He stepped forward. “It makes you uncomfortable. Believe me, I’m not comfortable either. Look, I’m shaking.” He held out a hand that was indeed trembling. “I’ve never said anything like this before.”
She shook her head.
“I’m glad my father spied for France, or the witch cursed me, or whatever it was that led me to you and the boys. Meeting you has been no curse. I care for Joshua and Georgie…and you.”
“You don’t have to say this.”
“I want to say it. I want to tell you I love you, Violet Baker. I think I’ve loved you since the second time I met you.”
And just like that, his hands stopped shaking, his breathing steadied, and a sense of calm washed over him. This was right. Telling her was right.
Except the way she was looking at him now was very, very wrong.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Violet could seeKing had stopped shaking. A sense of calm had washed over him, and he smiled at her now, seeming relieved to have shed his burden.
Only he’d placed it on her. Now she was the one shaking. She was the one feeling scared and sick. Why had he said it? Why couldn’t he have kept quiet and allowed things to go on as they had been?
He was looking at her expectantly, waiting for her response. Did he expect her to say she loved him back? She didn’t. She loved Joshua and Georgie and the Silver Unicorn. She couldn’t help but love them, even though that love made her feel helpless because, at any moment, she might lose one of them. She’d almost lost Joshua the other night. As she’d sat outside the Black Bear praying and pleading with God to save him, she’d felt, once again, that horrible roiling in her belly that she remembered when her mother and then her stepmother and then her father had died. It was fear and grief and terror at her utter powerlessness to do anything to stop their deaths.
And now King stood here, looking at her, telling her he loved her. He wanted her to love him back. He wanted her to give him the same power Joshua and Georgie had over her. Violet couldn’t do it. She didn’t love King. She’d never love him or any other man. It was far too easy for a man to fall out of love, to walkaway and leave those behind brokenhearted. She wouldn’t risk that, and she wouldn’t allow Georgie or Joshua to risk it either.
“I know this talk of emotions makes you uncomfortable,” King said finally, breaking the silence. “But I thought you might say something in return.”
Violet put her hands on her hips. “You want me to say I love you too?”
He actually took a physical step back. “Do I want that? Of course. But I don’t expect it. Perhaps, given time—”
“I think you should leave.”
King cocked his head and narrowed his eyes. “Say again?”
“You heard me. You need to leave. You were never supposed to stay here. You’ve been here too long as it is. Thank you for your help with Ferryman, but it’s time you moved on.”
“Violet, you’re scared. I’ve surprised you.”
He reached for her, but she shied away. She couldn’t allow him to touch her. If he did, she would lose her resolve. And she was determined that he leave. Now. Tonight. If he stayed any longer, Georgie and Joshua would become more attached to him than they already had.Shewould become more attached to him.
“I’m not scared. But I need to protect the boys. They already care too much for you. You need to go now, before they begin to depend on you.”
“I want them to depend on me. I want you to depend on me.”
“No. That’s impossible.” He frowned and opened his mouth, ready to argue. Violet cut him off. “Get your things and go.”
“What? Now?”
“Yes.”
“Violet, let’s talk about this.”
“There’s nothing to say. I should have made you leave sooner. It’s better this way.” She started for the door to the tavern. Joshua had been left alone too long already. She’d stepaway and give King time to gather his things and go. When she came back, he’d be gone.
“Better for whom? Violet, don’t do this. Give me a chance. I know you feel something for me.”
She whirled around. “No, I don’t. I don’t feel anything, King. This is why you need to go. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Too late for that.” He swept past her, entered the tavern, and returned with his coat. He shoved his arms through it and began to gather his other belongings. He lifted the odd assortment of clothing items then tossed them aside. “Keep them,” he said. “Sell them.” He strode for the back door, opening it to the dark night.
