Coming Back to Bite You

Lasair refused to meet him at her home today, no, no no no, not in a hundred years would she let that happen, not after last night. She paced around her private chambers, staring at her fiance's calling card on a silver tray like it was a snake about to bite her. There were too many eyes here, too many servants who she hadn't roped into eternal silence like her loyal John. But he was supposedly on his way, and she had to do something. 

She ran her hands through her perfectly coiffed hair, disrupting the small strands of pearls with a hiss of tension. Last night - last night was a mistake, she'd had more wine than she normally allowed, she allowed herself to fall to his touch and his sensual flirtations and the way he k--- no! She couldn't let him win, couldn't let him see anything in her other than perfection. Last night was a dream, nothing more. And like a dream, she took none of its satisfaction with her to the waking world, and more importantly, none of its consequences. She glanced at the trunk at the foot of her bed where her magic lay hidden under piles of dresses she'd never wear and grimaced. She had to remind herself that, as exciting as last night had been, her reputation was more important and she wouldn't put it at risk. Not even for a kiss like that.

It felt harder to smother this time, however, as she dressed for yet another societal battle. It fought her as she donned her armor, trying to live and burn under her rib cage when so many other desires had long since gone to ash. The most she could do was place it in a jar with a sealed lid as she settled her expression of grace and prideful elegance like a cloak, her chin raised high in the mirror.

He's seen her in that crowd, there was no denying that. But that didn't mean she'd enlighten him on anything else.

Thus settled, when he finally did come around to the Andraste estate on his solitary horse, she caught him along the way in her grey and green riding habit astride her own mare. Like hell she'd let him just ride up to the house and make a scene.

She smiled prettily for him, gesturing to the estate greens instead of the path running to House Andraste. "My darling Basileios, you look a sight for sore eyes! Come, let's enjoy the good weather in the fields instead of being cooped up indoors."