He moved toward her with careful nonchalance, ducking casually under the low, shadowed boughs of a tree. “You assume I was brought here by you,” he responded, dodging the question. Typically selfish of her to assume he wanted something from her. He couldn’t deny that she looked beautiful under the silvery moonlight, but the thought only flitted through his mind before he dismissed it.
He plucked a small white flower from a full bush to the side, bringing it up in front of his gaze and twirling it between his fingers. “I, too, came here to find peace. You never specified whether my Master and I were to be confined to our quarters.” He glanced up at her, his gaze challenging her to imprison him here.
“So you not only think me stupid, you think me heartless and cruel as well. I had hoped to find you the more reasonable of you and your Master. How wrong I was,” she said, all the softness that might have been in her eyes retreating with his words. Yes, she assumed he wanted something from her because all day, every day…that’s what people did. Demanded things from her. Action had to be taken. Duchess, you MUST do this. Lady, you MUST do that. ”You are free to go whither you will, as long as it is no where near me,” she said flatly.
He laughed at the remark, doing just the opposite. He advanced closer to her, throwing his arms out wide in an expressive gesture. “Does my presence offend you so, Duchess?” he asked mischievously, his long robe trailing in the grass as he stepped toward her.
“I never called you stupid, heartless, or cruel,” he countered, his tone softening to sincerity as he came face to face with her. He let it hang in the air for a moment, then continued with a wry smile. “Unreasonable, perhaps… but I suppose it’s to be expected with such a delusional dreamer.” He grinned again, moving away to explore another nearby flowerbed. “And you are delusional, my dear!” he called, pointing at her in emphasis even as he moved away.
