August 9th, 1890 — The Reach, Shiant Isle

"It is so peaceful here, beautiful. I cannot believe this is your view every day." Titania took in the delightful scent of sea salt the forests at her back. Peering out into the sea, near to the cliff edge as her hatred of heights allowed, Anya could understand why the Greybacks stayed so near their home. She was already reluctant to leave.

It had taken over three months to accept Mr. Greyback's offer of visiting The Reach, but it came at a most needed time. The Season was busy with charitable events, even now she no longer participated in the nonsense required of debutantes, but the unfortunate public encounter with the objectionable Mr. Picardy had shaken her. She hadn't even recognized friends in the crowd, she'd grown so angry. To her own mortification, when she'd arrived home and caught Isobel alone, the silly event brought her to tears. In an impulsive move counter to her sense, she sent an owl that evening to Professor Forfang asking to assist in further research. That little tidbit, she'd kept from Isobel.

The time with the Greybacks had been everything she didn't know she needed. Mr. Murdock Greyback and Isobel's seven - seven - siblings and the host of spouses and children joined them and, while Anya usually found herself overwhelmed in a crowd, she couldn't help but love the mass of people that made up the extended family, many she remembered from Hogwarts. Mr. Greyback's two daughters were the family members she most feared offending. The worry was unfounded. The two girls could not be more different, but they both delighted Titania. The elder was very determined to be a proper little deb and the younger was already exhausted by the idea. Titania could barely keep a straight face imagining what sort of battles their father was in for, but she found herself spending most of her "free" time the first day with the two. Proving she could play the piano and enjoyed her lessons won the first and the second posed the challenge that allowed Titania to show off her favorite bit of magic. Once she'd explained just what an animagus was, Titania found herself in the courtyard demonstrating her skill. She hadn't intended to give bear-back rides to children this weekend, but it was a lie to say she hadn't loved it. It was infinitely more enjoyable than normal societal conversation.

It was also easier than making sense of what she felt towards the family patriarch. They had been in company multiple times since their evening in April and, while Titania found herself anticipating Mr. Murdock's company, she was not so foolish to believe him as interested as dear Isobel would like to believe. In truth, Anya had no idea what to believe. She was merely a close member of the family and they got on well, but that was no reason to expect their encounters to lead to anything, regardless of Isobel's meddling. Between Mr. Murdock's friendship and attentions, Isobel's interpretations of said attentions, and Anya's own suggestible heart, she was rather uncertain. If only Isobel would stop with her matchmaking, Anya would be far more at ease with her current company than she was.

He'd offered to join her for a ride along the coast, something she was eager to do and it would be delightful to enjoy a moment away from smug if well-meaning sisters. Whatever another's perception, she would not risk offending Mr. Greyback over gossip, he had come to mean far too much to her for all that. "You have much to be proud of, Mr. Greyback. I cannot thank you enough for the invitation."

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