“My Lady!”The exasperated, stern voice of Agnes, one of her mother’s ladies startled Evangelina causing her to pluck one of the strings on the harp a little more forcefully then she’d intended. Her gaze had been focused on watching her brother and one of the local boys outside roughhousing with their toy swords. It wasn’t hard to guess that’d she’d rather have been outside jumping around, laughing, falling to the ground, and dying an overly dramatic death. Instead, she was being held hostage indoors, supposedly to practice her music which included her plucking the same string repeatedly while she lost herself in her thoughts. She didn’t mind singing, really she didn’t, but she would never be a virtuoso. Looking back in another twenty years, she’d probably regret not having applied more effort into these abilities but at the ripe old age twenty-one, she was of the mind that if she didn’t care for them now then she wouldn’t care for them in the future. 

The woman cleared her throat reminding Evie that she was still there and still speaking to her. Agnes was her jailer, or rather the woman her mother employed for Evie’s lessons. The sturdy built, old prune had been her nemesis for almost six years now and had been the last of a long line of ladies employed to help Konstanos’ daughter in their quest of… growing into herself? That first year had been a rocky one indeed, Evie pulled every trick and prank she and her brother could think of but Agnes always seemed to be one step ahead of her. Blinking her eyes a couple of times she met finally met Agnes’ gaze and let out a temperamental sigh of her own.

“Fine. I’ll practice.” Evie huffed in retaliation, her fingers plucking a couple more strings on the harp with sharpness. Agnes narrowed her eyes sending an exacting look of haughtiness that could have peeled paint off of a canvas and replied with an equal huff, “Your father wants to see you in the morning room.”

Evie glanced outside again and wondered briefly if her father had already found out about that little bit of laxative that had ended up in her Konstantinos tutor’s wine this morning. She squirmed a little in her seat. It was impossible to know about that… the tutor was still rather detained.

“Hurry up, child! Stop dawdling!” Agnes hissed again. Evie stood and started past Agnes, for the briefest of moments she thought she saw a small, fleeting smirk on the woman’s lips. It was unnerving… In an instant, the look was gone replaced by the tight-lipped look that could mean anything from... 'You are doing an amazing job today, Evie' to 'I am on to you, you little brat.' or even 'My ingrown toenail is throbbing today.'

As soon as she was out of Agnes eyesight she slowed down just a little as she started forming her explanation of how that laxative had ended up in her brother’s tutor’s morning drink. She’d known it was risky as she’d pulled the same prank on Agnes… Agnes poured her own drinks these days and never took anything Evie offered her.

“Father, I…” She swung the door open to an east facing room that allowed the morning sunlight to shine in.  She was prepared to explain but her words died as her gaze landed not on her father but on her uncle. Snapping her mouth shut, she felt her spine straighten. So that’s what that old witch had been smirking about… She didn’t mention her uncle was here and this wasn’t about the laxative. The tiny hairs on the back of her neck stood up and despite wanting to turn and escape whatever conversation was about to take place she refused to show any weakness in front of her father and his brother. She refused to let him know she was affected by his presence.

Taking a cleansing breath she moved confidently into the room managing not to trip herself as she did so. Her smile of cloying sweetness deeply contrasted with the wary, you-don’t-fool-me awareness in her dark eyes.

“Uncle Fotios!” Her soft, polite, throaty voice purred in a too similar fashion as her mother’s. “What an unexpected surprise!” She met his gaze momentarily, then darted a questioning look at her father, then back to her uncle. “Did Agape or Melina accompany you?” It was the only reason she could think that she’d be summoned to her father while their uncle was being entertained...

"I can certainly see your point brother..."[/i] Were the words that identified to Fotios that had succeeded - once again - in convincing his brother towards his own frame of thinking.

While Konstanos was in no way stupid, nor was he easy to coerce or gullible, Fotios found him to be far more adhering to rank and power than their middle brother Georgios. Where Georgios appeared to let his heart intervene on circumstances that were really as simple as Fotios exacting his own decision as Head of the House of Leventi, Konstanos was far more open to understanding the way of the world. Especially when it was explained to him in a manner that suited his and his family's best interests.

Which is why Fotios had always maintained a strong friendship with Konstanos’ side of the family - encouraging of his daughters’ connection to the Lady Evangelina over their cousins Nana and Imma.

Not that he wanted Agape, Melina - and certainly not Dafni! - exposed to the two youngest females of Georgios family. Good grief he would drown in conversations of vapid uselessness at the dining table if such visits were encouraged more. At least the Lady Evangelina seemed to have a head on her shoulders. Far more spirit than was suitable for a woman of her breeding, but such things could always be worked around. Just as with her father...

Having laid the foundations of an idea in Konstanos' mind regarding a future Senate meeting that he and Irakles had plans for, Fotios dropped the subject entirely, knowing that too much pressure on a certain point anyone wincing away. Instead he turned to the second reason he had made the three-hour ride to Acharist.

Two hours later and he had yet another agreement from Konstanos - this one a confirmed decision over the sprout of a concept and he was pleased when the man summoned for his daughter to be brought to the room they had occupied since he had arrived at the house.

The morning room - as the local family called it - was bright and white and Fotios found he had a strong taste for it. Those who distrusted him might have assumed that Fotios was preferential to darker colours and shadowy rooms, but such a thought was folly and entirely untrue. Fotios liked light. He liked brightness and openness. The world portrayed on a blank canvas, ready for him to paint as he saw fit.

To shift in shadow drew suspicion. To stride through the light drew no such attention.

Drinking from the glass of grape juice his brother had provided him with - slightly asinine but it was passable - Fotios secured one leg over the other at the knee and tapped his elevated foot as he waited. He watched with mild amusement how the light from the morning sun gleamed off of his riding boots and passed the time they waited for the girl in unimportant chatter regarding the man's son...

Or, at least, Fotios gave the impression that such talks were unimportant.

When the door to the morning room was finally opened and Evangelina revealed to be the entrant, Fotios simply glanced around the edge of his high-backed chair and was pleased to see her reaction to his presence. The girl may have intended to show him no weakness and that his existence in her home was no concern to her - for she very clearly showed no signs of fear, timidity or hesitation. And yet the set of her jaw, the strength of her step and the slightly too determined effort to show lack of fear was only a strong indicative that the emotion did, indeed, exist.

Instead of calling her bluff however, Fotios simply dipped his head in greeting to the girl, as she managed to greet him without welcoming him and then inquired as to his two eldest daughters.

"No." He answered.

That was it.

Let the girl fret on whatever that was to mean while he considered his chalice again and swirled the liquid within.

"Konstanos, I have been drinking this concoction for the last two hours, do you happen to have some wine?" He asked the man. "I see no purpose in such a beverage when it is only waste of grapes that could be used otherwise."

With a chortle at Fotios' dry humour, Konstanos nodded and rose from his chair to poor the two gentleman fresh goblets. It was during this action that Fotios levelled his gaze on his niece. Placing elbow on chair and chin on hand, Fotios allowed his gaze to drift impartially from head to toe on the girl and narrowed his eyes in assessment. The length of his middle finger rested upon his lower lip as he considered her, only blinked and breaking the connection when Konstanos returned from the other side of the room and supplied him with a decent drink.

"Thank you, brother." He commented. "Now, I think it best we not keep Evie here in suspense, don't you?" He offered a conspiratorial smile that his brother took to be humorous and returned. "Why don't you inform the girl what's been decided?"

Fotios feigned disinterest as Konstanos shifted in his seat to look at his daughter who awaited his words patiently, his ears simply pricked to check the word use the man employed.

"My dear, I have been discussing with your Uncle the plans for our future." The Man began and Fotios recognised a few of the phrases he had employed an hour ago in his next words. "When I say future I, of course, mean the House of Leventi." Fotios watched as Konstanos smiled indulgently at his daughter. "You know you have an important role in how we go about attaining such a future for our family, sweetheart and your uncle and I think it time that we encourage you in that area."

Fotios decided at this point that the man was dodging the subject and added to the conversation himself.

"Your father is talking about Court, Evangelina." He stated, with a confidence of speech rarely contested. "You have not attended recently and it is unwise to not show the men of the Court the kind of woman you have grown into." He shook his head in a saddened manner. "You stay away too long and the finer of the pack will have been snatched by women that are more present - even those younger than yourself."

He was right. Fear did exist. Evangelina felt stripped away with a simple glance from him. She felt vulnerable. The heaviness in the air was suffocating. It was all discomforting. She drew the line at cowering though. Instincts told her that she’d lose any dignity she possessed if she let him smell blood. The man was dangerous, every nerve in her body screamed that. It was like being locked in a cage with a wolf. 

‘No.’

It was too simple of an answer from her uncle. His interest fell in a calculated move from her to the cup. Evie’s teeth bit the inside of her gums. If her cousins hadn’t accompanied him then that could only mean the interest was in her. A twinge made up of equal parts curiosity and unease settled over her.

‘Konstanos, I have been drinking this concoction for the last two hours, do you happen to have some wine?’ He was playing with her. She’d been about to offer to pour her uncle some of the wine but instead, her father rose from his chair laughing good-naturedly and fetching the wine instead. Did her eyebrow raise a fraction to her father? Hmm… Maybe he had figured out what she’d done to the tutor. He was often hard to read.

She stepped deeper into the asp’s den to stand next to another of the high backed chairs near that of her uncle’s. Her hands clasped demurely in her lap as she stood there waiting to see if she was to sit or stand through whatever it was they wished to discuss. Not discuss. Her father and uncle didn’t discuss things, it was an illusion. They informed. You simply had to be able to pick through a conversation and know what to look for to be able to identify the order.

Fotios’ gaze leveled on her again. He didn’t bother to hide the perusal of her from head to toe. She stood quietly and managed not to fidget. The only outward sign she gave of annoyance was the faint pursing of her lips. Inwardly was a different story altogether. In her mind, she’d have liked nothing better than to spin around and confront him head-on. She wanted so badly to snap at him. To ask him if he wanted her to open her mouth and inspect her teeth for his approval like one of their horses. He hadn’t seen them yet after all. Inwardly, she was scathing but outwardly, the pint-sized Leventi took a deep breath and turned her head to meet his gaze and… smiled.

He couldn’t have her layers. She wouldn’t let him pick her apart under his judgment. Her gaze only wavered and shifted to her father as he rejoined them. The look that passed from her uncle to her father set her teeth on edge. Maybe it was the way her nickname had rolled off her uncle’s tongue like honey and then referred to her as simply ‘the girl’. Her spine stiffened and her lip twitched faintly.

Evie’s pointed dark eyes landed on her father. What had been decided? The smile wavered as bemusement filled her pretty features. The way her father shifted in his seat as he seemed to pick his words carefully for her. If it had been them in the room alone, she’d softened. She’d have sat down and told him to just tell her. Her parents had never coddled her with kid gloves. Whatever it was, she’d handle it. Fotios presences was robbing her of that softness. She couldn’t be soft to her father while Fotios sat there watching them.

Her father’s words were taking too long. Her impatience was building and if he’d been someone other than her father… she’d have told him to simply spit it out about now. It was too late to start coddling her now. Her eyes silently urged her father to just say it. What was it on his mind?

‘Your father is talking about Court, Evangelina.’ Snapping her head to level her gaze on her uncle. She loved her father. He wasn’t a man to toy with, but in a room with her uncle, he seemed lesser. The moment that should have been between father and daughter was stolen. She stole a quick glance at her father then shifted so that she was facing her uncle rather than her father. ‘You have not attended recently and it is unwise to not show the men of the Court the kind of woman you have grown into.’ She bit the inside of her cheek again as her hands fell away from her lap. The feigned saddened manner spoke volumes. ‘You stay away too long and the finer of the pack will have been snatched by women that are more present - even those younger than yourself.’

Evangelina needed a moment as she processed this. While rebellious by nature, she’d never grown up with romantic notions of marriage. It was, what it was. She’d known this would be coming soon… if anything she was on borrowed time already. Her time would have undoubtedly already been up if there weren’t so many young Leventi women. Letting out a controlled breath.

“May I sit.” The question, that wasn’t really a question was now directed at her father rather than her uncle. At his nod, she eased herself down, her arms resting on the armrest. Her fingers tapped idly as she continued to process this for a couple of prolonged moments.  Questions swirled around in her head...

“Am I just to fish and see what comes up?” Swiveling in her seat, she pinned her uncle with her focus once more. Evie could compartmentalize her life exceedingly well and this was one of those moments that was proof of it. Whatever inner feelings she possessed towards her uncle and his manipulative tactics were shoved away for her to sort through later. The cloying sweetness from earlier dissipating to be replaced with an understated shrewdness. “Or is there a ‘pack’ member, in particular, you are hoping to remind of what kind of woman I have grown into?”

Fotios watched Evangelina carefully throughout her father speaking with her, then as she processed his own words as he chose to take over the conversation and direct it towards its main point. Konstanos always was too much of a dawdler when he was concerned of what his listener may feel regarding his utterances or instructions.

Fotios did not have such a limitation.

Instead, he was assessing the girl for her thoughts rather than her feelings. People were hard to control. Easy to manipulate. But hard to control. Their feelings and thoughts would dictate their behaviour in different scenarios depending on whether the stimulation around them encouraged the head or the heart to lead. It was these ideas - the driving motivations and patterns in thought that could be re-written, coerced and suggested. So that, when the time came to making a decision significant to that of the manipulator... there was no control involved. Only an innate action that the executioner believed to be of their own choice and making.

To force control? To force action? It was a fool’s errand.

But such theories were only based on dealing with those of your peerage or superior in their social standing - the ones you had no legitimate right to order about or demand from.

Evangelina was in no such category.

Not only was the woman female - which immediately set her on the back foot as far as power in society was concerned - but she was also significantly younger that Fotios (obviously) and a member of the House of which he led.

There was to be no manipulation necessary in such a circumstance. Only the acquiescence to his power. An acquiescence that would be ensured after his leaving Acharist by his mother - the man that he had coerced into understanding his own frame of mind.

As Evangelina suggested a "fishing" technique in the courts, Fotios snorted softly to himself.

"Only the desperate go fishing to see who will take them, Evangelina." He said with a cloying smile. "Do not sell yourself short girl, you are not so old yet. Perhaps in a few years..." He changed the stop quickly before the comment could be argued against as an insult over mere outspoken thought. "As for a particular "pack" member, as you call it, there are several men in court who would make a suitable match for you. You are lucky in your position that you are not... old enough to encourage the more selective nobles and your fields of choice will be much wide than that of your cousins, but you will still be highly sought... As sister of the next House head, your position will be enviable and the position of your husband coveted."

Tap… tap… tap… Her fingers thrummed lightly still on the armrest in thought. The sounds of her brother playing outside having grown into the faintest of background noises. Fotios hadn’t beat around the bush with what this was all about and in that she was the tiniest bit thankful. That faint thankfulness turned into hidden amusement though as he answered her questions. That cloying smile he produced, she’d seen that one before looking in a mirror. 

‘Do not sell yourself short girl, you are not so old yet. Perhaps in a few years…’ The corner of her lip softly lifted just a fraction in response. His pseudo-complement registered with her. Only moments ago he’d made it sound like she was sitting on a shelf expiring rapidly with each passing hour. Tilting her head as his words drew to a stop, something lightened in her eyes as he realized where the conversation was headed... For just that flash of a moment, her eyes letting him know that she knew exactly what she’d managed. She didn't bask in the moment though and just as quickly, she dropped her eyes demurely and smiled to herself. Got you, uncle.

As he quickly diverted the conversation, she relaxed a little into the chair. At the word ‘pack’, her gaze raised innocuously to him again. He’d been the one to call them a pack, she’d simply continued the phrase for lack of a more correct term for the eligible men of court. She didn’t focus on his baiting her though.. It was the part about her being the sister the next House Head that drew her into deeper thought.

Schooling those pretty, little features on her face… she looked at her father and tried to gauge his true feelings for all of this. Evie knew her brother would be the future House Head but she’d never really considered it. Not really. It was hard for her to imagine anyone other than Fotios as House Head. Glancing sideways at her uncle, it was like she was seeing something for the first time. He was right, her position as the sister to the next Head of the House of Leventi would be quite the catch.

Was the sound of her brother playing outside louder now? No. But it had moved from background noise in her head. Her brother. She grimaced as a wave of nausea hit her.

“My! This is quite a lot to take in. I shouldn’t have skipped my morning meal.” She covered almost except for the nervous quiver of a laugh escaping. Her hand rubbing her stomach hoping that rolling ache would settle. Her smile was a bit saccharine but that didn’t matter. Could her marriage help protect her brother? An invisible pressure was settling heavy down on her shoulders.

Evie studied him for a long moment then smiled more pointedly, “As Head of the House though, surely there are some names you are hoping I’ll attract at least politically.” Shifting a soft, daughter-to-father, innocent smile to her father. “It’s already been pointed out that I’ve not been a regular at Court… I am afraid I could use some guidance.” Looking back to her uncle, “My success is your success after all and…” Isn’t it? Blinking her dark-lashed eyes demurely at her uncle. “Why, I’d never presume to move forward without knowing the family’s stance. Despite the rumors, I do aim to please.”

Fotios watched the girl carefully his eyes narrowing upon her coyness. Her tone was perfect, her gestures and mannerisms realistic. It was only her eyes that gave her away. She wasn't able to keep at bay the dead look in them as she observed him with irritation over genuine familial loyalty.

If she had been his own daughter her would have certainly found a use for her by now. Honed that skill. Unfortunately, she was Konstanos' child - or rather, Ava's child. For it was her mother's influence that gave her her dislike of him - of that he was certain. He would have ensured such animosity would have never grown in her if he had raised her himself. Unlike his own children who showed appropriate fear of their paternal parent, Evangelina was clearly lacking the respectful attitude that came with being the daughter of a Leventi lord.

She would learn how futile like efforts were when it came to her marriage, if not before. A true noble lord would ensure no such behaviour from his wife.

When she coyly, and rather amusingly, played dumb in her knowledge of the courtiers, clearly eager to know the ins and outs of his plans for her Fotios did not cave. Not because he had such intentions for her, but because he simple didn't.

He had no particular lord in mind - no specific plan - for he needed none. Just seeing her married would play into his ideals for the world just fine. She was a nuisance to him in more ways than one. Firstly, in her resounding dislike of him. Fotios couldn't be sure how much of that animosity she showed to her brother, and he couldn't very well have his heir poisoned against him as he grew into his formative years.

Then there was how close she was with her mother - a woman who held more control over Konstanos than he would have liked. Two such women in the household and his job in keeping Konstanos in line with what was best for House would become twice as hard.

The end result was... it would be useful to him if Evangelina was removed from the family home.

"As I said, Evangelina..." He commented with just a coy a tone as she had adopted. "I have no particular gentleman in mind. For you are not as sought after as your cousins nor so low in prospects as to require my intervention... That being said..." His eyes sparked. "There are several options you might wish to consider..."

Fotios raised his glass to his lips, drank and then considered the rim of it as he licked at his lips before continuing, his posture calm in his seat.

"The Mikaelidas family is one of the strongest and most prosperous in the lands, despite recent tragedies and yet your cousins have safely wrapped that up. There is still the Lord Emilios but I feel too many attachments to a single household to be detrimental to future plans... Dimitrou have only one son unless you would be willing to consider the brother of Lord Gavriil - he remains unmarried and the age difference would... I'm sure be... surmountable... Then there is Lord Nikos..." Fotios sighed dramatically. "Who would be the correct age and rank but is unfortunately a Condos and I have no love for such a family - I fear unity with them would only make our trade rivalries - which I always win - more delicate. And I do not like delicacy in my business dealings."

Fotios swirled his drink as if considering.

"Which leaves you with two options my dear..." Fotios continued, as Evangelina's father stayed silent on the subject, clearly uncomfortable with discussing his daughter's future marriage in such objective terms. "You can... lower yourself... in order to marry someone of a noble family." Fotios glanced at Konstanos and was pleased to see his nose wrinkle. Clearly, he liked the idea of Evangelina lowering herself about as well as Fotios liked the idea of her remaining unmarried - good...

"Or you can seek communications and connections with other kingdoms..." He paused, watching to see how such a suggestion would go down. Fotios was after her out of the house, but out of the kingdom would serve just as well. Plus, bonus points for additional overseas connections for the Leventi name. "I understand that the Colchian royal family has many unmarried suitors."

No matter how much she would have preferred to escape all of this. The scrutiny of her uncle’s eyes and the way her father watched her carefully worked like glue to the seat she sat in. Being the daughter of a Leventi lord was precisely the reason Evangelina refused to shrink away from her foe. How many times had she seen people telling the Leventi horse dealers that they wanted a pretty yet compliant horse but in that same breath it was the beastly one that drew their attention? How many times did they change their mind? Too many. 

There was a reason no one wanted that pretty and compliant horse. They were worthless. They were weak. And in the end, it came down to the fact that weakness bred weakness. Leventi horses were not weak. They were the ones to carry you home. During the battle, they went the league farther than the others. That was what made them valued. That tenacity meant the difference between death and living. It was a survival based instinct. Like the horses, Evangelina was a Leventi.

The pint-sized Leventi gave the appearance of caring which lord her father and uncle were aspiring for her but really anything to get her uncle to open up and speak more was just the plan. She enjoyed learning and understanding how things operated. While she wanted to know how her uncle worked she wasn’t particularly interested in using the information unless of course, it involved her. The more he spoke the more, she could piece together pieces of his mode of operation. What made him tick? What motivated him? Why was he really there? It wasn’t for the goodness of his heart or his deep caring for her.

Saying that he had no gentleman in particular in mind for her told her much. She blinked her dark eyes at him, keeping her face carefully neutral. The way his eyes sparked though… it sent a chill down her spine and causing the hairs on her arm to pimple up like a gooses flesh. In reward, she smiled at him.

“Mmm…” Evie flickered her gaze down away from him and nodded, the smile never fading. “Please do continue… Options are all I’ve ever wanted.” The words were quietly throaty and she cleared her throat softly and lifted her intent gaze on him again. He feigned interest in his cup, drinking and licking his lips. It seemed a bit like a pull and take sort of dance. Had he been anyone other than who he was, she’d have been enthralled with the cat and mouse game they were playing.

Fotios began with the Mikaelidas family. Evangelina could scratch them off her list. Pia and Theo had done quite well to solidify those connections. It was almost painful to admit that her uncle was correct. Too many alliances with the Mikaelidas’ would create a weak point. The words of agreement couldn’t make their way out of her throat, instead, she simply nodded her head in agreement. It was easier.

Dimitrou. It was a thought. They were a strange family but there was a son a few years older than herself and then… there was Lord Gavriil. He was quite a lot older… closer to her father and uncles age if she could guess. Was she against an older man? The thought caused her a moment to pause. Hmmm.. I don’t think I am quite that desperate yet.

Lord Nikos. Her uncle sighed dramatically. Did he have any idea how that particular name would affect her? He was a Condos but more so, the man was an incorrigible ladies man. They said he had slept with half of the Taengean court - the female half. Granted, he was suitable in age and rank, and there was the additional boon that he would thoroughly irritate her uncle if such an alliance was made. It seemed a bit like cutting off the nose to spite the face though…

He swirled his drink dramatically then continued. His focus shifting from his wine and her to her father.

Two options…

She waited, he was drawing it out dramatically. Her dark eyes narrowed as her lips thinned waiting for him to just get on with it.

You can… lower yourself… in order to marry someone of a noble family.

Her nostrils flared and she jerked her head down dropping her gaze. Her fingers had stopped tapping nervously. Fotios was doing it again. He was making manipulative suggestions to her father with his choice of words. She could…. Lower herself? Slowly she peeked up to glance at her father and saw his nose wrinkle. It’d worked. Her father didn’t fancy the idea of her ‘lowering herself’. Not that she’d have chosen those words.

Or you can seek communications and connections with other kingdoms.

Evangelina slowly raised her head back up, her face was carefully blank. Taking a soft intake of breath before she met her uncle’s gaze. He was watching her again. Scrutinizing her. So that was his plan. That was why he was here pressing for this now. He wanted her gone. He didn’t have to say it… it was there in his manipulations.

I understand that the Colchian royal family has many unmarried suitors.

He added it like an afterthought.

Sitting back in her chair, she let her body go slack in the chair. Her lips pursed in thought before she finally pushed herself out of the chair and smiled. Offering her hand to take her uncle’s wine glass.

“You must be ready for a refill, here let me.” She offered silkily, sparing only a small glance to her father. She sighed inwardly. Don’t worry, I won’t add anything to his drink. The truth was she needed something to keep her busy. Something to do while moving. Her mind worked better when she could flit about. Just being able to stand up, eased her suppressed tension. “It’s quite a lot to take in but knowing my options makes it… easier.” Her lips lifted just a little.

“I suppose my next question is… will you and mother be accompanying me to stay at court or…”  Evie's words died. She’d been looking at her father but her dark eyes dropped to her uncle blinking. Please don’t say it…

As the girl stood and relieved him of his cup, Fotios was gracious enough to allow his fingers to release it but not so much as to lift it until her grasp. She was forced to bend to take it. When she moved to the side bureau in order to refill the cup, Fotios listened carefully as he always did. There were particular and continuous sounds to pouring a drink and, when one knew how to listen and how to mentally create an image of what those sounds foretold in your head, it was easy enough to know when someone was producing a special additive or may be taking an arduous amount of time for something so simple as pouring a drink.

He noticed, with relish, that Evangelina would not dare and took the cup from her willingly upon her return.

"I need your father here at the barony, Evangelina." He told her firmly, cutting her off from first one and then her other parent. "And I'm sure Lady Ava has more pressing matters to attend to with young Konstantinos." He smiled graciously at Evangelina's father. "Fear not, Konstanos, the girl can stay with myself. I'll ensure that Eirini teaches her the way of the court and she'll have plenty of company in the form of her cousins. She has already expressed her enjoyment of them visiting." He turned to Evangelina now. "This time, my dear. You'll be able to visit them."

"Now." He said with a firm prompt and set aside the wine Evangelina had poured him, untouched, as he stood from his chair. "I must be on my way back to Vasiliadon or it shall be night before I arrive home."

Looking down at Evangelina, he smiled at her.

"Fear not, dear niece. You have responded to this arrangement with all the eagerness I had hoped for. I will prepare the house for your stay and then send word with your expected arrival date... I shall also envoy several letters to come of my connections in Athenia and Colchis..." He eyes sparked. "We shall find you the very finest of husbands, I can assure you."

Being walked to the door of the study where a servant was waiting to see him out, Fotios turned momentarily to Konstanos.

"You should be proud at how obedient your daughter is, brother mine." He said sweetly. "I was expecting a fight upon such a topic but I now look forward to receiving her at the manor."

With a low bow from his brother - which was only appropriate - Fotios bid the two of them adieu and left the Acharist manor house, satisfied on a professional level that events were going to plan, and one a personal level at the look of fire he had seen in the pretty little Evangelina's eyes. It was always satisfying to beat down someone who had no chance to begin with - no matter their spirit.

Evangelina knew better than to try to stir something into her uncle’s drink especially since she could feel her father’s gaze penetrating her. Fotios didn’t make it easy, he didn’t meet her halfway with the glass. Her hand grasping the stem of the glass she contemplated how easily it would have been to trip herself and sending the staining liquid into her uncle’s lap. It was well known she wasn’t the most graceful of girls… and it’d serve him right. 

It’d be easy. Soo… easy.

She wasn’t sure what stopped her from dropping the wine on him but she decided against it as well. Better to watch and wait. Her moment would come. For the moment though, she simply handed the glass back to her uncle.

He cut off her words and she met her father’s gaze, giving him a look that he would know well. There were reasons she didn’t visit her cousin’s. Namely, the one sitting there wedging himself between her and her father.

“Wonderful. Thank you for such a gracious offer, Uncle.” She responded quietly with feigned demureness. Casting her father with one more, narrowed-eyed, accusing glance before Evie’s dark eyes fell back to her uncle as he continued speaking. At least he was leaving now.

Go. Leave. Get out of here. Forget about me.

He paused to speak to her and something in the way his eyes sparked made her want to step away from him. He was making her uncomfortable again.

“I will just have to hold you too that, Uncle.” A smile formed on her lips again, she looked up at him from beneath her lashes. Her words carefully coming off teasingly, despite the way her teeth were grinding together. She dropped into a small curtsey to her uncle as her father’s head bowed then stepped towards the door to see him out.

“Do have a safe trip home, Uncle.” She murmured in her soft throaty voice wishing he’d just go now.

As Fotios left she closed the door behind him and turned to her father… the facade melting away as an accusing look of hurt filled her. She waited a long moment giving her father the opportunity to say something reassuring. Her jaw tightened, her hand still on the door she dropped her gaze. “This is a bad idea, and you know it…” She murmured to her father and then added, “He hates me and mother.” This wasn’t the first time this conversation had come up so there was no need to has all of this out, again. With a sigh, “If that’s all… I need to go find Byrony and start making plans to be ready for the trip.”

Konstanos frowned at his daughter’s words but merely nodded that there wasn’t anything else he wished to speak to her about at this time.

Evie disappeared but instead of searching Byrony out she slipped out the back towards the pastures filled with mares and their growing foals. She needed to be alone for a little while to come to terms with the changes that were coming at her.