AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Fe-” She shook her head. “I don’t think I can. I’ve always thought of you as…my superior.” Her face colored, recounting all the embarrassing and personal things she’d written about in her letters to him. “If I’d known—"
“Neither of us would’ve written those letters if we’d known who was reading them,” Felix said. “That is the point of secrecy.”
“You’re right.” She drank another cup of sweet coffee until the pot was empty. She gestured to the server and asked for another pot. He guessed that meant they were going to be here a little longer.
“So…about your wife…the letters…” she observed him. “How much of it was true?”
“All of it,” he said. “My wife died sixty years ago and ever since,” He paused. “You know the rest of it.” She nodded. “And what about you? I know you’re not a war widow of advanced years, and you’re certainly not an employee at a flower shop. Did the incident you mentioned in your last letter refer to the criminal you dragged to prison?”
She nodded. God, how could he have been foolish enough to ignore what was before his eyes? Now that he thought about it, it all made sense. The events described in her letters were altered versions of what went on at the Sapphire Serpents. He’d smelled Eucalyptus on her a few days ago. Had she been using the oil he sent her?
“I had to make all that up. I can’t tell people I’m a spy. You know the rules…” she went on. “But your handwriting is nothing like Mr. Garrett’s.”
“I forged it,” he said. “You know spies can fake up to twenty handwritings. I guess that explains why your handwriting is messier than usual.”
Amara was usually so outspoken but the shock numbed her tongue. The waiter dropped with another pot of tea and filled their cups. Amara drank slowly, watching the street outside the window. He noticed the smooth curve of her neck, the wild curls that tickled her neck and her breasts rising and falling in her black blouse. He’d never thought of her as a woman before, but now that he took a close look at her, she was beautiful. And so young. He couldn’t remember ever being that young. However, when he sat next to her, he felt more alive. Invigorated.
“Your secrets are safe with me.” He felt obligated to reassure her. “I’d never tell a soul what you wrote.”
“I know, you’re the iron vault man.”
“The what?”
“Iron vault man. That’s what they call you at the Serpents. Your mouth is more secure than the iron vault at the palace. What goes in never comes out.” Felix smiled. He’d never heard anyone call him that before. “What? You’ve never heard it before?”
“No.”
Amara colored. “I…I thought you’d know. Aren’t you the best spy in the country?”
“I don’t spy on my colleagues.”
“Maybe you should. We could’ve avoided this situation.” Amara clamped a hand over her mouth, realizing she was talking to her superior. “I…I didn’t mean to say that. This is my fault. I used to be so much more tactful.” She closed her eyes. He could see the similarities—Mrs. Dane spoke her mind like Amara did.
“You must tell me if I say something wrong since I no longer have my mother to correct me.” He remembered a line she’d written in one of her letters to him. He had all of them committed to memory. She blinked. “I have all your letters committed to memory.”
“I don’t know whether that’s admirable or terrifying,” she said.
“Was the part about your mother true?” he asked, leaning forward.
“Yes.” They reached for the teapot at the same time and his hand brushed hers. Elevated heartbeats thrummed through her skin. Warmth bloomed where their fingers met. He immediately pulled back. “I’m sorry.” Amara took the teapot and poured him some tea. “Thank you.”
She hurriedly poured herself a cup, using the tea like alcohol to give her liquid courage.
“I came to Sigilis because my mother died. I didn’t want to live in Cadia without her. She was my only surviving relative. But the move hasn’t been easy.” Placing the tea pot back in place, she looked up at him. “It has been a relief to talk to you. Through my letters, I mean.”
His heart skipped a beat when her gaze met his directly. He’d never looked at her as a woman before. Now that he did, he had to admit that she was attractive, though she was not for him. “I feel the same way.”
“So…what is going to happen to our letters?” she asked. “Should we continue writing them?”
She was giving him an option. He could continue his correspondence with Mrs. Dane like nothing had happened. However, Felix was unsure if he’d be able to do so.
“It’d be best if we stop writing,” he said. He needed time to sort out his feelings. “I don’t know if I can continue to write to you knowing who you are. I try to keep my professional and personal life separate.”
She shook her head. He’d never seen her so subservient before. He smiled.
“What?” she asked, raising her head.
“You’re not this obedient at work,” he said.
