What kind of boy was this? Was he enjoying this bickering?He was, wasn’t he?! Her nostrils flared in the indignity of it, and as much as she liked to imagine that she was perfectly stoic and in command of herself, her lips puckered into the beginnings of a pout more fitting for someone her age than her creased brow. She had more excuses to keep herself inside, but something told her Sadik wouldn’t hear any of them.
“I know what happens within my borders,” she said, reaching for a goblet of wine. It usually mellowed her and dampened her temper; maybe it’d get her through the night. “I have my politicians, and my spies, and my underlings and siblings to travel with on the rare occasion that I’m needed outside the city. I hope you don’t mean to imply that I’m naive.” It took an unsettlingly high amount of self-control to not chug her alcohol. “Especially not when you’ve been so flattering all night. Someone might get the wrong idea about your intentions. Besides.”
She shifted slightly, and masked her discomfort with her own superstitions by stuffing a chunk of bread in her cheek. “It’s bad luck to sneak out of the city. There’s nothing better out there that can’t pass through this city by trade routes.”
Theodosia looked annoyed, but it could have been that her face just looked that way. He was being perfectly charming, after all. That little smirk tugged at his lips again at the mention of his intentions, even as he had to turn his attention back to the table while she said it.
“I meant only to extend an invitation, my lady,” he said placidly, the twinkle in his eyes refuting the idea that he had no intentions when it came to Maria Theodosia. “I am sure you would find much to enjoy in my capitol as well. Or the beaches might suit you better--see how lovely the blue of the ocean down in Izmir is! Or the plains, if you care to ride through places where the steppes stretch out as far as you can see and the skies are the bluest in the world.” He had not come with the intention of tempting Theodosia to come visit the sultanate, but if she were so inclined, it would have delighted him to show her around his home, humble as it was compared to her own.
He helped himself to a slice of mutton and some candied nuts, his mouth watering anew at the feast stretched out before them. He hoped the Greeks were not rushed with their meals--he planned to spend quite a while there.
“If you were so interested, I could even show you my personal stables,” he said grandiosely, placing a hand over his chest. It was a display for her amusement, but he did take great pride in his horses, and monitored their breeding himself. Several he had gifted to the ruling family throughout the years to pleasing success.