “for everything. I appreciate it more than you know.”
“Nothing to thank me for,” he said gruffly.
“I owe you a favor or two in return,” she said, attempting a smile.
“You owe me nothing,” he said, standing abruptly and taking both plates, washing them in the small basin before putting them away.
“Jonny—”
“Going to get more water,” he interrupted, picking up the basin and walking outside, leaving her staring after him.
What had she done to cause him to be so angry with her? If he didn’t want her here, he never should have invited her. Ada didn’t want to be somewhere she wasn’t welcome, and if it was bothering him so much to have her here, well, she could do something about that.
She stood, ready to gather her things, only she had nothing with her. She nearly groaned aloud that she would have to ask him for one more thing — enough to pay a hack to take her to one of her friends’ houses. She knew that any of them would take her in, as much as she didn’t want to impose.
When Jonny returned, he didn’t look at her as he filled the water basin once more.
“Jonny?” she said, her voice threatening to tremble from uncertainty. “Can you loan me enough for a hack? I promise I will pay you back.”
“A hack?” he said, his head snapping up. “What do you need a hack for?”
“I’ll go stay with one of my friends,” she said, nervously twisting her fingers together. “You are obviously not comfortable with me being here, and I don’t want to impose.”
He crossed the room so fast that she was reminded of why he was one of the best half-backs in England.
“I invited you here, and the last thing you are doing is imposing.” He stepped forward until they were nearly toe-to-toe, dipping his head as he placed his fingers under her chin and tilted her head up toward him.
“If you don’t want to be here with me, feel free to go.
I will give you the money to do so. But don’t leave because of me. I want you here more than you know.”
“You could have fooled me,” she said, narrowing her eyes at him. “While you’re not always the greatest conversationalist, you’ve never been more surly or silent than you are being right now.”
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath in through his nose.
“If I seem that way, it is not because of you.”
“No?” she challenged him, “Then why?”
He took a step back, perhaps so that his anger wouldn’t lash out at her.
“Because,” he bit out, “I had to watch you nearly get married off against your will. To a man who didn’t recognize how wonderful you were.
Who would never have treated you the way you deserved.
Who wouldn’t have taken care of you. Who would have let you be taken by Sharpe, to be used for everyone else’s gain. And then Sharpe nearly took you and I—”
He cut himself off, rubbing his forehead.
Ada watched and listened with wide eyes, having never heard such passion in Jonny’s voice.
“Then why did you tell me to marry him?”
“I suppose I was trying to protect you… and myself. I just didn’t realize how it would be. How he would be.”
“Thank you,” she said softly.
“For what?”
“For seeing me,” she said, walking over and placing a hand on his arm.
She realized then that there were no more battles to be had.
Not between them. For now, they were on the same team.
She knew he didn’t want marriage, couldn’t give her what she needed from him, and for that reason, she should walk away before she lost her heart and he truly broke it.
But, deep within, she knew it was too late for that.
For no matter how much she had tried to fight it, she had already fallen for him.