<span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">It was a startling thing as Asmar tugged Almeria close after setting away the gowns.  She looked up into his face, her eyes meeting his own, somehow unafraid and unabashed.  At the offer of comfort she could not resist in resting her head below his shoulder, being the shorter of the two.  Her nose tucked near the buttons on his tunic, fingers brushing over the soft fabric thoughtfully while he dried her tears.  "I should not weep, it is silly of me.  You are ever so kind to grant me comfort," she murmured quietly.  if for nothing else, politeness was most important.<br/><br/>Her eyes went wide as he continued to speak of where he had come from.  "More than one lady?  But however ..." She blushed and halted speaking, for the question was not such that one should ever ask a gentleman in the least.  Almeria couldn't guess at all why she wanted to know more, but she did.  "I am sorrowed that you lost such a lovely flower.  I could not imagine that she would not think of you daily.  If ... I were so prised, I would remain ever loyal to the one that cared thus for me.  For honour, my lord, is everything."  <br/><br/>She had gone to toying with the buttons on his tunic, and even his fingers, as if the lack of contact, and the difficulties of the day were again swiftly thrust before her.  A tremulous sigh left Almeria, and she shook her head ... then smiled, bowing her head.  "I shall do precisely that.  Believe with all of myself that ... such a person does exist for me, and me alone."  She giggled as he kissed her cheek most gallantly, granting Asmar a fine curtsey as he departed.  "Be safe sir.  I do hope that you are cared for as well as I am."  As he departed, head bowed and the pretty maid began to help her, Almeria suddenly knew exactly what she wanted.  A little smile curled her lips as her attire was removed and seen to be cleaned.<br/><br/>She allowed Sarah to help her into the steaming bath, still attired in her chemise; it would be wrung out and cleaned later.  As it was hardly proper to bathe without some small shield, of course!  The soaps and oils had sank into her skin, making her near to sleeping as she lay in the bath, giggling while playing with the bubbles as Sarah washed her hair.  Almeria sang quietly, remaining in the bath until it was nearing cold, her hair well rinsed and wrung dry just as a soft towel that had been warmed by the fire had run over every surface as she stood behind a screen for modesty.<br/><br/>Almeria allowed the girl to helped her dress in the pink gown after assisting her with stays, corsets and petticoats; her silken stocking tied by garters, and finally, proper heeled slippers upon her feet in matching colour to the pretty pink gown.  To the last, her long curling hair was pilled to a proper style with curls framing her face most becomingly.  Giving a spin and watching the skirts with a happy laughter once more, she kissed Sarah's cheeks for her attentiveness, dancing a polonaise with her for a moment before curtseying.  "Thank you, miss.  You've been absolutely perfect", she said.<br/><br/>Pulling on the matching half gloves after taking sustenance from the tea tray Asmar had left her, she decided to see what she could see back in the front hall from whence she'd arrived.  "Perhaps they won't be so very scary now ... if it is some sort of place out of time, Almeria, accepting your fate is easier than screaming over it.  Now ... just square your shoulders like the men do and dive in!"<br/><br/>Almeria strolled delicately back to the main hall,  the lovely pink dress (http://www.weddingssource.com/themes/images/Victorian-Gown.jpg) swirling around her ankles sublimely.</span>