Slapping away Gaius's hand, Maribelle kept the thief from dumping the entire bowl of sugar into his tea. Sniffing in distaste, she took a sip from her own cup, ignoring the crunch of a sugar cube that the thief had managed to pop into his mouth in the mere second that she'd looked away.
"Absolutely mortifying." Setting her cup back into the saucer, she brushed one of her curls back over her shoulder. Though her lips were set in a frown, her eyes conveyed a sense of amusement. Gaius could easily see through her anger and shot her a grin.
"You were the one that asked me to high tea, and I know you're not going to eat all of these cakes by yourself." He picked up a minute pastry as he spoke, admiring the even glaze of honey coating its surface. "What's the harm in a little indulgence?"
"Your idea of indulgence is stuffing yourself silly." She warily eyed the small cake in his hand, almost daring Gaius to eat it whole. "It's barbaric."
He didn't miss the look that she gave the pastry between his fingers, and returned her grimace with a smile. Making a point of shoving the entire cake into his mouth, Gaius spoke with his mouth full, crumbs flying everywhere. "Awh. How sweet of you to notice." Running his tongue across his lips, he kept eye contact with Maribelle as he licked a stray bit of the treat from his thumb. "I try."
Cheeks warming, Maribelle's frown deepened. "H-how vulgar! And in front of a lady!"
"You know it Twinkles." Laughing, he got up, taking one of Maribelle's hands and pressing his lips against her knuckles. "Thanks for the tea." With a wave, he left her tent, whistling as he went.
Thoroughly flustered, Maribelle raised her cup to her lips, gazing over the table. Only then did she realize that the thief had filched every last pastry. "Typical."
Request for Rumay!
Guest: I didn't know they actually sold hollowed out books! I just might get one haha. And don't we all wish Inigo was throwing gifts at us left and right.
ajani's apprentice: I've never had Anna S Support Robin, but I do love her character.