Arven listened with polite but genuine interest to the tale behind her name — or names. A tale of family, fortune, and would-be ruin; and it transpired that Miss Backus was in fact an heiress. While he did not know the girl well, he could imagine she probably hated this fact about herself... for it would mean there was likely a whole school of suitors swimming around her and her sister like piranhas, eager to claim her estate. No doubt she'd rather be poor and free than rich and caged.

He might've spoken of this, and related more close to her family tale, but then she was distracted by something. With some surprise, Arven noted pain on her young face. Write... back...?

"My dear girl, I'm afraid I didn't receive any letter from you", Arven shared truthfully. "Please rest assured, I would've responded. Perhaps you sent it to me in Russia, after I'd already left the country?" he suggested curiously, none the wiser as to why her letter had not reached him.