Kai took up his offered arm politely but still kept a respectful distance between them. While appreciative of his promptness she understood that Eyla dealt with volatile appointments more often than not. Given the travel needs of many who visited their home it was almost never possible to pin something down to a specific day or even time of day, but he had arrived essentially when he’d been expected; politely prompt but not too early in the morning.
She realized as they walked that he had not given her his name or title, but it was also understandable if he did not wish to discuss such things with her. Or rather, only with the High Lady since it was they that had business together. She was certain her elder sister had mentioned his name at least once before and it would be rude to ask it when she should have known his name.
“Not at all, we appreciate your promptness. I fear she has simply become accustomed to others being late for her and the bad habit is starting to rub off.” Kai grinned privately, shaking her head slightly and eyes twinkling with an apology that wasn’t entirely sincere as she led him to the quiet sitting room away from the bustle about the house. There she released him and took a seat in her favorite chair, sinking into the soft cushion with a small sigh of happiness and motioning her hand for him to take a seat as well.
“Please sit wherever you’re comfortable,” she told him gently while gesturing to the other chairs gathered together and the larger chaise if he preferred it, smirking with remembrance and guilt. “I’m sorry about that, I shouldn’t speak of her so. She’s been looking forward to your visit. It’s not every day we get to see a new face around here.”
Eyla wasn’t far behind them but she was delayed for a few moments while the servant that had passed their guest off to Kai tried to remember where they’d gone. In the end she felt a bit silly for not just checking their main sitting room on her own, it wasn’t as though there were that many places they could have gone. There was a small, nagging anxiety in her chest to know that her sister was knowingly in a room with a man. Alone.
The heels of her boots clicked quietly against the floor as she made her way down the hall, the rugs muffling most of the sharp clacks that would echo off the wood beneath them. Unlike the night they’d truly first met Eyla was dressed in fine, but conservative clothing. Dresses only graced her body on either extremely casual or extremely formal occasions, her daily ensemble seeming more the clothing of a man, but with a feminine touch.
A crisp tunic of burnt, reddish copper draped over her torso, the neckline dipping low enough to display her collarbones without exposing her cleavage and the middle cinched at the waist by a rather ornately decorated belt. Slim, dark leather was brightened by stitches of white and bright bursts of color along the front. Trousers of dark tan hugged along the curves of her hips and legs, the ends tapered and tucked neatly into the tops of her boots.
Her auburn curls were bright and lively from a fresh wash but were bound in a loose braid that ended just past her shoulders with a black ribbon bow securing the ends. Looser strands framed her face but were tucked away behind her ears as she paused at the door, relaxing some to hear her sister’s voice behind it.
She knocked briefly to announce her arrival, knuckles rapping twice against the wood and a warm smile already upon her face as she stepped inside to greet them. Her eyes were immediately drawn to the familiar face of her sister, but there was something familiar about the stranger in the room even before she saw his face clearly.
Her smile faltered when she realized it was his hair she recognized, too similar to that of a stranger from the other night. When she caught sight of his familiar, handsome face panic flashed in her green eyes for only a brief moment before she reined it in, not wanting her sister to see that she knew this man from anywhere. So this was Ro'or, Lady Dvorak's ambassador. To ensure that Kai didn't have any reason to suspect otherwise Eyla tried to act as she would normally around an unknown guest.
She crossed the room with confidence to stand before them, bowing slightly at the waist before offering her hand to him in greeting. "Good morning, Ro'or. High Lady Riordan," she introduced herself tersely, glancing between them before moving to sit in her own chair and crossing one leg over her knee casually, her eyes burning with unspoken questions as she stared across at him.
"And good morning, Kai," she rushed to offer with a chuckle, reaching out to jab her younger sister lightly in the arm for briefly forgetting her, though her attention quickly returned to their guest. Her eyes were drawn to him for many reasons, but at least it would not be seen as unusual for her to give him her undivided attention.
"I'm very sorry for the delay, I wasn't sure when you might arrive today," she offered with a tight-lipped smile, content on exchanging pleasantries until she could be rid of her sister. "But we're happy to have you. How was your trip? Any news from the road?"