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He looked…not like he didn’t believe her, but rather like he wasn’t quite sure that he should “You don’t have to say—”

“It is,” she insisted, rising to her feet

He turned and picked another piece of paper up off the desk “I drew it here as well,” he said, “but larger, so you could see it better”

She took the second piece of paper into her hands and looked down He’d drawn just the bracelet, as if suspended in air “It’s lovely,” she said, touching the iers

He gave her a self-deprecating smile “If it doesn’t exist, it should”

She nodded, still exa The bracelet was lovely, each link shaped almost like a leaf It was delicate and whimsical, and Hyacinth ached to place it on her wrist

But she could never treasure it as s Never

“I—” She looked up, her lips parting with surprise She almost said, “I love you”

“I love them,” she said instead, but when she looked up at him, she rather fancied that the truth was in her eyes

I love you

She smiled and placed her hand over his She wanted to say it, but she wasn’t quite ready She didn’t knohy, except that maybe she was afraid to say it first She, as afraid of ale to utter three little words

It was astounding

Terrifying

And she decided to change the mood “I still want to look for the jewels,” she said, clearing her throat until her voice eed in its customarily efficient manner

He groaned “Why won’t you give up?”