Courtyard

After her long journey, Lilith was finally returned to her lovely home, Naples. Unwilling to let her family brandish about and such, Lilith had not informed any of the servants or the members of her family the precise time of her arrival. She returned on her own, and she was instantly informed her brother Leonardo was in the courtyard the moment she stepped out of her carriage.

She shook her head without a word and smiled languidly. "He must've been practicing his swordsmanship again..how very original of him.." She chuckled lightly.

Lilith was delightful to reunite with her brother after they were parted for such a long time, yet at the same time, she couldn't help but feel gravely anxious about seeing him again, after all the things she had heard about him within the society as well as at court.
She held her breath, pursing her lips as she entered the courtyard. Carefully, she tiptoed behind him.

Leonardo, felt like a boy again as he imagined a competitor; swiftly waving his sword about as if he was fighting a pirate for the damsel in distress. Soon he heard footsteps behind him and pulled his sword to the persons neck, not realizing it was his sister. He placed his sword back at his side and helped her up. "Lilith, you should know better than to sneak up on a man with a sword! are you alight?" He asked then smiled pleased to see her.

Lilith tilted her head as she observing the man before her. She couldn't help but grinning happily, since she's incapable of hiding her jolly mood for seeing her brother again after ages.

"Well I didn't know you would notice, seeing as you were too occupied with your practice, with your burning passion that was." She offered him a gurgle of laughter. It was not until then she realized how much she'd missed him, and all the childish trifle arguments they had.
"I do believe an apology is in order?" she paused, raised her eyebrow. "For no sane man would greet his own sister with a sword. Don't you agree, brother?"

"Yes, forgive me sister. I knew you were on your way I just didn't know when, so I decided to practice my swordsmanship, however I should have known you could arrive at any moment." He said and looked at her making sure he caused no injury. "Now that's behind us, how are you? it's feels like ages since i've seen you."

She tilted her head and squinted, glancing at her brother. There was something about him which gave her an odd feeling, the feeling that he had changed, that she hardly knew her brother anymore. "It has been ages brother!" she gave him a gurgle of laughter. "I've been well...relatively at least. It was such a long and dreadful journey. But I am pleased to be back home."

Leonardo looked at his sister as she spoke and gave a nod "Well at least your here, I haven't been around family in so long I suppose I got used to the fact that I was alone in the world." He then thought of Charlotte and wanted to tell Lilith of her then thought he'd wait.

-Rosalina Borgia of Aragon entered the grounds, her grandfather being the late king Alfonso II of Naples, looking around the grounds she spotted the baron and baroness of Naples, smiling at the both of them as she glanced over at them both while passing by, "Well hello there both of you" Rosalina smiled kindly to them, she was the daughter of Lucrezia Borgia and her second husband of course but she was a kind hearted person, standing there she remains there-

Victoria strolls around the court yard while teaching herself the dance steps to La Volta so she won't look and feel like a fool.

Elizabeth had gone straight to bed upon arrival in Italy, the journey had been tedious and the sea worryingly unsettled for her first trip abroad. She had packed her finest dresses and jewels, along with a few gold purses so that she may return to England with with new Italian fabrics.

She had decided upon a salmon gown, of silk and lace. The chiffon folds and loose sleeves lighter than usual to accommodate for the hotter climate. As she took a walk through the court yard she noticed her friend Victoria who she had travelled with and waved with a smile.

"Lady Elizabeth." Victoria walks up to her and embraces her "I'm glad that you could come. Did you travel here alright?"

"Oh do call me Beth, please, " she replied and returned her embrace gently.

"Honestly? The journey was horrid. I've never been on a ship before and I felt dreadfully ill the whole time. Yet, I am here now and I am so glad that we are here."

"It's never perfect for someone's first time at sea." Victoria said as she rested her hand on Lady Patmore's shoulder "So tell me Beth, How was your carriage ride to the Courtyard?"

Elizabeth nodded with a warm smile, "Better and exceedingly more comfortable. And tell me Your Grace how do you find Italy so far?"

"Beautiful." Victoria smiles "It has been some time since I came here." She sighs as she looks around the beautiful Courtyard "I have spoken to my husband about my thoughts of living here for a season or two."

"That would be very nice indeed. You would return to England with brown skin, " Elizabeth said happily with a little laugh.

"Did you stay long last time you were in Italy?"

"Nay." Victoria sighs "I had to go to Suffolk to see my Father." She then looks back at Beth "What have you been up to as of late?"

Elizabeth shrugged and began to walk the courtyard with Victoria, smiling at the way her dress flowed, "Very little indeed. I seem to have spent all my time before I left at the seamstress!"

She then thought for a moment, "Perhaps we may all dine together-your children and of course your husband? It would be nice to meet your family."

"I'm sure he won't mind." Victoria says as she plucks a flower from a nearby bush "It has been time since Thomas and I dine together as a family." She says as twirls the flower between her fingers "Did your family dine together when your parents were alive?"

Elizabeth nodded with a warm smile, "Often...as it was just my father and my mother when I was little. After my mother died, my father and I spent so much time together-reading and painting. Now I wander around the halls of my home in silence."

She chuckled a little, "A bit depressing really, " Elizabeth added and touched Victoria's hand in a friendly way, "So I am very glad to have a friend's company for a change!"

"Indeed. It happens too often." Victoria smiles as she pulls her around playfully"I suppose nobody has taught you Italy's latest dance?"

Elizabeth giggled as she was brought to face Victoria, "Alas no! But you have an advantage I believe-you have been here before!"

She then cleared her throat and arranged her skirts, "Do teach me some of the steps, Victoria."

"I wonder if I can remember correctly." Victoria thinks for a moment while the gentle breeze blows the ladies' hair. "Now I remember." She positions her arm at an angle and opens her hand open "The dances here can be a bit difficult from our dances in England." Victoria says as she touched Beth's hand to get herself ready for the dance.

Elizabeth watched the way Victoria positioned her arms and copied the shape, her hands gracefully opened and touched Victoria's.

She then grinned and nodded, "What now?"