"Aneisha has been doing it for years. Perhaps your guards should train in it," he teased lightly before turning to a blushing Edwina. "Your food my lady." Theo bowed and swept an arm as if it was him that had made and carried it all up making the woman giggle. 

"Thank you," she signed back making him smile wider and more genuine. He took a seat at a small table with her where they could sit and talk.

While the pair signed in silly conversation, his eyes could not help but watch as Neal moved about the room again before taking a seat near Fletcher. He could not watch long and instead focused on gently redirected Edwina's hands into the correct positions for the words she was trying to say. His touch lingered as he smiled tenderly at her. 

"You're improving. You could teach, Mr. Truckett at this rate, couldn't she Mr. Daw?"

Fletch scowled, realizing in that moment just what kind of torture he'd given Theo free reign to enact. He did want more of it, it was true. He'd meant that. He thought he'd never be able to get enough of Theo's attention, of Theo's cleverness, of Theo's teasing. But holy hell, it would test his resolve. "Yeah, I know it," he muttered beneath his breath. "I seen you like eggs."

He followed the nobleman back to the piano room, moving rather slowly with so much to balance. By the time he'd caught up and set the trays down, he had a newfound respect for what Aneisha could do. "Neish makes it look easy," he complained as he stepped away and flopped back down on the chaise. Along the way, he nabbed the same old sailing book that he'd been very much not reading. He still didn't intend to read it, but at least it gave him a reason to look as preoccupied as he now did.

"I don't know. I kind of like the idea of making my dearest wait. Something about suffering making the heart grow fonder? Oh or was that absence?"

He grinned impishly with a knowing smirk as he passed Fletcher and lead him out of the kitchen. "Do try to not scarf it all down though. I happen to like the eggs."

"'S fine. I'm sure Neal and I can put away whatever you and her don't," Fletch assured him, midway through purloining a deviled egg as if to prove his point. Kenna flipped a dish towel at him, not daring to actually hit him with it lest he drop everything. With a cheeky grin, he shifted the trays back onto both arms and nodded to Theo, doing his best to pretend that he hadn't just been tangled up with him in that brief stolen moment. "Pack mule's ready, sir. Don't want to keep your dearest waiting. Shall we?"

His eyes watered slightly but he beamed brightly at the other man. He thought he had already fallen for Fletcher but with every word and every touch he fell all the harder for him with no safety net to catch him. It was dangerous. It was beautiful. And he was greedy for more. 

He took the time needed to settle, to straighten clothes and hair, to soothe the flush of his cheeks and return to mild-mannered retired deviant Theodore Archer instead of passionate and starving for affection Theo the Tart.

Aneisha was piling up trays in Fletcher's arms by the time he was finally able to meet in the kitchen. "Kenna," he laughed, "how many do you expect to feed? There's only two of us for tea this morning."

"Her Ladyship demanded you were fed for having missed breakfast, sir. Caused a right mess of things it did. Not to worry Mr. Theo, we'll have it all sorted for you shortly."

"I'm so sorry, Kenna," he murmured looking entirely out of place in his pretty clothes and utterly guilty. Theo was quickly waved off though as the women continued their hustle and bustle around him. He peeked over at Fletcher and just the sight was comfort enough to make the smallest of smiles return to his face. He wasn't alone in this anymore. 

Fletch accepted the embrace readily, grasping fistfuls of Theo's robe and nuzzling in even as his instinct nagged at him to leave and stop risking what they had. As they drew apart, he seized on the opportunity and planted a soft parting kiss on his lips. "No. Keep doing it," he smirked. "Do it more. I've never felt so alive as today."

He pulled away again, chuckling to himself. "I think I'm off to dunk my head in cold water, now," he laughed. "See you in the kitchen? Good luck finding your candle." With that, he flashed one last adoring glance and slipped back out into the hall and into the washroom. The icy water did help bring him back to earth, but his thoughts of Theo lingered. He dried himself off and made his way into the kitchen, half a smirk still pulling at the corner of his mouth. "Hey, Neish. Need help with the trays?"

Theo would be lying if he didn't admit that Fletcher being a gentleman and retreating didn't sting him a bit. He felt like he had done something wrong and was being cruel to the man. Like he really was a tart and just kept leading him on and shutting him down. He didn't mean or want to be a tease, at least not right now and like this.

"I'm sorry," he murmured while misbehaving further and drawing him into a tight hug. "Not trying to be a tease. Go. I'll...settle down. Anyone asks I'm looking for...," he paused and looked at the shelving,  "...a candle?"

Fletch deflated a little and drew back. "No...you're right. You're right. I've got to hold it together. I'll be good. You do make it hard to be, though. Especially when you keep doing that. And when you're dressing for me."

He bit his lip again, then shook himself mentally. There was no sense in letting himself get worked up when they had a full day ahead of them. "N' I'll be fine. I'm bloody unstoppable today, love. Don't you worry about me. Now. You're about the color of your robe, so I'm going to leave first and let you get a handle on it. We can come back to this tonight. Yeah?"

He smacked Fletcher's chest lightly. "No, none of that. We are going to be good so that this can be a thing that continues instead of ending right here."

Still he leaned into Fletcher's touch like a man equally thirsty and needy. A deep blush flushed his cheeks once more as if the mere mention of it brought it right back to say hello.

"It's your cocky little smirk that does the same for me. I see it and I want—" Theo cut off abruptly, blushing deeper and looking quite bashful. "Nevermind. Are you going to be alright today?"

"No," Fletch smirked, breaths coming a little quicker now as his neck flushed hot. "Don't be better. Better's no fun. Be worse. Be greedier." He reached up and brushed Theo's hair back, caressing the man's cheek. Theo had said what he wanted. Fletch wouldn't push it, but... "I know now. I like it. And I meant what I said. Drives me wild when you blush. You're going to be the death of me. Like I'm starving and staring at a cake in a shop window."