<span style="font-family: 'Georgia'"><span style="font-size: 15px">Sebastian frowned at his prostrations. That seemed excessive. The house was large and expensive, yes, but it was hardly the abode of nobility. Only someone of equal or higher class than that would train their servants to such extremes. And Sebastian did not miss the tint of panic to his movements, the dread in his eyes. Sebastian turned his gaze suspiciously to the lady of the house. Mrs. La Row was far younger than he anticipated and he was starting to get the feel that the wool had pulled over his eyes. <br/>
<br/>
The woman had high, sharp features and an intense gaze. There was something...not quite right about the expression in her eyes. Her dark hair was twisted into intricate braids and then tied into a high bun. From what he could see, it usually had a tightly curled quality to it which was currently being squashed by the elaborate hairstyle. She wore dark makeup around her eyes and clearly something to warm her cheeks - trying to hard, if you asked Sebastian. But any effort women made in his direction was trying to hard to him. </span></span><span style="font-size: 15px"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia'">He immediately didn't like her and was already regretting this whole endeavor. <br/>
<br/>
He glanced back to Ayaan and immediately felt himself soften. <br/>
<br/>
Well...maybe he didn't quite regret it. But he was still wary. <br/>
<br/>
He gave a shallow, half-assed bow while maintaining eye contact with the woman. "Miss La Row," he greeted as politely as he could manage. "I was under the impression I would be meeting you and your mother."<br/>
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"Oh, yes." Lydia huffed, waving her hand through the air dismissively. "My mother's been dead for over a year. An illness not even magic could cure. But things are done with much more urgency when there's an older, more established individual pulling all the strings. I knew you'd get here faster if I used her name. Though, still I was left waiting. Perhaps I should have used a male alias..." she mused, her gaze distracted for a moment before returning to Sebastian again. "No matter. I think wine would be more fitting for the evening, don't you think, Ayaan?"<br/>
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Sebastian thought it was actually a matter to be addressed, but he didn't press it. He was a man of few words and arguing about it would use up his quota for the day. </span></span>