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“That isn’t true. You just need to be a little more patient.”

“I am trying.”

“I don’t doubt that, but look, you can see where you got impatient and moved on before you were truly finished.”

“True, but how can I resist?”

“If the issue is you get bored in particular area, then grab a second needle and work somewhere else. You just need to make sure you circle back to where you were working before.”

“But that sounds so boring,” she groaned.

“I’m hardly holding a blade to your neck and forcing you to do needle work. If you don’t like it, that’s fine. Work on something else.”

“But I want to make things like you do. Your work is so beautiful.”

“Then learn patience.”

Felicity complained, “I’m doing my best.”

“Are you?”

The group had a pleasant afternoon until the whole party gathered in the dining hall for lunch.

CHAPTER8

Christopher watched from his spot at the table next to his sister as Amber’s cousin dragged her to sit beside some slimy guy.

If the look on the supposed gentlemen’s faces was anything to go by, he was starting to figure out why Amber might want to be ruined. He found himself feeling bad for her as he watched the man talk her ear off. Amber didn’t seem to be saying a word, only responding with the occasional nod.

“You’re staring,” Felicity whispered, snapping him out of his thoughts.

“What?” his head snapped to face her.

She had a knowing grin painted all over her face. “You heard me. You’re staring at the woman who totally isn’t your friend, and you have been since we sat down. Are you going to continue to pretend nothing is going on?”

“I wasn’t staring,” he scoffed, rolling his eyes. As he did so, he couldn’t help the way his eyes returned to Amber. “I just happened to look in her general direction. It’s hard not to, given where we are both sitting. She’s just in my line of sight, that’s all. You’re reading into things.”

But Felicity wasn’t buying it and just kept asking question after question. “Am I? Then why haven’t you looked away from her since we sat down? Even now, you’re still doing it.”

He scowled at her. “You’re seeing things.”

She grinned. “That’s the first time you looked at me since we sat down.”

“That can’t be right.”

“I can promise you that is it.”

“No, it isn’t.”

“No? Then why don’t you start by telling me when the last time you looked up was.”

“I’m quite sure that I looked up at you when you first started this regrettable conversation.”

“There’s no reason to be so dramatic just because I noticed you staring.”

“I am not being dramatic. You are simply being rather absurd.”

“I don’t think I’m being any more absurd than you are, mooning from across the room rather than having a simple conversation.”