"Is it a good idea?" Finn repeated, not sure she'd heard Ashley's question correctly.
"Yes. Me and Riley... is that a good idea?" Ashley repeated, her face reddening. She cringed at asking the question of the girl who had chosen another over Riley, but if there were any huge character flaws that she hadn't seen, she would rather know now than find out after her feelings were beyond the point of no return.
As much as it would hurt to break off the potential relationship now, it would hurt much more if it needed to be done later.
"That's not for me to say," Finn carefully considered her answer. "Riley is a really good man, and you are beautiful, fun, and kind. I haven't had occasion to see you two together, so it is difficult to opine on that aspect of things. I suppose my biggest question would be, are you prepared for the kind of life you would have with him?"
"What do you mean?" Ashley pursed her lips in thought.
"Riley, Mayra and I all come from a small farming village. However this situation works out, I cannot say for sure whether it will be rebuilt. Will he want to move there and farm with his mother and brothers? Would you be willing to be a farmer's wife? If he stayed here in Klain, what would his profession be? If he is poor, would you be happy with that lifestyle?" Finn looked around at all the fine things Ashley had grown up with.
"That's something to think on," The other girl sighed. She had assumed that if they married, Riley would move into the large home she already lived in, but that might not sit well with him. Though she looked forward to a fine inheritance, she knew pride could be a powerful thing.
So could greed. Briefly she considered the possibility that Riley pursued her because of her wealth, but that didn't sit well. He had originally wanted Finn, who had no money she knew of.
"Ultimately, it's up to the two of you to decide whether you can make a life together." Finn continued, "Feelings are one factor in that. I don't think you're spoiled; you seemed to handle your time in the military well enough without all the luxuries you have here. But was that simply because you were escaping something worse, and knew the service was only temporary?" Finn took a breath and wondered if she was overstepping. Ashley hadn't asked for such an in-depth analysis.
"Things don't make one happy. Although it's been fun and satisfying to have my nice clothes and possessions with me again, I was never happy here under the oppression of that imposter. Being loved is far more important to me than the things I'm given." Ashley looked down at her hands.
"Do you think you'll find that with Riley?" Finn asked. There was no answer or implication in her tone, just prodding as she let Ashley think out loud.
"I think that just maybe, Riley could love me, if I let him." Ashley chanced a fearful glance at Finn. The other woman smiled in encouragement.
"And that makes you feel how?" Finn prodded.
"Scared. Anxious. Delighted. Curious. Euphoric. Terrified." Ashley's heart jumped about as she sat under the weight of the emotions that assaulted her when she thought about Riley.
"I think that sums it up nicely." Riley spoke from the doorway. The women both shot up from where they had taken their seats during the conversation.
"Ashley, I also wanted to visit your mother while I was here. Is she in?" Finn suddenly asked.
"Yes, she'll be having dinner upstairs shortly." Ashley couldn't rip her gaze from Riley's as she spoke.
"That sounds delicious, I think I'll join her. I'm sure there will be enough for both of us. Hello, Riley, Goodbye, Riley." Finn hurried out of the room, heedless of the presumption of inviting herself to dine with the lady of the house.
"Lovely to see you, Finn," He responded absently as she passed him, and Finn chuckled on her way up the stairs. He hadn't looked at her since he'd entered the room. Had he even seen her at all?
A long silence reigned between the two in the parlor. Ashley snatched her fan from the side table and began rapidly circulating air around her face. She turned away from Riley for a moment to gather her scattered thoughts.
He came around the sofa to face her, and she raised defiant eyes to his, ready to do battle.
"It's terribly impolite to eavesdrop on a discussion between ladies, you know," She chastised him, using annoyance to hide how vulnerable she felt.
"Even when I am the topic of conversation?" He tilted his head with a grin, not fooled by her show of irritation.
"Especially then!" She flicked her fan closed and rapped him lightly on the shoulder.
He gently snatched her wrist before she could draw it back, causing her to gasp.
"I see your release from the military has not curbed your violent tendencies," He shook his head in disappointment. "How tragic that I can no longer have you court-martialed."
"You would never have dared," She challenged him. "A great warrior like you, whining about being hit by a little girl? I can't picture it."
"If I thought you might actually hurt anyone, I might have." He shrugged nonchalantly, "But even being unarmed, and you with a dangerous weapon," He eyed the fan she held, "I remain completely uninjured by your vicious attack."
"Vicious indeed!" She huffed, and he smiled at her rising exasperation.
"I would have feared for my life, were it not for the fact that you clearly neglected all forms of strength training during your luxurious guard duty here in the city. I do believe I advised you to take it back up before." He raised his eyebrows at her, "but alas, my wise guidance has gone unheeded."
He was greatly enjoying having her off-balance. Surprising her as he did had robbed her of some of her conversational advantages.
She inhaled through her nose, quelling the indignation he was feeding in her.
"You, on the other hand, though you have clearly worked hard on strength of body," He puffed out his chest slightly with pride as she spoke, until she continued, "have perhaps left your strength of mind unheeded. The great wisdom of our time has a few things to say about provoking a lady's ire."
"Oh, indeed? I have yet to feel the consequences of such an act. Do enlighten me as to what I should expect to suffer for my egregious offenses against you." He adopted a serious expression, but his eyes were dancing with laughter.
"The consequences are too dire to describe." She replied ominously.
"Please try to explain in simple terms. I'm only a Corporal, but perhaps I could approach understanding with one so wise as yourself to condescend." He bowed his head slightly in respect.
"Warfare of a psychological variety is the natural outcome of your actions," She cautioned, and his eyes widened in concern.
"I have not been trained in that style of battle," He lamented, "Is there any hope of diplomacy?"
"I'll hear any terms of surrender you would like to offer," She smiled sweetly.
"Do you have any demands? My strategic position is so weak I fear my surrender must surely be unconditional." His expression made a comical show of hopelessness.
"Very well," She smiled. "My first demand is an apology for the unforgivable sin of eavesdropping."
"My lady," He released her wrist and took a large step back to bow deeply, "I throw myself on your mercy and do humbly apologize for my deplorable actions."
"You are forgiven," She granted magnanimously.
"I thought you said the sin was unforgivable?" He rose with a challenge.
"I am sufficiently gracious as to forgive even that," She raised her dainty nose into the air.
"Of course," He nodded knowingly. "Anything else?"
"You must immediately forget anything you overheard, as that is the gentlemanly course to take." Her tone brooked no argument, but he wasn't one to back down.
"And if I have a perfect memory?" He asked, stepping slightly closer, "Or moreover, if I liked what I heard and have no desire to forget a single word?"
"You... what?" She was suddenly disoriented by his nearness, and he moved closer still.
"What if I liked hearing what you said, and the feelings you revealed, and I feel the same way?" He took one of her hands in his.
She inhaled slowly, unable to fully process what he was saying, when the gong rang announcing dinner was served in the kitchen.
Ashley nearly jumped out of her skin. The gong had not been necessary for a long while, but was tradition when there were guests present around mealtime. She supposed the servants must have revived the practice since there were two guests in the home.
"Would you like some dinner?" She squeaked out, her voice breaking slightly.
"I'd love some." He said seriously, but his eyes told her he would not let her avoid the conversation forever.