She jumped involuntarily as the side door opened with more force than was necessary and quick, light footsteps were heard.
"Elena?" Miles called.
She sighed mentally; this was getting silly and stood up. "I'm over here, Miles." She said, stepping out from behind the bush.

His face lit up. "Oh good. I was going to ask you if you wanted to go swimming before dinner. It's no fun by yourself and Botha-your dad doesn't really count. Plus he doesn't' want to. I already asked."

Elena smiled slightly, "No, I guess not." She tried to picture the laconic, uniformed man frolicking in the water and couldn't'. "Sure, I'll go grab my suit."

Miles' face brightened even more. He was already dressed in a pair of old shorts that he often swam in, the metal braces he wore more apparent than usual, gleaming shiny on his skinny legs. "I'll meet you there!" He turned to run off, but stopped abruptly. "Oh wait. Um, don't let anybody know where you're going. And if anybody asks you where I am, tell them I'm still in the bath. It'll be partly true, anyway."

Elena opened her mouth to protest, but he was already scampering off. Not like it would have made any difference, she thought and went inside to change.



Later that evening, Elena and Miles sat at the dinner table, trying not to squirm. They both had sand in their shoes; a consequence of shoving feet into footwear without wiping them first. Neither of them had remembered to bring a towel to the swimming hole, but in retrospect going barefoot would have been better.


Sneaking back inside, minutes before dinner, they'd only had time to throw clean clothes on and scoot to the table, amid disapproving looks from the adults. Tonight of all nights was when Lord and Lady Vorkosigan had company and dinner was more than just a casual affair. Especially when Lady Vorpatril happened to be the company. It wasn't that Elena disliked her exactly, but she had a certain formidable presence that made you feel the need to inspect your hands for dirt and stand up straighter.

This evening Lady Vorpatril was resplendent in a dress of a serene shade of blue. Her small son Ivan, only a little older than Elena and Miles, slouched in his seat, ruining the line of his freshly ironed dress clothes. He didn't look pleased to be there either.

The dinner was excellent however, fresh fish in a fragrant white sauce that was simple enough to appeal to the children while satisfying the adults. However, the vegetable medley, however crisp, well seasoned, or tender the bits in it were, was a point of contention between the parents and the children.

Under the rise and fall of alternatingly boring and interesting adult conversation, Elena stifled a giggle as Miles scrunched his face up into a parody of disgust after a forkful of broccoli. Across the table, Ivan choked on his glass of juice, nearly spraying the immaculate tablecloth in front of him. His mother turned slightly from her conversation with Lord Vorkosigan to look askance at him, but did nothing but arch an eyebrow. Miles' father looked blandly in the other direction, but his mouth twitched.

Lady Alys resumed the conversation smoothly after a hairsbreadth pause, "Tell me Aral, how is Gregor's education coming along these days. I have not visited the imperial residences since returning from our trip. I expect he is doing well?"

Vorkosigan cleared his throat, "Yes, he seems to be picking up on his studies nicely, although he has been a trifle distracted recently. That can be easily explained by the horse he got for his birthday."

Lady Cordelia Vorkosigan snorted, "What is it with Barrayarans and those animals? He's as horse-mad as Miles here. Or Piotr."

Miles grinned impishly at his mother. "Aw, but horses are great, Ma." He bounced slightly in his seat, mundane things such as eating dinner forgotten in the presence of one of his favorite subjects.
Cordelia opened her mouth to answer but he stiffened suddenly and interrupted. "Oooh, can me and Elena show Ivan Grandfather's new foal? Can we, can we?!"
Cordelia held up a hand. "Wait. First of all, the food on your plate needs to be eaten. Second of all, it's good manners to ask someone before you volunteer their services. Thirdly, it's "Elena and I", not "me and Elena". However, ONCE dinner is finished, and Elena and Ivan are interested," She glanced at Lady Alys who nodded assent, "you may lead an expedition to the stables."

The little dark-haired boy nodded in eager agreement. "Yes m'm. Elena and I. Elena? Ivan?" This last was said pleadingly. Ivan glanced at Elena, who shrugged. "All right."

Miles jerked his chin up, satisfied. "That's all settled then."

* * *