She giggled. “So, it will be just me who lives somewhere else. Or I will stay here with James and Eden forever.”
He straightened and was now so close she could see the small flecks of brown among the green in his eyes. She dug her toes into her shoes to stop retreating as he studied her.
“You will not be leaving us.”
It was a vow, and she wanted to believe it. Looking into those green eyes, she saw the certainty that he did.
“So can I have that?”
She turned from him to look at the painting. Even she could see with her critical eye she was getting better.
“If you want it, then yes, you may have it.”
“I wouldn’t have asked for it if I didn’t want it.”
“Can you not just say, ‘thank you, Samantha’?”
“Thank you, Samantha.” He touched her cheek, then bowed and left her gnashing her teeth like he often did.
CHAPTERTWELVE
“Imay not be able to see Luke and yet I know what your elbow feels like. Pray remove it from my side,” Daisy said.
“If I had the room, I would. Kat has me wedged between you and her.”
“That will do,” Max said. He then smiled at Samantha who was seated beside him as they rolled toward the excitement that awaited inside Mr. Rolland's Circus of Strange and Ridiculous Curiosities.
“Take your finger out of your nose, Kat,” Luke said. “Because I have no wish for whatever comes out on the end of it to be smeared over me.”
Opening her reticule, Samantha pulled up her handkerchief and handed it to her nephew, who in turn pulled his cousin’s finger out of her nose and wiped it.
Tall like his father, Luke was serious and calm unless provoked by a cousin or sibling, which happened most days.
“Is the Irish countryside more beautiful than Crunston Cliff, Aunty Sam?”
“Nowhere near as lovely, Daisy,” she lied. The Irish countryside was indeed beautiful.
The little girl across from her had come late into their family. Harry had rescued her from the clutches of two horrid people. She had lost her sight years ago, but in this family, she was surrounded by love and many pairs of eyes, so she did not need her own. In fact, Daisy could walk up and down the street and know exactly whose house was where, with the help of her large shaggy dog and constant companion.
“I hear you slipped out of the house undetected. That was very clever of you, considering we have been watching you every minute since your return, little sister.”
“It was just to throw my knives, Max. I do not need continual watching, surely?”
He was their lion. Large and tawny-haired, gentle until provoked, and then he could roar like a jungle animal.
“We will take no chances with you.”
She didn’t sigh because this was her family’s way.
“I understand that, but given time, we can admit it was a random chance at kidnapping me to extort money?”
“Perhaps.”
“I will not be watched or imprisoned in James and Eden’s house forever.”
“Your house,” he corrected.
“The point is, I have spent a year alone and survived, Max—”
