Niabheara looked a tad disappointed at this turn of events. "Ah. Gods, Goneril is going to be sulking all o'er the place after tomorrow, isn't she?"

Marcello grimaced. "Probably," he replied. "They're supposedly writing to each other? I couldn't quite tell what he thought of the whole thing, really. I don't know if he even knew. One minute he would be talking about hoping to see her again and the next he'd be telling me how much his sister would disapprove."

"Who's to say he doesn't hope for one and know the other is inevitable?" She wove her arms back around him again. "He just struck me as so very detached. I had the feeling that the only way to provoke him into anything would be by putting a hand on the Queen."

"He doesn't seem easily provoked," Marcello replied. "But aye, I agree. The man even appears to have a sense of humor, which I wasn't expecting at all. He's definitely...much less on-edge when you take him out of a formal situation." He grinned. "Like someone else I know."

"He was kissing up to you so that you didn't beat him up for seducing your little sister," Niabheara replied wickedly, before spinning out of his reach. "So he's actually pleasant enough to make jokes? That's a shame. I thought he and Goneril might have something in common."

Marcello laughed. "I don't think he was, really," he answered. "Considering that he openly admitted that he's had a lot of lovers for fairly short periods of time. I actually liked him. It's making me look forward to Imbolc. I think at first he thought I was flirting with him. It was a bit odd." He gave her a bemused look. "Maybe he'll be good for her. Er. I suppose twenty-four more hours isn't really going to help."

"He'd best not flirt with you, or I'll bite him," Niabheara replied sweetly. "It's just . . . not that I would e'er express e'en the slightest sympathy for your sister, but it does seem a shame to only just meet someone and have to leave him behind at once. And to know he is Queensman, and probably has another lady back home."

"He actually asked if you knew I was speaking with you," Marcello replied. "I was extremely confused." He frowned. "I explained to him. About tallfolk and monogamy. I think he understood. And I do feel sympathy for my sister. She so rarely meets anyone she can relate to. I told him, I'm afraid her heart's going to be broken."

She sauntered back to him, snuggling against his side. "You are not allowed to go anywhere," she said softly. "Good neighbor for speaking to him, though."

He put his arms around her. "Where would I go?" he asked. "And it was no trouble. It was actually quite pleasant. I do wish we could find a way for you to get along with me sister. I know you've tried; I don't blame you."