His warm hand reached out and Dahlia found her own gloved hands slipping into his without a second thought. Their entwined grasp like a calm in the storm that swirled through her mind, it anchored them together and reassured her. "Of course." Dahlia's words were bright as her stomach leapt slightly.

A conversation alone with Quin, it could only mean good things, right? Perhaps he had brought her a Christmas gift? Or maybe he wanted to check up on her? Or perhaps.... her chest constricted at the thought, perhaps he wanted to tell her he did not fancy her the way she fancied him and that he had only come this evening out of pity. No. No, she was not going to think that way. He'd arrived, his hand was holding her own as he led her through the room, his face hardly seemed one of anything other than happiness. No, she thought again. It was Christmas, a time for magic and happiness. She was not going to dwell on a scolding unless a scolding absolutely happened.