She quirked her head in recognition of the compliment and feigned a coquiettish flutter.  For her, her appearance was a practical asset, like her money and her house, it served a purpose to get her closer to the people who she needed access to.  She wasn't vain, if presenting as the dour little maid would get her what she needed she would do it - the fact that those people had a son of just the right age meant that her appearance, and her fortune were her best hope of accessing those circles. 

As he pressed the issue of her staying in the other house again she turned serious.  'I need space to do this, space that is mine' she explained 'When I'm introduced to the Princling I need to be able to present as a friendless orphan, an heiress ripe for picking- and everyone knows a seduction is better done in private.'  They were still standing close on the study floor, 'besides' she added her face softening a little ''if it goes wrong you need to have deniability, she explained, but the softness was buried as quickly as it surfaced, there were few people in this world she still cared about.  And while Peter wouldnt be allowed to stand in her way, she wouldnt purposefully endanger him either.  'You need to be able to say you didn't know' she gave his elbow a comforting squeeze, before dropping her hands again.

She let out a sigh, 'would a night or two a week here make you feel better?' she asked, prepared to make some concessions for the sake of his peace of mind.  'I could spend the night at least?' she asked, standing like this made their height difference noticeable, he  was a towering man next to her. 

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