The Glassblower by Laurie Alice Eakes Read Free Book Online Page A

Jordan.” He offered her a bow over the box and exited the house faster than was probably polite.
    Standing firm against her attractiveness though he might, he couldn’t keep himself from stopping by the stable to admire the kittens. They had grown in the past two weeks. A pan of milk, so yellow it must have come from a goat, stood in the cool shade by the door, and all the cats wandered over to lap from it in the midst of their play.
    One kitten perched on the edge of the trough, leaning precariously over the edge to scoop up water with its rough pink tongue. Colin wondered if the one on the trough was the wee beastie who’d scampered up the tree and nearly caused his first would-be rescuer to tumble into the burn.
    Smiling he stroked the silky head with a forefinger. “Good afternoon, you little scamp.”
    The cat purred and butted its head against his hand.
    “Aye, you remember me then?” Colin smiled at another cat trying to grab his sibling’s long tail. “Have a care with your perches in the future.”
    With a pat he turned to be on his way back to the glassworks. From the corner of his eye, he caught the glimpse of Margaret Jordan framed in the kitchen window. She was watching, her face alight with amusement. He touched his cap in acknowledgment of her presence, and she waved in response.
    Colin resumed his walk—for about twenty feet. In those few paces he felt something latch onto the back of his boot. He stopped. He hadn’t noticed any sort of vine or creeper on the path in which he could have caught his foot.
    It was the kitten from the trough, tiny paws wrapped around the back of his ankle as though its few ounces could stop him from going away.
    “You daft beast.” He stooped and scooped up the kitten.
    Purring, it nestled against his neck, warm and soft and smelling of hay. For a moment he considered keeping it. Only for a moment. It wasn’t his cat to take, even if it had decided it wanted his company.
    “Let’s take you back.” Resolute he marched back to the stable and deposited the cat among its clan—
    The first time. In the next quarter hour he repeated the action three more times. The fourth time, footfalls pattered across the stable yard, and Miss Jordan took the kitten from his hands.
    “Let me fetch a basket and some rags so you can take her home with you,” she offered.
    “Nay, I cannot have one of your cats.”
    “Why not?” Her gaze swept the horde of felines. “Do you think I’m likely to run out of them?”
    “Nay, but—” He laughed. “If ‘tis all right, some company would be fine in that great big cottage I have all to myself.”
    “Then come back inside and have your tea while I prepare the basket.” She spun on her heel and marched to the house, apparently expecting him to follow.
    Colin hesitated. With her holding the cat, nothing stopped him from going. Nothing stopped him from staying, either.
    Nothing except good sense.

five
    While Ilse served Mr. Grassick a cup of tea at the kitchen table, Meg fairly skipped up the steps to the linen press for clean rags then back down to the pantry for a covered basket. All the while, the kitten rode on her shoulder, purring and kneading its needlelike claws through the fabric of her dress. Meg rubbed her cheek against the kitten’s soft fur and smiled into those emerald green eyes, so like the glassblower’s.
    Not just any glassblower, either. Meg had seen glasses and vases, serving bowls and candlesticks imported from the centuries-old glassworks in Europe, and the craftsmanship was fine. Thus far she had seen little produced in the Salem County works that came close to demonstrating not merely the skill but the artistry Colin Grassick’s goblets exhibited. He possessed a gift, and a yearning in her heart told her to find out what made him so humble in accepting her awe and admiration. If she could persuade him to take his time with the tea, perhaps talk to him about a few other pieces Father intended for him to