Unthinkingly, her hand squeezed his again. Knowing he was uncomfortable created a knot in her stomach, for she once again betrayed his confidence by pushing the limit too far. That was how fheir relationship had always functioned, though; Penny had always been the one to pull him from his comfort zone and into the greater unknown. How was she to know there was a limit involved? Elsie and Mr. Kirke had crossed that line already, and Penny and Neml had been friends for even longer than them.

Frowning, she sighed and withdrew her hand. "Well, what about it makes you uncomfortable?" That was as good a starting point as any, wasn't it? She could check in and try to understand his reluctance. Then, if he felt comfortable they could talk about it. If not ... well, Elsie had to have more books elsewhere, didn't she?