His firm tone only intensified Ophelia’s new, strange feelings, and she nodded.
“I know,” she said quietly. She finished putting her brushes back into her crate and closed it carefully.
“Forgive me,” she said after a moment of silence. “I am not feeling quite myself. Perhaps it has just been a long night.”
Another tense moment passed between them as Tristan continued to study her with that quiet intensity.
“It is all right,” he finally answered, his tone much softer than before. “I cannot begin to imagine what you are feeling. However, Ophelia, you must know; despite our squabbling. I would never use you like that. We may hate each other but I still care about you.”
We may hate each other but I still care about you.
Ophelia smirked at the words. She liked that.
“Well then,” she sighed, reaching out to take the envelope, “Once again, it was a pleasure doing business with you, Lord Perfect.”
Tristan smirked and rolled his eyes as he let her pull the envelope from his fingertips.
“Are you going to Alistair’s birthday party this Saturday?” He asked, picking up her mask.
“Theo is insisting upon it,” Ophelia replied as she let him draw her mask over her face. It was becoming almost ritual now, and she no longer minded that he did so for her.
“Though after the last ball I am more inclined to tuck into my house and never emerge,” she added dryly.
Tristan chuckled and nodded.
“I could use a tucking in myself,” he said, pulling his own mask back on. “I only asked because you took me by surprise when we picked you up in the carriage. I’d like to be more prepared next time I see you.”
Ophelia raised an amused brow.
“You were surprised?” She asked.
Tristan scoffed.
“Oh, come, you were just as thrown off balance as I was when you saw me sitting there across from Alistair and Theo,” he replied.
Ophelia giggled. It was true.
“I suppose it is becoming a little odd,” she admitted, “Seeing you outside of the Masquerade.”
“Well, you only have one painting left,” Tristan said, adjusting her cloak for her so that her tattered gown was well-covered, “Soon seeing me outside the Masquerade will once more be the norm.”
Though she did not know why, Ophelia felt her heart sink at the words. Confused about what she felt, she simply nodded, and waited silently as Tristan called for the guards. She was feeling confused quite a bit over Tristan lately, and it was starting to make her weary.
“Yes, well,” she said quietly, “It will be good to get back to the norm.”
Tristan’s head turned quickly toward her, as if he was going to ask her something as the guards entered the room.
“Pleasant evening, my lord,” she said respectfully, remembering his rule, and hurried out with guards before Tristan could stop her.
CHAPTER TWENTY
“Ah, Tristan!” Theo exclaimed as she threw her arms around his shoulders, “Where have you been?”
Tristan had only just stepped into the festively decorated and well attended abode of his sister and brother-in-law when his Theo appeared from the crowd with her gentle chastisement.
“Apologies, sister,” Tristan offered, returning her hug. “I did not mean to be so late. I had some business to attend to.”
Theo pulled back, her green eyes sparkling with curiosity.
