Silas first poured her a cup of herbal tea and gestured for her to sit on his lap. "Let me hold you for a bit."
Celia Sterling obediently sat on his lap. Cradling the cup of tea, she took a light sip and furrowed her brow slightly. "It tastes a little strange."
"I added some Chinese herbs to help restore your energy," Silas answered in a measured tone. "My dear has been looking a little worn-out lately. This will help you recover."
He tactfully omitted any mention of his own lack of restraint.
After Celia took a few more sips, he returned to their earlier topic. "My dear, you're practically a child yourself. Whose kid are you planning on babysitting?"
"My half-sister, Natalie Shepherd," Celia said after a moment's thought. "We're related by blood, but we don't really know each other well."
"If you're not close, why bother?" Silas thought. 'She's nothing more than a stranger.'
