Perhaps you will forgive me if I take you around and show you all the beautiful art?"
"Hmm, I'm still convincible. Let's see."
The art exhibit was a gorgeous collection of art, and a part of Viviana thrilled to see women just like her making their way through the centuries. These women had been the tastemakers and fashion icons of their times, and seeing what remained of their life's work was both breathtaking and humbling.
They paused, touched, in front of a series of miniatures painted by a woman who hadn't seen the outside of her house for twenty years before her death. Despite that, she still used ink that she had made herself to create amazingly delicate works of animals, buildings, and plants that she had never been allowed to see. There was a slightly fevered, dreamlike quality to her work one that struck a chord inside Viviana.
"This is the work of an artist known only as Safir," Mikal read from the small card mounted next to the art. "She was infirm for most of her life, but she still created so much beautiful art."
"She wanted to see the outside world so much," Viviana murmured, looking at one exquisite drawing of a leafy fern. "She never wanted to be so apart from the world."
Without thinking of what she was doing, she stood closer to Mikal, feeling strangely melancholy. If he was surprised by her reaction, he hid it well and instead only wrapped his arm around her.
"That will never be your fate," he said softly. "You are a wild one, and your wings are strong enough to take you wherever you want. Your life will never be so small."
"But if it ever becomes like that, I hope I have the bravery to do as she did and to make art no matter what."
She looked up into Mikal's eyes, and for a moment, she was simply stunned by the green of them, and the beauty that this man carried with him as if it were an everyday thing. Suddenly, she hoped that if her life ever did shrink, this color would be one of the things that she took away with her.
Mikal leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. It was, she knew, a daring thing to do in the circumstances. There was still a great deal of disapproval of public displays of affection, but something so mild between a man and the woman he was meant to marry would only garner a few gasps, not outright anger.
"I'm being silly, aren't I?" she asked, shaking her head. "I think I'm tired and a bit hungry."
"Not silly at all," he said. "The things we fear should be confronted, or they will end up controlling us. What can I do to help you open up your world a little?"
Viviana laughed, shaking her head.
"Do you think you can get me out of here? I was joking when I said it, but now that I am thinking about it, I would really like to grab some food before I snap and devour the next man who tells me why women don't need free prenatal care."
"Now that I can do," Mikal said with a grin.
***
Just twenty minutes later, they were in Mikal's limousine. Viviana slipped out of her heels, tucking her feet underneath her. The leather seats were buttery soft, and it seemed like the most natural thing in the world to slump against Mikal. For his part, he draped his arm over the back of the seat so he could hold her more securely, something that touched her in a way she didn't quite understand.
"So how do you think we did?" she asked. "Was I properly besotted? Do you think people took away what we wanted them to take away?"
Mikal laughed at her pert questions. "First, I think we did very well, and yes, I think that people walked away with a better idea of what it is I want to do. After all, I'm not trying to tear down what their families stand for. I'm just trying to make those families more sound, healthier."
Vivian thought for a moment. "You're not answering my question of whether I was besotted enough."
"No, and the truth is that no one would believe me if you were. I have … let's say a slightly irregular reputation when it comes to romance. I don't do very well with women who simply
"Hmm, I'm still convincible. Let's see."
The art exhibit was a gorgeous collection of art, and a part of Viviana thrilled to see women just like her making their way through the centuries. These women had been the tastemakers and fashion icons of their times, and seeing what remained of their life's work was both breathtaking and humbling.
They paused, touched, in front of a series of miniatures painted by a woman who hadn't seen the outside of her house for twenty years before her death. Despite that, she still used ink that she had made herself to create amazingly delicate works of animals, buildings, and plants that she had never been allowed to see. There was a slightly fevered, dreamlike quality to her work one that struck a chord inside Viviana.
"This is the work of an artist known only as Safir," Mikal read from the small card mounted next to the art. "She was infirm for most of her life, but she still created so much beautiful art."
"She wanted to see the outside world so much," Viviana murmured, looking at one exquisite drawing of a leafy fern. "She never wanted to be so apart from the world."
Without thinking of what she was doing, she stood closer to Mikal, feeling strangely melancholy. If he was surprised by her reaction, he hid it well and instead only wrapped his arm around her.
"That will never be your fate," he said softly. "You are a wild one, and your wings are strong enough to take you wherever you want. Your life will never be so small."
"But if it ever becomes like that, I hope I have the bravery to do as she did and to make art no matter what."
She looked up into Mikal's eyes, and for a moment, she was simply stunned by the green of them, and the beauty that this man carried with him as if it were an everyday thing. Suddenly, she hoped that if her life ever did shrink, this color would be one of the things that she took away with her.
Mikal leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. It was, she knew, a daring thing to do in the circumstances. There was still a great deal of disapproval of public displays of affection, but something so mild between a man and the woman he was meant to marry would only garner a few gasps, not outright anger.
"I'm being silly, aren't I?" she asked, shaking her head. "I think I'm tired and a bit hungry."
"Not silly at all," he said. "The things we fear should be confronted, or they will end up controlling us. What can I do to help you open up your world a little?"
Viviana laughed, shaking her head.
"Do you think you can get me out of here? I was joking when I said it, but now that I am thinking about it, I would really like to grab some food before I snap and devour the next man who tells me why women don't need free prenatal care."
"Now that I can do," Mikal said with a grin.
***
Just twenty minutes later, they were in Mikal's limousine. Viviana slipped out of her heels, tucking her feet underneath her. The leather seats were buttery soft, and it seemed like the most natural thing in the world to slump against Mikal. For his part, he draped his arm over the back of the seat so he could hold her more securely, something that touched her in a way she didn't quite understand.
"So how do you think we did?" she asked. "Was I properly besotted? Do you think people took away what we wanted them to take away?"
Mikal laughed at her pert questions. "First, I think we did very well, and yes, I think that people walked away with a better idea of what it is I want to do. After all, I'm not trying to tear down what their families stand for. I'm just trying to make those families more sound, healthier."
Vivian thought for a moment. "You're not answering my question of whether I was besotted enough."
"No, and the truth is that no one would believe me if you were. I have … let's say a slightly irregular reputation when it comes to romance. I don't do very well with women who simply
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