"Do we smell like olives?" Agnes sniffed the skin of her forearms as she descended the steps with her sandals in one hand.
Her hair was braided on the sides and combed into a puff at the crown of her head dazzled with sparking sapphires that matched the color of her dress. The rich blue was perfect against her dark skin.
Amazing.

Agnes was right to worry being that they'd spent most of the day preparing olives and filling up jars for future sales. He still couldn't believe this was what he'd come to.

"Yes. Hopefully the food would blot our smell. Why'd don't you have your sandals on?"

He caught them.

"I can't figure them out."

He watched her reach for her worn slippers she worked everywhere.
"I don't think so, Nessie. Sit down."

Agnes sat on the seat and lifted the skirts of her dress.
He still couldn't get over how large her feet were but saying something would have her fake pouting like she had when he asked her for her sandal size.

He slid her toes into the leather and laced it up her lightly touching her curved calves.
He heard her sharp intake and looked up.

Her eyes were transfixed over his head not meeting his.
He was careful not to touch her when he did the second one but it couldn't be helped.

"Thank you." She leaped from the chair.

"Do you want to drive tonight?"

She beamed. "Do you even have to ask?"

And Adris regretted nothing even when men dove out of the way to avoid the wheels of the chariot.
He watched her dazzling smile from the passenger side as she flew them across little villages and through the first city leaving in their wake uprooted plants and clouds of sand.

"A mistress of your craft." He complimented her as he helped her down.
She laughed,
"Your hair's a mess."

"I wonder why?" He grinned, bending lower to let her fix it before they walked in.

The scent of clashing flavors of food cloaked their own food perfume they wore tonight. Pig, rabbit, pheasants all stationed at differed areas as they roasted.
Tables strewn with fruits and vegetables and animated guests enthralled in invigorating conversation.

"Who's feast is this?" Agnes asked. The wealth of the feast not lost on her.

"The new Marquis and his sister."

And the whole city was there to celebrate and carry with them tales that will travel across seas.
Knowing the Marquis, that was his plan.

"Everyone who is anyone will be here."

"Eros?" Her eyes lighting up at the mention of is name. She didn't look like that when she called him.

"Why? Do you immediately think of him?" Adris rolled his eyes, a twisted emotion in his chest.

"You said everyone would be here."

"Except Eros." He clarified. "Eros has matters to attend."

With her hand in his, they joined the cluster of guests floating around on the dance floor.

"Lords, Ladies!" He subtly cut into the conversation before him.

"Who's your friend?"

As he predicted, Agnes was noticeably attractive in her outfit. She didn't render the room immobile by her beauty still those who weren't blinded by superficial beauty would see her.

"This is Agnes. A dear, dear friend of mine."

The people looked surprised.

"Over the months Sadie's has become more like an older brother to me."
Adris did a double take.

A lady giggled breathlessly.
"So she's just a friend. Good."

Though he welcomed the flirtatious banter surrounding him, Adris reminded himself why he was here.
And watching Agnes hitting it off with several men divided his attention. They flocked to her and she was never without someone to talk with.

"That's nice." He automatically responded to keep on with his conversation.

"You're not listening to me, Adris." The maiden in green said.

"No I'm not." He admitted.

"Your friend can care for herself, so stop worrying."

"I know." He said still making his way to Agnes.
He touched her arm and she turned her glowing face towards him.
"Adris, these good men were telling me stories of their hunting parties."

"Riveting." He muttered.
"What do we think about my Agnes?"

"Agnes is an interesting woman."

Not what he wanted to hear but he'd leave it.

"Did Agnes tell you about her chariot racing?"
Their eyes nearly popped out of their heads.
"Let me invite you to my residence for a ride. Adris you're invited as well."

Agnes nodded, excited for the chance.

"We'd love to. We just have to check if we have any other calls."

He slid his hands around her waist and felt her body grow stiff in a second.
The gentlemen watched his hand and the confusion passed.

"It's really not what you think." Agnes quickly said but before she could add that stupid line about being siblings Adris stepped forward.

"She's got me begging." He whispered to the other man.

A novel realization grew sighing the depths of his brown irises.
Adris smiled knowing exactly what was about to happen.
Rumors spread like fire and the men flocked to her and women to him in droves like bees to honey - that wasn't theirs.

Everyone needed to see the maiden who had the Adris stuck to her side. And when they saw her, their curiosity itched even more because they practically begged to know just why.
They saw the heart and not the face, and that was what he wanted.
Agnes basked in the attention they gave her and reveled in the joy her jokes evoked with an ear splitting grin.

And he enjoyed watching the look of disappointment when he pulled her away by the waist after denying them anymore of her time and his.

"I think I know what you're doing." She whispered in the second she found them alone.

"You are smart."
Their second was over when the Marquis and his sister finally joined them.

"Adris, where is Aphrodite and Eros?" The sister asked sizing up Agnes.

"Taking care of Family matters." He replied,

"Why aren't you with them? Thought those two were family- you were practically inseparable." The Marquis said.

Adris attempted a nonchalant shrug but his stomach did fall at the word "family".
He was never truly a part of their family at least not yet.

"Well I'm here with Agnes." Adris spoke hoping his frustrations remained dormant.

"We heard." The brother said drily.
"I'm even more baffled now that I see her, Adris. You reject many ..."
The long pause dragging while he gave Agnes a long once over
"Why her? Or should I ask for how long with her?"

Adris linked his fingers with Agnes and his heart sped when she gently squeezed his in return.
"Who else would it be?"

The shock was evident in faces of the Marquis and his sister who knew him well.

"I don't believe that." She laughed.

Agnes replicated his laugh without the layer of scandalizing humor.

"Adris isn't the shallow man of old and I'm glad he's changed so much." Her lips on his cheek took him unawares. He regarded her with rounded eyes and she winked at him.

"You must certainly be a special one, Agnes, if you have him smiling like an idiot." The Marquis took her free hand.
"Come walk with me."

"Adris, why her?" The Marquis brother harshly whispered as they followed his older brother from a distance.

He shrugged.
"I don't know what answer you're looking for."

"Anything other than that bullshit."

"The heart wants what the heart wants." Adris said.

He frowned... the statement kept ringing in his mind and wouldn't go away. He looked at the hand that had held her hand and it looked different.