Oh what a thing to observe, a man so certain of his place and power set upon his heels in revelation of what his lover had woven together in gentle rebuke for his reckless action. Serafina found her lips curving into a smile of mirth, her eyes sparkling even as the young lad found upon a street corner no doubt and roped into this facade by promise of coin translated that an offering must be given up to join the fete. His handsome features were painted with pain when he stretched his arm too far and she found herself glad that Nicoletta had already sent for a doctor to attend him later. She felt the tightening of her mentor's hand about her own and squeezed in reply, attempting to impart some measure of comfort as she lingered near enough that their shoulders brushed.<br/><br/>Perhaps this then was the folly of men, to be so certain of their course and not think of the impact it made upon the hearts of those who cared for them. Yet Alessandro faced the due for his misconduct without flinching, nor resorting to fury and rebuke that kept many a woman in Venice silent, too afraid to call their menfolk to accounting. Was this then too, part of the freedom that he offered?<br/><br/>Upon his offering up the boy she noted the look of alarm on the said young ones features, and how the Asp so readily interceded with his Master to correct course. Wine was offered instead, and in truth they likely needed little of it but the blond remained curious, watching the by play between the three males who stood in the courtyard and cast their glances upward toward the balcony. So the boy was not a token to be bartered, yet he would be kept, offered a place in the estate that the lad eagerly accepted. What might have been a tragedy had turned into happy circumstance for one likely worse off than she herself when she had been taken into their keeping. A collecting of lost souls, perhaps that was what Alessandro and Nicoletta did in their staff selections.<br/><br/>Oh so many questions she had, not just for the woman who was her mentor but also for the house keeper and cook and all those who supported the grand estate, and most assuredly for Alessandro himself. It seemed the Lady in question was pleased with the gift, though she distracted Serafina by the kiss of her lips to her temple, by the laughter that spilled out warm against her skin and made her heart skip a beat.<br/><br/>As if thinking of him had summoned his attention she felt his eyes upon her then, her blue eyes meeting his bold gaze with a flush of color that came to her cheeks. Softly a smile curved on her lips as she inclined her head to confirm that she was the very same maiden he had taken on this very morning. That his attention moved back to his partner in all things was only expected, and she herself was content enough to be merely an observer in this moment.<br/><br/>Alessandro's features, bathed in the silver light of the moon, sobered as did his voice as  he laid himself bare in a manner she would have never imagined and she found herself more than a little in love with the notion of such a man. A man who would proclaim his love so boldly, who would fear no ridicule or remarks of being too soft, yet rather concerned himself with the state of the heart of his beloved. It surprised her not that Nicoletta was able to inspire such devotion in any man, though he truly seemed to be one of kind the longer she was in his presence. As laughter parted his lips Serafina questioned if there was a finer man in all of Venice, or even the world, who would do as he was doing. For Alessandro she did not have the smitten adoration that Nicoletta prompted, he was not one whom she had esteemed beyond all others, yearned to follow in the footsteps of; yet she felt something weighing upon her, unfurling within her as he moved to the trellis and began to scale it like a Prince out of a story might to claim his princess.<br/><br/>Concern pinched her features as she watched him move, for his arm had been injured, yet he made the balcony in good time, sweeping his darling into his arms before lifting her mask. Unbidden a soft sigh of romantic delight parted the young blond's lips, her eyes shimmering with the magic of what she observed, standing a little apart from both them and the others, near enough to catch the faintest hint of his apology. Nicoletta still held her hand, their fingers entwined until it parted and she stepped further back, wishing to give them privacy out of respect. What struck the young woman deepest though was the fierce passion of their kiss, one that was utterly unlike the slim moments of affection she had witnessed between her own parents and those of her class, as if passion here were a strength rather than something to be reviled and she wondered if perhaps one day she might know such desire, such love to lost herself so completely in a touch.<br/><br/>The words that came next to her Lady's lips she did not catch, her eyes downcast in modesty only to raise in round surprise at the mention of a dance with the man who was now master of her fate. Alessandro was Nicoletta's dearest of her heart, why then would she push him into the arms of another woman? A flush swept her cheeks at the thought that she might be enough to bind a man to this world. Soft lips parted to decline, to insist that the two of them dance instead yet Nicoletta's hand pulled her forward, settling her delicate hands within Alessandro's hold.<strong>"Please, my Lady, I would not ask for such a thing when he is so newly returned to you."</strong>Her voice was soft, meant only for the two who had changed her life so drastically, though she realized what she had spoken might make Alessandro doubt her affection.<br/><br/>An earnest glance was then directed at him, a shy smile on her lips as her eyes shone luminously behind the midnight black of the mask that hid her features so that she remained a cherished secret by he and Nicoletta.<strong> "It is not that I would not be overjoyed to dance within your arms, my Lord, merely that I would not usurp the position of your beloved and give myself undo importance."</strong>