Indeed, Nicoletta had chosen to sit beside the young Serafina within the carriage. Her reasons for this had been for a variety of reasons, for Letta all things must be committed to as such. For if one could only take one meaning or layer would mean to be accepting of a trifling boring existence and that was unacceptable to her. And while her mind already spun with curiosity at the reasoning of her Lover's actions and the strange look upon his face, as if the years laid out before him were to be ones of great harvest, that would not be all that she sussed toyed within the maze of her mind.<br/><br/>What conversation the girl and she had however slight when the couple had come to collect her, however  the gentle reward of coin to the footman had been broached or the ever so polite exchange of words and the customary gifting of orders to those who they left behind came from Letta's own lips as easily as breath did. Alessandro and herself had their appointed roles down to an art form, who did what, when and where, so that at times they appeared more orchestrated then natural flowing beings. It was not to be discounted however, how their eyes found one another now and again, or the subtle shifts that were tells the other read clearly as words most times. Years spent in that orchestration that ranged from business to dedication so intimately bound, had granted them such knowledge of the other.<br/><br/>Of course, one layer of her choice to set in her pale blue silked glory was to ease the girls perhaps trepidation or curiosity. It was to show there would be no harm that came to the angel, not while Matron was near, her shadow a safe one to indulge and learn within.  Within the girl, perhaps she saw some bit of reflection of a long lost bit of herself, when want and innocence warred with conviction to a path unlike others might choose. Perhaps it was nothing more then her own curiosity as to why Alessandro had not behaved as norm, and still was not as he gazed over at them a bit moonfaced and too pleased with himself. Perhaps as she dived into her own reasoning's a bit more, she would suss that part of her choice was so that she could better get to know the slip of angelic flesh that had so inticed her Lover's eye to take an indulgence unlike any other she had witnessed.<br/><br/>Already Nicoletta's mind had begun to pluck upon the chords and strum along the strings of thoughts that would be Alessandro's inevitable loss of what whatever game he was about and by so, her inevitable win of the same game, the thought bringing that smile of hers curious and enticing upon the lips as her fingertips played lazy games along the girls side.<br/><br/><em>It was more then unnerving, however, to see the way his eyes danced now.</em><br/><br/>Was it pain tinged bliss for her as his voice filled the coach to answer an unworded question from the one beside her? Yes. A thousand times over it was, as Alessandro allowed his mask to slip and confession to come bubbling from over those lips of his. Already she begin to take apart the words, cutting through them in the way she did to find the quick of the truth.<br/><br/>Which parts were for her, which parts were to soothe, who were they to soothe, where was the game and dance of it all, within the prose and promise his dark voice gifted to the air they all shared. It was not question of truth or lie, she knew the words spoken were utter truth, but Alessandro's gift of them at the time they were given was done for purpose. Perhaps one even he did not see clearly yet, but reacted to instinctual as her own instincts led her to slip her fingers within the girl beside hers, fingers that if allowed and offered a soft squeeze, opposite hand of the one her Love had found to squeeze as well.<br/><br/>It was not a rarity for Nicoletta to be silent, to let but her eyes and her actions speak for her. It was suiting in truth, considering her chosen profession. For to listen was to learn and knowledge was power. Control was for her not the harsh line of crop or marking, but instead knowing the defining lines of interactions. Her love for her Alessandro was beyond question, or reproach. The slight sting as he already grouped them into a unit, that was to be expected, it was not jealousy but that she had paid for such, earned it by more then just existence, however some measure of that could be Alessandro trying to fuddle his way to finding an illusion he could stand by as to his reasons why this beautiful slip beside her had earned such from him already. After all, men needed to comfort themselves with illusions rather then just accept that their margain of control was limited.<br/><br/><strong>He could say it was for her. <br/><br/>He could pretend to himself that it was because he wished to repay the kindness of the universe that had put her in his path. </strong><br/><br/>But his last words in that coach spoke a far different truth, then the utterances of his lips and confession that his own mind believed as utter truth without guile or guise. The return from her lips was but a few words and the only she would speak aloud while in carriage. After all, he was apparently already cutting to the quick himself, realizing what he had done, for he had used the word 'unlikely'.<br/><br/><strong>"As you wish." </strong><br/><br/><br/>*********************************************<br/><br/>The carriage would draw them home, to the opulent display of wealth and power that they had built together, to reflect their status and claim of the world about them. This house, it represented more then just house, it was home and thus beloved to them. Each stone and blossom placed was a testament to their crafting of a spot within the dry Earth that was theirs, manifested merely for their amusements. Oh, this was showcase of their affection and assault upon a world that would not define them and whose rules they changed for their own amusements. A stage for that which would come to pass in the time they wished for it too. Servants came forth as was their place to do, aiding in getting their Lord and Ladies out of the carriage, as Alessandro gave his reasons to escape with his graceful flare, kissing both of their cheeks as he strode off towards the gardens and who resided there.<br/><br/>Nicoletta allowed the natural ebb and flow of the tide of arrival to place Serafina and herself where custom and ritual would. A robe brought froth from her own wardrobe to be placed upon the girls body, the elegance of the wrapping, as with most things the sunset tressed beauty owned, it was decadent to a fault, made to force a perception of her own design upon those who viewed it. This particular one was rose ink with details delicate enough to make an angel weep. Serving girl would make sure it was tied and fastened about Serafina's form without a flaw before making her retreat, Nicoletta's eyes amusing themselves with gliding over a few letters that had been delivered in their absence this morning and with arranging for messenger to be greeted and escorted to where ever she might be when word came of the other girls arriving in their new homes as well.<br/><br/>To the ebon haired girl, her voice fell sweetly enough.<strong>"I wish refreshments in the gardens. Nothing to heavy. We are not to be disturbed but for that which I have already given orders upon."</strong>The servant gave her understanding with a curtsy before slipping out of the entry they stood within. It was Nicoletta who gave her elbow for the girl to take or not to take, starting already down the hall that opened up into one of her prized gardens.<br/><br/><strong>"You must have as many questions or thoughts as the stars in the heavens above! I will not beg apology for the confessions you heard within the carriage, Alessandro is a rather curious sort of being, complete with his own locked doors and treasure coves, but his intentions with you seem to be rather pure, but for their depraved edges. You are astonishingly beautiful, but that it is not all of you, is it? So then, little angel, grant me the privilege of your confidence and I shall give you the honest reflections of a mind edged in sin for you to consume as we partake of some good wine and savory ends." </strong>Nicoletta wasted no time in cutting to the quick of this matter either as the footman held open the doors that lead them out to the gardens and slippered feet would guide the way to where they could find quiet repose in the sanctum created of blooms and thorns.<br/><strong><br/>"I would ask of you to indulge me and be absolutely honest, without guile or guise. I have a nose for such and it is such a tedious thing to converse with one who does not understand that at times the truth is far more refreshing then the most decadent of lies. And you, little angel, seem to have captured something within the Heart that beats outside my chest. So please, make no mistake, I will strive to know you perhaps more so then then any other, if for no other reason then to understand what it is about you that makes him smile so, and more to truth, to learn how to increase it ten fold should it amuse me to do so. " </strong>That which was said was not spoken in anger or jealousy, it was commented upon merely as one would the way a flower bloomed in the morning sun but not in the evening light, it was truthful gift of purpose and intent without trappings of other emotions as her hand lay atop the girls own in the crux of her elbow.<br/>