Miss Aurmont was equally pleased by the bargain and left the room smiling, her cook following after, dragging the heavy trunk.

Bliss availed herself of the hot bath she had paid extra for—there was actually a room, at one end of the hallway, that had been set aside for the purpose—and then made a dash for her chamber, using her coat as a wrapper. Not for the first time, she regretted packing so hastily that first night. Heaven knew, her wardrobe had never been anything to rave about, but she’d had nightclothes and more than two changes of underwear, at least.

She was settled in bed, the door locked and the electric light—what a marvel that was—turned off. Through the closed and curtained window, Bliss could hear the night sounds of the city, and for a moment she was filled with excitement.

Then she remembered a detail she had overlooked. In the eyes of God and man, she was Jamie McKenna’s wife, and there could be no annulment now, because the union had been consummated.

Bliss blushed hotly in the chilly darkness, and once again held an onslaught of tears at bay. In the morning, she would find her Aunt Calandra and everything would be all right after that. Being older and wiser, the woman would surely be able to recommend some workable solution to the problem.

Still, Bliss’s heart lay heavy in her chest, and it felt empty of all hope and all spirit. She wished she’d never met Jamie McKenna, for knowing him had taken all the glow off the glorious adventure that lay ahead.

“I hate you, Jamie,” she whispered, immediately knowing that was a lie.

Early the next morning, Bliss packed her satchel, ate a hearty breakfast, and said farewell to Tilly Aurmont and Cook. She boarded the tram where Cook had said to and set out for Macomber Street, in the center of Auckland, where Miss Calandra Pennyhope resided.

Riding the tram was an experience worth ten times the ha’penny fare, as far as Bliss was concerned, although the constant clanging of the bell gave her a slight headache. She was already looking forward to her next ride, however, when she got off at the street Miss Aurmont had told her to watch for and began walking due south.

The houses along Macomber Street were tall and narrow and set so close together that they were almost touching each other. Bliss felt cramped for a moment, and she yearned for Jamie and the countryside and the sea. Then she found number 19 and climbed staunchly up the steps to ring the bell.

Only when she heard someone approaching from the other side of the door and grasping the knob did it occur to Bliss that Miss Calandra Pennyhope might not welcome her.

Chapter 10

JAMIE SLAPPED HIS HAT AGAINST ONE THIGH IN A GESTURE THAT revealed far more about his feelings than he knew. “I spent the night walkin’ the streets near the ’arbor, and there was no sign of ’er!”