"Where's the waiter?" Alexander demanded with a determined air.
She patted his arm lightly. "That's my boy. He's coming now."
Alexander placed his order, and then asked her to describe the view out the window.
"The fabric shop, the sweet shop, and the boot makers are all straight across the street, working from left to right. Further down is the solicitor's office, and the shop front after that is the barber's."
"How is my hair?"
She considered his black wavy locks, slightly too long for the fashion, but suitable for his handsome face. "Fine. I can do it for you anyway, or Caleb. I cut Jonathan's all the time."
The waiter brought the items Alexander had requested, and placed them on the table.
She waited until he had left, and said, "Cup on the right, cream horn on the left. The handle is at six o'clock. The fork is at three o'clock."
He slid his left hand carefully along the table, and found the handle. He moved his right hand until he located the pastry plate, and moved his hand around to the right to pick up the fork.
"Very good."
"I have a good teacher."
"It's a bit like learning how to dance."
"That I can't do, though I recall loving it a great deal."
"A quadrille would be too hard, but there's no reason why you couldn't manage a waltz or polka. Anything where you didn't have to change partners."
"I suppose we could try."
"Yes, whenever you like," she said eagerly, delighted with the prospect of the perfect excuse for being in his arms. "Now drink your chocolate before it gets cold."
He began to hum a few waltzes.
She raised her brows in surprise. "You do remember."
He shrugged. "I have no idea where it comes from. And it comes and goes. I can't recall to order, as it were."
"I understand."
"Napkin?"
"Left hand, eleven o'clock."
His hand skirted the coffee cup and he wiped his mouth delicately.
"Cream at the corner of your mouth." She resisted the temptation to lean forward and lick it away.
He wielded his napkin. "Better?"
"Yes."
"Thank you."
"Are you enjoying it?"
"I feel like a wild animal in a cage on display," he muttered.
"Perhaps an apt comparison, but I promise you, the only people looking at you are simply dying to know who you are, and why you're stuck with dull old me for company."
He laughed. "I'm sure that's not true."
Sarah nodded. "I think I'm pretty good at reading people's expressions. You're certainly not a blind bat. In fact, the only animal you resemble is a little field mouse about to be devoured by a bird of prey."
He laughed again, and finished his pastry. "It was very good."
"And the chocolate?"
"Bliss."
"You don't always have to be so easy, you know. If there are things you don't like, you only have to say."
"I am saying what I think. I adore chocolate. Now, would you like to go the milliner's to pick up some notions and things?" he offered.
"Oh, no-"
"I assure you I'm up to it."
"It will be much harder. In any event, it will really get everyone who hasn't already seen you talking up a storm."
"Why?" he asked innocently.
"Well, let's just say that most of the men hereabouts don't take much interest in fabrics."
"Point taken. But you could always leave me here, and-"
"No, we ought to be heading back."
He frowned. "Why, what's the hurry?"
"I want to show you the garden in daylight. It won't make any difference to you, but it does to me. I can't read all the seed packets in the dark, dear."
"Very well." He was relieved she did not seem at all ashamed about being with him. He also preened inwardly at the way she had spoken to him with such affection.
Alexander clinked the money she had given him onto the tray, rose, and held her chair for her. Then he pivoted on his heel and walked forward three steps, took one step to the left, and stepped down out of the bakery.
"Very good."
"We can waltz later," he said with a smile.
"Yes, please," Sarah breathed. She could hardly wait to press his lean body against hers...
Chapter Eight
After a leisurely stroll through the small town, with Sarah providing a running commentary on every shop they passed, they went down the road and arrived back at the vicarage. She took Alexander straight to the rear garden, and had him pace out further plots for the different vegetables.