Maribelle pauses to put a hand above and below Antheaâs offered hand and formulate her response.
"Your offer is very kind, and I thank you for the consideration, but I was not crying.â Not yet. âAnd even if I had been, it most certainly wasnât negative. In factâwait. âWith people who care about youâ? Anthea, dear, is this your way of affirming our bond? Do you consider us friends?â
The noble's gloved hands gently clasp her own, and Anthea smiles gently in response as she deftly changes the subject.Â
"Of course I consider us friends, Maribelle. You and the rest of the Shepherds are like family to me, and the wellbeing of my family is important to me. If there's something you want to talk about, I'm here to listen."














