"This is too much," he said, firmly. "You're tearing your dress... and I... saw your knees."
For the first time in her life, she saw him get flustered. But the blood from his wound had still not stopped.
"I think your wound is a bit more important than propriety right now, Your Grace."
Ambrose's jaw tightened as he glanced away. "This is highly inappropriate," he mumbled but did not try to stop her again.
"And yet, here we are," Daphne retorted.
"Somehow I was the one who was here to save you," he commented. "But you found a way to become the savior."
"Would you rather I be a damsel in distress?" she replied.
"Well, I would prefer if you stayed out of trouble."
"I have no interest in being both of those things. Nor did I intend to get myself into any sort of trouble, Your Grace," she said. "But I cannot let you walk around with an infected wound either."
For two people that could not stand each other, they sure found themselves in situations where they were looking out for each other.
"You were reckless," he muttered, though his tone had lost its earlier harshness. "And I..."
He could not complete the sentence.
"You what?" she demanded, crossing her arms out in front of him. "You wanted to be the hero and are mad at me for not lying dead in a ditch somewhere?"
He glared at her, "Do not say that."
"Then what is it?"
His face contorted as though someone had made him swallow the thorns on a fish. "I.. well I was worried."
Daphne blinked.
Had she misheard him?
"You... worried?" she said, his comment throwing her off for a moment.
"You are my guest."He added quickly.
"Of course," she muttered. It was that. It could not be anything more than that. Quickly she finished up the bandage with a satisfied nod. "There, done."
"Are you always this stubborn?" he inquired, as she stood up to her full height, brushing off her clothes.
"Only when I need to be," she admitted.
"And you have decided that this moment is one where the occasion requires it?" he challenged.
"Yes," she said immediately. "Our differences aside, I cannot let you bleed to death in the forest."
"So not only are you stubborn, but you are also very dramatic," he replied.
"I believe the word you are missing is athank you."
"Oh, right," he scoffed, "thank you for disappearing in the forest."
"And you are missing one more thing," she gestured at his bandage.
"What am I missing then, tell me?" the traces of banter left his voice, and suddenly he sounded a lot more intense.
