Angelica was prepared for disaster.
Any penchant she had for optimism and rainbows was dead and gone years, at least when it came to her family. There was no possible way the Emrys Selwyn she was rather intimately acquainted with would truly hold his own under pressure, not like this. He was too perfect, had made her too happy in the past two months. There was no possible way he would measure up beyond the safety of his home or the borders of their letters. There was no possible way the man worming his way into her waking thoughts would shine so bright when faced with the suffocating scrutiny of her father. Perhaps, her father wasn't the only one testing Mr. Selwyn. Merlin, she should have warned him away, not encouraged this faceoff.
As if the day subjected to her father's incessant questions and prodding wasn't stressful enough, she had to face the day without the youngest Corvo to somehow mediate the hot tempers and years of distrust that always simmered near the surface when the family gathered. Renzo's peacocking and demanding things, as if the idiot was already head of the family had resulted in a rather heated row early. His snide commentary and complete ignorance of the British world quickly goading her into attack, a familiar pattern between brother and sister. Her own twin gleefully throwing proverbial fuel on fire only made it worse. A rather spectacular explosion of father's rage was required to send all five of the siblings present to their corners, her sisters never had the nerve to engage, but they retreated all the same. They all knew the sting of that rage, some better than others, but not one of them was willing to draw that fire now. Some fear just stayed with you.
Every new face that worked through the family receiving line, had her heart hammering. She played her part well, another of her father's objects on display. She'd smiled and curtsied through enough of these to know the required responses, but when she finally saw him climb the stairs, Angelica's lost her words in every language she knew. God, she was terrified, but he was so striking. The man moved through space as if he owned every inch of his surroundings. There was something so intriguing about the quiet confidence he had, and there wasn't a hint of unease on him. She hoped that lasted through introductions. She wasn't disappointed.
By the time she'd escaped the ballroom, with a fresh glass in hand, Angel was nearly giddy with relief. His voice caught her as she was slipping off to the lower gardens. Turning to him, Angelica's intended smirk was a full, shining smile.
"A quest for air and distance from a very crowded ballroom, actually." She corrected as she glanced around them to assess their privacy. Satisfied that no one seemed near enough to overhear, Angel returned her focus to him. "You were perfect tonight, absolutely brilliant. My father liked you. You have no idea how much that annoyed him."
Any penchant she had for optimism and rainbows was dead and gone years, at least when it came to her family. There was no possible way the Emrys Selwyn she was rather intimately acquainted with would truly hold his own under pressure, not like this. He was too perfect, had made her too happy in the past two months. There was no possible way he would measure up beyond the safety of his home or the borders of their letters. There was no possible way the man worming his way into her waking thoughts would shine so bright when faced with the suffocating scrutiny of her father. Perhaps, her father wasn't the only one testing Mr. Selwyn. Merlin, she should have warned him away, not encouraged this faceoff.
As if the day subjected to her father's incessant questions and prodding wasn't stressful enough, she had to face the day without the youngest Corvo to somehow mediate the hot tempers and years of distrust that always simmered near the surface when the family gathered. Renzo's peacocking and demanding things, as if the idiot was already head of the family had resulted in a rather heated row early. His snide commentary and complete ignorance of the British world quickly goading her into attack, a familiar pattern between brother and sister. Her own twin gleefully throwing proverbial fuel on fire only made it worse. A rather spectacular explosion of father's rage was required to send all five of the siblings present to their corners, her sisters never had the nerve to engage, but they retreated all the same. They all knew the sting of that rage, some better than others, but not one of them was willing to draw that fire now. Some fear just stayed with you.
Every new face that worked through the family receiving line, had her heart hammering. She played her part well, another of her father's objects on display. She'd smiled and curtsied through enough of these to know the required responses, but when she finally saw him climb the stairs, Angelica's lost her words in every language she knew. God, she was terrified, but he was so striking. The man moved through space as if he owned every inch of his surroundings. There was something so intriguing about the quiet confidence he had, and there wasn't a hint of unease on him. She hoped that lasted through introductions. She wasn't disappointed.
By the time she'd escaped the ballroom, with a fresh glass in hand, Angel was nearly giddy with relief. His voice caught her as she was slipping off to the lower gardens. Turning to him, Angelica's intended smirk was a full, shining smile.
"A quest for air and distance from a very crowded ballroom, actually." She corrected as she glanced around them to assess their privacy. Satisfied that no one seemed near enough to overhear, Angel returned her focus to him. "You were perfect tonight, absolutely brilliant. My father liked you. You have no idea how much that annoyed him."
![[Image: NpMgQU7.png]](https://i.imgur.com/NpMgQU7.png)