"Generally a man asks for a woman's name before he offers to take her home. You have done no such, yet," she quipped, as she started to walk off in the direction of her quarters. Cleitus was stunned. If this woman was trying to make him speechless, she was greatly succeeding. He realised that she had already made it a few paces in front of him, and he hurried to catch up with her.
"I do not need to ask your name, Claudita. For every man in this province, if there is anything worth knowing, then it is your name. You are the daughter of the ex-general Costas. Your mother, unfortunately, died when you were a young girl. You have been solely raised by your father, and you have a keen interest in political affairs, although because of your sex, you are not permitted to convey them in public," Cleitus informed her. Such a knowledge he had of her was almost frightful. "Am I on the right track?" Claudita nodded, and smiled shyly.
"And I also forgot to mention, you have the most beautiful smile of any woman. It makes me falter," he told her, again outstretching his hand for her to take. She took it, graciously, and he tightened his grip on her hand. Holding onto it securely. His hand hand was rough, but smooth, and the simple touch made her shiver. Cleitus noticed this.
"Are you cold? Would you like my cloak?" he asked. She shook her head, her long dark hair shifting beautifully next to her slightly pale complexion, "But you shivered," he queried. Claudita looked down, blushing a little as she looked back up.
"It was your touch. Your firm hands," she admitted. Cleitus smiled, and Claudita did too. Her heart was racing, from thinking of him, from looking at him. Was it possible to believe in love at first sight?
"Well, this is my quarters, my father will most likely be inside. You may come in if you wish?" Claudita asked, hoping he would say yes. Cleitus nodded, and followed her inside.