That makes me smile. “Claridges? Didn’t peg you as the posh type,” I tease.
“When in London…” he says with his gorgeous half-smile.
“Indeed,” I say.
“I love you,” he whispers as he picks up his bag and without waiting for me to say it back, he leaves. I just stand there for a few minutes, unable to move.
I hear muted voices coming from the corridor and move a tiny bit closer to the door, using my Dragon-hearing Powers to eavesdrop.
“Look after her,” Cole says gruffly.
“You know that I will,” CK says, slightly offended.
“I mean it,” Cole says more forcefully. “If anything happens to her…”
“I won’t let it,” CK interrupts him but softens his tone as he sa
ys, “I promise you; I will protect her with my last breath.”
There is a long pause and Cole sighs, “I know you will.”
“Don’t be concerned, my boy. Protecting her is what I do,” CK says so softly, I almost don’t catch it.
And then there is silence and a knock at the door.
CK pushes it open without waiting to be bid, and he stares at me.
“Don’t,” I say as he opens his mouth to speak. “I have already had it from Cole, so just don’t, okay?”
“Okay,” he says and shuts his mouth. Now that is a first, worthy of note. “But seeing as we are all up and about, how about you go and get cleaned up and we can leave?”
I nod as it makes sense and I know he is eager to get this show on the road. Well, no, eager is the wrong word, anxious is better. I have to say my own anxiety level goes up a few notches as I get showered and changed. This is just going to be a very weird morning and I have no idea what to expect. I don’t think any of us do.
I step back into the bedroom to find CK sipping tea outside with my book. When will everybody learn, it isn’t for reading?
“You decided to read it?” he asks before I can snap at him to close it and return it to me.
“No,” I say forcefully. “It was misplaced and now it goes back where it belongs.” I take it from him.
“Misplaced?” he asks curiously.
“Long story.”
“You should read it. You can always replace it if it gets damaged. There are other first edition copies around. I myself have one.”
“I have read the second edition. This does not get read. I cannot replace it; it is the sentimental value.”
“Ah, I see. It is one that you acquired at the time and it has come through the years with you.”
“Yes. I thought you knew that?”
“That was the year you left London to go to Russia. I didn’t see you again until 1894,” he reminds me.
“Yes, I remember. How did we manage to go so long between seeing each other?” I muse out loud. “I just couldn’t do that now. Even before we got closer.”
He takes my hand and kisses it. “That was all you, my sweet. Had it been up to me I would have followed you around the world.”
“Now that is a big fat lie,” I reprimand him. “I can count on both hands and feet, how many times I asked you to come to America with us when we left the Continent, and after.”