Opal took his hand, gently placing hers on top of his rather than grabbing it to hold on as she once would have. There was no way he could have missed the fact that she was shaking, now that she was touching him, but Opal did her best to act like it was perfectly normal for her. She didn't want to make a mistake. She didn't want to embarrass Henry.
King Charles had, however, given her something to think about. Finding a method of communication that would not make her a potential target. Which meant that he thought just like her father-in-law, that somebody would come along and try to take her. But he wanted to be sure she wouldn't be. Not because he had to, like her new family did, not because he was trying to use her or anything. But because he was a nice man. Opal felt the tears sting behind her eyes again and blinked them back. It wouldn't do to cry all over the king just because he was kind.
“Thank you,” she said again, demurely covering her mouth to catch what slipped out. “For inviting me to eat with you.”
Opal chose not to point out that she'd brought her own food. When they sat down, she'd just take out what she had and add it to the table. If he was going to share, so was she.
“I don't know what an enigma is,” she admitted quietly. “But I have to be a secret.”