Achilleas had followed Theodora out to the yard, shooting Krysto a sideways glance as they went. His friend was a good horseman so he did not really fear for him - not unless Theodora saddled up some beast of Hades. He did not think she was so unwise though.
Although, he recalled she had been wandering through the fields barefoot and without any kind of escort when they had happened upon her. Was he being irresponsible in going along with this folly? He frowned.
“Stop looking so serious” Krysto spoke quietly, his grin flashing white in the fading light. “ It is just fun, nothing that will reflect badly upon you” It was oft this way with his Lord. For a moment he might see him slip free from the binds of his position, of those unending expectations that others heaped upon him. But it was never for long, almost as if Achilleas would remember himself and pull back again. Those that did not serve with him thought him uptight, maybe even dull. He was a respected warrior of course, but he took himself too seriously they would say. Krysto knew better though, saw the brief glimpses when he would relent in the exacting standards he held himself to, and he tried to encourage it where he could. Such as now, where he certainly didn’t intend to land on his head and leave his friend a mess to clear up.
“ This is your worst then?” he said lightly, eyeing the horse that a slightly hesitant Theodora had let out. He snorted a laugh when she revealed the name, and raised his eyebrows at Achilleas but the Lord Mikaelidas was looking at Theodora.
The Baron supposed he had relinquished any claim he might have been able to make towards moral virtue by being so forward with her earlier that day, an opinion she perhaps shared given the smirk she directed at him. He cleared his throat and leaned in a little.
“ I cannot say I approve of you handing over your moral virtue to such a man” he said, his tone serious, only the slight hint of a smile at the edge of his generous mouth. “ Such a thing as a lady’s virtue should be most carefully bestowed” . He had been quiet he thought, but there was a huff from beyond him that suggested may be not quiet enough, and Achilleas stepped back, putting some space between he and Theodora before her escort got agitated. His mouth kept saying words that he knew he shouldn’t.
Saved then, by a sudden squeal of outrage from the filly as Krysto had mounted, the Lord turned his attention to the paddock which they stood around.
Beast of Hades indeed.
The black horse had its ears back, and the muscles below its glossy coat rippled with a tremor of discontent. He watched them bunch and called a warning to Krysto just as the animal gathered itself and put in a huge buck that would have unseated many a rider. The Captain though laughed and stuck like a burr, even as the filly began to spin around like a creature possessed.
“She is...a little green” Achilleas expressed mildly as they watched the wheeling dervish from the safety of behind the rail.
To his credit, the Captain made a good effort , only to finally come unstuck at a particularly violent swerve that saw him fall off sideways to hit the sand with a thump.
There was a pause and he did not move. It was Achilleas who vaulted the fence and reached him first, bending over the prone figure with a look of concern until Krysto laughed and Achilleas thumped him before hauling him to his feet.
The Captain retrieved the filly, patted her neck and led her back over to the railing. He was walking a little stiffly but seemed otherwise unharmed.
“ Please tell me this is not one of the ones you bought today Achilleas?” he asked. “ If so, I must insist I do not have to ride it back to Euttica. My lady” he turned to Theodora “ Please forgive me for ever suggesting your Leventi bloodlines were any more placid that those Eyptian nags” With a wry smile, he proffered the reins back to the young woman and dusted at his clothes to little effect.
"One of them, at least." She offered. She could have picked one of the completely untrained horses, of course, but that could be equally damaging to the horse as its rider. It was far better to pick one that had started its training.
Lifting her gaze to the lord, Theodora's brows furrowed. "Then who would you approve of, my lord?" She asked him directly, her gaze not wavering from his. "And did you carefully bestow yours?" Theodora's brows raised curiously. It was not the same thing, of course. Men was not held to the same standards that women were, but how could she possibly resist? Her maid had scolded her many a times for being too forward. It was unladylike, she told her. A woman is far better seen, but not heard, she often said.
It was only when the captain mounted the horse and the creature squealed that Theodora made the move to walk away from the enclosed pen. Hoisting herself up, she sat herself atop the fence and steadied herself by curling her fingers around the wood.
It was only when the horse started violently thrashing about that Theodora felt herself hold her breath. A million thoughts seemingly passed through her mind all at once. The captain did rather good for himself. Keeping himself on the horse as it moved about in such a manner was a feat in and of itself. It was impressive in many ways. It was rather obvious that the man knew his way around horses, and had likely been riding them far longer than she had.
Until the creature won.
Brown eyes followed the movement of the captain as he flew off the horse and landed upon the ground with a thump that seemingly echoed through the air. Theodora felt herself tense as Achilleas moved. As she watched the lord move towards his non moving companion, it was almost as if time itself stood still.
She could almost feel the maid's glare at her back.
But then, as if the gods themselves had bestowed some kind of favor upon the captain, the man laughed. Slumping her shoulders in relief, Theodora's head shook.
Sliding off the fence, Theodora grabbed onto the reins and smiled. "Not to worry, Captain." She said with a slight bow to her head. "I would never hold it against you." Though, as the tension had washed away, the amused twinkle in her eye had returned.
Scratching the horse's forehead, Theodora was glad the horse was tame enough to let people touch it, though it still needed a few more months of training to be qualified as ready to be sold. "Let's get you back inside." She cooed at it, fingers tightening around the reins as she started leading the filly back into the stables. "Unless the lord would like to have a go as well?" She asked the horse, but kept her voice loud enough for the men to hear. There might have been a hint of a challenge laced about her words, but the young girl did not turn. "No, you're quite right, Arete. I completely agree." Lifting her free hand, she stroke it alongside the horse's mane as the two continued towards the stables.
Achilleas blinked at Theodora, hesitated. There was one very obvious answer just ready to fall past his lips and he dropped his gaze, blew out a soft breath as he reined in the urge to speak it.
Me
It would be so easy, to give voice to it, and he would have had no compunction in doing it earlier that afternoon, before he had known who she was. Indeed he would have delivered on it to, as he had suggested.
But that was before. Her name and his made everything more complicated and he could not afford to entangle himself in something that could end up messy and complicated. And so he merely looked st her steadily, tilted his head to the side “ It would be unwise for me to answer that, Theodora”. He laughed at her next question, and shook his head. “ When you have such a story to share, then we can talk about it”
Krysto’s exploits with the horse drew his attention then, though his gaze slid sideways towards Theodora more than once, until his friend’s fall had him move, and quickly.
It would not be good if the man had really been hurt, and Achilleas found himself worried as he leant down to touch Krysto’s shoulder. He would say the whole thing had been his idea he had decided in that moment, only to feel a wash of relief and annoyance and when his friend’s laugh rang out and the man pushed to sitting, grinning stupidly at the concern his Lord was exhibiting. The punch that Achilleas aimed at his shoulder instead was none too gentle then.
The two men had returned to the fence, and it was a struggle for Achilleas not to speak against Theodora taking the reins again now he had seen the filly in action She should not…. He opened his mouth intending to, but his friend knew him too well and elbowed him in the ribs so he shut up, and it was just as well as the Lady Leventi was clearly confident enough that even well meant interjection would likely not have been taken well.
Turning to exchange a look with his friend. Achilleas paused when he heard Theodora speak, when they both did.
Why by the Gods would he want to get on that thing?
But Theodora knew her audience well enough it seemed, and Achilleas raised one brow ina rather haughty expression. ” I did not realise these Leventi horses spoke as well, did you Krysto? Pray tell my Lady, what opinion your wild horse has to air “
He had not missed the edge of a challenge in Theodora’s words and was trying hard not to rise to it, he did not want to eat dirt as his Captain had. But Achilleas was not good at bearing blows to his pride either, and so he tried to balance common sense with The Mikaelidas arrogance that flowed through his veins.
"Hmm." She mused at his words. It was the most appropriate and safe answer he possibly could have given. It spoke volumes of his character, and though Theodora might have enjoyed it more had he truly taken the bait, it only proved to his good nature that he hadn't. "I might just take you up on that, my lord." She answered instead, "Though as you well know." She quickly continued, lowering her voice. "A lady never kisses and tells."
Pulling away from him when his attention was drawn elsewhere, Theodora knew all too well that if her father had heard her speak so freely, he would not have been pleased. It was far too easy for a lady to ruin her reputation and be seen as someone who put out far too easily. She didn't want that, of course, but nor did she want to be one of those women who did not speak their mind.
In a way, Theodora found herself envying the relationship between the two men. Finding close friends like that didn't come easily, and many of the friends one did make, had all kinds of agendas. A friendship could end and start as easily as gossip could.
Looking over at her maid, Theodora attempted a smile. The woman cared for her, that much she knew, but it wasn't similar to having a friend. Rather, it felt more like having a very old sister, or perhaps a second mom.
It was only when Achilleas spoke that Theodora turned her head to look at him over her shoulder. Stopping, she put a hand on the horse's neck. With a smile, Theodora looked over at the horse, as if sharing a glance with it. "The opinions of horses are very honest, my lord." She began, "But they are also skewed. They have a different vantage point than we do." She half turned, facing the horse, but looking at the two gentlemen.
"She doesn't think you capable of taming the Leventi spirit, my lord." She offered a shrug to that, as if saying 'what can you do'. She looked at the horse again, lifting a slender hand to run alongside the horse's muscled neck. She did little to argue the point she'd just brought forward, and did even less to apologize for it. Instead, Theodora tilted her head at the lord and grinned. With that, as if expecting no fight from the older gentleman, she started walking again.
Yes. Her father truly would have her head for this ― if he'd known. Theodora could only comfort herself with the thought that it seemed as if thus far, her forwardness had been taken with humor, rather than offense. In a way, it even seemed as if Achilleas himself enjoyed being challenged by a woman. It made her wonder if no one ever had before.
As if he had not been struggling enough to keep his thoughts on the straight and narrow, she had to bring up that kiss again. It had been innocent, a mere brush of her lips against his, but Achilleas thought that almost worse. He had thought he would be taking that kiss away as a souvenir, but now here he was presented with Theodora and all of a sudden it felt like a tease, a temptation that he knew he could not give in to.
He did like her boldness, the spark she had. He had thought uncommon in a farm girl, but perhaps he was wrong, perhaps it was more unusual in a lady of her breeding, where manners and reputation were everything. Theodora seemed not to care for such things.
She demonstrated it again - that forwardness- when she spoke, and Achilleas recalled her words “ It is more fun when I am the one doing the teasing” It seemed she was not yet done.
Against his better judgement and ignoring the exasperated expressions worn by both Krysto and the lady’s maid, he answered. How could he not?
“Is that so” Achilleas remarked dryly. “Maybe it is that she is not meant to be tamed” came the Lord’s observation, and he had suddenly appeared close to Theodora, laying his hand too upon the horse’s neck so close she thought he might brush her fingers. But he did not. “ Or it is that she doesn’t know me”
There was that arrogance that he seemed so blissfully unaware of,so much part of him that he could not recognise it. Krysto did though, and let out a barely suppressed snort of laughter.
“ What is it they say, about pride coming before a fall, Achilleas?”
The Lord Mikaelidas responded with a discreet hand gesture that had the maid’s lips press together in a sharp line of disapproval. She was beginning to wonder if these gentleman were suitable company for her young charge.
The baron gently opened Theodora’s fingers from where they held the reins, did she imagine he touched her a moment longer than was needed? But then he was leading the horse back into the centre of the paddock, and he spent a moment just quieting the filly, perhaps in some attempt to make her like him, or maybe just to delay the inevitable.
And then he had swung himself astride, and gripped on with iron hard thighs in preparation for what he knew was coming. Sure enough, he felt the tightening of muscles beneath him and the the filly was performing again, and Achilleas began to marvel that Krysto had stuck in place for so long. She wasn’t predictable in her movements, which it made a task to try and counter the bucks and lunges but he was determined. He had a point to make after all.
And Achilleas was not one to give up easily, so even as the little black horse did her best to rid herself of her unwanted cargo, he sat still and immovable. Indeed, sticking out after a tremendous buck, the baron thought he had rather proven himself and had looked up with a triumphant smile. Only, it was unfortunate that the filly decided to look up too, and threw her head back, clouting Achilleas right in the nose which put forward a impressive spurt of red.
There were some rather unmentionable and unseemly words that flew from the Lord’s lips and his dismount was less graceful than he would have liked as he slid gracelessly to the floor, holding a hand over his face to try and staunch the flow of blood.
Unwavering, her gaze followed his movements as he drew nearer. She could feel the closeness of his hand to hers, though it did not lower her gaze. Rather, the brunette stared at the man before her directly. A challenge of his own was presented, and it was not one presented as teasing, but rather... Authoritative. Stubborn. Prideful.
"Or perhaps it's a little bit of both." There was a small part of her that felt like flinching under his stare. She didn't, of course. Theodora held her ground, unyielding.
Not even the off-handed comment coming from the captain could pull the girl's gaze away. He'd risen to the challenge with as much stubborn pride as she herself would have. It was surprisingly impressive.
Fighting the urge to tighten her fingers around the reins, Theodora allowed the man to open them. For a split second, her eyes narrowed at the lingering touch, but before being allowed a chance to properly analyze it, the lord had taken the reins and started leading the horse away.
Theodora knew better than to linger and returned to her post along the fence. This time, though, she did not hoist herself up, but rather leaned against the hard material and let her hands relax against her side.
Thrash after thrash, attempt after attempt, it seemed as if Achilleas stubbornness was a far more dangerous weapon than that of the horse's. Despite the creature's bravest efforts, the man would not yield. No matter which way the horse threw itself, Achilleas remained seated. And when it seemed as if the fight had left the filly, and Achilleas had realized his triumph in taming the beast, the horse's head roared upwards and hit the lord straight in the face, and even among the dust and sand, the splatter of red wasn't hard to see.
"Get some water and some cloth." Theodora immediately ordered the maid before she pushed herself off of the fence. Still, agitated, the horse stomped its feet and snorted, clearly not too amused by the sudden approach of rushing people. Quickly, Theodora made a split second decision and grabbed onto the reins. The horse started moving to the left and right, seemingly unsure of what to do next. "Shh, shh, shh." She cooed in an attempt to calm the frightened creature. "You doing alright?" She threw over her shoulder, though kept her attention solely upon the horse. Following the movements of the horse and the pulling of the reins rather than tightening her grip, Theodora kept trying to comfort the creature through gentle noises.
The maid then returned with some water in a bowl and some cloth hanging off its side. Stopping by the fence, she cast the horse an uncertain look before her gaze moved towards the men. It was only as she moved through the gate and started towards them that the slowly calming horse started stomping its feet again, making the maid stop in her tracks.
This had been a terrible idea and her father would have her head for this.
Pain. There was a sudden burst of it and then his eyes had teared up and he could taste the salt iron tang of blood as it ran down his throat. Achilleas let go of the reins with one hand to raise it to his face, and took the decision to make a tactical retreat whilst the filly had all four hooves on the ground. He slid off, boots finding the sand and he wavered a moment, leaning against the horse for some stability.
That was a mistake for the creature was altogether unsettled still and lurched sideways, and Achilleas saw Theodora running forward, heard her call to the maid.
“Stupendously” was the muffled reply he offered to her, even as he watched in dismay as she began to try and calm the agitated horse. He felt Krysto lay a hand upon his arm and turned watery eyes upon the other man “That didn’t go to plan” he muttered from behind the hand he had covered his face with. And then before the soldier could respond he waved him away “ I’m fine..just take that horse off her before she gets hurt will you”
A bloody nose was nothing to be concerned about- he had been a little dazed but was coming back to himself now and it was certainly his pride that stung most, despite the still flowing crimson that ran over his hand and splattered the sand by his feet.
Glancing to ensure Krysto had obeyed his order- for it had been that -, Achilleas walked over toward the maid who reached to tend to him. He raised a hand and instead just took the cloth from her, pressed that to his face instead of the palm that was bloodied now
Pinching the bridge of his nose to try and lessen the bleeding didn’t hurt, his face felt mostly numb now but the water did thin the blood and make everything look a little dramatic.
It was unfortunate then that the Lord Of the House chose that particular moment to reappear, following the commotion to find his guests and investors. One of whom was wrestling with a green and overwrought filly who should not have even been under saddle, and the other who looked like he had been in a fight with a titan. And lost.
And there in the middle of it was his daughter.
“ What on earth is happening here? Theodora? Lord Achilleas?.”
When the captain approached to take the nervous horse off her hands, Theodora stepped to the side and held the reins towards him. "Don't make any rash movements." She said, placing the reins in the captain's hands and stepped away from the horse. Exhaling a breath through her nose, Theodora looked around the pen, trying to survey the situation. The captain was calming down the horse and Achilleas was back on his feet, and though there was blood everywhere, it seemed the blow hadn't been too bad.
Puffing her cheeks, Theodora took a step towards the young lord, only to find herself freezing in place as her father's voice run out.
Grimacing ever so slightly, she turned towards her father, a sheepish slump to her shoulders: This wasn't at all how she'd expected all of this to go. To be fair, the young girl hadn't really thought it out quite that far, but had simply hoped her father wouldn't ever find out.
Guess she had to bite down on the sour apple for that one.
As if realizing there was no talking herself out of this one, the young Leventi daughter stepped towards her father and away from the chaos behind her. Being chastised in front of others wasn't something she particularly enjoyed, but she knew she deserved as much. It had been her idea, after all, and though it could have been argued that the two men had a choice in the matter, it wasn't as if Theodora hadn't dangled the carrot in front of them and knowingly played upon their pride. No. They had no blame in this.
As she walked forward, Theodora searched through her mind for the right words to use. Somehow, she didn't think 'we were just having fun' would quite do the trick. If anything, it would only enhance her father's wrath ten times over. She knew he didn't care much for her games. She'd been told off for it before. Time and time again.
It was only when she reached her father that Theodora stopped. She bowed her head low as if in apology and pursed her lips. "It's my fault." She said simply. "I dared the Lord Mikaelidas and the Captain, and I let it get too far. I apologize." The words that followed from her father's mouth might have been muffled, though their sharpness was unmistakable. Her father was anything but pleased about the situation, but if anything, it was far better that he yelled at her than at their guests. After he was done chastising her, he dismissed her with a wave of his hand and turned towards the gentlemen. "I sincerely apologize for my daughter's carelessness. A servant will take care of the horse and we'll get the both of you checked out and cleaned up. And you'll get a discount on our deal." With that, Georgios waved over a stable boy, then gestured towards the maid still holding the bowl of water. "Get her inside." The maid nodded and while trying not to spill too much of the water, hurried towards Theodora.
Achilleas had tipped his head back and so was looking at the darkening sky when the sound of a man’s voice had him swivel his gaze to find the source. His own sense of dismay might have rivalled Theodora’s then, for it was clear that her father was not happy, and he could hardly blame him - it didn’t look particularly favourable.
He was just about to open his mouth to claim responsibility when instead Theodora got their first and Achilleas closed his eyes briefly in exasperation. There was no mistaking the harsh edge to her father’s words when he spoke to her, and the Lord Mikaelidas found himself sorry for her. He was older, wiser and should have set aside his pride rather than letting Krystos and himself be led into what was a silly game.
He let the Lord offer his apologies, and then removed the bloodied cloth from his face long enough to address the man. “ No, please my Lord. Your daughter is gracious but I cannot allow her to bear fault for this. It was simply a dare between myself and Krysto here that got out of hand. We talked her into it even though she expressed her reservation. It would be unfair for me to accept your offer of recompense and more unfair still for Lady Theodora to be held accountable” He knew the Lord Leventi would not gainsay him, a guest and a customer so as he arranged his expression into something suitably contrite he hoped that would be the end of it.
Krysto, having handed off the filly to a stable hand who led her away, gave a nod to corroborate the story, even as he shot Achilleas a surprised look. It did not shine a particularly flattering light upon his Lord for the man to suggest he had railroaded their hosts daughter into something she did not want to do, and Krysto knew that the girl’s Uncle was a close friend of Irakles, who would not look kindly on his son’s actions, should he get word of them. He thought a Achilleas more taken with this young lady than perhaps even the baron himself had realised.
Georgios had paused in his turn toward the house and though he frowned, as his guest had predicted he did not question Achilleas’ version of events. Rather, he looked suspiciously at Theodora and then jerked his head toward the house in instruction for them to follow him
“ If That were the way of it, Lord Achilleas then thank you for your honesty, if not your discourteous conduct toward my child. It is late, and your chambers have been readied so I would suggest you retire to them now. I will send along a servant to see to your injury, my Lord”
It was a dismissal if ever the two soldiers had heard one, and Achilleas’ wince had nothing to do with his nose which was now starting to throb a little even though the bleeding had slowed. He gave the Lord Leventi a respectful bow and then he and Krysto followed the servant dispatched to show them to their rooms.
When they passed Theodora, Krysto paused and offered her a bow too “ Goodnight , my lady” . Achilleas however remained stonily staring ahead and did not look her way , conscious of the girl’s father looking on disapprovingly. He had rather messed this all up and it was not a feeling he wore well.
Prepared to take the full responsibility for her actions, the brunette was a little surprised when the lord spoke up. It was an honorable thing to be sure, though, the young girl couldn't help but to wish he'd chosen his words with a little more forethought. Furrowing her brows at him, she mouthed, 'what are you doing?'.
He could've gotten away with no fault born on his shoulder, and even gotten a fairer trade out of it. It was what every other clever businessman would have done. To most, she was seen upon as a child who was more than easy enough to blame. It gained him no favor, nor was there any advantage to be taken from taking on the blame when she'd already done so.
It was the strangest thing, she realized. She wasn't certain whether he was too honorable for his own good, or if he was too dim to realize the implications.
When her father's gaze fell upon her, Theodora felt the urge to argue Achilleas' point. Not only did he make himself be seen in a poor light, but he'd also made her sound as some hopeless dame who went along with whatever the older men had suggested. Though, before she was offered the chance, her father turned away, his expression set in stone.
It was rather clear that the lord refused to look at her, and though the captain proved himself with more tact than the rest of them, her gaze didn't leave the older lord as he passed her. "Goodnight, Captain." She simply replied, eyes narrowing at Achilleas' back.
The maid looped her arm around Theodora's, while holding the bowl of water in the other. "Come on, my lady." She said softly. "Best get you inside, too."
With a sigh of frustration, Theodora swirled around and without another word, followed the maid back towards the house. She should have been a little more thankful that Achilleas had tried to help, though it seemed it had only made the situation more awkward than it had needed to be. She would much rather have preferred her father's anger, than him thinking her incapable of resisting some lord's charm and convincing words.
---
She didn't see either of her father's guests again until the morning after. The night had been spent with some sleep, and a lot of twisting and turning. Even after waking up and starting the day, what had happened the day before didn't sit quite well with the young girl. There was almost as if this awkward bubble of tension had settled over the whole estate ― or perhaps she was simply overthinking it too much.
Stepping out into the foyer, Theodora found herself hovering at the doorstep. A little uncertain then, she wondered if perhaps it would have been better if she'd pretended to feeling too unwell to bid their guests goodbye. She couldn't see either of them in the foyer or through the window outside. Perhaps this was her chance to make a clean escape.
The only sounds she could catch was the servants bustling inside the kitchen, the horses neighing from the stables and absolutely nothing else. The manor seemed almost eerily quiet. Pursing her lips, Theodora backed out the same way she'd arrived. Rounding the corner, she slid into the open door leading to the living room, only for her body to crash into what felt like a solid brick wall.
It had not been a satisfying night’s rest for the Lord Mikaelidas. Retreating to his room he had been left feeling rather foolish after his clumsy attempts to clear Theodora of any wrongdoing. He had thought she would be glad of his efforts, but if anything the young lady had seemed almost put out when he had spoken up.
Which left Achilleas to nurse his wounded pride- and face- for much of the night. Not only had he offended their host, but he’d somehow irritated Theodora and talked himself out of a sweet deal on the horses they had purchased, which was the entire reason for being here.
It was unlike him to be so foolhardy and he could tell that Krysto had thought it too. He had left his friend in the stables before the man could say anything though, not quite ready to have his actions scrutinised and dissected yet, and had headed back inside to bid Lord Leventi a final goodbye and collect the documentation regarding the agreement they had reached the day before.
The man had been reserved but had clasped his forearm as he took his leave, so Achilleas could at least be hopeful he had not done any lasting damage to his standing with his fellow baron, and, clutching the sealed paperwork in his hand he had been making his way back through the manor to join Krysto and be on their way. There was a part of him that was disappointed that Theodora had not seen fit to come say farewell, but then he thought perhaps it was for the best, he had overstepped his own boundaries with her enough as it was. At least he could leave knowing she wasn’t being held responsible for anything that had occurred the night before.
He thought he had taken a wrong turn when he ended up in a large room he had not seen before, and so was looking back the way he had come when he crashed into something. Or should that be someone.
Strong arms reached out to steady Theodora as she rebounded off of the very solid warrior’s form, and Achilleas looked down at her with an expression that seemed almost pleased for a moment. But then he removed his hands from her arms quickly, and his features shifted into something more impassive. There was a faint bruise beginning to bloom on his nose and the unsmiling top lip was a little puffy where it had caught his teeth in yesterday’s little mishap, but otherwise the Lord seemed unharmed.
“ Lady Theodora” He dipped his head in a bow and then came upright again, a well practiced greeting that seemed a little stiff and formal after their earlier acquaintance. But that is what Achilleas defaulted to when he felt uncertain, and if nothing else, this wilful girl before him left him feeling that.
“ We are about to leave. I did not think we would see you before departing” . The man’s gaze flickered over her shoulder as if to be sure there were no eavesdroppers before he almost reluctantly added “ I am glad that I have”
He caught and held Theodora’s gaze for a moment “ When you are next in Vasiliadon..” Achilleas began, but then he seemed to reconsider, brows drawing together. It was not as if she would be allowed to come calling, and he was infrequently in the Capital anyway. “ ...perhaps our paths will cross again” . It was dismally vague, he realised as the words left his mouth, but the young baron knew enough to know that there was little point pursuing this...interest, when such things were dictated by political and social gain, rather than by whomever caught his eye. It was a fact he found rather burdensome now, looking at the Leventi girl, but he had been raised knowing his fate in that regard, and it did not allow for flimsy dalliances with daughters of wealthy Lords or allies.
There was almost a sigh of resignation, before Achilleas straightened and seemed to steal himself. “ I wish you well, Lady Theodora.” And then he was gone, striding swiftly away toward the stables to where his horse waited ready to carry him back to Euttica and duty.
A little dazed, Theodora stepped away from the supposed brick wall, only to feel a pair of arms straighten her back up. Blinking, brown eyes immediately locked upon the much taller man before her. She didn't miss the pleased expression that briefly swept across his face, though as soon as it had appeared, it was gone again. As was his arms.
As if touching her had burned his skin.
For a moment, Theodora simply stared at him, feeling trapped between sixteen years of having manners beat into her head, and many less of teenage rebellion.
"I wasn't planning to." She replied hastily, as if feeling the need to prove a point. She was being childish, and she knew it. One hand came up to cradle her elbow as she shifted uncomfortably. "But you seem very hard to escape, my lord." She added with a little less tension.
He continued then, and Theodora's eyebrows rose, but fell as quickly again as he continued. "When our paths do cross again, my lord, I do hope you've grown a little wiser." The corner of Theodora's lips curled upwards into something of a smile. "Though your efforts here will be fondly remembered." With her free hand, Theodora plucked a small lint off of his shoulder.
It wasn't perhaps the way Theodora would have liked for the fun to have ended, but even she realized there was no point in pursuing anything else. Nor was she truly interested in anything of such a fashion. While of marriageable age, it was far too soon. And it wasn't, nor would it ever be, her decision.
Still, she couldn't help but to feel a little disappointed. "Watch out for the fields, my lord. Who knows what dangers lie there these days." She called after him, only half turning to watch him stride away as if the wind was pushing at his feet. She made no move to follow him, nor did she make a move to walk anywhere else. Instead, the young girl found herself standing in the door frame alone, listening to the footsteps echoing away from her.