Maddie felt her cheeks flush with a delicate shade of pink as Richard acknowledged her insistent request, and the idea that she couldn't leave him with a poor impression. She fidgeted with a long strand of her blonde hair. His chuckle washed over her like a warm breeze, and she couldn't help but find his laughter infectious. Maddie murmured, her voice soft and bashful. "I'm relieved at least to know you wouldn't think poorly of me. It means a great deal to me."

His suggestion about a morsel from her family's bakery filled her with enthusiasm, and her eyes brightened with excitement. "Oh, yes! Absolutely!" she replied with genuine enthusiasm. "That is a promise I can keep." she gave a small laugh. She glanced down briefly, her lashes casting soft shadows on her cheeks.

"Thank you for being so kind, Mister Gladstone," Maddie said, her gaze meeting his once more. "I'll make sure to prepare something special for you, as a gesture of my gratitude."

end?