Chapter 372

A clunk on the table made her jerk around, looking in shock at Papa, her own earthenware mug steaming away on the table.

Papa reached out to tousle her hair.

'We love you, little one. Try to learn from this lesson. We don't like having to be angry at you, Mila.'

The gentle voice and his sympathetic smile and gaze had the tears running down Mila's cheeks. He held out his arms, and she flung herself into them.

'Papa, I didn't mean,' Mila couldn't finish her sentence, not wanting to say she'd lied because part of her was certain she'd seen what she'd seen. But the tears seemed to satisfy him. Papa cuddled her on his lap and wiped her cheeks with the large square handkerchief he kept up his sleeve.

'There now, have a sip, it'll make your tummy better.'

Mila nodded, accepting the mug he passed to her. She held it with both hands while she sipped at the hot liquid. The scent and taste of ginger plus wild mint did help to unknot the tension in her stomach.

About halfway through her mu