The very next morning started with negotiations and bargains as Silas refused to let Arabella out of his hold.
"No," he declared.
"What?" her eyes wide, refusing to blink as if that would have helped her digest the surprise.
"Just no," he dug his heels and looked ahead, above her head to avoid her gaze.
"I don't understand. I need to stand up," her legs and feet moved, but her upper body was barely able to as Silas firmly held her against himself.
Miraculously, he held it together at her sight struggling to flee his hold which was very reminiscent of an inebriated squirrel fighting to stand on its feet.
"No, you do not need to do anything," his chin was slightly raised while his head shook, earning him that ridiculous childish air he so tried to conceal.
It was when she burst into a fit of giggles that he finally looked down at her.
"What's the matter? What is so funny?" he enquired with a serious demeanor.
