Well, now. That was interesting. Altair couldn't help but quirk an eyebrow at Seloria's request. This wasn't quite the place for his answer though, so he just smiled at her and said, "Let's go out to the garden."
Still holding her hand, Altair poked his head out of the parlor, looking up and down the hallway. Even though he'd told his father where they intended to go, he hoped to avoid being caught by the butler or, even worse, Seloria's chaperone, whose job was ostensibly to prevent her from sneaking off with unmarried men. The front hall was clear, though, so Altair said, "Come on," and led her out the front door of the estate to the front gardens first.
"There isn't much blooming right now," he explained once they were outside. The front gardens lined the paths, the fence and the outside of the house in neat rows. The most rare plants were labeled with wooden stakes. Altair pointed some of them out halfheartedly. "Amaryllis, fire roses, an orchid—I don't know how the gardener gets it to bloom in this climate." Turning toward Seloria, he said rather apologetically, "This garden really is quite stunning in the summer. I hope you'll return to see it when everything is in bloom."
He walked slowly, giving Seloria ample time to admire whatever she wished. Eventually, they had reached a point where they were blocked from view of the house by rows of shrubberies and small ornamental trees. "Have you visited the Theater District yet?" he asked. It sounded like a change of subject, but it was, in fact, the answer to her earlier question. "I find that when I tire of the scrutiny of the Noble District, the Theater District has places where one can disappear. There are always so many different characters, a noble or two doesn't stand out at all." He looked over at her to try and gauge her reaction to his words.
"I was trained in music at the Bards Guild," he explained, "so I know my way around there quite well." He'd be happy to take her there, if she wished.