Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2015 21:14:20 GMT -5
He hadn't had a conversation like this with a lady in some time if ever, but the longer they talked, the more Reed decided he liked it, and her. If this was in fact Lady Maricela, and he was pretty sure about her identity now, then she had a refreshing way of speaking that was honest but clever and subtle, some thing most ladies could stand to learn. He did not like the coy flirtation-like manner so many women of their station used, thinking it enticed and charmed men. Then again, the Duke had to admit he was probably getting older and so he was also getting a little jaded too.
"Finding some-one who understands you could be a gift, if you believe their understanding is real," Reed was not sure if she was looking on him as some-one who did understand her, or was getting to do so. "That is important to you, I can see, and you deserve no less." His eyes met hers as he smiled gently.
The way the conversation went back and forth from serious to flirtatious was interesting to him. She was very clearly a lady of active, searching mind. Keeping up with her was a challenge for him but he liked it. There were not too many ladies outside of his family who could engage and challenging his mind like this. "My lady," he grinned at her, "There is nothing obvious about you, you don't need to worry, but I'll accept any hints you give. And am I that much less of a challenge? I could go back to making parts of it much harder if you want." He hadn't exactly hidden who he was, but he hadn't revealed much. Just enough to let her know who she was dealing with for certain.
With her hints, she confirmed who she was in his mind. Since Vasile was well-known to him as were many of the families who called the region home, that left Desmira or Nacimiento, and she did not look anything like a Desmiran woman. As for the secret ball, that intrigued him. "I will look forward to receiving the invitation. A select guest list, I assume?"
That was interesting indeed, but he laughed. "I will place myself at your disposal after the 19th, then. And tend to my business before then so I can be free. If that suits you?"
Maricela Sandoval