#viiscountess

he let out a groan of displeasure when he felt the bed move beside him - a sure sign that his wife had made the utterly incomprehensible choice to get up and begin the day. the warm morning sunlight streaming through the windows had been an enough of an affront, but this was an entirely unacceptable state of affairs... rising up onto one elbow, he peered at her through narrowed, sleep-bleary eyes. and, for a moment, the words of protest that had been forming on his lips evaporated. perhaps he should have grown accustomed to the sight by now - kate, glowing and disheveled and perfect in the first light - but he had not. he hoped he never would.

but he found his words eventually, and his expression melted from 'love struck fool' to something no doubt more akin to 'peeved child.' " some men might take offense, you know, " he said, voice still rough with sleep. " if their wives appeared so eager to flee not even a week after the wedding... " he sank back down onto his pillow, a smirk on his lips and fond affection in his eyes. " tell me, my lady... what terrible error have i committed? "

hands clasp either side of the helmet atop her head, a narrowed playful gaze of his own expression as he removes it from her, and moves to tuck against his ribcage. the newly knighted criston tilts his head to one side, amusement and accusation on his tongue. ❝ and yet i do not see you groveling for forgiveness. – one's helm is not a toy to play with, you know. ❞ he turns from her, sets the helmet out on the his bed along with armor and chainmail he'd recently acquired. they're worn in – a testament of his lowly upbringings. but he will make it big. he's sworn it to himself. ❝ you'll see me off, won't you? ❞ brows furrow as he cants his head in her direction once more, just barely sneaking a glance at her from the corner of his eye. ❝ i'd much rather if you joined me, truth be told. i hear king's landing can be a lonely place for a newcomer. ❞

𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. It was not an easy accomplishment, as he prided himself on being a man who was skilled at keeping the final word. However, Kate had always been the exception to that. To many things, if he was feeling particularly truthful, she had been outside every rule he had ever set and lived by. Something that he spent truly every day grateful for. Which was why it pained him deeply to hear her at present. To hear the level pain and frustration in her words, and knowing he was the cause of it all --- it was unbearable.

How had they found themselves in this place ? To feel oceans apart within the same room. To find yourself fighting continuously with the one who was meant to be your strongest ally and vice versa. Life was hard, he had always known that. Responsibilities piled up, not just with the title and all that came with it --- but their growing family as well. When had they stopped talking ? Truly talking, that was, not the surface pleasantries the demands of the day usually left them with settling for. The fact that Anthony could not think of the exact answer did nothing to quell his concerns.

Their face softened from the scowl they had held moments prior, trying to win some argument that did not truly matter with anger not meant for each other. " Of course, Kate... Kathani, of course I do. " He stepped forward, moving to pull his wife into an embrace. " Never doubt that, dearest... "

“ Do you still want this? Us? ” : @viiscountess

a   bright   grin   as   his   favorite   sister   in   law   comes   into   view,   sketchbook   (   and   quite   abominable   work   )   abandoned   in   favor   of   sitting   up   to   greet   her   with   a   kiss   to   the   cheek,   ❝   sister,   i   was   wondering   if   anthony   had   plans   to   hide   you   away   from   us   all   forever.   ❞   benedict   teased.   he   was   more   glad   than   he   could   say   that   the   two   of   them   were   home   at   last.   the   duties   of   the   viscount   were   plentiful   indeed.

he spots her when a gap forms in the crowd, hanging backing from the bustle of eager partygoers hurrying towards the floor to begin the next set of dances. her lack of a partner, he assumes, must be from choice - he can hardly imagine that she should not have a train of young men at her service if she wished... it is tempting to ask her himself. but it would hardly be fair to offer up such a sorry partner. he had been a diligent and dedicated student - but keeping up with the latest dance steps had not been amongst the subjects.

still, if their brief acquaintance has taught him anything, it is that her conversation is worth an evening of dances...

as he makes his way towards her, he grabs two glasses of lemonade from the refreshment table. when he reaches her side, he offers one with a smile. " you have no wish to join them? " he says lightly, glancing out at the dancers now whirling about the floor. " i confess i can hardly tell how they keep up with each new step... "

@viiscountess said: ‘ that’s quite a scratch you’ve got there.’

he turns in surprise at the sound of her voice - but a sheepish smile follows quickly and he touches the brim of his hat in greeting. it was inevitable, he supposes, that the first acquaintance he should meet in the street would be one with such a keen eye...

the scratch - cut, really - on his hand is an angry red, deep but thankfully harmless enough. and he has nothing more than the clumsy path of his own knife to thank for it. he has little time during the daylight hours to dedicate to his own experimentations... but clearly, pursuing his studies by candlelight alone carries its own dangers...

@viiscountess said: ❛ I mislike feeling powerless. ❜

he ducks his head to hide the knowing smile on his lips. it is a sentiment he hears nearly every day: from patients tired of being cooped up indoors - and, as now, from worried family members, sick at the thought of not being able to heal their loved one through sheer willpower. but he understands them all too well. there is no more terrible feeling than seeing a patient worsen, than watching all one's remedies fail, and to have no answers left to offer...

but thankfully, this case is not such a one.

@viiscountess said: do you remember our first kiss?

a slow smile spreads across his face. in an instant, his paper is set aside and he moves towards her. " do you truly think i could forget? " he says, voice low as he reaches to pull her into his arms. it takes little more than the suggestion of her lips against his to send a warm frisson through him. indeed, there are few more potent memories in the whole course of his life - and most of the rest also involve her and the taste of her skin...

but of course, the memory is not an unblemished one. as far as he - as they - have come, there is little joy in recalling the mistakes they made in the course of finding one another. of allowing themselves to choose this. while he would not change his current life for one single moment, he would readily wash away the harms done if he could... but they have grown. that is the past. and their family is a whole one. he will not dwell on old hurts.

" why? " he says, leaning in to press a soft kiss to her jaw, letting her perfect, heady scent fill his nostrils. his tone turns sultry. he cannot help himself. " do you wish to relive it? just say the word, my love... "