Avery turned around with Robert in her arms and was about to leave, when she heard Elliot coughing.

She immediately stopped on her track.

Elliot didn't cough all that often and would only do so when he was ill.

She strode to the stairs where Mrs. Scarlet was waiting and handed Robert to her, before turning around to head back into the study room. She strolled towards him and studied his flushed cheeks resulting from the constant coughing.

There was a strong emotion in the air that no one could label, but it felt like something would explode at the softest touch.

"Are you sick?" Avery asked and reached up to touch his forehead to test his temperature.

Elliot took a few steps back. "It's just a cold. I don't have a fever."

Avery closed in on him and asked, "did you ask me to take Robert away because you are sick and don't want him to catch it, not because you don't want to see him?"

He stared at her with dark, brooding eyes and answered honestly, "both. Who asked you here?"

"No