"Oh Lucrezia would love you, I just know it. She loves to be a lady, and she does so like to meet other ladies as she tries to emulate them." It always made him laugh to see her copy the ladies that she met. She was going to be a mankiller when she was a woman, but for now, she was still his little adorable sister. "I'm sure your niece and nephew try to do the same for those they admire?"
He had to do a little quick thinking as she started to talk about Italy and his family. "They do. I guess I didn't mention it as I've only just left home myself - trying to make my own way in the world."
"But business is keeping me here for quite some time. It's hard to build my own little business empire when my father's shadow looms so large back home. I need to make a name for myself here. Until then, the businesses back home won't ever see me as anything but my father's son." It was a true assessment of things, and he really didn't have to live under the Montague banner to be his own man. He could see now that this his father's 'punishments' were only going to help him.
At her emphatic words about being the baby, he smiled. "Parents can be a little overprotective sometimes, can't they?"
He must have managed to clinch the deal with his talk of contracts. "Oh, not everyone is unscrupulous, but it never hurts to have someone read the fine print, and ensure you are getting the best deal."
She was following his lead admirably, and he let his hand slide along to her elbow. He'd like to do a hell of a lot more than that, but whatever was drawing him to her was telling him that perhaps he should wait for her to approve any bold move he might want to make. "Only when they wish to ensure that they don't lose out on the deal to someone else."
A cool breeze came in, catching her hair and he was momentarily mesmerised. "So, shall we head back inside and see if lady luck is still with us at the card tables, or do you need to go and meet with your friends?"