"You're teasing me."
"I'm not."
I folded my arms, attempting to contain the ridiculous warmth spreading through my chest.
"Prove it."
"Now?"
"Unless you'd prefer I assume you're lying."
Augustus's mouth twitched. "It's upstairs. In my study."
"Then we're going upstairs."
I marched out of the conservatory before my courage reconsidered. Augustus followed, looking far too entertained.
The second-floor corridor was familiar from childhood visits, although I remembered it being longer. Perhaps everything seemed enormous when you were fourteen and trying to avoid a lecture about appropriate behavior.
"Am I about to discover an embarrassing drawing?" I asked. "Something preserved for blackmail?"
"You'll see."
"That's ominous."
"Patience, Juliette."
"An unreasonable demand."
