Ignatius Leclair finished reviewing the group's quarterly report and returned to the bedroom. Finding it cold and empty, he finally went to the small attic to retrieve someone.
There had been plenty happening these days; Delphine had taken to sleeping in the attic, and he hadn't stopped her. But when he recalled Bessie Leclair mentioning earlier that Griffith Squire had gone to the production team that afternoon, he couldn't sit still anymore.
Ignatius saw her barefoot and had no idea how long she had been in the night breeze or crying there. His face sank slightly, and he strode forward wordlessly, scooping her up in his arms.
The man's cold, pine-like scent enveloped her, making Delphine shudder. She wanted to move but realized that sitting for so long had made her limbs numb. She buried her face into his firm chest, rubbing her tears onto his clothes, and sniffled softly.
