Then, just as it reached halfway, David reached out and grabbed the bowl.
“No,” he said urgently.
Amelia paused. “No?”
“No,” he repeated, pulling it closer to himself.
He hugged it protectively as though she might steal it at any moment.
A satisfied smile formed on Amelia’s face before she could stop it.
“Oh?” she said.
“It is mine.”
“I thought it was horrible.”
David frowned. “It is.”
“But now you want it?”
“Yes.”
Amelia nodded slowly, as though reaching a profound conclusion. “Children are fascinating creatures,” she murmured.
For the briefest moment, she thought she saw something like amusement in Gabriel’s eyes.
It vanished almost instantly. David, after a moment of internal struggle, reluctantly took a spoonful. Then another. Then another. The crisis, it seemed, had passed.
Amelia returned to her seat with a small sense of triumph settling over her. She had not solved anything permanently, but she had survived breakfast without disaster, which felt like a meaningful achievement in this household.
When she looked up again, Gabriel was still watching her.
Not disapproving. Not approving. Simply watching.
The steadiness of it made her unexpectedly aware of herself, as though she had stepped slightly out of place and not noticed until now.
Amelia reached for her tea with careful composure. Perhaps she had succeeded. Or perhaps she had merely learned how to survive the morning. At present, she was willing to accept either outcome. After all, she still had twenty-nine days left.
Chapter Five
“My study, Miss Shirley,” he said, stepping away from the table. “Now.”
The moment the meal ended, Gabriel rose from his chair and fixed his attention upon her. His expression alone informed her that she was about to receive criticism. Amelia had known him for less than a day and already recognized that particular look. It was the same expression a general might wear before discussing a failed military campaign.
Amelia followed him through the sprawling corridors of Anderton Manor, struggling to keep pace with his long stride. Portraits of stern-looking ancestors lined the walls, each appearing just as cheerful as Gabriel himself. Rich tapestries hung between enormous windows while polished furniture gleamed beneath crystal lamps. Every corner whispered wealth. Amelia found herself wondering if her father’s entire estate could fit inside this one house.
Gabriel remained silent as he led her onward. Amelia was secretly grateful for that because she needed a moment to collect her thoughts. Her first morning had hardly been flawless. She had challenged a duke over punctuality, accidentally made his niece laugh, and negotiated with a stubborn six-year-old over porridge. Looking back upon it, perhaps it had been more eventful than successful. Still, David had eaten the porridge in the end; surely that deserved some credit.
They entered the study, and Gabriel closed the door behind them. The room was large, masculine, and intimidating, much like its owner. Books filled entire walls while maps, ledgers, and correspondence occupied a massive mahogany desk. Amelia turned to face him just as Gabriel stepped closer. Then closer still.
Her breath caught unexpectedly.
Good heavens.
The man was entirely too tall. Standing this near to him felt rather like standing beside a cliff. Amelia was not entirely certain whether her sudden nervousness stemmed from intimidation or attraction. The uncertainty annoyed her.
“The breakfast was not promising,” Gabriel said bluntly, folding his arms across his chest.
