He seemed so at ease, but then again now, especially not when the artist was mentioned; perhaps she should not have asked but otherwise she would have worried. Sir Nicholas had a bit of a reputation for avoiding brothel's from what she had heard, and there had never been a word breathed of the man being violent. Perhaps it simply was that the two men did not understand each other well. That could happen quiet readily and clearly Sir Nicholas hadn't felt the need to cause a scene earlier, so that spoke well to things; at least, not that she had heard of. Holing up in her room had rather removed her from any current happenings for the past few hours. Hours that would mean little in most lines of work but could mean everything with a whore.<br/><br/>A furrow of concern creased her brow at Atticus' words and she put aside her book, reaching for the hand not on his sword with both of her's and clasping it in a gentle touch that put no demands, simply offered the comfort of another's touch. Atticus was so rarely nervous in front of others, sometimes when it was just the two of them, yes, but on the ground floor? Not before that she could remember.<br/><br/>Fiona raised his hand up, pulling it towards her and ghosted a soft kiss on the back of it. A token, meant to remind him of stolen moments together when he had reassured her and her fears that she so rarely voiced. The music in the room reminded her that Zara had found them, but not as kindly as her friend before her. No, she wouldn't think of the other woman. "I'm sure he wouldn't dark star," she murmured softly, using the term of endearment she addressed him with so far only within her room.  "at least not if the notion is abhorrent to you. You know he doesn't countenance rape and well...he took you from that<em>other</em>place and offered you a position here did he not? One that was not sexual and let you go six months with your celibacy."<br/><br/>Slightly she applied a pressure on his hand, asking him to sit with her but it was no demand nor did she voice it. Sometimes doing such was not needful and she would hate to make him feel pressured to do anything. "You never burden me Atticus, its not ridiculous, at least no more then I've been at moments. Its what friends are for, and I very much value the fact that you would speak with me of anything so...concerning. You could likely earn a lot, more then anyone else here likely there's just something about you, the artist saw it as well." The thought of the artist had her frown then, alarm flashing in her blue green eyes.<br/><br/>"Sir Nicholas didn't harm you did he? Or pressure you to accept...certain intimacies?"