Lunch with Sophie and Ciarán

[Sophie de Trevalion]

I grinned and lifted my teacup in a toast. "To being provincial then."

[Ciarán Ringe]

“To being provincial,” I echoed, smiling and raising my teacup as well before taking a sip.

[Sophie de Trevalion]

I took a sip, then began to butter one of my biscuits. "So I hear there's going to be another big to-do up at the palace soon."

[Ciarán Ringe]

“Is that so?” I asked, my eyebrows going up a little. “I haven’t been paying attention. What is this one for?”

[Sophie de Trevalion]

"I heard that the future Cruarch and an Eiran prince are on their way, and they're having a fete up for them," I replied before taking a bite.

[Ciarán Ringe]

“Well well, isn’t that fancy?” I asked with a chuckle. “Do you know if it’s a private fete?”

[Sophie de Trevalion]

I shrugged. "My brother and I received an invitation the other morning, but that might be because of my brother's new title."

[Ciarán Ringe]

“At least there’s some upside to your brother,” I said, smiling.

[Sophie de Trevalion]

I shook my head with a smile. "There had to be something," I replied wryly.

[Ciarán Ringe]

"You really don't get on with your brother, do you?" I asked.

[Sophie de Trevalion]

I looked down at my tea. "No I don't," I replied. "But he's my brother, and needs my support right now, even if he would never admit it."

[Ciarán Ringe]

“I don’t get on with my siblings either,” I told her. “It’s very good of you to be here supporting him.”

[Sophie de Trevalion]

I smiled. "Well, he has no idea how to run a household, and I was bored at home. So it wasn't completely self-sacrificing."

[Ciarán Ringe]

“And if you hadn’t come, then you never would have me,” I added, grinning.

[Sophie de Trevalion]

"I still haven't had you," I jested with a grin of my own.

[Ciarán Ringe]

“Never have met me, I meant,” I replied, grinning even as I tried to pretend the slip had been unintentional.

[Sophie de Trevalion]

"Of course you did," I said with a laugh before pouring myself another cup of tea. "I am glad that I met you."

[Ciarán Ringe]

“I’m glad to have met you too. I’ve enjoyed my time with you quite a bit,” I told her, smiling.

[Sophie de Trevalion]

"Flatterer," I replied with a pleased smile. "Bet you say that to all the girls."

[Ciarán Ringe]

“Not even close,” I said, chuckling. “In fact, I find a lot of people grating and annoying.”

[Sophie de Trevalion]

I grinned at him. "Glad to hear I don't fall into either category then."

[Ciarán Ringe]

“Not even close,” I assured her with a smile, then finished my tea.

[Sophie de Trevalion]

"Wonderful. I hope you can find more people you don't find grating or annoying. Just not too many," I added with a teasing smile.

[Ciarán Ringe]

“No worries, I could find a dozen score of them and you’d still stand out,” I told her, adding a wink.

[Sophie de Trevalion]

"I would expect no less," I retorted with a grin. I always was a sucker for a handsome man with a compliment on his lips.

[Ciarán Ringe]

I chuckled low. “I like you,” I told her, smiling. “You’re so confident and up front.”

[Sophie de Trevalion]

"It saves time in the long run," I said, and then laughed.

[Ciarán Ringe]

“I wished more people believed that,” I said, chuckling again. “It seems more people believe it’s easier to put on airs.”

[Sophie de Trevalion]

Something about the way he chuckled lowly caused a thrill to run up my spine. "Well, I won't say I don't have my airs," I replied with a smile. "But at least you can rest easier in the knowledge that they aren't affected."

[Ciarán Ringe]

“I can deal with that,” I told her, grinning. I glanced at my empty tea cup and plate then up at her again. “Shall I order something else or shall we perhaps go elsewhere?”