<i>I wasn't aware you were an option for anyone, really.</i><br/><br/>"Oh," Basren said. And then, with a small smile, "Neither was I, really. I hope you don't mind, I was just as surprised."<br/><br/>Alaras' small miscue had been charming. Basren's shoulders relaxed a little bit more, enough to let him say what he had. A little bit of honesty in this, when the announcement had caught them both off guard, seemed a good, mutual place to start. Something else they could share.<br/><br/>Basren lifted his cup to his lips, but the warm feeling starting in his gut had nothing to do with the sip he swallowed. It was almost enough to beat out the fresh wave of nervousness. Of Sovele telling him he could be replaced with a whore and a healthy child, or the way he'd threatened to kill any child he might have. Surely he didn't mean the latter now, if he was allowing this. His words before were a fit of pique, because Basren had needled him too much. Sovele didn't like thought of letting him go, but he would.<br/><br/>Then Alaras was asking for patience, and he alluded, again, to that past relationship that had failed.<br/><br/>"Yes, you did mention..." Basren said. "I won't pry, of course. I'm used to being patient. I never thought--I never thought Sovele would let me go."<br/><br/>He'd said the king's name, intimately, but he didn't bother to correct himself. Alaras had already said he didn't know that Basren had been an option to consider. No doubt he knew the rumors, the same as anyone else. If that bothered him, Alaras didn't say.<br/><br/><i>If you have your sights on someone else, I can let this fade naturally.</i><br/><br/>Basren's smile froze on his face. Had he said something wrong? Did Alaras want him to say that he did? He didn't want to trap him in this, if it wasn't what Alaras himself wanted.<br/><br/>Alaras had leaned toward him. He seemed warmer than he had before, and he hadn't had too much wine during dinner. That had to be genuine. He wasn't just playing. His manner in the garden didn't suggest a tendency towards artifice. He was surprised, but not disgusted. Basren let his grip soften on his cup.<br/><br/>"I... would appreciate the opportunity to see how we suit," he said, carefully. "There has been no one else except--well, I'm sure you're familiar with the rumors." He tried to master the blush, and the heat lessened but didn't entirely subside. He glanced over to the Queen but put his gaze back in front of him before that could be noticed. "But I don't think you should worry, if the King and Queen are united for our match."<br/><br/>He wasn't entirely sure of that himself, but he thought he understood. It made<i>sense.</i>He sipped his coffee, which was half gone by then, and put it back in his lap. Anis had snuck a glance at them, and the way that they were still leaned close probably spoke well to her. The silence probably would not.<br/><br/>"I can send our tailor over, if you aren't familiar with court fashions? He can certainly have something done for you in a week. I... I might have some spare cloth from a roll I just received, if you'd like to use it as--as an accent, or some such. He can alter what you have, too, if you'd rather not have the expense. Would that please you?"