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At least the question made her smile, instead of sigh and look away wistfully into the distance. He was never quite sure what might make her do that. Thankfully, though, she answered the question without incident, though her answer did concern him a bit. Horses were the only steady thing? This was no fond reflection on her parents, that was for sure. Not for the first time did he think on what she was saying with both complete certainty that she knew what she was talking about, and a healthy dose of disbelief. He was slow to incriminate anyone, even if he might want to do so. Evidence. Whatever her parents’ faults, they’d definitely not done enough to prevent Evie’s feelings on the matter of her upbringing. So there was proof right there of at least some form of negligence.
They walked along while she outlined her reasons for liking the beasts so much. When she picked up a blade of grass, he looked back at their mounts. Both horses stood placidly in the shade, tails swishing, skin flinching every so often from the bite of a fly. He did not feel the same way about them as she did. He saw them for what they were; animals. They might have feelings. No one who’d worked with them could deny that, but he didn’t believe they cared for someone the way a person did. Their needs and wants were very simple and their love, by extension, was also simple. Humans were capable of atrocities to each other, it was true, but they were also capable of quite a bit more love than a horse would ever be.
“People are worth the headache,” he said and then held up his hand. “And before you willfully misunderstand me, I hear what you’re saying about the horses.” Reaching down, he skimmed his hands along the tops of the grass again. It almost felt like they were wading in a sea of green. “I feel that way when I hunt, sometimes. It’s much simpler to escape. I find peace in the early mornings, when no one’s awake. But then I come home and a meal is waiting, family is there at the table. We eat together and then separate.”
As he spoke, he realized that she’d be part of that, if the Fates allowed the marriage to actually take place. That was such a surreal thought. Life had gone on, unchanged for years. It would all be different, now. Very different. He was confident that they’d find their own rhythm to things and that life wouldn’t be too disrupted, but he just wasn’t sure in what form that would take. She’d basically promised trouble, earlier. Something to look forward to, he supposed.
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At least the question made her smile, instead of sigh and look away wistfully into the distance. He was never quite sure what might make her do that. Thankfully, though, she answered the question without incident, though her answer did concern him a bit. Horses were the only steady thing? This was no fond reflection on her parents, that was for sure. Not for the first time did he think on what she was saying with both complete certainty that she knew what she was talking about, and a healthy dose of disbelief. He was slow to incriminate anyone, even if he might want to do so. Evidence. Whatever her parents’ faults, they’d definitely not done enough to prevent Evie’s feelings on the matter of her upbringing. So there was proof right there of at least some form of negligence.
They walked along while she outlined her reasons for liking the beasts so much. When she picked up a blade of grass, he looked back at their mounts. Both horses stood placidly in the shade, tails swishing, skin flinching every so often from the bite of a fly. He did not feel the same way about them as she did. He saw them for what they were; animals. They might have feelings. No one who’d worked with them could deny that, but he didn’t believe they cared for someone the way a person did. Their needs and wants were very simple and their love, by extension, was also simple. Humans were capable of atrocities to each other, it was true, but they were also capable of quite a bit more love than a horse would ever be.
“People are worth the headache,” he said and then held up his hand. “And before you willfully misunderstand me, I hear what you’re saying about the horses.” Reaching down, he skimmed his hands along the tops of the grass again. It almost felt like they were wading in a sea of green. “I feel that way when I hunt, sometimes. It’s much simpler to escape. I find peace in the early mornings, when no one’s awake. But then I come home and a meal is waiting, family is there at the table. We eat together and then separate.”
As he spoke, he realized that she’d be part of that, if the Fates allowed the marriage to actually take place. That was such a surreal thought. Life had gone on, unchanged for years. It would all be different, now. Very different. He was confident that they’d find their own rhythm to things and that life wouldn’t be too disrupted, but he just wasn’t sure in what form that would take. She’d basically promised trouble, earlier. Something to look forward to, he supposed.
At least the question made her smile, instead of sigh and look away wistfully into the distance. He was never quite sure what might make her do that. Thankfully, though, she answered the question without incident, though her answer did concern him a bit. Horses were the only steady thing? This was no fond reflection on her parents, that was for sure. Not for the first time did he think on what she was saying with both complete certainty that she knew what she was talking about, and a healthy dose of disbelief. He was slow to incriminate anyone, even if he might want to do so. Evidence. Whatever her parents’ faults, they’d definitely not done enough to prevent Evie’s feelings on the matter of her upbringing. So there was proof right there of at least some form of negligence.
They walked along while she outlined her reasons for liking the beasts so much. When she picked up a blade of grass, he looked back at their mounts. Both horses stood placidly in the shade, tails swishing, skin flinching every so often from the bite of a fly. He did not feel the same way about them as she did. He saw them for what they were; animals. They might have feelings. No one who’d worked with them could deny that, but he didn’t believe they cared for someone the way a person did. Their needs and wants were very simple and their love, by extension, was also simple. Humans were capable of atrocities to each other, it was true, but they were also capable of quite a bit more love than a horse would ever be.
“People are worth the headache,” he said and then held up his hand. “And before you willfully misunderstand me, I hear what you’re saying about the horses.” Reaching down, he skimmed his hands along the tops of the grass again. It almost felt like they were wading in a sea of green. “I feel that way when I hunt, sometimes. It’s much simpler to escape. I find peace in the early mornings, when no one’s awake. But then I come home and a meal is waiting, family is there at the table. We eat together and then separate.”
As he spoke, he realized that she’d be part of that, if the Fates allowed the marriage to actually take place. That was such a surreal thought. Life had gone on, unchanged for years. It would all be different, now. Very different. He was confident that they’d find their own rhythm to things and that life wouldn’t be too disrupted, but he just wasn’t sure in what form that would take. She’d basically promised trouble, earlier. Something to look forward to, he supposed.
Evangelina laughed, twisting the blade of grass around her finger. Was she that transparent? She had never believed that she was, but maybe it was just with him? With her head still focused on the ground, she tilted it a little to look up at him from beneath her lashes. A small twisted smile forming on her lips, so he thought that people were worth the headache? She wasn’t nearly as positive as he was on that but she supposed he already knew that about her or he wouldn’t have said that.
He held up his hand to keep her from saying anything; although, the way her warm gaze settled on him was anything but abrasive. ‘And before you willfully misunderstand me, I hear what you’re saying about the horses.’
The loose chestnut curl fell forward again as her head dipped as she saved her smile for ground. Clearing her throat softly, “I don’t deliberately misunderstand you, you know,” She offered simply in reply. The strand of grass twirled around her finger before she untwirled it, only to repeat the action again. “You are very hard for me to read.” She found her eyes looking curiously back at him, “I don’t think I’ve ever met someone quite as self-contained… and I can’t tell if I am making you that reserved or if that is just you.” Her eyes dipped to the ground again as her eyebrows furrowed in thought.
“But I am rambling again, and for the record...I didn’t misunderstand what you were saying.” The softness had returned in her gaze as she stole a quick glance at him. Inhaling a slow breath before letting it out, “And I don’t disagree, mostly.” Catching the corner of her bottom lip between her teeth she chewed on it out of habit. Her parents loved her, in their own sort of ways… As to the men in her life, she didn’t have a vast amount of experience but what experience she’d had hadn’t left a very sweet taste in her mouth.
“You make your family sound so idyllic,” Evie continued, a wistfulness in her voice. “I am a little envious.” Her gaze dropped to the ground again in thought. At home, with her parents, there was comfort in the closeness of her family that was absent when she was in the city, but still compared to the tone of his voice as he spoke of his it made her wonder why his family was so different than her own.
She was quiet for a long moment before she glanced at him, her face a picture of sobriety, “I don’t suppose I’ve thought about it until this moment but your children…” She paused, uncertain of how to move forward with her words. “I won’t hold you to asking for my hand until you’ve spoken to them…” She’d dropped the blade of grass somewhere along this little stroll and now hand nothing to occupy her nervous hands. Reaching across under her breasts, she softly grasps her other arm just above her elbow. “I don’t know how I’d react to that news if I were in their position and I... just… I don’t want to be something you regret, for whatever reason, whether because you were expecting someone more like my cousins or because of the strain it placed between you and your children.” Offering a faint smile, “That’s not a burden I want to carry… or that I want you to carry. I don’t think it’s any way to start a marriage off.”
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Evangelina laughed, twisting the blade of grass around her finger. Was she that transparent? She had never believed that she was, but maybe it was just with him? With her head still focused on the ground, she tilted it a little to look up at him from beneath her lashes. A small twisted smile forming on her lips, so he thought that people were worth the headache? She wasn’t nearly as positive as he was on that but she supposed he already knew that about her or he wouldn’t have said that.
He held up his hand to keep her from saying anything; although, the way her warm gaze settled on him was anything but abrasive. ‘And before you willfully misunderstand me, I hear what you’re saying about the horses.’
The loose chestnut curl fell forward again as her head dipped as she saved her smile for ground. Clearing her throat softly, “I don’t deliberately misunderstand you, you know,” She offered simply in reply. The strand of grass twirled around her finger before she untwirled it, only to repeat the action again. “You are very hard for me to read.” She found her eyes looking curiously back at him, “I don’t think I’ve ever met someone quite as self-contained… and I can’t tell if I am making you that reserved or if that is just you.” Her eyes dipped to the ground again as her eyebrows furrowed in thought.
“But I am rambling again, and for the record...I didn’t misunderstand what you were saying.” The softness had returned in her gaze as she stole a quick glance at him. Inhaling a slow breath before letting it out, “And I don’t disagree, mostly.” Catching the corner of her bottom lip between her teeth she chewed on it out of habit. Her parents loved her, in their own sort of ways… As to the men in her life, she didn’t have a vast amount of experience but what experience she’d had hadn’t left a very sweet taste in her mouth.
“You make your family sound so idyllic,” Evie continued, a wistfulness in her voice. “I am a little envious.” Her gaze dropped to the ground again in thought. At home, with her parents, there was comfort in the closeness of her family that was absent when she was in the city, but still compared to the tone of his voice as he spoke of his it made her wonder why his family was so different than her own.
She was quiet for a long moment before she glanced at him, her face a picture of sobriety, “I don’t suppose I’ve thought about it until this moment but your children…” She paused, uncertain of how to move forward with her words. “I won’t hold you to asking for my hand until you’ve spoken to them…” She’d dropped the blade of grass somewhere along this little stroll and now hand nothing to occupy her nervous hands. Reaching across under her breasts, she softly grasps her other arm just above her elbow. “I don’t know how I’d react to that news if I were in their position and I... just… I don’t want to be something you regret, for whatever reason, whether because you were expecting someone more like my cousins or because of the strain it placed between you and your children.” Offering a faint smile, “That’s not a burden I want to carry… or that I want you to carry. I don’t think it’s any way to start a marriage off.”
Evangelina laughed, twisting the blade of grass around her finger. Was she that transparent? She had never believed that she was, but maybe it was just with him? With her head still focused on the ground, she tilted it a little to look up at him from beneath her lashes. A small twisted smile forming on her lips, so he thought that people were worth the headache? She wasn’t nearly as positive as he was on that but she supposed he already knew that about her or he wouldn’t have said that.
He held up his hand to keep her from saying anything; although, the way her warm gaze settled on him was anything but abrasive. ‘And before you willfully misunderstand me, I hear what you’re saying about the horses.’
The loose chestnut curl fell forward again as her head dipped as she saved her smile for ground. Clearing her throat softly, “I don’t deliberately misunderstand you, you know,” She offered simply in reply. The strand of grass twirled around her finger before she untwirled it, only to repeat the action again. “You are very hard for me to read.” She found her eyes looking curiously back at him, “I don’t think I’ve ever met someone quite as self-contained… and I can’t tell if I am making you that reserved or if that is just you.” Her eyes dipped to the ground again as her eyebrows furrowed in thought.
“But I am rambling again, and for the record...I didn’t misunderstand what you were saying.” The softness had returned in her gaze as she stole a quick glance at him. Inhaling a slow breath before letting it out, “And I don’t disagree, mostly.” Catching the corner of her bottom lip between her teeth she chewed on it out of habit. Her parents loved her, in their own sort of ways… As to the men in her life, she didn’t have a vast amount of experience but what experience she’d had hadn’t left a very sweet taste in her mouth.
“You make your family sound so idyllic,” Evie continued, a wistfulness in her voice. “I am a little envious.” Her gaze dropped to the ground again in thought. At home, with her parents, there was comfort in the closeness of her family that was absent when she was in the city, but still compared to the tone of his voice as he spoke of his it made her wonder why his family was so different than her own.
She was quiet for a long moment before she glanced at him, her face a picture of sobriety, “I don’t suppose I’ve thought about it until this moment but your children…” She paused, uncertain of how to move forward with her words. “I won’t hold you to asking for my hand until you’ve spoken to them…” She’d dropped the blade of grass somewhere along this little stroll and now hand nothing to occupy her nervous hands. Reaching across under her breasts, she softly grasps her other arm just above her elbow. “I don’t know how I’d react to that news if I were in their position and I... just… I don’t want to be something you regret, for whatever reason, whether because you were expecting someone more like my cousins or because of the strain it placed between you and your children.” Offering a faint smile, “That’s not a burden I want to carry… or that I want you to carry. I don’t think it’s any way to start a marriage off.”
“I don’t deliberately misunderstand you, you know. You are very hard for me to read.”
He made a ‘hmm’ sound but didn’t disagree. His nature kept him calm and quiet, most of the time. The thoughts displayed by others - they didn’t seem to realize or care that one didn’t need to read minds in order to understand what went on in their head. Most other people’s emotions flitted across their face with such ease, as though they wanted to communicate that way. Which he did not. He didn’t want other people to invade his space like that.
“I don’t think I’ve ever met someone quite as self-contained… and I can’t tell if I am making you that reserved or if that is just you.”
“It’s me,” he clasped his hands behind his back as he passed a tall thistle stalk. “Still waters,” he quoted, to let her know that he did actually have thoughts. His eyes turned to her as she rambled on about rambling. The conversation then turned to family and a winsome smile crossed her features.
“I think so,” he agreed. “We’re not perfect but I think family is the most important thing in the world.” As much as he’d have liked to say he’d put king and country ahead of his own kin, that simply wasn’t true. He’d thankfully never had to make that impossible choice and hopefully never would.
“You’ll be there,” he pointed out. “No envy required.” That appeared to lead her to something he had thought about but hadn’t felt the need to speak to them first before he got her answer. How would they react? Iason would not be at home. He and Persephone would live at Iason’s own estate. As for his daughters, it was a bit drastic but if this was a nudge in the right direction for them to seek out prospective husbands...well? He could absolutely live with that.
Evangelina, it seemed, could not. She was right, of course, and he nodded.
“I will speak with them, then.” She was being so sweet and giving off so many reasons not to get married that if he didn’t know better, he’d have assumed she didn’t want to. “They will be fine.” What he felt he could depend on was for his children to trust his judgement and for their desire for him to be free to do as he pleased, just as they were. He felt he’d done them the service of not replacing their mother and hand’t ever met a woman he felt would aid them and add to his happiness when they were younger. Now that they were grown and had no need of a mother figure, he felt his marriage options were rather more open, rather than closed.
Iason and Dorothea were level headed, while Alexa was sweet. She, more than the other two, might benefit from Evangelina’s presence. Gavriil was hoping that the young woman walking beside him might be a sort of guiding light in how life might be lived without a bow and arrow constantly in hand. She would be more of a friend for Alexa, rather than a parent. That was the idea, anyway. He’d thought all of this out carefully, had considered his children’s feelings, but more had consulted his own wants. They were near enough adults that they did not depend on him for everything. They would be alright, whatever he chose to do - remain single for the rest of his days, or, marry her.
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“I don’t deliberately misunderstand you, you know. You are very hard for me to read.”
He made a ‘hmm’ sound but didn’t disagree. His nature kept him calm and quiet, most of the time. The thoughts displayed by others - they didn’t seem to realize or care that one didn’t need to read minds in order to understand what went on in their head. Most other people’s emotions flitted across their face with such ease, as though they wanted to communicate that way. Which he did not. He didn’t want other people to invade his space like that.
“I don’t think I’ve ever met someone quite as self-contained… and I can’t tell if I am making you that reserved or if that is just you.”
“It’s me,” he clasped his hands behind his back as he passed a tall thistle stalk. “Still waters,” he quoted, to let her know that he did actually have thoughts. His eyes turned to her as she rambled on about rambling. The conversation then turned to family and a winsome smile crossed her features.
“I think so,” he agreed. “We’re not perfect but I think family is the most important thing in the world.” As much as he’d have liked to say he’d put king and country ahead of his own kin, that simply wasn’t true. He’d thankfully never had to make that impossible choice and hopefully never would.
“You’ll be there,” he pointed out. “No envy required.” That appeared to lead her to something he had thought about but hadn’t felt the need to speak to them first before he got her answer. How would they react? Iason would not be at home. He and Persephone would live at Iason’s own estate. As for his daughters, it was a bit drastic but if this was a nudge in the right direction for them to seek out prospective husbands...well? He could absolutely live with that.
Evangelina, it seemed, could not. She was right, of course, and he nodded.
“I will speak with them, then.” She was being so sweet and giving off so many reasons not to get married that if he didn’t know better, he’d have assumed she didn’t want to. “They will be fine.” What he felt he could depend on was for his children to trust his judgement and for their desire for him to be free to do as he pleased, just as they were. He felt he’d done them the service of not replacing their mother and hand’t ever met a woman he felt would aid them and add to his happiness when they were younger. Now that they were grown and had no need of a mother figure, he felt his marriage options were rather more open, rather than closed.
Iason and Dorothea were level headed, while Alexa was sweet. She, more than the other two, might benefit from Evangelina’s presence. Gavriil was hoping that the young woman walking beside him might be a sort of guiding light in how life might be lived without a bow and arrow constantly in hand. She would be more of a friend for Alexa, rather than a parent. That was the idea, anyway. He’d thought all of this out carefully, had considered his children’s feelings, but more had consulted his own wants. They were near enough adults that they did not depend on him for everything. They would be alright, whatever he chose to do - remain single for the rest of his days, or, marry her.
“I don’t deliberately misunderstand you, you know. You are very hard for me to read.”
He made a ‘hmm’ sound but didn’t disagree. His nature kept him calm and quiet, most of the time. The thoughts displayed by others - they didn’t seem to realize or care that one didn’t need to read minds in order to understand what went on in their head. Most other people’s emotions flitted across their face with such ease, as though they wanted to communicate that way. Which he did not. He didn’t want other people to invade his space like that.
“I don’t think I’ve ever met someone quite as self-contained… and I can’t tell if I am making you that reserved or if that is just you.”
“It’s me,” he clasped his hands behind his back as he passed a tall thistle stalk. “Still waters,” he quoted, to let her know that he did actually have thoughts. His eyes turned to her as she rambled on about rambling. The conversation then turned to family and a winsome smile crossed her features.
“I think so,” he agreed. “We’re not perfect but I think family is the most important thing in the world.” As much as he’d have liked to say he’d put king and country ahead of his own kin, that simply wasn’t true. He’d thankfully never had to make that impossible choice and hopefully never would.
“You’ll be there,” he pointed out. “No envy required.” That appeared to lead her to something he had thought about but hadn’t felt the need to speak to them first before he got her answer. How would they react? Iason would not be at home. He and Persephone would live at Iason’s own estate. As for his daughters, it was a bit drastic but if this was a nudge in the right direction for them to seek out prospective husbands...well? He could absolutely live with that.
Evangelina, it seemed, could not. She was right, of course, and he nodded.
“I will speak with them, then.” She was being so sweet and giving off so many reasons not to get married that if he didn’t know better, he’d have assumed she didn’t want to. “They will be fine.” What he felt he could depend on was for his children to trust his judgement and for their desire for him to be free to do as he pleased, just as they were. He felt he’d done them the service of not replacing their mother and hand’t ever met a woman he felt would aid them and add to his happiness when they were younger. Now that they were grown and had no need of a mother figure, he felt his marriage options were rather more open, rather than closed.
Iason and Dorothea were level headed, while Alexa was sweet. She, more than the other two, might benefit from Evangelina’s presence. Gavriil was hoping that the young woman walking beside him might be a sort of guiding light in how life might be lived without a bow and arrow constantly in hand. She would be more of a friend for Alexa, rather than a parent. That was the idea, anyway. He’d thought all of this out carefully, had considered his children’s feelings, but more had consulted his own wants. They were near enough adults that they did not depend on him for everything. They would be alright, whatever he chose to do - remain single for the rest of his days, or, marry her.
She almost smiled at the deep, throaty, low hum that he’d admitted as a reply. It was like a warm cup of tea on a brisk, almost frosty morning. There was something pleasant and comfortable about that sound. But it wasn’t just the sounds he made or the earthy scent of him, it was all of him… being around him was like going barefoot after a long night of being stuck in shoes that were just a little too tight. It was proving to be very difficult to keep herself from stepping into his space and pressing herself against him like a cat wanting someone to reach down and pet them. So she rattled…
‘It’s me.’ Her dark eyes darted a look over to him. She’d said more than she’d meant to but at least he didn’t seem to mind it. ‘Still waters.’ That caught her a little by surprise. Still waters softly concealed hidden depths and different nature then what lay at the top. So… there was more to him under the surface.
“I’ll buy that,” As she nodded head softly in understanding.
Evangelina, on the other hand, had a terrible tendency to overwhelm people with information. Some of it was meaningful to her, but most of it was filler. She was like one of those deers that bounced back and forth and back again when a predator was after them, determined to distract them from her escape. If you threw out enough information to a person, they didn’t usually try and delve too deeply into the things that she regarded as private.
As the topic evolved over into discussing family, and particularly his family, Evangelina listened to the change of tone in his voice and the softness that grew as he spoke of his thoughts regarding family. They were his priority. She smiled softly smiled in a secretive manner as she looked to the ground again. They were her priority too. So this was something… it was a very large block to build upon for them. There was some common ground there after all.
‘You’ll be there. No envy required.’
Her teeth captured her bottom lip again absentmindedly. She would be there, wouldn’t she? The pint-sized Leventi had always been good with most children but Gavriil’s children weren't little children, in fact, Iason and Dorothea she was pretty sure were older than she was and his youngest daughter wasn’t far behind her. If they were anything like he was, they were the sort of people who became set in a routine. A way things simply were for no other reason than that was the way they’d been for so long. How would they feel with a change to that routine? She really didn’t want to be hated among them. After a moment he agreed to speak to them and she glanced his way again, he sounded so sure about them being fine with the addition of her to their small family. Resigning to letting him sort out his children, she dropped the subject. She would trust him to make sure both his children and her were comfortable with one another. If anyone could do that, it was Gavriil.
After a few moments of silence, her fingers snapped another golden strand of grass to play with. Tilting her head, the look on her face was a little perplexed but her voice quiet, “Do you mind if I ask just one more question?” Pausing only briefly before she spat the question out, “What made you change your mind?”
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She almost smiled at the deep, throaty, low hum that he’d admitted as a reply. It was like a warm cup of tea on a brisk, almost frosty morning. There was something pleasant and comfortable about that sound. But it wasn’t just the sounds he made or the earthy scent of him, it was all of him… being around him was like going barefoot after a long night of being stuck in shoes that were just a little too tight. It was proving to be very difficult to keep herself from stepping into his space and pressing herself against him like a cat wanting someone to reach down and pet them. So she rattled…
‘It’s me.’ Her dark eyes darted a look over to him. She’d said more than she’d meant to but at least he didn’t seem to mind it. ‘Still waters.’ That caught her a little by surprise. Still waters softly concealed hidden depths and different nature then what lay at the top. So… there was more to him under the surface.
“I’ll buy that,” As she nodded head softly in understanding.
Evangelina, on the other hand, had a terrible tendency to overwhelm people with information. Some of it was meaningful to her, but most of it was filler. She was like one of those deers that bounced back and forth and back again when a predator was after them, determined to distract them from her escape. If you threw out enough information to a person, they didn’t usually try and delve too deeply into the things that she regarded as private.
As the topic evolved over into discussing family, and particularly his family, Evangelina listened to the change of tone in his voice and the softness that grew as he spoke of his thoughts regarding family. They were his priority. She smiled softly smiled in a secretive manner as she looked to the ground again. They were her priority too. So this was something… it was a very large block to build upon for them. There was some common ground there after all.
‘You’ll be there. No envy required.’
Her teeth captured her bottom lip again absentmindedly. She would be there, wouldn’t she? The pint-sized Leventi had always been good with most children but Gavriil’s children weren't little children, in fact, Iason and Dorothea she was pretty sure were older than she was and his youngest daughter wasn’t far behind her. If they were anything like he was, they were the sort of people who became set in a routine. A way things simply were for no other reason than that was the way they’d been for so long. How would they feel with a change to that routine? She really didn’t want to be hated among them. After a moment he agreed to speak to them and she glanced his way again, he sounded so sure about them being fine with the addition of her to their small family. Resigning to letting him sort out his children, she dropped the subject. She would trust him to make sure both his children and her were comfortable with one another. If anyone could do that, it was Gavriil.
After a few moments of silence, her fingers snapped another golden strand of grass to play with. Tilting her head, the look on her face was a little perplexed but her voice quiet, “Do you mind if I ask just one more question?” Pausing only briefly before she spat the question out, “What made you change your mind?”
She almost smiled at the deep, throaty, low hum that he’d admitted as a reply. It was like a warm cup of tea on a brisk, almost frosty morning. There was something pleasant and comfortable about that sound. But it wasn’t just the sounds he made or the earthy scent of him, it was all of him… being around him was like going barefoot after a long night of being stuck in shoes that were just a little too tight. It was proving to be very difficult to keep herself from stepping into his space and pressing herself against him like a cat wanting someone to reach down and pet them. So she rattled…
‘It’s me.’ Her dark eyes darted a look over to him. She’d said more than she’d meant to but at least he didn’t seem to mind it. ‘Still waters.’ That caught her a little by surprise. Still waters softly concealed hidden depths and different nature then what lay at the top. So… there was more to him under the surface.
“I’ll buy that,” As she nodded head softly in understanding.
Evangelina, on the other hand, had a terrible tendency to overwhelm people with information. Some of it was meaningful to her, but most of it was filler. She was like one of those deers that bounced back and forth and back again when a predator was after them, determined to distract them from her escape. If you threw out enough information to a person, they didn’t usually try and delve too deeply into the things that she regarded as private.
As the topic evolved over into discussing family, and particularly his family, Evangelina listened to the change of tone in his voice and the softness that grew as he spoke of his thoughts regarding family. They were his priority. She smiled softly smiled in a secretive manner as she looked to the ground again. They were her priority too. So this was something… it was a very large block to build upon for them. There was some common ground there after all.
‘You’ll be there. No envy required.’
Her teeth captured her bottom lip again absentmindedly. She would be there, wouldn’t she? The pint-sized Leventi had always been good with most children but Gavriil’s children weren't little children, in fact, Iason and Dorothea she was pretty sure were older than she was and his youngest daughter wasn’t far behind her. If they were anything like he was, they were the sort of people who became set in a routine. A way things simply were for no other reason than that was the way they’d been for so long. How would they feel with a change to that routine? She really didn’t want to be hated among them. After a moment he agreed to speak to them and she glanced his way again, he sounded so sure about them being fine with the addition of her to their small family. Resigning to letting him sort out his children, she dropped the subject. She would trust him to make sure both his children and her were comfortable with one another. If anyone could do that, it was Gavriil.
After a few moments of silence, her fingers snapped another golden strand of grass to play with. Tilting her head, the look on her face was a little perplexed but her voice quiet, “Do you mind if I ask just one more question?” Pausing only briefly before she spat the question out, “What made you change your mind?”
“Do you mind if I ask just one more question? What made you change your mind?”
Her question was a normal one. One he’d expected and assumed she’d ask. That didn’t make it any easier to answer. Probably he should have had some huge, romantic answer ready. Some lie that, since they’d met, he couldn’t live without her, or maybe a more gallant one. That she was enchanting and too hard to resist. Or, maybe a coy answer would suffice for her. ‘Why not?’
The real answer was more simple and sounded a little selfish to his own ears. “You indicated you wanted to and I think you would improve my life, rather than detract from it.”
He did not believe in love at first sight, but he did believe in attraction at first sight. She was pretty but not the heart stoppingly beautiful kind of girl that people called ‘blessed’, like her cousins. They were sweet girls, he was sure, but he never found any of them particularly interesting to talk to and mostly he avoided them around court if he could. Her appearance was lovely enough too, but not where his interest primarily rested. He was more attracted to her energy and exuberance. The way she seemed to feel things with her whole being and the light behind her eyes because of it.
All of that was difficult to put into words, but for her, he tried. None of it came out eloquently and he chose not to look at her while he spoke. He’d never had to woo his deceased wife. She was a farmer’s daughter and quiet in her own way. Pretty, yes, but simple in wants and desires. There just wasn’t a lot of speaking for conversation’s sake.
“And,” he finished from all that. “I had hoped to improve your life, by the same token.” Now here, he did look over, partially to see if she was going to tell him ‘I see. Bye.’ and that would be the end of that.
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“Do you mind if I ask just one more question? What made you change your mind?”
Her question was a normal one. One he’d expected and assumed she’d ask. That didn’t make it any easier to answer. Probably he should have had some huge, romantic answer ready. Some lie that, since they’d met, he couldn’t live without her, or maybe a more gallant one. That she was enchanting and too hard to resist. Or, maybe a coy answer would suffice for her. ‘Why not?’
The real answer was more simple and sounded a little selfish to his own ears. “You indicated you wanted to and I think you would improve my life, rather than detract from it.”
He did not believe in love at first sight, but he did believe in attraction at first sight. She was pretty but not the heart stoppingly beautiful kind of girl that people called ‘blessed’, like her cousins. They were sweet girls, he was sure, but he never found any of them particularly interesting to talk to and mostly he avoided them around court if he could. Her appearance was lovely enough too, but not where his interest primarily rested. He was more attracted to her energy and exuberance. The way she seemed to feel things with her whole being and the light behind her eyes because of it.
All of that was difficult to put into words, but for her, he tried. None of it came out eloquently and he chose not to look at her while he spoke. He’d never had to woo his deceased wife. She was a farmer’s daughter and quiet in her own way. Pretty, yes, but simple in wants and desires. There just wasn’t a lot of speaking for conversation’s sake.
“And,” he finished from all that. “I had hoped to improve your life, by the same token.” Now here, he did look over, partially to see if she was going to tell him ‘I see. Bye.’ and that would be the end of that.
“Do you mind if I ask just one more question? What made you change your mind?”
Her question was a normal one. One he’d expected and assumed she’d ask. That didn’t make it any easier to answer. Probably he should have had some huge, romantic answer ready. Some lie that, since they’d met, he couldn’t live without her, or maybe a more gallant one. That she was enchanting and too hard to resist. Or, maybe a coy answer would suffice for her. ‘Why not?’
The real answer was more simple and sounded a little selfish to his own ears. “You indicated you wanted to and I think you would improve my life, rather than detract from it.”
He did not believe in love at first sight, but he did believe in attraction at first sight. She was pretty but not the heart stoppingly beautiful kind of girl that people called ‘blessed’, like her cousins. They were sweet girls, he was sure, but he never found any of them particularly interesting to talk to and mostly he avoided them around court if he could. Her appearance was lovely enough too, but not where his interest primarily rested. He was more attracted to her energy and exuberance. The way she seemed to feel things with her whole being and the light behind her eyes because of it.
All of that was difficult to put into words, but for her, he tried. None of it came out eloquently and he chose not to look at her while he spoke. He’d never had to woo his deceased wife. She was a farmer’s daughter and quiet in her own way. Pretty, yes, but simple in wants and desires. There just wasn’t a lot of speaking for conversation’s sake.
“And,” he finished from all that. “I had hoped to improve your life, by the same token.” Now here, he did look over, partially to see if she was going to tell him ‘I see. Bye.’ and that would be the end of that.
It had never been a part of Evangelina’s plan to cause him discomfort with her curious question; if anything the little Leventi realized she should have been simply thankful he had changed his mind. She would never have presumed he’d confess having fallen maddeningly, blindingly in love with her. Nor would she have expected him to answer her with something coy and flirtatious. The short amount of experience she’d had with him so far proved that Gavriil was a practical man, a practical man with principles.
Evangelina bit her lip, tilting her head to study him as he walked beside her answering in his usual stoic tone. ‘You indicated you wanted to and I think you would improve my life, rather than detract from it.’
His brutally honest answer didn’t startle her in the least. She held her warm earthy gaze on him for a few moments longer before she looked forward to the open, softly rolling plains of the meadow. She had every intention of making it a top priority to improve his life rather than detract from it.
It was like a string connected to her was held in his hands and as his gaze glanced at her it tugged on her. Her tongue peeked out and brushed across her bottom lip, wetting it before she slowly looked back over at him.
‘And, I had hoped to improve your life, by the same token.’
Would it have been awkward for her to have told him his offered friendship had been enough to improve her life? She smiled secretively and dropped her dark eyes back to the ground. Perhaps she wasn’t in love with him yet either but she knew enough to know that she could love him. Granted, she wondered if he could ever love her but that was something that wouldn’t have been guaranteed with anyone she’d married. Time would only tell for the two of them. A small sigh escaped and she tilted her head offering him a softer dimpled smile as her hand came up to gently touch his bicep indicating she wished he’d pause in their stroll.
Leaning her head back she looked up at him, “Then we shall endeavor to improve each other’s lives each day.” She caught the corner of her lip with her teeth as she worked up the courage to tell him the rest of what she wanted to tell him. Evangelina’s gaze dropped to his neck. It was easier to focus somewhere else. “I don’t want a marriage in just name, Gavriil. I...” How was it that she suddenly didn’t really know how to ask for what she was asking for. She felt the heat starting to rush to up her neck to her face.
She tried to shake off the feelings of the embarrassment of discussing the intimacies of marriage. Forcing her gaze bravely up to his, she steeled her voice trying unsuccessfully to hide the tiny waver in it. “I want a partnership. A fondness… I want to be someone special to you. I want to climb into a warm bed with you at the end of a long day.” Her lips pursed and she swallowed a sigh, “I don’t want either of us to have conflicting ideas of what we expect of the other. I don’t want to disappoint you.”
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It had never been a part of Evangelina’s plan to cause him discomfort with her curious question; if anything the little Leventi realized she should have been simply thankful he had changed his mind. She would never have presumed he’d confess having fallen maddeningly, blindingly in love with her. Nor would she have expected him to answer her with something coy and flirtatious. The short amount of experience she’d had with him so far proved that Gavriil was a practical man, a practical man with principles.
Evangelina bit her lip, tilting her head to study him as he walked beside her answering in his usual stoic tone. ‘You indicated you wanted to and I think you would improve my life, rather than detract from it.’
His brutally honest answer didn’t startle her in the least. She held her warm earthy gaze on him for a few moments longer before she looked forward to the open, softly rolling plains of the meadow. She had every intention of making it a top priority to improve his life rather than detract from it.
It was like a string connected to her was held in his hands and as his gaze glanced at her it tugged on her. Her tongue peeked out and brushed across her bottom lip, wetting it before she slowly looked back over at him.
‘And, I had hoped to improve your life, by the same token.’
Would it have been awkward for her to have told him his offered friendship had been enough to improve her life? She smiled secretively and dropped her dark eyes back to the ground. Perhaps she wasn’t in love with him yet either but she knew enough to know that she could love him. Granted, she wondered if he could ever love her but that was something that wouldn’t have been guaranteed with anyone she’d married. Time would only tell for the two of them. A small sigh escaped and she tilted her head offering him a softer dimpled smile as her hand came up to gently touch his bicep indicating she wished he’d pause in their stroll.
Leaning her head back she looked up at him, “Then we shall endeavor to improve each other’s lives each day.” She caught the corner of her lip with her teeth as she worked up the courage to tell him the rest of what she wanted to tell him. Evangelina’s gaze dropped to his neck. It was easier to focus somewhere else. “I don’t want a marriage in just name, Gavriil. I...” How was it that she suddenly didn’t really know how to ask for what she was asking for. She felt the heat starting to rush to up her neck to her face.
She tried to shake off the feelings of the embarrassment of discussing the intimacies of marriage. Forcing her gaze bravely up to his, she steeled her voice trying unsuccessfully to hide the tiny waver in it. “I want a partnership. A fondness… I want to be someone special to you. I want to climb into a warm bed with you at the end of a long day.” Her lips pursed and she swallowed a sigh, “I don’t want either of us to have conflicting ideas of what we expect of the other. I don’t want to disappoint you.”
It had never been a part of Evangelina’s plan to cause him discomfort with her curious question; if anything the little Leventi realized she should have been simply thankful he had changed his mind. She would never have presumed he’d confess having fallen maddeningly, blindingly in love with her. Nor would she have expected him to answer her with something coy and flirtatious. The short amount of experience she’d had with him so far proved that Gavriil was a practical man, a practical man with principles.
Evangelina bit her lip, tilting her head to study him as he walked beside her answering in his usual stoic tone. ‘You indicated you wanted to and I think you would improve my life, rather than detract from it.’
His brutally honest answer didn’t startle her in the least. She held her warm earthy gaze on him for a few moments longer before she looked forward to the open, softly rolling plains of the meadow. She had every intention of making it a top priority to improve his life rather than detract from it.
It was like a string connected to her was held in his hands and as his gaze glanced at her it tugged on her. Her tongue peeked out and brushed across her bottom lip, wetting it before she slowly looked back over at him.
‘And, I had hoped to improve your life, by the same token.’
Would it have been awkward for her to have told him his offered friendship had been enough to improve her life? She smiled secretively and dropped her dark eyes back to the ground. Perhaps she wasn’t in love with him yet either but she knew enough to know that she could love him. Granted, she wondered if he could ever love her but that was something that wouldn’t have been guaranteed with anyone she’d married. Time would only tell for the two of them. A small sigh escaped and she tilted her head offering him a softer dimpled smile as her hand came up to gently touch his bicep indicating she wished he’d pause in their stroll.
Leaning her head back she looked up at him, “Then we shall endeavor to improve each other’s lives each day.” She caught the corner of her lip with her teeth as she worked up the courage to tell him the rest of what she wanted to tell him. Evangelina’s gaze dropped to his neck. It was easier to focus somewhere else. “I don’t want a marriage in just name, Gavriil. I...” How was it that she suddenly didn’t really know how to ask for what she was asking for. She felt the heat starting to rush to up her neck to her face.
She tried to shake off the feelings of the embarrassment of discussing the intimacies of marriage. Forcing her gaze bravely up to his, she steeled her voice trying unsuccessfully to hide the tiny waver in it. “I want a partnership. A fondness… I want to be someone special to you. I want to climb into a warm bed with you at the end of a long day.” Her lips pursed and she swallowed a sigh, “I don’t want either of us to have conflicting ideas of what we expect of the other. I don’t want to disappoint you.”
The field they were walking in was connected to the same one that had concealed the Creed’s hideout a month or so earlier. Off in the distance, quite a trek from where they stood, the burned out remains of the chasm the cult had used began to rise up and join a formation that was too small to be a mountain and definitely too tall to be a hill. If they rode their horses at a relaxed pace, they could reach there in an hour or two, perhaps less. He had no intention of walking that far, but he did wonder how far she wanted to walk and when she silently asked him to pause, he assumed it was because she was about to tell him they should turn back.
“Then we shall endeavor to improve each other’s lives each day,” she said instead and he nodded, giving a final glance to the Creed’s hideout. Hopefully he’d never have to go there again. When he looked back at her, it was clear she had something else she wanted to say and he clasped his hands behind his back, waiting for her to speak. She bit her lip and he wondered what could possibly worry her so, that she’d be this nervous.
“I don’t want a marriage in just name, Gavriil. I...” she paused and he noted that she’d already dropped his title. Whatever she was about to say must be good because the blush that crept up her neck and into her cheeks promised something interesting, at the very least. “I want a partnership. A fondness… I want to be someone special to you. I want to climb into a warm bed with you at the end of a long day.”
He didn’t quite know if she was done yet, and the sigh that escaped her suggested she wasn’t, so he held off on saying anything until she finished in a rush. “I don’t want either of us to have conflicting ideas of what we expect of the other. I don’t want to disappoint you.”
“Into who else’s bed would you climb?” he asked after a moment. “Do not fear. I am capable of all of those things,” he assured her. “I just appear to have a hard shell.” Or maybe he really did have armor under his skin. Who knew? Not much bothered him and he’d been accused by more than one person of being unfeeling. However, in this case, he knew it wouldn’t be a concern. She appeared to have her priorities in the correct place and he had zero doubt that they would have a good partnership.
“Our ideas are in complete alignment,” he further assured her and gestured back the way they’d come. They didn’t necessarily need to part yet, but they’d wandered pretty far from the horses. Not that he couldn’t shoot a horse thief from here, if necessary. That just wasn’t on his list of activities for the day.
“I will warn you that Maganea doesn’t boast the city that Vasiliadon is,” he said as they walked. “It’s woods and farmland and some rougher towns.”
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The field they were walking in was connected to the same one that had concealed the Creed’s hideout a month or so earlier. Off in the distance, quite a trek from where they stood, the burned out remains of the chasm the cult had used began to rise up and join a formation that was too small to be a mountain and definitely too tall to be a hill. If they rode their horses at a relaxed pace, they could reach there in an hour or two, perhaps less. He had no intention of walking that far, but he did wonder how far she wanted to walk and when she silently asked him to pause, he assumed it was because she was about to tell him they should turn back.
“Then we shall endeavor to improve each other’s lives each day,” she said instead and he nodded, giving a final glance to the Creed’s hideout. Hopefully he’d never have to go there again. When he looked back at her, it was clear she had something else she wanted to say and he clasped his hands behind his back, waiting for her to speak. She bit her lip and he wondered what could possibly worry her so, that she’d be this nervous.
“I don’t want a marriage in just name, Gavriil. I...” she paused and he noted that she’d already dropped his title. Whatever she was about to say must be good because the blush that crept up her neck and into her cheeks promised something interesting, at the very least. “I want a partnership. A fondness… I want to be someone special to you. I want to climb into a warm bed with you at the end of a long day.”
He didn’t quite know if she was done yet, and the sigh that escaped her suggested she wasn’t, so he held off on saying anything until she finished in a rush. “I don’t want either of us to have conflicting ideas of what we expect of the other. I don’t want to disappoint you.”
“Into who else’s bed would you climb?” he asked after a moment. “Do not fear. I am capable of all of those things,” he assured her. “I just appear to have a hard shell.” Or maybe he really did have armor under his skin. Who knew? Not much bothered him and he’d been accused by more than one person of being unfeeling. However, in this case, he knew it wouldn’t be a concern. She appeared to have her priorities in the correct place and he had zero doubt that they would have a good partnership.
“Our ideas are in complete alignment,” he further assured her and gestured back the way they’d come. They didn’t necessarily need to part yet, but they’d wandered pretty far from the horses. Not that he couldn’t shoot a horse thief from here, if necessary. That just wasn’t on his list of activities for the day.
“I will warn you that Maganea doesn’t boast the city that Vasiliadon is,” he said as they walked. “It’s woods and farmland and some rougher towns.”
The field they were walking in was connected to the same one that had concealed the Creed’s hideout a month or so earlier. Off in the distance, quite a trek from where they stood, the burned out remains of the chasm the cult had used began to rise up and join a formation that was too small to be a mountain and definitely too tall to be a hill. If they rode their horses at a relaxed pace, they could reach there in an hour or two, perhaps less. He had no intention of walking that far, but he did wonder how far she wanted to walk and when she silently asked him to pause, he assumed it was because she was about to tell him they should turn back.
“Then we shall endeavor to improve each other’s lives each day,” she said instead and he nodded, giving a final glance to the Creed’s hideout. Hopefully he’d never have to go there again. When he looked back at her, it was clear she had something else she wanted to say and he clasped his hands behind his back, waiting for her to speak. She bit her lip and he wondered what could possibly worry her so, that she’d be this nervous.
“I don’t want a marriage in just name, Gavriil. I...” she paused and he noted that she’d already dropped his title. Whatever she was about to say must be good because the blush that crept up her neck and into her cheeks promised something interesting, at the very least. “I want a partnership. A fondness… I want to be someone special to you. I want to climb into a warm bed with you at the end of a long day.”
He didn’t quite know if she was done yet, and the sigh that escaped her suggested she wasn’t, so he held off on saying anything until she finished in a rush. “I don’t want either of us to have conflicting ideas of what we expect of the other. I don’t want to disappoint you.”
“Into who else’s bed would you climb?” he asked after a moment. “Do not fear. I am capable of all of those things,” he assured her. “I just appear to have a hard shell.” Or maybe he really did have armor under his skin. Who knew? Not much bothered him and he’d been accused by more than one person of being unfeeling. However, in this case, he knew it wouldn’t be a concern. She appeared to have her priorities in the correct place and he had zero doubt that they would have a good partnership.
“Our ideas are in complete alignment,” he further assured her and gestured back the way they’d come. They didn’t necessarily need to part yet, but they’d wandered pretty far from the horses. Not that he couldn’t shoot a horse thief from here, if necessary. That just wasn’t on his list of activities for the day.
“I will warn you that Maganea doesn’t boast the city that Vasiliadon is,” he said as they walked. “It’s woods and farmland and some rougher towns.”
The sunlight hit her brown eyes warming their color as they widened at his reply. The blush that had been creeping into her cheeks flooded with color at his first words. ‘Into who else’s bed would you climb?’ Her soft mouth fell open and she stared up at him. She’d meant she didn’t want to sleep alone. Who else’s bed would she climb? If not his, there was only hers, wasn’t there?
“Mine.” She managed to squeak out between his words. “I just… I…”
‘Do not fear. I am capable of all of those things. I just appear to have a hard shell.’
Her face warmed another shade or two warmer. I hadn’t meant that… She closed her gaping mouth, her eyes blinking. I’d just… Her mouth opened again to set the situation right. It’d never crossed her mind that… Her eyes continued to blink in embarrassing silence. Oh, Gods! Did he think she thought that he couldn’t? It’d been more of a wouldn’t, not a couldn’t…
Evangelina’s eyes dropped drown the length of his chest to his hips for another uncomfortable moment or two at the word ‘hard’ before she jerked her eyes back up briefly meeting his before looking away. Her bravado from last night had dissipated when this had suddenly become something a bit more real than teasing ogling.
Lord Gavriil had rendered her momentarily speechless and caused a flaming red blush on her face and down her neck and chest.
‘Our ideas are in complete alignment.’ He gestured back towards the horses and she was all too ready to flee back to their safety. The idea that their ideas were in complete alignment should have put her at ease, but it seemed only to tighten her strings up like someone with the strings of a lute. She hoped some of the redness would fade as they walked back but the sound of his voice at that moment was enough to trigger the blush since her mind drifted so easily.
‘I will warn you that Maganea doesn’t boast the city that Vasiliadon is.’ Evangelina darted a look at him. ‘It’s woods and farmland and some rougher towns.’
Clearing her throat softly, she stared at the horses as they made their way back to them, her voice still filled with a bit of raspiness from her shock earlier.
“Rustic Maganea sounds charming and kind of perfect for me,” She caught her bottom lip again and chewed on it a couple of seconds before adding, “I didn’t mean to make it sound like you weren’t capable… the thought hadn’t actually crossed my mind that you might not have been.” She glanced sideways at him, hoping to catch his eye, even though the blush was starting on her cheeks again. This was a damnable time to be developing a blush, she snorted inwardly. “And, I want to make something clear.” Evangelina steeled her voice, “If I am not in your bed the only other bed I’ll be in… is mine.”
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The sunlight hit her brown eyes warming their color as they widened at his reply. The blush that had been creeping into her cheeks flooded with color at his first words. ‘Into who else’s bed would you climb?’ Her soft mouth fell open and she stared up at him. She’d meant she didn’t want to sleep alone. Who else’s bed would she climb? If not his, there was only hers, wasn’t there?
“Mine.” She managed to squeak out between his words. “I just… I…”
‘Do not fear. I am capable of all of those things. I just appear to have a hard shell.’
Her face warmed another shade or two warmer. I hadn’t meant that… She closed her gaping mouth, her eyes blinking. I’d just… Her mouth opened again to set the situation right. It’d never crossed her mind that… Her eyes continued to blink in embarrassing silence. Oh, Gods! Did he think she thought that he couldn’t? It’d been more of a wouldn’t, not a couldn’t…
Evangelina’s eyes dropped drown the length of his chest to his hips for another uncomfortable moment or two at the word ‘hard’ before she jerked her eyes back up briefly meeting his before looking away. Her bravado from last night had dissipated when this had suddenly become something a bit more real than teasing ogling.
Lord Gavriil had rendered her momentarily speechless and caused a flaming red blush on her face and down her neck and chest.
‘Our ideas are in complete alignment.’ He gestured back towards the horses and she was all too ready to flee back to their safety. The idea that their ideas were in complete alignment should have put her at ease, but it seemed only to tighten her strings up like someone with the strings of a lute. She hoped some of the redness would fade as they walked back but the sound of his voice at that moment was enough to trigger the blush since her mind drifted so easily.
‘I will warn you that Maganea doesn’t boast the city that Vasiliadon is.’ Evangelina darted a look at him. ‘It’s woods and farmland and some rougher towns.’
Clearing her throat softly, she stared at the horses as they made their way back to them, her voice still filled with a bit of raspiness from her shock earlier.
“Rustic Maganea sounds charming and kind of perfect for me,” She caught her bottom lip again and chewed on it a couple of seconds before adding, “I didn’t mean to make it sound like you weren’t capable… the thought hadn’t actually crossed my mind that you might not have been.” She glanced sideways at him, hoping to catch his eye, even though the blush was starting on her cheeks again. This was a damnable time to be developing a blush, she snorted inwardly. “And, I want to make something clear.” Evangelina steeled her voice, “If I am not in your bed the only other bed I’ll be in… is mine.”
The sunlight hit her brown eyes warming their color as they widened at his reply. The blush that had been creeping into her cheeks flooded with color at his first words. ‘Into who else’s bed would you climb?’ Her soft mouth fell open and she stared up at him. She’d meant she didn’t want to sleep alone. Who else’s bed would she climb? If not his, there was only hers, wasn’t there?
“Mine.” She managed to squeak out between his words. “I just… I…”
‘Do not fear. I am capable of all of those things. I just appear to have a hard shell.’
Her face warmed another shade or two warmer. I hadn’t meant that… She closed her gaping mouth, her eyes blinking. I’d just… Her mouth opened again to set the situation right. It’d never crossed her mind that… Her eyes continued to blink in embarrassing silence. Oh, Gods! Did he think she thought that he couldn’t? It’d been more of a wouldn’t, not a couldn’t…
Evangelina’s eyes dropped drown the length of his chest to his hips for another uncomfortable moment or two at the word ‘hard’ before she jerked her eyes back up briefly meeting his before looking away. Her bravado from last night had dissipated when this had suddenly become something a bit more real than teasing ogling.
Lord Gavriil had rendered her momentarily speechless and caused a flaming red blush on her face and down her neck and chest.
‘Our ideas are in complete alignment.’ He gestured back towards the horses and she was all too ready to flee back to their safety. The idea that their ideas were in complete alignment should have put her at ease, but it seemed only to tighten her strings up like someone with the strings of a lute. She hoped some of the redness would fade as they walked back but the sound of his voice at that moment was enough to trigger the blush since her mind drifted so easily.
‘I will warn you that Maganea doesn’t boast the city that Vasiliadon is.’ Evangelina darted a look at him. ‘It’s woods and farmland and some rougher towns.’
Clearing her throat softly, she stared at the horses as they made their way back to them, her voice still filled with a bit of raspiness from her shock earlier.
“Rustic Maganea sounds charming and kind of perfect for me,” She caught her bottom lip again and chewed on it a couple of seconds before adding, “I didn’t mean to make it sound like you weren’t capable… the thought hadn’t actually crossed my mind that you might not have been.” She glanced sideways at him, hoping to catch his eye, even though the blush was starting on her cheeks again. This was a damnable time to be developing a blush, she snorted inwardly. “And, I want to make something clear.” Evangelina steeled her voice, “If I am not in your bed the only other bed I’ll be in… is mine.”
The delicate shades of pink that crept into her cheeks were truly amazing. He was pretty sure that there were at least three, if not four distinct hues, all fighting for dominance while her gaze wandered down his body. Another thing he’d noticed, but, after last night, he wasn’t shocked by her apparent fixation. At least she jerked her gaze up quick enough. If he was prone to fits of laughter, he would have then. Her eyes were as wide as he’d ever seen them and she didn’t seem quite up to forming full sentences.
When he gestured back the way they’d come, she mutely turned and did as he asked. It was interesting to see a turning of tables. For some reason, he felt that she was always testing him, attempting to see how far she could push him to try to make him uncomfortable. She’d not managed today but he apparently had, though that wasn’t the goal. At least she definitely could be shocked and that was good to know. What exactly he’d said to have rendered her so speechless, though, he was at a loss.
She’d asked, he’d answered. Perhaps she was not used to someone being so blunt. He hadn’t meant to insinuate anything of a more intimate nature. When he’d said he was capable, he meant of her fears about not being loved. That he was capable of everything else was never in question, to him, at least. Just as good today as he was before.
Evangelina’s visible unease was not enough to put him on edge. He couldn’t read her thoughts and didn’t know exactly how she’d spooked herself, but didn’t figure it had overly much to do with him so much as the whole subject in general. Though this was an abrupt change from last night. Daylight had a way of making people more cowardly than they were under cover of darkness. Maybe she couldn’t be at ease on this subject. Not until later, anyway.
“Rustic Maganea sounds charming and kind of perfect for me,” she finally managed. He nodded, not having anything to add onto that.
“I didn’t mean to make it sound like you weren’t capable… the thought hadn’t actually crossed my mind that you might not have been.”
“That’s good to know,” he did grin now because the way she was acting confirmed what he assumed to be a misunderstanding...that he wasn’t going to bother correcting. She caught his eye and his smile widened as her blush deepened until he was almost laughing, but not quite. Her whole face was adorable in this brilliant shade of rose blush.
“And, I want to make something clear. If I am not in your bed the only other bed I’ll be in… is mine.”
He was silent for just a few steps and then shrugged. “To be truthful, my late wife and I shared a room, but if you’d like your own, you’re more than welcome to.” They were at the horses now and he stepped up to his, untying the reins from the branch and swinging up into his horse’s saddle.
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The delicate shades of pink that crept into her cheeks were truly amazing. He was pretty sure that there were at least three, if not four distinct hues, all fighting for dominance while her gaze wandered down his body. Another thing he’d noticed, but, after last night, he wasn’t shocked by her apparent fixation. At least she jerked her gaze up quick enough. If he was prone to fits of laughter, he would have then. Her eyes were as wide as he’d ever seen them and she didn’t seem quite up to forming full sentences.
When he gestured back the way they’d come, she mutely turned and did as he asked. It was interesting to see a turning of tables. For some reason, he felt that she was always testing him, attempting to see how far she could push him to try to make him uncomfortable. She’d not managed today but he apparently had, though that wasn’t the goal. At least she definitely could be shocked and that was good to know. What exactly he’d said to have rendered her so speechless, though, he was at a loss.
She’d asked, he’d answered. Perhaps she was not used to someone being so blunt. He hadn’t meant to insinuate anything of a more intimate nature. When he’d said he was capable, he meant of her fears about not being loved. That he was capable of everything else was never in question, to him, at least. Just as good today as he was before.
Evangelina’s visible unease was not enough to put him on edge. He couldn’t read her thoughts and didn’t know exactly how she’d spooked herself, but didn’t figure it had overly much to do with him so much as the whole subject in general. Though this was an abrupt change from last night. Daylight had a way of making people more cowardly than they were under cover of darkness. Maybe she couldn’t be at ease on this subject. Not until later, anyway.
“Rustic Maganea sounds charming and kind of perfect for me,” she finally managed. He nodded, not having anything to add onto that.
“I didn’t mean to make it sound like you weren’t capable… the thought hadn’t actually crossed my mind that you might not have been.”
“That’s good to know,” he did grin now because the way she was acting confirmed what he assumed to be a misunderstanding...that he wasn’t going to bother correcting. She caught his eye and his smile widened as her blush deepened until he was almost laughing, but not quite. Her whole face was adorable in this brilliant shade of rose blush.
“And, I want to make something clear. If I am not in your bed the only other bed I’ll be in… is mine.”
He was silent for just a few steps and then shrugged. “To be truthful, my late wife and I shared a room, but if you’d like your own, you’re more than welcome to.” They were at the horses now and he stepped up to his, untying the reins from the branch and swinging up into his horse’s saddle.
The delicate shades of pink that crept into her cheeks were truly amazing. He was pretty sure that there were at least three, if not four distinct hues, all fighting for dominance while her gaze wandered down his body. Another thing he’d noticed, but, after last night, he wasn’t shocked by her apparent fixation. At least she jerked her gaze up quick enough. If he was prone to fits of laughter, he would have then. Her eyes were as wide as he’d ever seen them and she didn’t seem quite up to forming full sentences.
When he gestured back the way they’d come, she mutely turned and did as he asked. It was interesting to see a turning of tables. For some reason, he felt that she was always testing him, attempting to see how far she could push him to try to make him uncomfortable. She’d not managed today but he apparently had, though that wasn’t the goal. At least she definitely could be shocked and that was good to know. What exactly he’d said to have rendered her so speechless, though, he was at a loss.
She’d asked, he’d answered. Perhaps she was not used to someone being so blunt. He hadn’t meant to insinuate anything of a more intimate nature. When he’d said he was capable, he meant of her fears about not being loved. That he was capable of everything else was never in question, to him, at least. Just as good today as he was before.
Evangelina’s visible unease was not enough to put him on edge. He couldn’t read her thoughts and didn’t know exactly how she’d spooked herself, but didn’t figure it had overly much to do with him so much as the whole subject in general. Though this was an abrupt change from last night. Daylight had a way of making people more cowardly than they were under cover of darkness. Maybe she couldn’t be at ease on this subject. Not until later, anyway.
“Rustic Maganea sounds charming and kind of perfect for me,” she finally managed. He nodded, not having anything to add onto that.
“I didn’t mean to make it sound like you weren’t capable… the thought hadn’t actually crossed my mind that you might not have been.”
“That’s good to know,” he did grin now because the way she was acting confirmed what he assumed to be a misunderstanding...that he wasn’t going to bother correcting. She caught his eye and his smile widened as her blush deepened until he was almost laughing, but not quite. Her whole face was adorable in this brilliant shade of rose blush.
“And, I want to make something clear. If I am not in your bed the only other bed I’ll be in… is mine.”
He was silent for just a few steps and then shrugged. “To be truthful, my late wife and I shared a room, but if you’d like your own, you’re more than welcome to.” They were at the horses now and he stepped up to his, untying the reins from the branch and swinging up into his horse’s saddle.
All of this awkwardness of her had been much more manageable before she’d divulged her feelings for him, at least then she’d been able to laugh it all off as being pointless flirtation. Evangelina sucked in a silent breath of chagrin. Now that he knew she gave a monkey’s hairless behind, she couldn’t just… mentally laugh off the fact that she cared what he thought of her. Each meeting though… each conversation only made her care just a little more what he thought or believed about her. It was a tough nut to swallow for someone who usually gave very little thought to what people in general thought of her. It went against her natural grain to want someone to like her, or in Lord Gavriil’s case feel quite a bit more than to simply like her, it was a foreign feeling that left her feeling vulnerable and weak which was not how she wanted to be seen by him at all.
‘That’s good to know.’ Shooting a glance at him, she did a double-take as she made out the grin that he’d been fighting during her prattling had finally made it to his lips. The petulant urge to stomp her foot and demand him to stop laughing at her almost overtook her. And he thinks that I deliberately misinterpret the things he says, she huffed mentally. Her face heated more as his grin spread wider. She needed to fix this.
But when had her attempting to fix anything had it made it better?
The pint-sized Leventi stuck her foot in her mouth by clarifying that she had absolutely no intention of being in anyone else’s bed. Silence passed for a few moments as they rejoined the horses, she was briefly worried he might be about to admit that he’d preferred a more open relationship between the two of them. Maybe he’d not had that with his first wife, but she wasn’t his first wife… maybe there had been love there for him regarding her… Or at least more love then he felt for her. The silence after she’d spoken was something that Evangelina had long since learned was rarely a good thing but she wasn’t about to interrupt the loudness of this silence. Stepping over to the grey’s reins looped over a branch she stood on her tiptoes and pulled it loose as he spoke.
‘To be truthful, my late wife and I shared a room, but if you’d like your own, you’re more than welcome to.’
Standing at his mare’s head, it was her turn to be careful at her answer. Tilting her head up, her lips pursed as she studied his face carefully. He was a rare thing. A man who’d not once mentioned what he’d wanted, other than unflinching trust. How was it no one had managed to capture his attention before now? She’d never considered herself to be anything exceedingly special, nothing more than average anyway. There were many girls… Take that back… There were many women in Taengea who were far more spectacular. Witty. Beautiful. Women who could have charmed the Gods down from Olympus with something as simple as a smile.
It would positively break her heart if after his talk with his children he realized what an old fool he’d been to settle for less than spectacular. Somewhere in her thoughts, she’d started nibbling on her bottom lip again before she realized it and stopped. Reaching up she laid a hand lightly on his knee in the stirrup near her and took a deep breath before she spoke.
“I never said I wanted my own room,” Her earnest dark eyes looked up at him from her long lashes and her lips pursed and after another moment of loud silence, she spoke again. “And what about you? What do you want of this marriage? What do you want of me?” Her direct gaze stayed on him for a few seconds longer, How much of me do you want? She squeezed his leg gently, “Don’t answer that right now…” Evangelina’s hand broke the touch as she turned away to mount Altair on her own.
With a suppleness that bespoke of being born in the saddle, she gracefully stepped up into the saddle, bouncing upwards rather than pulling herself up. Settling into her seat, she offered him a small, private smile that was just for him despite no one else being anywhere around. Nudging Altair next to his mare so she could face him.
“Take some time on that question, but I would like an answer. You’ve listened so beautifully to all my lists of wants and needs from this marriage and from you, I’d like to return the favor.” Her voice had dipped intimately softer and yet fuller, throatier. “I should be returning, but we’ll speak again soon I hope.” Catching her bottom lip between her teeth again, she fought a small smile before she nudged her stallion forward passing past him. Tossing her final words to him over her shoulder teasingly to his back, “Be careful out riding, old man… Many a vixen has charmed a man out of his senses out riding and I am a terribly jealous soul when it comes to the things I want.”
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All of this awkwardness of her had been much more manageable before she’d divulged her feelings for him, at least then she’d been able to laugh it all off as being pointless flirtation. Evangelina sucked in a silent breath of chagrin. Now that he knew she gave a monkey’s hairless behind, she couldn’t just… mentally laugh off the fact that she cared what he thought of her. Each meeting though… each conversation only made her care just a little more what he thought or believed about her. It was a tough nut to swallow for someone who usually gave very little thought to what people in general thought of her. It went against her natural grain to want someone to like her, or in Lord Gavriil’s case feel quite a bit more than to simply like her, it was a foreign feeling that left her feeling vulnerable and weak which was not how she wanted to be seen by him at all.
‘That’s good to know.’ Shooting a glance at him, she did a double-take as she made out the grin that he’d been fighting during her prattling had finally made it to his lips. The petulant urge to stomp her foot and demand him to stop laughing at her almost overtook her. And he thinks that I deliberately misinterpret the things he says, she huffed mentally. Her face heated more as his grin spread wider. She needed to fix this.
But when had her attempting to fix anything had it made it better?
The pint-sized Leventi stuck her foot in her mouth by clarifying that she had absolutely no intention of being in anyone else’s bed. Silence passed for a few moments as they rejoined the horses, she was briefly worried he might be about to admit that he’d preferred a more open relationship between the two of them. Maybe he’d not had that with his first wife, but she wasn’t his first wife… maybe there had been love there for him regarding her… Or at least more love then he felt for her. The silence after she’d spoken was something that Evangelina had long since learned was rarely a good thing but she wasn’t about to interrupt the loudness of this silence. Stepping over to the grey’s reins looped over a branch she stood on her tiptoes and pulled it loose as he spoke.
‘To be truthful, my late wife and I shared a room, but if you’d like your own, you’re more than welcome to.’
Standing at his mare’s head, it was her turn to be careful at her answer. Tilting her head up, her lips pursed as she studied his face carefully. He was a rare thing. A man who’d not once mentioned what he’d wanted, other than unflinching trust. How was it no one had managed to capture his attention before now? She’d never considered herself to be anything exceedingly special, nothing more than average anyway. There were many girls… Take that back… There were many women in Taengea who were far more spectacular. Witty. Beautiful. Women who could have charmed the Gods down from Olympus with something as simple as a smile.
It would positively break her heart if after his talk with his children he realized what an old fool he’d been to settle for less than spectacular. Somewhere in her thoughts, she’d started nibbling on her bottom lip again before she realized it and stopped. Reaching up she laid a hand lightly on his knee in the stirrup near her and took a deep breath before she spoke.
“I never said I wanted my own room,” Her earnest dark eyes looked up at him from her long lashes and her lips pursed and after another moment of loud silence, she spoke again. “And what about you? What do you want of this marriage? What do you want of me?” Her direct gaze stayed on him for a few seconds longer, How much of me do you want? She squeezed his leg gently, “Don’t answer that right now…” Evangelina’s hand broke the touch as she turned away to mount Altair on her own.
With a suppleness that bespoke of being born in the saddle, she gracefully stepped up into the saddle, bouncing upwards rather than pulling herself up. Settling into her seat, she offered him a small, private smile that was just for him despite no one else being anywhere around. Nudging Altair next to his mare so she could face him.
“Take some time on that question, but I would like an answer. You’ve listened so beautifully to all my lists of wants and needs from this marriage and from you, I’d like to return the favor.” Her voice had dipped intimately softer and yet fuller, throatier. “I should be returning, but we’ll speak again soon I hope.” Catching her bottom lip between her teeth again, she fought a small smile before she nudged her stallion forward passing past him. Tossing her final words to him over her shoulder teasingly to his back, “Be careful out riding, old man… Many a vixen has charmed a man out of his senses out riding and I am a terribly jealous soul when it comes to the things I want.”
All of this awkwardness of her had been much more manageable before she’d divulged her feelings for him, at least then she’d been able to laugh it all off as being pointless flirtation. Evangelina sucked in a silent breath of chagrin. Now that he knew she gave a monkey’s hairless behind, she couldn’t just… mentally laugh off the fact that she cared what he thought of her. Each meeting though… each conversation only made her care just a little more what he thought or believed about her. It was a tough nut to swallow for someone who usually gave very little thought to what people in general thought of her. It went against her natural grain to want someone to like her, or in Lord Gavriil’s case feel quite a bit more than to simply like her, it was a foreign feeling that left her feeling vulnerable and weak which was not how she wanted to be seen by him at all.
‘That’s good to know.’ Shooting a glance at him, she did a double-take as she made out the grin that he’d been fighting during her prattling had finally made it to his lips. The petulant urge to stomp her foot and demand him to stop laughing at her almost overtook her. And he thinks that I deliberately misinterpret the things he says, she huffed mentally. Her face heated more as his grin spread wider. She needed to fix this.
But when had her attempting to fix anything had it made it better?
The pint-sized Leventi stuck her foot in her mouth by clarifying that she had absolutely no intention of being in anyone else’s bed. Silence passed for a few moments as they rejoined the horses, she was briefly worried he might be about to admit that he’d preferred a more open relationship between the two of them. Maybe he’d not had that with his first wife, but she wasn’t his first wife… maybe there had been love there for him regarding her… Or at least more love then he felt for her. The silence after she’d spoken was something that Evangelina had long since learned was rarely a good thing but she wasn’t about to interrupt the loudness of this silence. Stepping over to the grey’s reins looped over a branch she stood on her tiptoes and pulled it loose as he spoke.
‘To be truthful, my late wife and I shared a room, but if you’d like your own, you’re more than welcome to.’
Standing at his mare’s head, it was her turn to be careful at her answer. Tilting her head up, her lips pursed as she studied his face carefully. He was a rare thing. A man who’d not once mentioned what he’d wanted, other than unflinching trust. How was it no one had managed to capture his attention before now? She’d never considered herself to be anything exceedingly special, nothing more than average anyway. There were many girls… Take that back… There were many women in Taengea who were far more spectacular. Witty. Beautiful. Women who could have charmed the Gods down from Olympus with something as simple as a smile.
It would positively break her heart if after his talk with his children he realized what an old fool he’d been to settle for less than spectacular. Somewhere in her thoughts, she’d started nibbling on her bottom lip again before she realized it and stopped. Reaching up she laid a hand lightly on his knee in the stirrup near her and took a deep breath before she spoke.
“I never said I wanted my own room,” Her earnest dark eyes looked up at him from her long lashes and her lips pursed and after another moment of loud silence, she spoke again. “And what about you? What do you want of this marriage? What do you want of me?” Her direct gaze stayed on him for a few seconds longer, How much of me do you want? She squeezed his leg gently, “Don’t answer that right now…” Evangelina’s hand broke the touch as she turned away to mount Altair on her own.
With a suppleness that bespoke of being born in the saddle, she gracefully stepped up into the saddle, bouncing upwards rather than pulling herself up. Settling into her seat, she offered him a small, private smile that was just for him despite no one else being anywhere around. Nudging Altair next to his mare so she could face him.
“Take some time on that question, but I would like an answer. You’ve listened so beautifully to all my lists of wants and needs from this marriage and from you, I’d like to return the favor.” Her voice had dipped intimately softer and yet fuller, throatier. “I should be returning, but we’ll speak again soon I hope.” Catching her bottom lip between her teeth again, she fought a small smile before she nudged her stallion forward passing past him. Tossing her final words to him over her shoulder teasingly to his back, “Be careful out riding, old man… Many a vixen has charmed a man out of his senses out riding and I am a terribly jealous soul when it comes to the things I want.”