Owned Complete Set

Chapter Two: Stranger on a Train

Chapter Two: Stranger on a TrainI almost miss the train simply because the motorman isn't used to picking people up from town. I manage to get on though and he deposits me in one of the carriages and tells me not to open the door for anyone.

"Why not?" I ask carefully. "Wouldn't you be picking up other people?"

"Yes," he says. "First time I've picked up one of your kind," he continues, confusing me even more.

"My kind?" I ask carefully, glancing down at myself.

"Not that there's anything wrong with your kind," he adds quickly and all but runs off before I could ask him what he means, metaphorical tail between his legs like he's afraid I would cast a hex on him.

Shrugging off the odd encounter, I slide the carriage door close and make a nest of coats in the seats and press my forehead against the glass window. The train rattles loudly as it starts on it's journey and I manage to stay awake until the sun has drifted over the horizon.

My dreams are full of dark clouds and crows cawing in the trees, warning me of danger, voices in the forest telling me to take the train back.

"Hello," a voice murmurs and I startle awake at the sudden noise that has broken through my dreams.

I hadn't heard the door opening. I rub sleep from my eyes and make the mistake of looking up as I answer, which leaves me with my mouth partially open because the man leaning at the door is unnervingly beautiful. His suits are like nothing I've ever seen, all ruffles and beautiful white linen that is paler and whiter than any color I have seen before.

His skin is almost as pale as his undershirt, though the way he holds himself leaves no question that he is stronger than he appears. His lips are the most riveting part of him, red, full and completely kissable. I lick my own lips as my mind inadvertently begin to fantasize on how lovely it would be to have his lips on mine.

I wonder what he is doing on a train like this. He seems better suited for personal carriages, or perhaps even one of those fancy locomotive that doesn't require horses. He has strong legs, his thighs firm and shapely. The tight pants that he's wearing leaves little to the imagination. I wonder if it's leather.

"Would you mind terribly if I joined you?" he asks, drawing my attention back to his face and I quickly close my mouth.

I frown as I remembered the conductor's warning. Surely someone as handsome as him suffered no lack of companionship. "Is there nowhere else on the train to sit?" I ask carefully, feeling more than a little rude for even suggesting it.

"Unfortunately not," he says with an easy smile, not taking offence.

I may not be cognizant of the ways of the city, but it is not proper for an unwed woman to share space with a stranger.

"I assure you, I mean you no harm," he continues, standing at the threshold of the carriage door.

"That's not exactly comforting," I find myself saying. Heat rushes to my cheeks and I bite the inside of my cheek. "I suppose you can join me," I add softly, hoping to redeem myself.

He chuckles and turns around. For a moment, I think he is leaving to find a friendlier companion to spend his time with on the train, but he lifts his luggage from somewhere behind him and brings it into the carriage with him.

He pauses at the door abruptly, nostrils flaring as he breathes in deep, and then he's staring at me with eyes that burn as bright as the sun.

"My," he starts. "What's someone like you doing out of your territory?"

I frown. "I don't- I don't understand what you're asking."

Lines form between his brows and his expression shifts to something less like hunger. He sinks down into the seats opposite mine and continue staring at me. "How old are you, child?" he asks.

"It's terribly rude to inquire after a lady's age," I say.

He c***s a brow and smiles. "I see," he says in a matter that is frustratingly cryptic and reminds me of my mother.

Now that he is close, I can see that there is something wrong. He is holding himself too stiffly and his breathes are labored and tired, as if he has been on his feet for a long time. Despite that, he is still terribly and unfairly attractive. I try not to stare, certain that I am embarrassing myself by showing how attractive I think he is.

"Why are you on the train, little one?" he asks.

I cross my arms and huff. I suppose I had asked for that slight since I did not tell him my name. "I'm fetching a doctor for my mother."

His expression turns even more curious. "A doctor?" he echoes.

"Yes."

"And you are certain you can convince the doctor to return with you?"

I nod. "He is a family friend." I am exaggerating since I have never met the doctor before, but he does not need to know that.

"Family friends still need to be paid," he says and I blush because even though he does not say it, he is correct in his assumption that I do no have much to pay him.

"Yes," I answer carefully. Liam had assured me that he will charge fairly, but it is possible that he overestimates my family's wealth. We barely have enough to make it through Winter every year and now that mother has fallen ill, we have even less to go by. I had been hoping to work for the doctor in order to earn the medicine, or perhaps offer him our house.

"I may have something..." He digs into his luggage and pulls out a leather box. Moonlight reflects the jewelry he has in the box as he retrieves a necklace and lifts it up so I can see the diamond dangling on the necklace. "For you," he says breezily, offering the expensive-looking gift as though it means nothing to him.

I suck in a breath. "I can't possibly accept that," I say honestly. "It looks expensive."

He shrugs. "I have no use for it," he says. "And I am certain that you would fine better use of pretty jewelry than me. Or would you rather I give you money? I have plenty of that too."

I stare at him for a moment, thinking there must be something wrong with him. Or there is something he wants from me. Nobody is this kind for no reason. "What do you want from me?" I ask bluntly.

"Nothing you aren't prepared to give," he says.

My mother taught me better than to accept gifts from strangers but something expensive would surely convince the doctor to leave with me quicker. Light reflects from the diamond on the pendant, bright and tempting. The necklace itself is gold and lovely. I want to touch it, if only to feel it's weight in my palms.

"Take it," he insists, the corner of his lips curving into a grin that looks almost feral. His eyes appear to glow for a second but it must be some sort of trick of the light because when I blink and look at his face more clearly, it is gone.

"This is too expensive," I insist. "Is there a way for me to pay you back?" I ask.

"Perhaps there is," he says.

"I don't have money," I tell him honestly. "Unless you want our house."

He shakes his head. It is kind of him not to scoff at the idea. "Take it," he insists.

"I barely know you." I don't know why I'm protesting so hard. I need it for my mother. But my mother had always cautioned me against taking anything from strangers.

"That is something we can rectify," he says breezily.

I nod in agreement. It is a long way to my destination, after all. I put my hand out with the palms facing up and he lowers the necklace carefully into the middle of my hand. I draw in a sharp inhale. There is a shift in the air and I tremble as a gust of wind appears out of nowhere and tickles my skin. It is dark suddenly. I look out the window instinctively, expecting it to be open. It isn't.

When I turn back, I find him peering at me, eyes so bright and soulful that it is as though he is devouring me with his gaze.

Without warning, he stands and closes the space between us. The tips of our feet are touching as he stands in front of me and leans down, hands on either sides of my head to pin me in place. I find myself pulling back, every instinct in my body telling me to put as much distance between us as possible. The blood in my veins are throbbing in rhythm with my blood, beating in tempo to the danger alarms ringing in my ears as I begin to regret the decision to accept the necklace.