Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Sylvia didn't have a chance to stop him-Rupert had already picked up the things lying on her couch.

Half-finished scarves.

Skeins of yarn in every color imaginable.

Some she'd started, only to realize the color wasn't as nice as she'd thought, so she tossed them aside. Over time, the rejects became a little mountain of half- completed projects.

In the end, she couldn't decide between deep red and black.

Rupert, of all people, definitely didn't need anything black-his closet was full of it. But she was afraid he might actually prefer black anyway, so she ended up making a black scarf too.

The pile on the couch made it look like she was preparing for a grand event or something.

"All these for me?" Rupert asked, his voice as unreadable and cool as ever, like he was just making small talk.

Sylvia instantly regretted everything. Had she been too presumptuous?

Embarrassed, she tried to shield the scarves with her arms.

"No, no, I just haven't knitted in a long time, so I bought extra supplies in case I messed up."

Rupert leaned past her and picked up one of her earlier attempts-a scarf barely as wide as his hand, with several stitches dropped.

"Definitely a little rusty," he commented.

Sylvia rolled her eyes and snatched the ruined scarf away.

it's not as good as the store-bought

he didn't have

of thought into this, but now it felt like she was

who'd been watching all this, winced internally. He had to admire Rupert's absolute

Mr. Rupert asked me to make you some ginger tea on the way back. Where do you keep your ginger? I'll

mood softened

ginger. I'll see if Ms. Ward next door

"Great."

knocked on

took one look at her and frowned with

hadn't told Ms. Ward

Ward knew was that

Sylvia

somehow. So she'd been extra

leaned against the doorframe. "Nothing serious. Just came to borrow some ginger.

dear. I'll make the

people over,"

rdly.

knowingly. "Oh, I see. I'll just get you the ginger

glance at Sylvia's front door

a plateful of

about that

technique you wanted to

later. But honestly, when you're knitting for a man, keep it simple. Don't overthink it."

reaction to the scarves flashed through her mind. She forced a smile. “He helped me out, so this is just