She observed the boy for a moment before continuing to search the room. *** He caught her, looking a little worried. "Miss?"
His heart was on the mantle. Logan followed her in, whining lowly and nudging her with his nose. * * * She looked embarrassed, looking up at him faintly, her head against his side. Her fingers slipped the cage off his belt quickly, hiding it in her cloak.
She picked it up, her brows furrowing. She put it in her bag before petting Logan. *** He didn't notice, supporting her. "Are you alright..?'
The dog growled as she took his heart and snapped at her bag first before barking, snapping at her hand. Burke woke suddenly, sitting up in his chair. His eyes flickered to her, then to the empty mantle, and then back to her again. "No," he gasped, standing up suddenly. "No, please... please don't take it from me. Please." * * * She frowned, sitting up. "I'm... I'm so sorry. I think I should just go back home... my carriage is waiting for me... It can take me back to my town."
She cried out, pulling her hand back quickly. Her eyes met Burke's and she fled, streaking back to the window. *** He pulled away, looking concerned. "Are you sure?"
He stood up suddenly, trying to follow her. “Please! Please... I have nothing if you take that from me.” *** She nodded, shivering still. “Yes, I just... I think I should leave.”
She smoothly slipped through the window in one quick motion, making brief eye contact with him before starting away, her footsteps fast and light. *** He tilted his head slightly. "Do you need me to show you the way? It's dangerous at night."
He headed to the door, throwing it open and chasing after her, Logan following him. *** “No, I’m... I’m alright,” she said, shaking her head. “Thank you for your help.”
She was quite accustomed to sprinting away from things, her movements swift as she kept ahead. *** He nodded slightly. "Very well."
She got ahead and he slowed to a stop, watching her desperately. * * * She nodded, pulling away from him. "Thank you, sir," she said quietly, going back the way she came.
She glanced back, a frown on her face. Not often did people catch her. While she often took the hearts, she felt the guilt as well, stopping at the edge of the woods and looking back at him. She didn't like feeling of being caught, or the look of panic she saw across his face. She seemed hesitant, taking the heart out of the bag and looking down at it. She felt bad. She held it, looking at the man as she pulled her cloak up over her mouth, hesitantly moving toward him. *** He nodded, watching her go.
The man had fallen to his knees, looking down at the ground, his shoulders hunched. Logan whined, trying to nose under his arm, but the man didn't seem to notice, his brows furrowed. The heart felt warm in her hands, made of some sort of ruddy copper. It was quite large, resting silently.
Only her eyes were visible, and a bit of her silvery hair. Her blue eyes were wide and striking and quite pretty. She held out his heart silently.
He studied her curiously, taking it gently from her palms before a slow, almost goofy smile. “Well, thank you, ma’am,” he said, his voice a low southern drawl. “I was gonna be awfully melancholy if I had lost my heart so quickly.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” he agreed, raising one eyebrow. “I always hoped that the person who stole my heart would be pretty. I was right, even though it wasn’t the kind of heart theft I was expectin’.”
His face fell and he looked up at her, standing quickly. “Aw, ma’am... I’m awfully sorry. I didn’t mean to cause any offense. It’s just... your eyes! They’re like starlight!”
