“Horses. She loves horses.”
The older man’s expression took on a softer side.
“Like you.”
“Like me,” Silas nodded.
Mr. Jefferies thought for a moment and then said,
“I think I have just the thing. Come with me.”
Silas was always warm. It was something Agnes had grown to love about him – how cozy his embrace was whenever he held her. Now, she was seated in his lap, nuzzling along his neck, feeling pleasantly worn out after her release.
He had been really gentle tonight, every kiss deep and slow, each touch deliberate and scorching. She had moaned his name for what felt like an eternity, shared his breath and taste, andreveled in the way he took her apart and pieced her back together.
Now, he was holding onto her, keeping her warm and safe. She wondered if this was what love felt like. If this is what it felt like all the time.
“I have something for you,” he murmured against her cheek, pressing a small kiss to it.
“Hmm?” she blinked, pouting when he gently moved her to sit on the chaise so he could go to his desk.
When he returned, there was a small blue velvet box in his hands, the white silk bow on top of it seemingly glowing. He sat next to her and held it out. For a moment, she just stared at it. He patiently waited for her to realize that she was meant to collect it and open it, slowly reaching for the box and settling it on her lap. Slowly, she undid the ribbon and lifted the lid, peeking inside.
As soon as she laid her eyes on the contents of the box, she gasped.
“Silas…” she mumbled, looking up at him with moist eyes.
“Come now, Agnes,” he teased, caressing her cheek. “You haven’t even looked at it properly. Go on.”
With a shaky inhale, she lifted it out and held it in her hands, her gaze running over the item as if she were trying to commit each detail to memory. It was a glass figurine of two horses. They seemed to be jumping at each other, standing on their hind legs, which were attached to a small rectangular slab of ivory, upon which they would stand when she displayed them.
It was a magnificent gift. Possibly one of the best she had ever received.
“I’m starting to think I made the wrong choice,” Silas said with a little laugh.
She was quick to clutch at his arm and shake her head, hoping she sounded as earnest as she felt.
“No, you did not. It is wonderful. I absolutely love it.”
He smiled at her, reaching out to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear, tugging at the earlobe before he pulled away completely.
“Do you really?”
Yes, I love you as well, she almost said. But perhaps this was not the time. Perhaps it was all right if she waited a little longer before telling him. For now, this would have to suffice. She smiled back at him, leaning forward to press her lips against his as she whispered.
“I really do.”
Chapter Seventeen
Agnes pulled her dressing gown closer to herself as she sat down by the windowsill.
Given how late it was, the silence in the air was befitting, and yet, the calmness of the night did nothing to quell the anxiety within her. Her mind felt far too noisy for her to have any hope of falling asleep, and after tossing and turning for an hour, she felt it would be better to just sit for a bit until she felt less anxious.
Tomorrow was the day of the competition. Finally, all her hard work would be given a chance to manifest, and her hopes lay in Scar winning. But she could not ignore the voices that wondered what would happen if he lost. How would Silas feel about it? Would he merely brush it aside because he had not planned to win in the first place? Or would he feel upset because she had raised his hopes and even asked him to put in his prized horse? What if Scar got hurt?
Agnes’ fears were rooted in disappointing her husband-to-be. Lately, their relationship had been full of warmth and affection. Perhaps a little more than she expected in a certain practice, but she was neither complaining nor ungrateful for it. Silas seemed as though he felt thankful for her, like she had really been of great help to him by training Scar.
Until he had gifted her that glass figurine, she had not realized that deep down, she was terrified of being useless to him. If they had gotten married and she could not provide him with anything else other than what he had been after… it would have made for a very disheartening marriage.