"True," Annalisa said. "And I guess our lives here are not that bad. The family takes care of us, we're fed and clean all and not command to do things all the time. I've been here for a few days at best. I wasn't allowed here yet because I was, admittedly, fighting like a brat. Most families would have... done things to me and all this family did is punish me, now that I think about it. I'll try not to complain so much now."<br/><br/>She smiled at Christine when she talked of her brother, trying not to laugh. "He always had a taste for blondes," she told her new friend. "But he has a... a thing for redheads as well. Don't worry, he'll notice you long enough. Louis can just be so silly at times when not noticing something great in front of him."<br/><br/>Louis was going to say something else to Victoria when Alastair came to him. He bowed in the presence of the Lord, smiling. He was going to say something to the Lord, a compliment or an apology of sorts, when he said that he'll now have a reward in form of having Annalisa in front of everyone. Now.<br/><br/>He paused like a deer in headlights, visibly paling when he was offered Annalisa as his 'reward' for defending Christine. He nearly dropped the tray he was holding, his jaw set in a grim fashion.<em>Don't act like this</em>, his mind was telling him.<em>Someone will notice the way you're acting is off. Pull yourself together man. Do you want them to know the truth? Hmmm?</em><br/><br/>That was true. He took a deep breathe, pulled himself together and smiled at Alastair, bowing to the man as if thanking him for the reward. "You're a kind man, my Lord," he said cheerfully, trying to sound excited that he was going to have sex with her. He couldn't turn down the offer, for fear of angering the man for being ungrateful. He will have to actually do this, but at least he'll try to make it comfortable as possible for his sister.<br/><br/>"May I just ask<em>what </em>I may do with the slave when I take her in front of everyone here?" Louis asked sincerely, not wanting to do anything too degrading to the young girl. "While I love to ravish her, I wish not to over go over the bounds of my kind and hospitable host and do something that you do not approve of. She is still the property of the family after all."<br/><br/>Annalisa fared no better, as she all but looked shocked to hear that was going to happen to her. She set her jaw and reminded herself not to complain, thinking it could be worse somehow. She bowed her head, keeping her hands on her lap there in order to not hit something or someone.<br/><br/>"I am honored to be the reward of the footman Louis Benedict," she said loudly, giving a wide and fake smile. "Thank you my Lord for giving me such prestige this evening."