The Bachelor's Bride (The Thompsons of Locust Street #1) - Holly Bush Page 0,18

two women walk away, already laughing and talking gaily. He glanced at Elspeth. What was it that drew him to her? She was beautiful, certainly, but that was not all of it. Why did he feel connected to her?

“Would you like to walk?” he asked. “I’ll be happy to haul your wares.”

She smiled and handed him the pull handle for the wagon. “You seem less upset today than you did a few days ago. I’m glad.”

He turned his head to her. “Anticipating our meeting has raised my spirits, it seems.”

“Mine also,” she said and turned away as if suddenly shy, then she stopped walking, waiting until he turned to her. “Why are we meeting today?”

“It’s a beautiful spring day. You’re someone I enjoy talking to,” he said.

“And that is all? No other reason? No other motive?”

“Motive? What do you mean?” he asked, suddenly a bit sick. Had someone said something to her? But he’d never agreed to Schmitt’s plan.

“Why did you come here when you knew I was going to be here?”

“I’m not sure,” he said honestly. “But I do know I’ve not been able to keep this appointment, if that is what we can call it, out of my mind for more than an hour at a time.”

She looked up at him. “I’ve been thinking of it too. I’ve been wondering if you would actually come and thought you wouldn’t, and I was glad about that, and then I thought perhaps you would come, and I’d be glad of that.”

It struck him suddenly that he liked this woman enough to be honest with her, and that he could never do. He may have to tell Schmitt something, if only to keep his family name out of the hands of the gossips. It would be best for all concerned if he politely and firmly ended whatever it was they’d started. He didn’t want to feel obligated, nor did he want her to have any expectations of him. He looked over her shoulder and saw their sisters.

“I should be getting Annabelle home,” he said. He did not look at her, though, as he had trouble dissembling when their eyes met and held, as they had done several times on every occasion when he’d spent time with her. “We have prior engagements with longtime friends we are looking forward to.”

Elspeth turned and watched Kirsty and his sister as they walked to them. They were chatting merrily, and Kirsty was waving at stand holders, promising to deliver their orders the next week.

“Did you have a nice chat?” Kirsty asked, looking at them both.

“Very nice,” he replied. “It is past time for us to go as I’ve things to attend to.” He winged his arm to his sister and tipped his hat to Elspeth and to Kirsty. “Have a lovely day, ladies.”

Elspeth turned away, bending over the jars in their wagon, straightening the few that had been juggled as they’d walked. She had tears stinging in her eyes and hadn’t any idea why. He didn’t mean anything to her.

“Well! That was cold,” Kirsty said. “He hardly looked at you!”

Elspeth shrugged and gathered the wagon’s pull. “It doesn’t signify anything.”

Kirsty shook her head. “Yes, it does signify. Annabelle said she didn’t understand his excitement about today, but she did after seeing how he looked at you. He has some feelings for you, and I think you do for him. Why would he act in such a way? Did you upset him?”

“How ridiculous you are being! Perhaps he upset me!”

Elspeth walked away from Kirsty, pulling the cart behind her, angry and hurt at what her sister had said. Had she upset him? She’d not known him long, but she’d noticed when the expression on his face changed during their conversation. What did I say? No other reason? No other motive? Is that what dimmed the light in his eyes? She thought maybe it was, and she knew what the cure was for this feeling of disappointment. She’d forget about him. It was for the best, and she would feel less guilt where Muireall was concerned.

“Well, Mr. Pendergast. I’ve given you several days to consider my request. I don’t see how anyone can object to you passing along some details about the woman’s family to me,” Schmitt said. “Nothing of great importance, mind you, and she would never have to know.”

“If it is of no importance, why are you asking me to do it?”

Schmitt’s face hardened. “Because I need to know some particulars and you are the