"Or maybe it was better." Eva had to be impressed at Vianna's blatant snipe, said in a jesting tone but with a bite no earnest jest could have borne. What would it feel like to have that directed toward herself, she wondered. Eva hurried to change the subject. "And my sister Emberlei is also doing well, Lady Kaelyn, thanks for your concern. We fear she is still too delicate to stand a move, however, so we shall be here for a while yet..." That was nonsense, of course. Her little sister had probably been well enough to stand a wheelhouse for weeks. But Ember seemed to find some perverse enjoyment in being sick--probably the extra attention from their father and Maester Blount, thought Eva with a touch of frustration. Even she found Ember's dramatics a bit much sometimes.
Eva's words fell too quickly into silence, and she grasped at something else to say to hold Vianna off. But the Arryn was too quick for her and got off yet another backhanded civility. Just now, Vianna was putting her in mind of all the worst pretty, mean girls Eva had known. She felt a sudden pang of sympathy for Kaelyn. "Oh, surely it was hardly abandonment," said Eva before she could stop herself, smiling nervously. So clumsy. Why did I say that? Lady Kaelyn doesn't need a defender...