David heard Jeremy come into the bar from his perch by the window in the parlour. He had managed some toast and tea, but his heart was thudding uncomfortably as he waited. He strained to hear the conversation with the barman, but he had his answer moments later when Jeremy left the building without so much as a word of farewell or a word of thanks. He bit down the sting of disappointment. Why the hell he had even imagined the lad would want to throw his lot in with him was a mystery. An even bigger mystery was why the hell he was bothering to try and persuade him to accompany him. It was a salutary lesson in not breaking the rules. With Jeremy, he had broken all three. No relations with staff, no return visits, and no kissing. Look where it had got him. What on earth had he been thinking?
