Olivia took a half step back when Paul barred her path...or at least part of it. She was ready to nurse her bruised ego at his rejection and was surprised that he would stop her. A telltale smile threatened to curve her lips up but his next words made it stop midway.

"I could not in all good conscience allow you out into the night without escort."

[color=tan][i]Ugh. Just like father. When will these men realize that I am a grown woman and capable of protecting myself?[/i][/color]

She would have shot Paul a retort but instead just nodded her head. There really was no use insisting something he'll probably just insist against. He called to the man that had been successful in preventing a fight earlier.

"And you may as well take me up on my offer ... because if you do not allow him to escort you, he will follow you like a love sick puppy until you are all cuddled back in your bed where your [i]father[/i] believes you to already be." 

There. She was right.

She glanced towards the big man whose name was apparently Winston. At a distance, he didn't look so daunting but he did now as he was walked towards them. She turned back towards the object of her infatuation, fully intending to launch into an argument despite her earlier thoughts. But she was distracted by how handsome he was leading her thoughts to turn towards a more mature path. A slight flush came over her cheeks as she fantasized about her [i]uncle[/i] right in front of him.

"I must remain here to take a meeting, otherwise I would beg permission to walk by your side under the stars this eve'."  The light flush that was already coloring her cheeks bloomed into a darker shade of pink as Paul took her hand. "I would beg of the Lady to see her again, however ... [i]soon[/i]derf6tt5 ... perhaps tomorrow ... for a lunch by the water."

She was supposed to be back in the castle before the sun rose up in the sky but an invitation to a meal by the water with the man she often daydreamed about was simply too good to pass up on. She'll have to figure out a way to sneak out again. She and Darma had snuck out several times during daylight that it wasn't something new or impossible. Unable to control her delight, a wide grin spread across her face. [color=tan]"I would like that,"[/color] she admitted, wondering if his invitation was merely out of courtesy or something else. She hope that he at least thought she was attractive.

She removed her hand from Paul's and turned to the towering man to her left, giving him a pretty smile. [color=tan]"It is a pleasure to meet you, Sir Winston. My name is Olivia...or Iya, if you may,"[/color] she said and then looked at Paul. [color=tan]"I look forward to our meal together, milord,"[/color] she curtsied again before she pulled the hood of her cloak back onto her head, turned and allowed the knight to lead her away. 

A scowling Sophia walked into the tavern door several minutes later. Olivia's handmaiden had somehow led her around town trying to look for a replacement for the Lord's clothes. But when they didn't find anything, the dark haired woman seemed to just disappear out of thin air, leaving a baffled Sophia wondering how she had distracted her from her original plans in the first place. She scanned the room and almost sighed in relief when she noted that Paul was still there. Without wasting time, she headed towards him and gave him a polite bow. [color=lightgreen]"I apologize, my Lord. We were not able to find you clean clothes. I'm afraid there are no shops that would accommodate us at this time of the night."[/color]