“I was looking at your eyes.”
Eileen snorted. “You weren’t looking that high.”
“I was, too!”
“Really?” Eileen turned her back to him. “And what do they look like, then?”
The words came nearly by themselves. “Like a stream whose water sparkles in the sunlight as it flows over a bed of pure blue cornflowers.”
In the silence that followed, Thomas could practically hear George’s mouth fall open. Eileen turned back and stared at him. Even in the dim light of the fire, Thomas could see the flush creeping up her face. After a few moments she managed, “Flatterer.”
“Whole courses dedicated to it,” said Thomas grinning. “Remember?”
“Aye, I remember.” Eileen smiled back. “And how long did it take you to make that one up?”
Thomas smiled back. “I found the words the first day I looked upon you,
