02-11-2018, 02:05 PM
She hit a mark, not knowing the exact target, or if it was an aim that would benefit her. Evelyn stilled, and though Natalie observed her reaction, she did not know enough of the peripheral circumstances to interpret it for good or ill. The woman tidied her emotions away quickly, but seemed suddenly keen to bring a close to their meeting. Natalie's gaze rose when Evelyn stood. She did not think Brandon would struggle to smooth this over, and it was not like she intended to cause irreparable damage to their alliance -- whatever Brandon himself might discern of her visit today -- but she would move mountains to find the answers she sought. Perhaps she had more of her mother in her than she thought. Either way, the coin was tossed now; she wouldn't be privy to where it landed. It spun in the right direction at least; or so she hoped.
Natalie pushed up to her own feet. It was her own turn for a note of surprise then; genuine this time. She glanced down at where her injuries peeked beneath the sleeves of her blouse; a ring of greenish bruising around her wrists and the hint of deeper slashes that disappeared beneath the diaphanous material. She hadn't meant for those to show; was surprised Evelyn even noticed such a small detail, let alone concerned herself with it. Though it was touching in a way that leaned on the faint kinship of their shared gift. Made her more certain of the path she had chosen. "No, no thank you. My mother is still in France, and of course my grandfather remains in London. I'm in Moscow alone, there's no one you need to call; but I assure you I'm fine. I don't wish to detain you any further, Evelyn -- I'm grateful for your help."
Natalie pushed up to her own feet. It was her own turn for a note of surprise then; genuine this time. She glanced down at where her injuries peeked beneath the sleeves of her blouse; a ring of greenish bruising around her wrists and the hint of deeper slashes that disappeared beneath the diaphanous material. She hadn't meant for those to show; was surprised Evelyn even noticed such a small detail, let alone concerned herself with it. Though it was touching in a way that leaned on the faint kinship of their shared gift. Made her more certain of the path she had chosen. "No, no thank you. My mother is still in France, and of course my grandfather remains in London. I'm in Moscow alone, there's no one you need to call; but I assure you I'm fine. I don't wish to detain you any further, Evelyn -- I'm grateful for your help."