"Are you saying I should give Tobin this present to distract him?" Celia blinked.
"Why not? If the boy's focused on a gift, he probably won't pay much attention to you, will he?"
She nodded in agreement. "No, my lord. You're right. He probably won't."
She felt a warm little glow over her heart.
The Moraigthian lord was willing to go out of his way and lie to provide her with a way to avoid her husband's anger. He was willing to divert Tobin's attention. Not for his own benefit but for hers.
It made Celia feel a tiny bit less alone in the world.
"Thank you, my lord. I don't know whether to admire or be concerned you weave falsehoods with such grace and ease."
"My lady, I'll let you in on a little secret. You'd be surprised how much of politics is simply twisting the truth, to keep your master's ego in check." The nobleman pressed the box of tea leaves into Celia's hands.