Flick saw Loisei safely in to the room and then left, hurrying down the hallway, before collapsing against the wall. Am I mad, she thought briefly, I just hired myself a helper. I don't even know what I need her for! But she knew why she'd done it. She'd experienced too much bullying in her childhood to let it pass now.
"And here I was believing that Kel was the only one who cared so much for commoners," a dry voice behind her remarked. Swinging abruptly, startled, Flick found herself staring into a pair of twinkling emerald eyes. Stepping back hurriedly, she gasped, recognising the newcomer as Sir Nealan of Queenscove, the realm's most powerful healer. Performing a low curtsy she glanced up at him through lowered lashes. Tall, fair-skinned and lean, his emerald eyes were obscured by light brown hair that was swept back from a widow's peak. He was incredibly handsome.
"Sir Nealan," she murmured graciously, cringing on the inside at the ladylike image she presented.
"Call me Neal," he stated, a pained expression gracing his features, "no-one calls me Nealan." She swallowed. That was simply asking too much she thought, deciding instead to settle with 'sir.'
"So why, may I ask, are you hiding away here with commoners whilst the other ladies dance their way through all those poor fellows upstairs?" Surprised to hear a knight talk so freely to a noble lady, especially one of his stature, Flick gaped at him, though she was secretly relieved and gratified. Though he was infinitely higher in birth than herself, he was speaking to her on an equal level, lower even, she thought smiling. It also showed that he certainly had no intentions to court her. Maybe he was the knight that she could learn from without getting caught up in any romantic business.
"I'm sorry," he said, looking slightly embarrassed, taking her silence as indignation. "I shouldn't have said that."
"No, it's not that, sir, it's just... I thought all knights I met would only see me as a potential wife, it's nice to know I was wrong."
"Neal. Sir makes me feel old and I'll have you know, I'm only 26. And in answer to that, not all knights are that pretentious."
Flick gasped in horror. "I'm sorry, I meant no disrespect - ." She blinked, he was laughing, his eyes sparkling in mirth.
"Don't worry, I was teasing. Now, you never answered my question." Seeing her puzzled expression he hurried to elaborate. "why you're down here."
"Oh, well to tell you the truth, I don't much care for parties and balls. They're all the same deal, men eyeing you, men chasing you. It gets ridiculously tedious after a while."
"I can imagine. Well, actually I can't," he added as an afterthought, grinning lopsidely. His gaze turned quizzical. "But isn't that the reason you become a lady? To go to parties and find a suitor?"
"It is if you actually want to become a lady," she muttered fiercely. Seeing his curious look she shook her head, as much to clear it as to stop the conversation. "Never mind, sir," she said, angry at herself for almost revealing her feelings.
He let it pass. But not the naming. "Neal," he stated, exasperated. She bit her tongue to keep from laughing, she'd heard of his infamous impatience, it was fun to watch him struggling to conceal it. He changed the subject abruptly.
"So, who was the girl?"
"I don't really know. Her name's Loisei. I heard shouting while I was wandering, while I was hiding I guess you can say, so I went to see what the commotion was." Fury gripped her heart as she recalled the scene she had just witnessed. "A lady was beating her, hidiously, so I interfered. I paid for her and then took her to my room to clean herself up. I would have stayed with her but I thought I should probably return to the party once more before Tienne and Rilla get into a frenzy trying to find me."
"She was beaten you say?" Flick nodded, her jaw clenched in anger at the thought. Sir Neal looked thoughtful. "Would you like me to check her? Make sure she's not too badly hurt?" Flick felt some of the tension leave her body.
"Would you, sir?" she asked gratiously"Of course, but I guess I'd better return to the to-do first before folks start questioning my whereabouts." He extended his arm. "Will you accompany me, Lady..er?"
"Felicea of Emeryia."
"I'm sorry, in my self absorbed state I never asked. Lady Felicea of Emeryia, I shall check... Loisei, did you say? But first, I promise to keep men from chasing you if you are willing to join me." His eyes were full of mischief and she grinned up at him.
"My pleasure, sir." He threw up his hands in mock despair before leading her from the room.
"Please, call me Neal."