The rest of the world was momentarily forgotten as she focused on him. And, right then, she was focused on just how Simprina and he had reached an agreement where she was concerned.<br/><br/>Simprina wasn’t the most…understanding of women. They’d known each other for years, essentially growing up together, and Simprina had never once put her own wants above what she was required to do. In fact, every time that Maria had begun to step out of line, she was put back into place by her sharp tongue, reminding her that others would give anything to be in her position and that she should be more grateful. She had been a constant presence at her back as long as she could remember…so to hear that he was more understanding of Brádach now had her suspicious.<br/><br/>Her lips parted to say as much, but the way his finger traced over her face, she lost herself in the touch; Distraction seemed to come easily whenever she was around Brád, coherent thought going out the window readily. It took his next look, the familiar look that took hold of his eyes, to snap her back to reality.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Can I arrange the room to be ours tonight?</span>she wondered. It wouldn’t be too hard in theory, but with the announcement of her coming bundle of joy, her ladies were already more attentive than they’d been previously (if that were even possible). She was under stricter watch. …But she wanted to be with him tonight.<br/><br/>“…I can try,” Maria replied cautiously. “After we leave here, I’ll send my ladies to bed early…the guards don’t come in, so I should be fine there…And then, if we lock the door like we did the day you caught me in my room, we shouldn’t be interrupted without warning.” A nod was given as she further affirmed her plan to herself. “If anyone were to knock or attempt entry sooner than morning, you’d have an opportunity to hide. That should work, right?”<br/><br/>There was still a worry she’d left unvoiced now that this new option had come to light. If this was his child, how could they keep everyone else from knowing it? It wasn’t as though Ivor and Brád matched in terms of features. Her lighter features could only explain things so far.<br/><br/>That could wait, though. Right then, she just wanted to make sure there wouldn’t be any hiccups with him spending the night.