Awareness prickled through her.“Not that sort.”
“Disappointing.”
She smiled.“I do, however, have something for you, and I cannot give it to you here.Come.”She took his hand and led him from the room.
Following, he commented, “You are quite confident none shall notice you dragging me about the place, aren’t you?”
“Benedict, no one ever looks at us.”
“If only they knew,” he said with a wolfish grin.
She flushed, but she did not let his teasing deter her.Leading him to the sitting room she knew was empty, she ushered him inside and shut the door.Leaning against it, she grinned at him.“There.Now we are alone.”
His gaze met hers.The smile faded from her as he strode toward her and drew her into him.The back of his fingers brushed her cheek.“I have missed you.”
Her chest felt too small.“Happy birthday,” she said, meaning it with every part of her.
“That is more what I was hoping for.”Taking her hand, he twined his fingers with hers.“We are again the same age.”
“For another eleven months,” she agreed, fitting her palm to his.
Lips quirking, he did not reply, his fingers playing with hers.“I am sorry we could not celebrate sooner.”
“You are allowed friends, Benedict.”
“But you are my very best of friends.I wanted you with me, El.”He lowered his voice.“When I woke this morning, I wanted you with me.”
A thrum started within her as she thought of how she would have awakened him.“How has your day been thus far?”
“Daughtry lost a packet on the racing, which is always amusing, and then Lady C has thrown this ball.It was not for my birthday, but a celebration is a celebration.I am certain my brother knows nothing of the significance of the date.”He shrugged, but his fingers tightened around hers.“Lady C and Amanda wished me happy with cake, and Gregory gave me a picture of a horse.At least, he told me it was a horse.You could not tell from looking at it what it is meant to be.”
“He is five, Benedict.”
He sighed.“That he made me anything is the true gift.”
Perhaps Benedict’s brothers did not appreciate him as he should, but she certainly did.“As we are talking of gifts, would you like mine?”
His face lit up.“Of course.I should like itimmediately.”
Pulling the box from where she had secreted it in her pocket, she fluffed up the decoration.“Happy birthday.”
Taking it, he gave a lopsided grin.“Could you affix any more ribbon upon it?”
Every gift she gave him, she wrapped it as fussily as possible with ribbon and lace and brightly coloured paper.“You are lucky I did not adorn it with flowers also this time.”
Chuckling, he undid the brightly coloured ribbons and unwrapped the paper, and she held her breath as he opened the box.His grin faded.He stared down at it for the longest time, his expression indecipherable.
Nerves leapt in her stomach.What was he thinking?Was he pleased?Did he hate it?Why would he not speak?
Finally, he raised his gaze to hers.“El, this is a Burham-Roberts pocket watch.”
“Yes,” she said brightly.
“ABurham-Roberts,” he said.“They do not even make them anymore.This must have taken you ages to find.”
Months, in fact, but she wasn’t going to tell him that.“It is a significant birthday.Of course I should give you something significant.”
He looked back down at the watch.Silence stretched between them as he stared at the watch and she stared at him.
