She's very guarded

“Hello” you say, trying to make your voice as dry and formal as possible, “we are to see Fiorella.” The woman’s eyes narrow as she looks at you, the raised height of the house making her seem particularly tall and imposing.

“And what business do you have with my mistress?” she says coldly, her tone chilling. You want to shrink back, but you steel yourself. You’re a bandit, you’ve killed soldiers before, why are you so scared by a woman in a sharp outfit?

“As the recently appointed village guest, I considered it prudent to visit the residents of the town in good stature” you reply, stunning yourself with how you successfully pulled off the elitist sound, “of course, your mistress was at the top of my list.”

The woman’s eyes somehow manage to narrow even further. The hostility is clear, but also clear is the fact that you’re right. You are the village guest, and that means you’re important enough to at least ask for a meeting. “I suppose such an arrangement is possible” she says, “but in the future, please place a notice in advance.”

“Of course” you reply, victory within your grasp, “now, your mistress…?”

“Let me go see if she is ready” the butleress replies, walking off at a brisk pace. Letting out a relaxed breath that you managed to bluff your way through that conversation, you give Dew a confident smile.

“Well, that went pretty well” you say, “looks like we didn’t need to wait outside after all, hey?”

“Looks like it, yeah. We got lucky that she listened to you.”

“I prefer to think of it as my natural charisma shining through.”

Dew barely represses a laugh. “Sure, you can believe that.”

“Mighty cocky for someone who was sucking me off an hour ago.”

“Point taken.”

“AHEM” your little verbal spar is interrupted as the butleress returns. “My mistress has stated she is not ready to receive you, but the chambermaid will entertain the two of you until she can make herself presentable.” She motions to a set of stairs. “Up this way.”

You and Dew make your way up the stairs quickly, not wanting to annoy the woman, and find yourself in a grand lounge. True to the butleresses’ word, there is a serving maid there, who curtsies as you enter.

“The lady won’t be long” she says, her voice soft and courteous, “allow me to serve you tea while you wait.”

You sit yourself down on a grand-looking couch, Dew sitting opposite you on a chair. You feel very out of place in the richly-furnished room, like you don’t belong here at all. You almost refuse the tea the maid offers, feeling embarrassed at accepting something like you’re some grand lord, but it does smell really good, so you end up taking it.

You and Dew both end up sipping tea as the maid dutifully waits in the corner, wondering when Fiorella will show up.