“Your favorite ice cream, as requested.” She swept past him into the guest parlor, relocated the writing desk from the tea table to the floor, and began unpacking the contents of her basket.
Theo wheeled over to her as quickly as he could. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“What I can. You must know a surgeon cannot replace your head, nor does Christmas offer limb exchanges.” She placed dish after dish atop the table. “You did not mention which flavor of ice cream was your favorite, so I asked the castle kitchen to make every choice they could think of.”
Theo stared at the growing selection of ice cream, swung his gaze up to her, then back to the ice cream. He hadn’t expected Virginia to interpret sarcasm as an actual suggestion. Or to return for another visit at all.
But she had, and the tea table looked delicious. His stomach growled in appreciation. It was nigh impossible to maintain a haughty attitude to someone who arrived bearing every flavor of ice cream.
“How many spoons did you bring?” Theo said gruffly. He was not going to eat all this without her.
“One.” Virginia pointed encouragingly. “It’s in your hand.”
Theo knew wherehisspoon was. He glanced over his shoulder, where he fully expected the gloating butler to be blatantly eavesdropping on the conversation.
He was not disappointed.
“At once, sir.” Swinton disappeared to fetch a second spoon.
Virginia stared at the untouched dishes of ice cream. “You’re not eating.”
“I’m waiting for your spoon to arrive.”
“I see.” Her gaze slid to the empty basket. “I should have brought more.”
“You displayed extraordinary resourcefulness,” he said firmly. He could not let her think he had found fault with such a selfless gift.
She did not lift her eyes to his.
He wished she would.
Yesterday, Theo had been desperate to chase her out of his guest chamber. He did not want anyone to see him like this. Not even some mystery beauty who climbed trees and owned an attack cat.
All night long, he had wished he had taken a closer look. He could recall every wave of her red-brown tendrils, the angle of her cheekbones, the dusky rose of her lips, but he had not managed to register the color of her eyes.
He had believed this hole in his memory was due to the lack of candles in his chamber. Theo had no desire for anyone else to gaze upon his injuries, and even less wish to brood over them himself. The only light came from the flickering flames of the fire.
But perhaps the shadowed interior was not completely at fault. Virginia was right in front of him. Just on the other side of the tea table. And her eyes had not met his even once.
Swinton stalked into the room. “A spoon for the lady.”
Virginia’s gaze briefly met Swinton’s as she accepted the spoon. “Thank you.”
He did not excuse himself.
Theo slid him an impatient glance. He had no wish to be unchaperoned with any marriageable young lady, but nor did he need the butler literally looming over their shoulders.
Swinton cleared his throat in submission. “I will instruct a footman to be on call in the doorway.”
Although the butler left with obvious reluctance, Theo suspected Swinton’s interests lay less in maintaining propriety than witnessing whatever surprises Virginia would unveil next.
He wheeled closer. “Now we’re ready.”
She pointed at the ice cream with her spoon. “Which one is your favorite flavor?”
“I don’t have one,” he admitted. “I like all ice cream.”
“Then I did bring the right ones.” Her gaze briefly met his in triumph.
