*Evangeline*
To my surprise, in the coach, he doesn't sit opposite me as a gentleman should, but he sits beside me, his arm around me, holding me as close as a dear friend… or dare I think it, as a lover?
"I'm sorry this happened," he says, his voice low and intimate within the confines of the coach.
I'm incredibly exhausted. All I want to do is sleep. "Not to worry."
"About the kiss…" he starts saying.
"Don't be concerned. I shan't mention it to Frannie. I know it was the only recourse you had to distract me." I tell him, not wanting the embarrassment of him pointing it out.
He gives me a sly grin, "I know some coin tricks, but I didn't think they would be as effective."
"I'm certain they wouldn't have been." I sigh. "Are you attacked often?"
"From time to time, there have been da
