Seeing his reaction made her second guess giving in so easily, she could not let him win the argument with a present. It seemed utterly unfair, so instead she smirked slightly before raising her eyebrows. “Is your effort to catch up? I suppose I should slow myself for your very benefit.” She knows even after now three meetings that she can tease him this way without him taking it personally, it felt reassuring to have someone who took little to no offense at her words so she could speak more freely.
Remembering all the exploits she would bring home, and how the older woman would kick open the door in mid-coitus and grab the men by the collars as if they were only small kittens and booted them out the door. Most of the men were lower ranked enough to not question who the woman who gave the princess an earful after their departure, it wasn’t their place to push on and they never did come calling again. Back then, the rebellious princess resented Johanna for this very act but in retrospect was thankful for the intervention that could have hurt her reputation if found out. “She is a bold woman indeed, apparently she was quite like me as a youth.” Remembering all the stories she would recall about her times chasing skirts and pants alike and caring not for her reputation, it was a freeing lifestyle that Emilia was envious of. For as many times as she pursued others with sexual intention, she has to be secretive or thoughtful or risk losing everything even with her mother backing her.
Emilia is not sure what she is expecting as a reply to her apology, but a criticism of the very apology was not on the list of anticipated response to be sure. The earl made sense, she should have inquired if he had deeply offended before presuming that she had and make the apologies necessary. Brushing her hair out of her face, she meets his eyes for a moment curious to see if he will expand on what would begging the question on his feelings on the matter would bring. “I did not want to overstep,” she begins but realizes that he has already moved past this bit of contested beliefs. “Then I will act likewise.” She nods to herself but already knows that she will pull back even a little, even if he reassures that she is not behaving badly Emilia knows better then to believe anyone at their word. Although, this wasn’t anyone. It was William.
Hesitating only a moment, she reached out and takes hold of his arm before smiling up at him. “Remote, so I can claim somewhere else as our kingdom.” Walking forward, she moved through the open door and down the hallways, a few servants moved quickly out of their way until the reached the front door in front of the Palacio Da Correio-Mor. “Should we go by horse back? Or I can call for a carriage.” She glances around as they step outside, “have you a spot in mind?”
"Don't you dare." The words came out like a rumble, low and caught somewhere between sincere and teasing because he knew that Emilia wasn't serious, but also because the swiftness of her mind was what he admired most about her, if he were to pick one thing. What intricate hallways her thoughts had to wonder, the complexity of her thoughts exquisite when it seemed to him that most princesses talked only of the same thing. Or perhaps they merely assumed it was unladylike to discuss more than a few approved topics with a man that wasn't their husband, but no matter what the culprit was, it left William captivated by the tongue that hid behind Emilia's inviting smiles, her charm hiding the ability to cut you with sharp remarks the same way a rose invited you to pluck it only to catch you with its thorns if you dared to touch. Useless as a flower, indeed, how could this woman ever underestimate herself so much?
It reminded him unexpectedly of part of their conversation on the boat, of the way she declared herself easy and how he announced that she should be chased, that only one couldn't capture her didn't deserve her, and perhaps that was what guided the path of his thoughts, the idea that she may even in jest diminish herself when William wished to know all faucets of her personality and knew that he would never be able to unlock the true depths of who she was if she presented him with a challenge enough to prove he was worthy of such trust.
When did getting to know her so well become so important? It wasn't a question that came with a clear answer, but Johanna seemed like part of it, a woman that saw Emilia from infanthood into adulthood, a woman that knew how she grew up and likely knew why. "I imagine she was quite formidable, then, and that she has many stories I wish she would share." Although would she dare talk about the woman she served? Perhaps, but that didn't mean she would talk about the girl she watched over, and it was clear how she viewed Emilia even if he'd known her for only a moment.
"Consider yourself invited, Princess." It was an assurance that perhaps he shouldn't give her, but it was one that he'd pressed tenderly into her hands the moment she reached out for him and he didn't deny her. It wasn't polite manners that kept him from pushing her away and he'd thought she would have known that he didn't feel the need to stand on such formality with her. As her hands found his arm where they were supposed to be, William nodded and managed to hold back his smile to only a flicker of emotion as he responded, "Remote sounds perfect, we should have a basket made up and I'll steal you away once again."
Thanks to the venturing William had done by seeking out royal families in person instead of sending messengers, William was well acquainted with the area and his rides with John only helped, leading him to believe he had the perfect idea for where they should go. "We'll go by horseback, it will be easier. Unless you're an inexperienced rider that would be left sore?" William asked, biting back the urge to point out that it would at least give her the chance to ride something that afternoon.