"Hardly on my own, unless you plan on taking everyone in the keep with you," I said easily. Torion didn't spare my teasing a thought, his frown still firmly fixed in place. "Tell me what has you so disturbed. It's only a few hours."
His gaze skittered away in an intriguing display of wariness or shame, and I caught his chin in my hand, stroking the bristle along his jaw with my thumb.
"I don't want you to take this as a slight to your competence or…independence," he said slowly. My eyebrows rose in interest, and perhaps a little expectant offense. "I recently swore to myself that I'd be firmly attached to your hip and not leave you for so much as a moment."
I snorted at that. "How could you have managed that if I went back to the cottage?" His eyes lifted to my face finally, expression dry, and I froze. "Were you planning on coming with me? You barely fit in the cottage! It would've driven me mad in a week, and we'd have to come right back?—"
My tongue stilled as Torion's cheeks warmed with color.
"Very clever," I admitted, pardoning his schemes by stroking my fingers into the tangled curls at the back of his neck.
"I know you fend for yourself very well. I just despise the causes of that necessity," Torion said.
It had been a scant week since I'd unburdened myself, spilling out my fears and hopes and secrets to Torion. He hadn't changed in that time, although it took me a day or so to realize that this version of Torion—devotedly attentive, a stable figure for me to prop myself up against—had been the man he'd offered me from the very beginning. I was only just now learning how it felt toallowhim to provide that to me.
It was wonderful.
Terrifying, a shrinking part of me corrected but was promptly swatted away.
I was learning how to put away the frightened part of myself. I might not trust Torion completely yet, but I was endeavoring to stop myself from activelydistrustinghim. Perhaps they were one in the same.
"You know I'll be all right for the day," I said gently, my fingers picking through the tangles I found.
"I do," Torion admitted with a sigh.
"You're not breaking your vow to yourself or to me," I continued.
"I knew you would be like this," Torion said, smiling slightly.
"Like what?"
"Eminently reasonable. You are the better part of me, little witch."
I rewarded that compliment—and the bubbling warmth it conjured in my chest—with a sipping kiss. "You should take someone with you."
"Worried for my safety?" Torion asked, looking absurdly pleased.
"Not particularly," I admitted, grinning. I was teasing him, but it was true. I had a difficult time imagining Torion coming into any danger. He was too commanding and strong in my eyes. "But I think you should start to curry favor with men you like."
"As a matter of fact, I did invite Cameron. He and Emily Anderson are expanding her shipping interests, and I think Seamus will like him."
I nodded. "He's a good choice. Although I recommend in the next instance you consider a gentleman who’s been established longer, but on the fringes of the usual cohort."
Torion nodded at that, his head tipping into my fingers that rubbed at the back of his skull. "Tell me who you'd recommend."
"Ben Danielson might do," I said.
"He's fairly mild mannered. I've rarely had cause to meet with him. Gave me some trouble at the meeting, but I feel as though Keane put a bug in his ear," Torion mused.
"Danielson had a daughter that chose her beta this past ceremony, and he settled a good sum on the couple, so we know he's not as obstinate as some. He keeps his estates and the nearvillage in good order. He might be resistant to politicking, but if you ever wanted counsel, I think he would take it as an honor."
Torion was smiling at me, gaze heavy lidded and warm. "I'll make a point to approach him soon. Thank you, Brigid."
My head spun. No man I'd ever known in my life—intimately or on bare acquaintance—would ever have been lenient enough to even let me voice my opinion on such a topic, let alone bepleasedwith me for doing so. And I'd been comparing Torion to them this entire time, waiting for him to transform into what I expected to find.
I owe you an apology, I thought. But instead of saying so, I kissed him, lingering this time, delighted as he seemed content to do the same.
I pulled away to suggest we take ourselves to the bedroom, or at least make new use of his desk, but Torion spoke first.
