Only he hadn’t given it to her; he’d given it to Benedict. “Did we take the wrong boxes?”
He gave her a warm smile. “No.” He walked off.
“I don’t know why Aiden thought you’d want a portrait of me,” Benedict said, a bit of irritation lacing his voice. “We can exchange if you like.”
She studied him, the seriousness in his dark eyes. The shadow of doubt flickered. “Thank you, but I’d rather keep this one.”
And with her winnings, she was going to purchase a locket in which to keep it.
He didn’t realize he’d been holding his breath until she gave him the answer he’d been wanting to hear. Not that he thought she was keeping his miniature for any sentimental reason, but he didn’t want to give up hers. If he was very careful with it, he could trim enough off so he could insert it inside the cover of his timepiece and then he’d always be carrying it around. Whenever he checked the time, he would see her face.
Although he was a bit irritated with Aiden for too closely reading his feelings where she was concerned.
“I have something for you,” she said. Gingerly, as though it was the most precious thing in the world and should be pampered, she placed the box in her reticule and removed a stack of... something. She extended one toward him.
It was a long, narrow strip of light blue linen upon which she’d embroidered in red his name and a ship with sails capturing the wind.
“You use it to mark your place in a book. I made one for each of your family members.”
“I’m touched, Thea, that you went to so much bother. They will be as well.”
Her cheeks turned a lovely shade of pink, and he wondered if they’d been the same hue when he’d been nestled between her thighs. So much he didn’t know for certain, so much he wished he did. A room lost to shadows lacked color.
“I’ll go pass them around, shall I?”
After he nodded, he watched as she first approached his mum, and he saw the delight illuminate his mum’s face. It seemed the perfect way to honor their love of reading.
Aiden was suddenly crouching before him. “I forgot to mention . . . you might let Gillie know there may be a mousein the room in which you were sleeping. I heard a squeak coming from it near dawn.”
He clamped down on his back teeth. “No need to bother Gillie with it. I took care of it myself.”
Aiden grinned an all-too-knowing grin. “I’m sure you did.”
“Say another word and you’ll feel the weight of my fist.”
“I like her.”
He sighed heavily. His brother couldn’tnotsay another word but at least he’d chosen words that lessened Beast’s irritation with him. “She has plans, Aiden. They don’t include me. She’ll only be about for a little while longer.”
Aiden twisted around on the balls of his feet and his gaze swept over the room. “I’m sorry to hear that. You seemed well matched.”
“As though you know what constituteswell matched.”
Once again Aiden was facing him. “Not being able to take your eyes off her for one thing. Spending the night in a grand residence when you hate grand residences. To arrange for her to give an arse a drubbing.”
“Originally, I was going to do the drubbing.”
“But you gave up the satisfaction you’d feel so she could have it.”
“I remember a time when you didn’t spout such wisdom.”
“Love changes a man.” Putting his hands on his knees, he straightened. “The snow didn’t fall as thickly as we thought it might. Traveling might be slow going but not treacherous. Lena and I will be heading off soon to spend the remainder of the day with her family. Take care of the little mouse.”
As his brother strode away, Beast wasn’t certain he knew how to take care of Thea, how to determine exactly what she needed to be happy.
She was kneeling beside Robin, talking with him, petting Lucky. He wondered if she’d ever had a dog. So many things about her that he didn’t know.
A clapping drew his attention to Fancy, who was standing in the center of the room with her husband. “We wanted to be last, after everyone else had given out their gifts. Our gift requires a bit of patience on your part—and ours—as it won’t arrive for several more months.”
