“Perhaps you should suck an egg,” she shot back.
Tristan smirked as Theo sighed and shook her head.
“Must you twoalwaysbe at each other?” Theo asked. “Honestly! You are both most precious to me, and I would appreciate it if you wouldtryto get along better.”
A wave of guilt sifted over his amusement, and his smirk faded.
“Apologies, sister,” he offered, leaning over to kiss her cheek.
“Yes, apologies,” Ophelia muttered, lowering her gaze to her plate.
“Thank you,” Theo replied, picking up her knife and fork, “Now Tristan, what a lovely surprise that you chose to join us. Is there any particular reason you dropped by? Alistair is not here. He is on the search for some more of that tobacco Leah had given him for Christmas a couple of years ago.”
Tristan shifted his gaze back to Ophelia, studying her intensely. She refused to look back up at him; instead putting all of her focus into cutting the filet of fish on her plates into tiny bites. Still, he caught the flush in her freckled cheeks, the nervous hunch of her shoulders.
“I just wanted to check on my baby sister,” he said aloud.
And make sure this one over here has kept her mouth shut,he silently added.
“Well, are you not the sweetest brother,” Theo cooed. “Ophelia, is he not the sweetest?”
“Pure sugar this boy is,” Ophelia muttered, then popped a piece of fish into her mouth.
“Speaking of sugar,” Tristan said, taking over the conversation, “What have you two been up today? Or yesterday?”
“Tristan, what is wrong with you?” Theo asked with a laugh, “What does sugar and our time have in common?”
Tristan shrugged, mentally daring Ophelia look at him. He needed to know if she kept her word, or if she’d kept her secrets. Thus far he figured the latter, as he was sure Theo would have stabbed him with a fork if she knew the truth.
“I do not know. Something,” he replied with a casual tone, “So. Tell me. What have you two been talking about?”
This time Ophelia looked up at long enough to throw him a ruthless glare as her knife scratched annoyingly across the china plate.
“Still working on your table manners I see,” he muttered.
“Tristan, you promised!” Theo said, throwing him a pleading look. “Be nice!”
She shook her head in disapproval and continued with her own meal.
“Anyway, to answer your question, we have not talked of much other than books and painting,” Theo answered.
Tristan went rigid in his seat as he quickly asked, “Painting? Why painting?”
She had told Theo!He was going to thump Ophelia. Put her right over his knee and thump her good for not keeping her mouth shut!
The thought came out of nowhere, startling him as the mental picture came glaringly vivid to the forefront of his mind. It sent a lick of pleasure through his veins, shocking him.Was that something he wanted?
“She has been giving me painting lessons,” Theo answered, obviously not noticing his sudden tension.
Tristan immediately easy back into his chair.
“How kind of you, Ophelia,” he stated dryly.
Ophelia threw him another glare, but said nothing.
Tristan began to tap his foot restlessly as he let Theo go on about their last two days, listening for any indication of trouble. Since finding out about Mr. Perley he was now more nervous about their deal than ever, and the last thing he wanted was to risk any more exposure. After several minutes he could not take the curiosity anymore.
“Theo, darling, could I beg of you a favor?” He asked. “I believe Alistair picked up my brown leather portfolio instead of his at our last meeting. Would you mind going to his office to check?”
