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Stephanie stood in stockinged feet before his closet with arms crossed over his chest and a frown on his lips. Several items of clothing were strewn haphazardly over his bed, his dresser, and a chair. The closet itself was in some disarray and a few pairs of shoes were scattered about the floor. He shook his head with an irritated huff. ”I have absolutely nothing to wear!” he complained out loud as though the clothing before him was at fault for not meeting his needs.

Behind him he could feel Humphrey’s brief amusement; the man was quick to suppress the reaction before clearing his throat and addressing his prince. ”Master Stephanie. As I recall, the young lady has rather striking crimson eyes does she not?” The older man stepped forward to gather a few of the scattered items.

The prince smiled as he reminisced over the glances he’d had of Fiorella through the eyes of others. ”Yes. They are stunning.”

”And black pairs well with crimson, would you not agree?” Stephanie did agree. Humphrey quietly assembled a deeply red silk shirt and matching trouser socks, a black brocade vest with a black tie and slacks. He checked a pair of black shoes to ensure that they were properly shined. Which of course they were; the man had not slacked at his duties a day in his life. ”If these selections meet with your approval, perhaps the onyx and pearl cuff links and tie clip?”

Some days, most days, Stephanie did not know what he would do without the man. Even the red pocket square was perfectly pressed. Honestly, he might even be a little bit overdressed, but if he started worrying about that he would never make it on time! And the last thing he would allow himself to do was to keep a lady waiting. ”You have arranged for the carriage?”

”Yes, Master Stephanie. If I may?” Humphrey waited for a short nod before he continued. ”Are you quite certain you would not like me to attend you on your outing? You may have need of me. And I could act as a chaperone for the young lady.”

Stephanie smiled but shook his head slightly. ”Thank you, but no. I believe I can manage for one evening. And Fiorella is not like any woman I have ever met before… I have a feeling that she is not worried about what meeting me alone might mean for her reputation. I will of course be a perfect gentleman. But perhaps… Perhaps you could meet her with me?” He did not want to explain himself, but fortunately Humphrey agreed without his needing to.

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Stephanie’s knuckles had scarcely touched the wood of the door when it opened and he immediately knew that he had made the right choice in bringing Humphrey along. There was nothing like the very first impression of a young lady in her evening wear. It would just not be the same if he waited until the carriage driver could unknowingly assist him. Fiorella deserved to hear his breath catch in his throat and see his eyes light up in delight, his lips curved into a smile. She was beautiful and she should know it. Even if his neck started to feel warm at the peek of her thighs between hem and stocking and the way her hands rested on his chest.

”It would not do to leave a woman waiting. Especially not such a lovely woman; you look stunning.” And he could say that truthfully, though he had not doubted for a moment that she would. Fiorella was a stunning woman, all around. She put one hand in his and Stephanie lifted that hand to his lips. ”Of course. I’ve had Humphrey summon a carriage for us. You may leave us now, Humphrey.” The man bowed politely to them before stepping away.

Stephanie tucked Fiorella’s hand into the crook of his arm and escorted her through the halls. His hand rested atop hers and he could not keep the smile from his lips. He supposed that was not really a bad thing, but he did feel a little silly. He did hope that he was not making a complete fool of himself in front of this phenomenon of a woman.

It was of some comfort to realize that Fiorella did not seem to think he was foolish at all. This time, at least; Stephanie had not forgotten that they had met by him flinging himself down to one knee in front of her while caught up in a song under Ms. Singh’s influence. It was a wonder she had decided that he was cute after all. He had never once in the entirety of his life thought of himself as cute and he would never have thought he would appreciate being thought of that way, but as it turned out he was rather receptive to it from the right woman.

”Spoil you?” Stephanie repeated in mild confusion. Surely she had not expected that she would have to walk to the bar? He would have never lived down the shame. Still, her statement had amused him and his expression was perhaps just a little mischievous as he continued. ”Well. Now I shall have to make a point of actually spoiling you. I think it will be quite a lot of fun to discover together just what you will do about it.”

Stephanie had helped Fiorella into the carriage before stepping up himself and sitting opposite. A decision which presented an unexpected problem. Perhaps he should make a move and sit next to her? He considered it. He considered it for a moment longer than he should have. But he had told Humphrey that he would be a complete gentleman and he had meant it. Besides, Fiorella did not know about his powers and would not know he was reacting to her unspoken wish. He would not let her believe for a moment that he simply did not think her worthy of the same respect he would have given any other lady. He would have patience. If all went well, there might be future opportunities to have his curvaceous companion curl up next to him.

The carriage seat creaked slightly as Fiorella leaned forward once she was settled in and Stephanie let a small chuckle escape when he was asked about personal questions. He leaned toward her as well, elbows rested on his thighs and hands folded under his chin. Not the most dignified, but he was rather enjoying the slightly conspiratorial air. ”You may ask me anything you like. I would very much like to learn more about you as well. I will admit I have never met anyone quite like you.”

With them leaning in so close to one another, Stephanie had the most intrusive thought. He would like to just kiss her. What had gotten into him? He had decided it would be too forward to sit next to her and his next instinct was to lock lips with her in lieu of an actual conversation? That would have been a terrible choice for many reasons. Among those reasons being that he had never once in his life actually kissed a woman. Not on the lips, anyway. He had not one good reason to believe that he would be so very good at it that Fiorella would overlook the break in his decorum. But he did want to. He wanted to kiss her.

Aithne? The name stuck out, a point of interest couched in warm affection from the woman who thought it into existence. Fiorella was already intending to tell him just who she was tonight, so clearly Aithne was someone very important. Someone whom he would need to accept if he intended to court Fiorella seriously. He very much wanted to keep seeing her. And there was simply no point to his courting if he did not do so seriously; there was too much at stake.

So he would have to take into serious consideration that he would be raising another man’s daughter if he ever married the woman across from him. The revelation finally came though Stephanie was careful not to react to it. Fiorella had a daughter. It did come as a surprise, but what almost surprised him more was the woman’s determination to tell him about the girl tonight. It was clear that her love for her daughter superseded all else; if he rejected her child then he would be rejecting her as well. And she wanted to know for certain right away; she would not waste time with him, even if it was enjoyable time spent, if he could not accept this part of her life.

Idly Stephanie wondered if his own mother had ever loved any of her children so fiercely. His parents seemed on the verge of disowning his sisters if the wind happened to blow the wrong way on any particular day. But Fiorella clearly loved her daughter and would put her first. Stephanie found this revelation to be genuinely very touching and something of a relief. If the woman across from him became the mother of his children, he would never have to worry that they would be mistreated as his sisters were. That was a huge mark in her favor. Stephanie had never before considered adopting another man’s child, but it was worth considering now. And he would also consider just how much of a show of good faith was due to Fiorella in return; there was no denying that there was a certain vulnerability in divulging the existence of her child and she deserved something in return from him when she did.

”I find it refreshing.” Stephanie responded to the words Fiorella actually spoke aloud. If the question was a cop out, then it was one he was grateful for. It was true that he was already somewhat prepared to answer the Aithne question, but he would still take as much time as he could get to consider how much he would give of himself in return. There were secrets he had kept from even his sisters for years, long after they had come to suspect, so the gods only knew that he could be tight lipped. But if he really wanted to pursue a future with this woman, did he want to begin by making all the same mistakes he had before?

It was certainly a question he was happy to sit with for a while longer. In the meantime, there was a full and honest answer he was happy to provide her then and there. ”During our first meeting you surprised me, you embarrassed me, and you challenged everything I thought I knew about women, about what a woman could be or even what I would want a woman to be. I’ve never experienced anything like it. And yet I knew, before I could even leave your company, that I wanted to see you again. Our first meeting was fun; it seems insane to say when we fell under attack! But it was; it was so much fun. And I do not remember that last time that I had so much fun. It would not have been like that at all if you were like the women I’ve met.”

Stephanie nodded when Fiorella spoke of the expectations and rules of noble society and the treatment she had become accustomed to. ”I see. I wish I could say that I am surprised by that, but unfortunately I am not. I imagine your peers are much like my own; they expect a woman who fits into a very small box dictating acceptable appearance and behaviors. I thought I wanted the same, but then I met an exciting woman who bends those rules into submission and is no less stunning while doing so. I fear I may be exactly what you expected in some ways, but I won’t let my preconceived notions cheat me of getting to know someone truly unique and wonderful. It is incredibly refreshing to meet someone I genuinely want to see again, not because you fill some list of banal expectations but because you truly excite me in a way I have never experienced before.”

“As far as some foolhardy attempt to make a conquest of you, you can rest assured I have no such intentions. It is my turn to be honest; I have never had any interest in empty flings and dalliances. I’ve never had one and I do not intend to start now. Certainly not with a woman I have such a genuine interest in.” her laugh was infectious though Stephanie only smiled in response. He wanted to hear it again. Shame that he did not think himself particularly funny.

”Ah, and my favorite color is green. A deep, verdant green like the plants my little sister Aleithia so loves. But do not feel obligated to start with the safe questions; you may feel free to probe as deeply as you like. If I cannot answer, I will say as much and of course you need not answer any question of mine that makes you uncomfortable. You also need not worry about your dating inexperience. I can tell you that I haven’t much more of it than you; I have only ever been on chaperoned outings approved by my mother. Humphrey even offered to act as chaperone tonight, but the truth is that I wanted to spend time alone with you. Not that I intend to behave inappropriately; I just would like… I suppose I would like to be free of those expectations you spoke of, if only for a little while. And I dared to think that you would not mind or worry overmuch how it might look. I hope that I was not wrong.”

Stephanie considered for a moment before a question came to him. One that admittedly had nothing to do with romantic interest, but he did want to know the answer nonetheless. It had simmered at the back of his mind since their first meeting. ”I’ve wanted to ask, how did you learn to fight like that? You were amazing. I’m handy enough in a fistfight, I would even say the same about my elder sister Evelyn, but it does not shame me to say that you are better than I. You are phenomenal. Oh, and since I answered my favorite color, I think I would like to know yours as well.”

Fiorella really did have a beautiful laugh, especially when she giggled. He shouldn’t be so pleased that she was laughing at him, but could he really blame her? In retrospect, it had begun to amuse him as well. The crown prince of Phronese, ever so calm and poised, losing the plot the moment a woman did something unexpected! Though, in his defense, unexpected might be understating things just a little. Stephanie chuckled, faint color dusting his cheeks as Fiorella reiterated exactly how they had come to be speaking in the first place. ”Yes, I was doing quite a fine job of embarrassing myself. I suppose it could have been worse. I could have been off-key.”

Stephanie had been so caught up in Fiorella’s laugh and the depth of his own thoughts that he had not really reacted to the hand that trailed over his sleeve. Not that he would have pulled away. Honestly he was not certain what the proper reaction would be; he did not want to discourage her from touching him and yet he knew that polite society allowed for very little contact in public. Then again, was the interior of a carriage really public? He wasn’t a complete fool, he did know that not everyone rode politely facing one another keeping hands to themselves. It was only a question of how much he dared.

Fiorella answered that question for him, trailing her fingers over the back of his hand. And Stephanie embarrassed himself further with his still reddened face, but he did not pull away. An index finger hooked with his and Stephanie smiled as he interlaced their fingers instead. Fiorella had made the effort to cross the barrier, the least that he could do was to meet her there. ”I wonder if I would have been more or less surprised if you had actually punched me.” he replied, his tone matching the mirth in hers.

”Now I think I simply must know how you thought I would react. There are not exactly lessons on what to do when a lady decides to lead.” Stephanie was still amused, though he tried not to smile too broadly at the memory. At least the embarrassment was starting to fade. ”If you want the truth, I expected worse than being twirled and dipped after making such a fool of myself. But it is like you said, it wasn’t your intention to embarrass me. I think I knew that and it made it easier to just not take myself so seriously for once.”

Stephanie nodded and he did let his smile broaden when Fiorella agreed that she wasn’t seeking something casual either. ”I am very happy to hear that.” Who would have thought they would be such kindred spirits in this? But perhaps it was not surprising given that Fiorella had a child to consider. It did make him wonder what had become of the child’s father, but that was none of his concern. At least not yet. What mattered in this moment was that they both wanted something real and lasting, not just a neat arrangement and a boost in status.


Fiorella was clearly surprised by his admission that he had not really courted anyone. He hoped that she would not ask why, at least not yet. He did not want to lie to her. They had both confessed that they wanted something serious and he did not think he could achieve that if he could not be honest with anyone. But he was not quite ready yet to tell her that it was difficult to hold an interest in women when he could hear every calculated thought, knew when smiles and laughter were faked, understood that he was nothing more than a prize to be won. Honestly Stephanie had never once felt as though it really mattered to them who they smiled and tittered for as long as the man in question bore the title of prince. Fiorella was different and that meant more to him than he had words for without explaining everything.

But the carriage stopped and he was given a reprieve. He could answer the unasked question another time. Stephanie reluctantly took his hand from hers to hop from the carriage, but then he immediately gestured the footman away to help Fiorella down himself. She deserved to be spoiled, far more than such a small action indicated. He would treat her like a princess, like his princess, and perhaps one day she would be in truth.

They shared a comfortable quiet on the way to their table, a conversation paused rather than ended. Stephanie ordered two fingers of thirty year old whiskey without giving it much thought before waiting for the maid to step away. Then the entirety of his attention lay on Fiorella, wrapped up entirely in her voice as she agreed conspiratorily that it felt freeing to see one another without chaperones. She was right, of course, there were still ears all around them, but the sentiment remained. Her fingers skimmed over the table and Stephanie reached out for that hand once more to intertwine their fingers. This was definitely out in public, but he didn’t care. He wanted to touch her, just this much, and she was not flinching away from it.

Besides, he still had a hand free for his whiskey once their drinks arrived. He was just glad that he had swallowed his first sip before Fiorella brought his attention to how he had managed to mention both of his sisters during a brief carriage ride. Stephanie set the glass down and groaned softly with embarrassment as he ran a hand over his face.

”I really am hopeless. Here I am with a beautiful woman and I talk about my sisters. I only have the two siblings. I suppose I may as well admit it, they mean the world to me. There have been some rough patches, but… I think in some ways we are closer than ever now.”

The conversation turned more somber after that, Fiorella giving an answer to his question that he likely should have expected. Likely anyone who fought in the war and had survived had picked up a trick or three that could not be taught. Stephanie was fortunate in this respect; he had served, but because of his status he was also very much protected. He had fought, his life had been put on the line more than once, but he knew it was not the same. He had met far too many who fought on the front lines in his father’s name, or the widows they left behind, to believe that his experience was the same. And the spies? Their work was almost beyond his comprehension in its complexity, delicacy, and danger.

Though it was quite possibly easier to spy as a chipmunk. Until she wasn’t a chipmunk any longer. Shock registered on Stephanie’s features and his mouth opened then closed wordlessly. Damn, he was blushing again. His free hand lifted to cover the lower half of his face. ”Yes, I… I can see how that might be… Oh, my.” Stephanie was convinced that the harder he tried not to imagine Fiorella naked and rushing quietly through the brush, the more crisp the mental image became. His face was never going to return to a normal color, was it?

He should be focused on the revelation that Fiorella could become a chipmunk at all. And he did have an honest to gods interest in that tidbit of information, but needed to distract himself with another sip of whiskey before he trusted himself to speak again. ”You really are a master of catching me off guard. I wonder if I will ever get used to it.” A part of him hoped that he never did, Stephanie realized with a small smile.

”Is that the only way it works? If you are, ah… If you don’t… hm. I suppose it does make sense.” It was so awkward to even say! One was not meant to casually discuss a woman in a state of undress. Better to move onto something a bit easier. ”Yellow is quite a cheerful color; I can imagine how well it must suit you. I would love to see you in yellow sometime.”

Now if only he could imagine that instead of… No, no. No excuses. He was the master of his mind; if he was thinking of Fiorella in such a state then it was only because he had allowed himself to. Shame on him. He turned his focus outside of himself once more, detailing the mental painting of their surroundings, the atmosphere, and the reality of the woman across from him. Clothed. And honestly quite ravishing; why would he need to imagine anything else?

He must be quite the sight if Fiorella felt the need to soothe him, rubbing her thumb over his fingers. But at least he was not such an embarrassment that she was off to powder her nose or gently suggesting that she was ready to leave. Not that Stephanie had much experience with the subtle ways that a woman could show disinterest, but he had heard stories.

It was an interesting thing, listening to Fiorella speak of the noblemen she had encountered before. It was quite the stark reminder that he held many of the same flaws as his peers. He was not one to suffer a slight to his ego easily and could quickly turn cold when he was insulted. But he had not felt insulted by this woman. A little embarrassed, but that was the worst of it. And all the while she was singing the flirtiest things to him; it really was still a delightful experience for him despite the little surprises.

”If I am honest, I found you more desirable. That is… Ah, I do not know how to say it properly. I was so distracted at the time and I was not at all looking to meet someone. But you are impossible not to notice.” It was a bit sobering to really think about how much heavy lifting sheer coincidence had done in his meeting this exceptional woman. If he had not been flailing about, if she had not thought it was cute, if he had let his pride be wounded by her playful antics, if any one thing had gone wrong they might not be having this conversation.

Stephanie smiled a little when Fiorella expressed surprise that he had not dated much before. She would understand why, eventually. If she was to be a part of his life, she would have to know about his powers. But he would talk around the subject for just a little while longer while dropping a hint of the truth.

”You have seen for yourself the sort of woman I am expected to court. The sort I even assumed I would wish to court. They are lovely enough and I mean them no disrespect, they are products of their breeding as am I… But they are all the same. They say the same words, laugh the same laugh, employ all of the same glances, touches, and flirtations. Each one trained since before her debut in society to lay the very same honeyed trap. And as sweet as the bait may be, I have never found myself any more drawn to one than another. So I have always left it to my mother to arrange activities with whomever she might favor. You are the first woman I have ever met that I knew I genuinely wanted to see again even before we had parted ways. I suppose that is where I differ from my peers… The swooning and preening all just seems very performative to me. Even if I expected it, I cannot say that I am disappointed to have my expectations subverted.”

Stephanie had not given it much thought before. He knew that Fiorella was different and that he found that attractive. He knew that it was not some passing fancy to… conquer the less civilized woman. There was just something very real and organic about the way Fiorella approached him and he would find that nowhere else.

The youngest of seven! Stephanie thought his mother might have locked his father out of the bedroom before she ever allowed that to happen! ”Would you like to have that many?” Stephanie asked a little too quickly; he had not meant to say that. His face flushed pink before he quickly amended his statement. ”I mean… Is it common among your people to have such large families?” That was not what he meant at all; he had asked what he meant. But that was a rather personal question for a first date, wasn’t it?

”I have every intention for you to meet my sisters, sooner rather than later if I have my way. I think they will like you; I honestly cannot imagine they would not. It should be easy enough to arrange with them both on campus. I would like to meet your family as well, in time. Are all six of your siblings brothers? I can only imagine how protective of you they must be. Not that you need protecting! But I know that never made a difference to me as a brother.” Evelyn was so strong, not just for herself but for her siblings as well. And Aleithia was blossoming here at Utopia, becoming so much more than she probably even realized. It was still hard to let them go, even for a moment, but they couldn’t bloom to their fullest while crushed in his hands.

Did Fiorella’s brothers ever feel that way? Would they stomp in to put his head through a wall if they knew he was imagining their sister naked? After all, that was what he would do. No, that was what he would want to do; he needed to have more self control than that. Unless it was truly warranted.

At least it was easier not to think of her naked when she mentioned getting lost in her clothing as a chipmunk or bursting out of them as a bear. Stephanie laughed as he imagined it, then covered his mouth with a hand before he could laugh even harder at the mental image of her trying to change back from inside her clothing. ”Oh, no… no, as entertaining as I imagine that would be, I think I would rather the best of just one world in this case. I would love to see you in a yellow sundress.” Would it be too forward to purchase one for her? Yes. He had no idea of her dress size and he would be mortified if he got it wrong. He could offer to take her shopping, then; much safer.