It seemed as though the moment that passed beyond when the woman knocked upon the door and when she heard the movement within the protected sanctuary yawned forever. Eternity presented in the nervous way nails bit at the deep blue fabrics of her topmost dress layer. The finely stitched and elegantly crafted material nearly fit to unravel as her hands twisted fervently within one another. The sound of footsteps was nearly enough to make her flee, and yet the cold reminder of the winter air outside deterred such thoughts - if but for now.

This would be it. This would have been the perfect opportunity for her to make her escape, and perhaps she still would provided the room boasted a window large enough for her to writhe through. She hadn't been able to bring her provisions for her intended trip, and it was yet another hole punched through the ideal. She feared the elements, the biting cold that was so very slowly giving way to the unfurling arms of spring. If it was but just a bit later into the oncoming season, she'd have no resistance to the notion. A foolish ploy of her mother was this, especially not to send her intended watcher with her as well. Perhaps her show of surrender had been more convincing that she had originally given it credit for.

Her thoughts scattered like shadows before the light as the door actually opened, however. The expression of the woman who lingered at the partially open egress morphed from something of soft disdain to... pity. A disheartening emotion that settled like a blade in between her ribs and made it hard to breathe. Her vision averted from her face as her cheeks flushed softly. However, the blush only grew in leaps and bounds as her gaze found the scantily clad and extravagant garments that cloaked the shapely figure before her. "I'm sorry sweetheart." Her coo was tender, but the startled fumbling of the less than stellar attempt at communication by Arabella only had her ending up biting her lip fiercely. "Did Madam Vega not tell you this room is reserved for tonight?  There may be one down the hall you can use for..." Open saucers would quickly switch back to her face. "F-for?" came the stammered babble as she fiercely tried to hide the cringe of discomfort from her expression. "Oh."

But it was her turn to utter a soft laugh, her features vaguely mirroring Ara's own, though miserably falling short of the flaming red that claimed her skin as if she'd been scalded. "I'm so sorry, Madam.  We don't get many women here so I thought... nevermind that.  Come in." She stepped aside, and the door would open further to swallow her up. Confusion bit at her tongue, but she could not even begin to fathom upon how to announce her inquiries. Not when her tongue was laced in intricate knots. Her hesitance was clear, as she allowed her few steps to carry her into the den of mire. She didn't know what she had expected, but the lavish of the room was beyond her expectations. It appeared extremely comfortable, much like the plush interior of her family manor. However, it was the large bay window that snared her apprehensive gaze once it was taken in. A potential gateway to her freedom. The driver was unlikely to stay nearby and none other had been spared to guard her. A prisoner without their ankle weight and tempted with an easy way out indeed. "I-I-I'm terribly sorry. I..." her words would die upon the tip of her tongue, her hands having had returned to their writhing destruction without her even having noticed and she would tuck them into her pockets in effort to still them. "My name is... Arabella." She would force the words to come smoothly, yet in place of her stammer, they would slow with effort. She smiled, though the simper was admittedly weakened with uncertainty. "What's your name?"

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