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She eyed him wryly. ‘And what might those be?’
‘That you might help me unravel a poignant mystery that’s gnawing at my mind and another reason I find myself in the north.’
Alex frowned. This was a surprise. ‘To do with chocolate?’
She watched him run a hand back through hair so dark it was nearly black and saw sadness in eyes the colour of stormy clouds. It gave her a thrilling moment of feeling absurdly attracted to him. So far she’d ignored his looks and even his easy charm but it was this heartbeat of vulnerability that smashed through the castle-like wall she’d built around her heart.
He blew out his cheeks softly. ‘To do with chocolate, yes, and to do with someone who may have been at this firm during the war years, in this very packing room perhaps.’
‘Well, I’ll be happy to try.’
The gloom of the previous moment disappeared and his signature smile – the one she was sure could break hearts, if it hadn’t already – found its way back. ‘Excellent. Then my discretion is all yours.’
‘And the second condition?’
He smiled wider at her. ‘That you’ll let me tell you about my mystery over a pot of tea . . . or cocoa.’
She shouldn’t. But what could it hurt? Matthew was still away – not that he’d care, she was sure. And she had no further tours to host today. ‘Well, I have to sign out across the road in the vistors’ block, return our badges, close up here . . .’ She jangled some keys. ‘Aren’t you catching a train?’
‘There’s no rush. I can catch a later one.’
‘Well, I suppose I am leaving for home straight after this . . .’
He lifted a shoulder innocently. ‘So let me buy you a friendly tea on the way.’
They stared at each other. ‘It’s not usual for me to fraternise with Rowntree’s guests.’
‘Yes, but they say there’s a first time for everything and what’s more, you will not be a Rowntree employee beyond this week – what can they do?’
‘Actually, you’re my last official tour,’ she admitted. ‘Tomorrow I’m here simply to hand over.’
‘Then you have no recrimination to fear. We can be old friends for the sake of your bosses if that makes it easier?’
Once again she risked an awkward pause to study him but he held her gaze openly. ‘All right. A pot of tea to celebrate my final tour with my last visitor.’
__________
They were seated in York’s railway station refreshment rooms.
‘I had hoped for somewhere a little more refined,’ he offered, looking puzzled but also bemused.
‘Are you uncomfortable in humble surrounds, Harry?’ She hadn’t meant to bait but she found his presence suddenly unnerving, particularly out of her official role and now sitting close enough for their knees to touch under the table. ‘I just thought it’s easier, as you’ll be leaving shortly from here.’
‘Or is it less likely we shall be seen by your acquaintances here?’
Alex swallowed, wondering at the sudden lunacy of her decision to be alone in the company of a stranger. ‘There is that reason too.’
She could see her honesty amused him.
‘I appreciate your candour and I would not wish to compromise your standing,’ he reassured and his gaze looked depthlessly dark within the shadows and she couldn’t fully pinpoint whether there was a dryness to his words that mocked slightly.
‘Normally I wouldn’t care —’ she began, and he predictably made a soft tutting noise to shoosh her, as though it really didn’t matter, and yet she sensed how deeply it did matter to him.
‘For all returning soldiers this is a palace,’ he said, gesturing around their draughty little table whose legs wobbled slightly on an uneven surface.
‘I’ve insulted you,’ she blurted.
‘Don’t be absurd.’
