Stanhope Brown picked up a plate of desserts from the servant's tray as he walked by, heading toward the child.
Stanhope stood beside the boy and handed him the plate of desserts.
The child had kept his head down, but when he suddenly saw the desserts in front of him, he looked up at the tall man standing next to him.
In the boy's eyes, the man...wore a tailored shirt, expensive dress pants pressed just right, and a belt perfectly highlighting the man's proportions. Tall and long-legged... impossibly perfect.
Stanhope held a cigarette in his other hand, smoke gently curling up from it. He looked tenderly at the little boy, who was dressed in obviously old clothes but was clean and tidy.
The little boy stared at Stanhope with his clear, black and white eyes, not saying a word... nor reaching for the desserts.
Stanhope took a drag from his cigarette and asked, "Don't you want to eat?"
The little boy still didn't say anything.