After dark? Control of the lighting? The little lady squinted at her subject, her mouth drawing into a fine, straight line. Her pencil pulled away from the drawing and hovered over her lap.
“Why are you so eager for me to draw the Baron?” She asked, a faint tremor entering her voice. Accusations and demands were not in-character for her, and she struggled with the delivery. “If he does want to be drawn, it could certainly wait until tomorrow.” What Alethea left unsaid was the complete absurdity of the notion that she would be strolling into the Baron’s quarters after nightfall, or ever. She knew how boys thought, especially older boys. Which was why she never met with older boys except out-of-doors.
Unnerved, Alethea stood at last, replacing the pencil gently on her little easel, and strode over to a tray for a cup of water. It was a relief to look away from Nyx – she’d been scrutinizing her for what felt like hours, and now that the conversation had taken such an unexpected turn, she felt very exposed...like her eyes were saying things that her mouth managed to keep quiet. Leto lifted her head and trotted over to her, pressing her nose into the girl’s free hand. Alethea stroked the mottled fur, instinctively.
“Let’s take a break. You’ve been sitting still for so long, I’m sure you’d like to stretch your legs,” she suggested over her shoulder, almost cheerfully.
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