Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2016 16:17:19 GMT -5
While she had bathed she had hung her dress over the fireplace to dry it. It was a fine gown, stylish in its cut and length and the navy so dark next to the ivory so light that it seemed ocean-like in its appeal. It was not a new dress, rather it was one that Leona had made several months ago when she had first found out that a trip to the capital would be in her future. Of course, Sforza women had a tendency not to follow the fashions of the main lands and rather liked to create their own. Leona had inherited this genetic brilliance, and the gown flowed about her shape like water. The material was soft, and there was no big skirt made meringue like by several undercoats. No, the dress was slender, straight almost as it slid over bust and hips to the ground. Without the dankness of the rain, it moved more freely about her shape as she leant on the screen and finished towelling the edges of her hair.
He seemed surprised by her question and she gave a moment to consider this, finishing in her task and placing it over the dividing screen to dry as she stepped further into the room. She did not directly approach Liam, still rather cautious of being alone in an inn with him, but she was much calmer here and now than she had been the entirety of their meeting thus far. Angelically, her bare-feet traced across the floor and she came to stand beside the sofa where he sat. Her hair, in natural waves and curves still held a dampness and framed her face like fire, so bright against her pale skin.
”Of course you are, how silly of me.” She offered, chin tipping to the side a little to laugh at him.
Before she could answer his questions the door went, and silently, she remained stood at the edge of the seating area to watch his interaction. There was tension about him, that she was not sure she fully understood. And as he made gesture towards her, she gave a nod allowing the server to place the tray down and folded her arms about her back as she watched wearily the moment unfold. Her face was bruised, and here was a man paying more for a tip than may be necessary – rumours would circulate no doubt, but she did not wish to guess at what they might be. She had instructed the woman at the desk to allow her family to tend to her- and they both had red hair and green hewed eyes, it was plausible they were related.
The attendant was seen out, and she allowed the breath she was holding to escape. Then, Leona found the strength to move, and she came to the floor beside the low table. Kneeling, adjusting her skirt to do so, on the rug beside the hearth. It was warm, and soft, and the smell of the food was wonderful. Without asking his permission, or opinion, she took up the bowls and drew two portions of the stew from the pan. Serving him a larger portion, of course, she pushed it towards the opposite edge of the table from where she knelt and gestured for him to take it.
Then, breaking off some tender bread, she dipped into her own. Leona’s manner was mouse-like as she went about these moments. Timid, with small movements. It was how she was use to behaving, it was an automatic function set within her brain. She was not about to confuse Liam with her husband – the difference in them so broad – but it was a behaviour conditioned into her since she was sixteen years old.
It was not until she had tasted the small bite, smiled to herself for the taste was rich and wholesome, and finished her mouthful, that she offered conversation to him; ”Why were you chasing those men, the other day?” She wondered if he remembered the occasion of their first meeting, if he had realised her one in the same woman despite the vast difference in her actions. She had been aloof then, afraid and through fear cold. Today, there was no worse way he could have come upon her, and the thought of hiding the truth of her emotions from him as she had once before seemed foolish and now had become unnecessary. So, she finally asked what she had been wondering on the prior occasion and had been too defensive to free her curiosity.
”You remember, the one you brutally sanctioned for running into us?” A flicker of a smile brightened her shadowed face, but the twinkle of a tease in her eye unmistakable.
A bath really could work miracles.
~~
Liam Connell
He seemed surprised by her question and she gave a moment to consider this, finishing in her task and placing it over the dividing screen to dry as she stepped further into the room. She did not directly approach Liam, still rather cautious of being alone in an inn with him, but she was much calmer here and now than she had been the entirety of their meeting thus far. Angelically, her bare-feet traced across the floor and she came to stand beside the sofa where he sat. Her hair, in natural waves and curves still held a dampness and framed her face like fire, so bright against her pale skin.
”Of course you are, how silly of me.” She offered, chin tipping to the side a little to laugh at him.
Before she could answer his questions the door went, and silently, she remained stood at the edge of the seating area to watch his interaction. There was tension about him, that she was not sure she fully understood. And as he made gesture towards her, she gave a nod allowing the server to place the tray down and folded her arms about her back as she watched wearily the moment unfold. Her face was bruised, and here was a man paying more for a tip than may be necessary – rumours would circulate no doubt, but she did not wish to guess at what they might be. She had instructed the woman at the desk to allow her family to tend to her- and they both had red hair and green hewed eyes, it was plausible they were related.
The attendant was seen out, and she allowed the breath she was holding to escape. Then, Leona found the strength to move, and she came to the floor beside the low table. Kneeling, adjusting her skirt to do so, on the rug beside the hearth. It was warm, and soft, and the smell of the food was wonderful. Without asking his permission, or opinion, she took up the bowls and drew two portions of the stew from the pan. Serving him a larger portion, of course, she pushed it towards the opposite edge of the table from where she knelt and gestured for him to take it.
Then, breaking off some tender bread, she dipped into her own. Leona’s manner was mouse-like as she went about these moments. Timid, with small movements. It was how she was use to behaving, it was an automatic function set within her brain. She was not about to confuse Liam with her husband – the difference in them so broad – but it was a behaviour conditioned into her since she was sixteen years old.
It was not until she had tasted the small bite, smiled to herself for the taste was rich and wholesome, and finished her mouthful, that she offered conversation to him; ”Why were you chasing those men, the other day?” She wondered if he remembered the occasion of their first meeting, if he had realised her one in the same woman despite the vast difference in her actions. She had been aloof then, afraid and through fear cold. Today, there was no worse way he could have come upon her, and the thought of hiding the truth of her emotions from him as she had once before seemed foolish and now had become unnecessary. So, she finally asked what she had been wondering on the prior occasion and had been too defensive to free her curiosity.
”You remember, the one you brutally sanctioned for running into us?” A flicker of a smile brightened her shadowed face, but the twinkle of a tease in her eye unmistakable.
A bath really could work miracles.
~~
Liam Connell