⠀⠀< it would be harder to find moments like this. sophie took a lot of comfort in such brief, quiet connections with people. ⠀⠀" how old is your daughter? "

⠀⠀ " it could be. i don't think i know anyone who's made the move and regretted it. " ⠀⠀which, of course, begged the question why sophie hadn't yet made the move. there was very little tying her to the city now ; then again, >

⠀⠀< had initially considered. " i'm tempted to leave the city sometimes. have you ever thought about it? "

⠀⠀ sophie was relieved to see her recover a little ; an encouraging hand reached to take her shoulder, helping to steady her as she began to regain her strength. ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ " people are . . . unpredictable. " a kinder word than she >

⠀⠀ sophie breathed in, careful. she'd been hoping for a deeper conversation, though she was regretful now. unfair to ask him too much. ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ " bugs are horrendous. i can understand that. but i don't mind dealing with them .ᐟ "

⠀⠀ concern etched on her features, sophie kept her distance for a while ; giving francessca the space to breathe in their newfound solitude. ⠀⠀ " people can be vultures. i'm so sorry you were caught up in that. "

⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ letting @sparedmelody into a quiet room to the side of the hall, away from the party. ⠀⠀ " you're safe. no one will find you. " ⠀⠀

⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ studying @OfAnGentleman with a curiosity, quiet and gentle as she asks : ⠀⠀ " benedict, what are you afraid of? "⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀

⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ " why is it secret? what have we to hide? " ⠀⠀ whispered to @yellowallfleur - curiosity is about to get the better of her.⠀⠀

⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ " is this what you wanted to see? " ⠀⠀ with a proud grin, she's managed to sneak @ENGLISHWRlTER onto the terrace, overlooking the river.⠀⠀

⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ sophie should have known ; regrets now, that it has been so long since she sought her out. ⠀⠀ " i want to know everything. do you have somewhere to be? can we get coffee? " ⠀⠀

< ⠀⠀ " it sounds like a dream. and a 𝘭𝘰𝘵 of pressure, " she admitted with a small smile. " but no one is more suited for it. i've never seen anyone with an eye like yours. you're a gem. "

< admit, even to cressida, how enchanting the prospect was. her cousin suited the spotlight far better than she ever could, and she was happy to cheer her on from the sidelines. or maybe, in the case of that evening, at her side. >

⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ " that doesn’t count. unless you ask them for a few days off. maybe i'll ask them for you, " she suggests - almost a threat, though gentle and well-meaning in its tone. " where are you off to? " ⠀⠀ sophie would never >

⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ gorgeous weather .ᐟ i'm grabbing lunch in the park . . . ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀