This is actually taken from the second draft, which lives in my drafts, because this was GOING to be done for Obiyukiweek, I had it all set for day 3, but it needed SO MUCH editing that I had to post-pone it. It just could not be done in the amount of time I left myself. SIGH.
“Over there.” Her arm swings out toward the spill of icy blue, growing as the sleigh swings closer. “The lake. The jewel of Kaninshala.”
She sways, just slightly, and that when she notices the band of warmth around her waist, the worn white against her Lyrias blue.
“Is that what his lordship says?” Obi’s tone is light, inquiring, but she knows his sarcasm when she hears it, no matter how well masked.
His arm tenses around her, hand pressing firm to the span of her back. She doesn’t think he even notices, no matter how...personally distracting she finds it. No matter how it reminds her of the last time his hand had laid there --
I could just...cut it off, he offers, tugging at her laces, the gold of his eyes molten --
“I thought we might go skating,” she blurts out, trying to blot out the gravel of his voice with her own. “If it’s not too late in the season. Since we seem to have to provide our own entertainment.”
“If we get close today, I can take a look.” Obi’s lips curl up at one corner, wry. “But I wonder what his lordship will call it after.”
Her brow furrows in confusion. “After?”
“After he lures you into being Lady Kaninshala.” He meets her gaze now, in the full light of day, and there’s -- there’s none of that heat, of that secret promise, just his regular spark of mischief. “Or will you just merely be one of the jewels in his --”
“Oh hush,” she huffs, her laugh leaving steam on the air. She twists, sinking back onto the bench. The velvet presses in around her, warming her even without the furs. “Not every lord is trying to find himself a wife.”
“Of course not, Miss,” he says, too easy. “Some of them are trying to find their sons’ wives.”
