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“Of course I would.”
Maddie seemed to be struck by a silent worry. She looked at Finn shyly. “Only I have no money. I mean, I guess I do.” Her breath caught in her throat. “Mother is forever saying that I have a huge trust fund.” Finn felt her tempers rise at this woman’s poor parenting choices. “But I have no real money that I can give you and I don’t want you to spend your money on me.”
“That’s okay,” Finn assured her, touched by her kindness.
“No, Caradoc can pay you.” She looked over her shoulder and spoke coldly. “Caradoc, will you give Seraphina money for books?”
Finn startled and spun around. Their eyes met with fiery force across the room. “Caradoc,” she murmured, her whole body jumping with awareness. “How long have you been standing there? You gave me a fright.”
Maddie’s expression was one of bemusement. “He’s only been there a few minutes.”
“Why didn’t you say something?” Finn asked, then regretted it instantly when Maddie’s little expression crumpled.
“I’m just used to people appearing,” she said, her words watery.
“Of course you are,” Finn immediately agreed. “How wrong of me not to know that.” She reached down and put a finger underneath Maddie’s angular chin. “Don’t be upset, Maddie. I was surprised, that’s all. We were having such a lovely time together. Why don’t we see if there’s another book you might enjoy?”
Maddie appeared to be thinking it over, but Caradoc spoke on her behalf. “Actually, Madison is wanted by her mother now.”
Maddie’s eyes flew wide. “Owwww,” she said petulantly. “Why?”
“Because it is very late and you haven’t eaten dinner, or so I’m informed.”
“I wasn’t hungry.” Her voice was water-logged again.
“Caradoc,” Finn interrupted, her eyes meeting his with silent plea. “Can Maddie stay with me a little longer? Perhaps once she has a book to take to bed, she’ll be happier.”
Maddie stared at this angel in awe. She’d only met her half brother twice, but she’d heard him spoken of often enough to know that he was someone to be afraid of. He was powerful and strong and scary and very, very rich. At least, that’s what Elizabetta had said.
“Fine,” he said softly, his eyes not leaving’ Finn’s face.
Finn turned her smile on Maddie and it was glorious. “Where do you usually choose from?” She asked Maddie.
“Um, all over. But this is my favourite section at the moment,” she said, padding across the room to a shelf that looked to house any number of children’s book.
“Some excellent titles here,” Finn couldn’t help admiring. She ran her fingers over the Anne of Green Gables series, and paused at Huck Finn. She shook her head. That wasn’t quite right. “Uh huh!” She exclaimed lifting her eyes higher. “Oh, Maddie. Have you read any Roald Dahl books?”
“Roald who?” Maddie asked, answering the question with her obvious confusion.
“Oh, wow.” She spun around, her face so full of enthusiasm that Caradoc was momentarily transfixed. “Tell me you’ve read Roald Dahl.”
He was as confused as Maddie.
“This is a travesty.” She pulled a book from the shelf and handed it to Maddie. “Matilda is where you must start. You’ll love it; when you’re finished, I want to hear all about it.” Her finger ran further along the shelf and she stopped at The BFG. “And for you, Caradoc, a story of truly epic proportions.”
“I don’t have time to read.”
She scowled at him with impatience. “I don’t have time to read,” she mocked, imitating his deep voice and American accent. Her smile then, was teasing. “Read it.” She stepped closer, and lowered her voice, so that only he could hear it. “For me.”
His eyes widened at the added incentive, and he felt a charge of desire. “Fine. For you.” He took the book and held its weight in his hands.
“What about you, Seraphina?” Maddie asked, standing at her side.
“Oh,” Finn nodded towards the arm chairs. “I’ve already made my choice.”
“What is it?” Caradoc couldn’t help but be interested.
“War and Peace,” she said with another nod towards the book. It was about seven times the thickness of the novel she’d chosen for him. “Tolstoy is one of those writers you either love or hate. For me, personally, I love him. Always have. His maudlin observations are wordy and at times redundant, but they touch something in me.” She shrugged awkwardly.
