Poppy held tightly to Mr. Beauregard’s head, fingers still carding through his soft locks anxiously. She didn’t realize until he commented that the snake was disposed of and an immense sigh of relief escaped the girl. Releasing her death-like hold on the poor gentleman, Poppy let her hand slide gently to settle on the nape of his neck as she waited for him to set her down. “Oh goodness, thank you,” she gushed, leaning back just enough to level him with a grateful smile.

The proximity of his face to hers, and his face to her… well, bossom, made Poppy blush then. Red heat rose up in her cheeks and stretched all along pale skin. She’d never been quite so intimately familiar with a man before! Merlin above, what a scandal! He was so sweet too, to hoist her up without so much as a care. Poppy felt overwhelmed by gratitude and embarrassment all at once then. Her fingers tangled back into his hair without her realizing.

“Er, thank you,” she said softly again, blush still warm on her features. “Are you sure it’s quite gone?” It wouldn’t do to be replaced on the ground only to face the same fate all over again now would it?

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