<span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Almeria gave a soft gasp upon entering the room, instantly relaxing.  Regardless of their strange attire, she'd felt curious of the people out in the bar, and the manner of the gentleman called Asmar had helped immensely in the alleviation of her distress.  She had blushed a charming pink upon the touch of his lips to her hand.  She did not dare to sit as yet, for to muss the room with her stained travelling gown would me most sad indeed.  So she spent the time while he'd gone inspecting the room, and studying the lovely painting upon the wall.<br/><br/>Upon Asmar's return with the gowns, again she had blushed, granting profuse thanks.  This place was so very odd, yet the kindness afforded seemed to cause her earlier distress to all but melt away, leaving a lady that was bubbly, and rather sweet of nature.  She nibbled her lower lip, swaying side to side.  <em>"Well ... as to style, I do like that black one best of all, colour aside.  Yet ... perhaps you are right.  If this place is what you say, or at the least being as if I were dreaming, then some small daring would not be ill suited."</em>  Her eyes danced with a gentle humour.  <em>"So I shall ... say the pink,"</em> she replied, cheeks pinkening from the bold statement.  It was not like her to be so, yet to take a moment out of time to be something ... more than what one was ... truly measured to be a gift beyond price.<br/><br/>She had startled then of her thoughts regarding the gentleman, and what surely must be occuring to her maid in vivid detail.  Tears filled her eyes and she trembled.  <em>"I ... left someone behind.  Someone that has served my family for longer than I have been alive, and I feel ... ashamed."</em>  Her lips quivered as one, then a second tear fell.  <em>"Yet, I cannot begin to thank you ... is there anything at all you require for such manner?  I feel as though I should return the favour, yet I know not how I would begin to do so."</em><br/><br/>She blinked as he spoke of love.  <em>"Love?  Is that possible in a marriage?  I had always believed it mere story,"</em> she mused while tugging the unfinished handkerchief from her reticule to get to another completed one with which to wipe her face.  <em>"A pretty thought if it were real indeed,"</em> she whispered.</span>