A Stolen Knight's Kiss by Melissa Oliver

Author:Melissa Oliver
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2022-07-22T20:01:48+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Eva’s eyes widened and her cheeks flushed with colour as she suddenly recalled the exquisite ring intricately made from hessonite entwined with droplets of freshwater pearl and wondered excitedly whether it could possibly be a coincidence. ‘May I ask whether you possibly left this ring in the pouch that I stole?’

‘Yes.’ Oh, God, it was not a coincidence. ‘Why?’

She dropped her spoon on her plate, making a loud clanging noise. ‘I must show you something, Nicholas. I must show you now, at this very moment.’

He blinked at her in confusion. ‘Can I enquire the reason for this urgency, especially since we do not have the time? And, judging from the inclement weather, it could also pose a problem for our travel.’

She stood and caught her lip with her teeth, trying to contain her excitement ‘Never mind that. Come, I insist. Please.’ She held out her hand. ‘There is something I need to show you.’

He sighed as he stood and nodded in resignation. ‘What is it?’

‘A surprise.’ She grabbed his hand and pulled her hood over her head. ‘Come along, Nicholas.’

‘Very well, but remember we cannot tarry long.’

They made their way back outside and strode to the southern exit of the bridge, passing the throngs of people making the crossing and out through the gatehouse before they wove their way through the narrow twists and turns of Southwark.

‘Ah, I remember the last time you and I were here together, playing cat and mouse in the dead of night.’

‘It was a game you seemed to revel in.’

He shrugged. ‘Only because I am prodigiously good at it.’

‘Yes, you told me how your skills lie in finding people and things with precision.’ They turned into a narrow dirt track, and back along the deserted alleyway and through the wooden porch to her hideaway. ‘I also recall being surprised to find you hiding in the shadows of my chamber, so I suppose I can attest to that.’

‘It must be a gift,’ he retorted wryly.

‘As mine is to remember and memorize small details. But there is one thing I did forget, Nicholas, and I can only put it down to the strain and shock of falling into the Thames.’

Nicholas followed her down the alleyway, reaching the dead end, and raised a brow in surprise as she carefully removed the large stone from the wall and stuck her arm in as far as it would go, dragging out the leather saddlebag. ‘You missed this place when you followed me that night after I stole the pouch,’ she murmured. ‘My secret hiding place.’

‘Ah, then I am not so prodigiously good.’

‘I would not say that. No one has ever known of this place.’

‘What was it you wanted to show me?’

Eva placed her hand inside the bag and brought out his mother’s ring and held it out to him. ‘This here, Nicholas—my gift to you.’

He stared at the ring before lifting his head and giving her a half smile that made her stomach flip over itself. ‘I thought I had lost it when the pouch was lost in the river.

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