Read the Leaves by Kate Valent

Author:Kate Valent [Kate Valent]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Valiant Ink
Published: 2022-09-27T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

By the time she made it home, her mind spun with everything Charlotte had shown her from printing presses to jewels and artifacts. There had been plenty of displays that they still hadn’t yet seen. She’d have to go again another day. Her father had been right. After spending the day out having fun she felt more ready to face the rest of her life, whatever that would entail. To start, she would need to address her fight with Margaret and talk to Papa about Hawke.

Thinking about the way Charlotte gushed about Martin made that familiar pang of loneliness creep up on her. Did she really want to consider a man whose uncle thought he was a vampire? Had her options become that grim? And yet she couldn’t bring herself to write him off even while the odd experiences nagged at her. If anything, they made her want to know the full truth.

She climbed out of the Steepe carriage and waved the coachman off. Charlotte was going to spoil her with all the help. Mary would never be able to repay that favor of giving her Hawke back. No matter how much Charlotte blamed herself for letting Bertram buy it, Mary’s father wouldn’t have sold the business if they hadn’t been in dire straits. She started toward the house, stopping when she spotted another carriage. A figure in black was nearly at her door.

Her eyes widened at the sight. She’d spent all day keeping an eye out for him, and yet here he was, Lord Holiday, once again out after dark.

He turned as the Steepe carriage pulled away. Feeling no choice but to continue on now that she’d been spotted, she headed up the walkway to him.

“Miss Hawke,” he said in greeting as he tipped his hat to her.

She gaped at him in bewilderment. What would he be doing on her doorstep? And only once the last rays of sunset were disappearing over the buildings too. She didn’t want to think of the “v” word, but his eccentricities were adding up in a direction she didn’t like.With the darkness of night upon them, the idea felt unsettlingly possible. His uncle seemed a great deal more sensible with each odd occurrence. Her chat with Charlotte felt like a dream.

Strange dark spectacles that sat on his nose, and he carried an umbrella despite the clear sky.

“Are you lost?” she blurted out, her nerves making it too difficult to clear her mind. His handsome features made her heart race as he watched her.

“No, I was hoping to speak with you.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were looking for me. I spent the day at The Great Exhibition. I’ve read the accounts in the papers, but nothing quite compares to seeing it in person.” Oh no, she was babbling. Her cheeks heated. “Were you at The Great Exhibition too?”

“No,” he said.

She blinked. “Oh.” She clasped her hands together, the awkward silence making her want to run away.

“I was checking on the printing press.

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