Chapter 24 - Twenty Four
Eric led Delia outside into the fading afternoon light. They stopped beside his awaiting carriage, a sleek, dark vehicle that stood as a symbol of the power and freedom he represented. The air was cool on her flushed cheeks. She turned to him, her mind still reeling from the mixture of events inside the manor.
"Thank you," she said, her voice sincere and a little shaky. "Thank you for standing up for me back there. I really appreciate you honoring our deal, even though we haven’t signed any contract." She looked at him, trying to make sense of his actions. "I didn’t know you were such a good actor. Your performance back there... it was even more believable than I could have hoped."
Eric didn’t reply. He simply stood there, his expression unreadable, just listening to her with an unnerving intensity.
She continued, feeling the need to fill the silence, to put their relationship back on the transactional ground she understood. "What do you want me to do in return for this favor? There must be something I can—"
"Have you eaten?"
He interrupted her, his voice so soft it startled her. The question was simple, direct, and had nothing to do with contracts or favors. She fell quiet, the truth caught in her throat.
He pulled his gold pocket watch from his vest, flipping open the lid. "It’s almost dusk," he said, his voice taking on a slightly sulky tone. "And I’m hungry too. I haven’t eaten all day." He looked at her and pouted, a surprisingly boyish expression on his serious face. "Let’s eat first, before we get to that conversation."
He opened the carriage door himself and helped her inside before climbing in after her. The driver, taking this as his cue, started the carriage. They rode in silence to a high-class, established gourmet tavern, the kind of place Delia had only ever seen from the outside.
As they were led to a private table, the smells of roasted meats and rich sauces filled the air, making Delia’s empty stomach ache with hunger. Eric began to order a lavish spread of food for them, but as the server took down the order, a wave of anxiety washed over Delia. The thought of eating in this luxurious place, surrounded by wealthy patrons who might stare and judge, was too much.