"I see, it is a most noble task," she corrected her understanding. "And thankfully, with it being Marriage Season, the university is in recess so there are fewer students to be concerned with, so the porters work must be easier."
"Though it is a pity your gallery will not be seen by the entire student body, you deserve the recognition your talent and hard work are owed," Lord Daro complimented freely, and Edwina knew her wretched little heart was reading too much into his kindness. 
"I am more than happy to display to the Masters, Professors, and those who have remained despite the Season," Edwina demurely confessed. She wasn't shy by nature; she just didn't see the need for grandiose demonstrations when her purpose here was to show where she was with her art so the Masters could decide if she was ready to be an apprentice. 
"We shall be able to take a day of recovery before having to arrange your gallery," he spoke as if the journey had been physically tiring instead of enduringly boring. "And I was informed we've been set up in the Guest Wing, so I'll be able to play tour guide once you've had a chance to refresh and let the heat of the day dissipate. As you know, it is the custom to rest during these hottest hours and enjoy later into the evening in these Southern territories; so, a midday sleep is quite the norm."
"Then I shall continue to adhere to your good counsel Lord Daro, you haven't led me astray yet," Edwina wanted to rest her hand on his arm while they walked but it would be both too intimately bold, and too physically warm. 
"When you have the chance to meet my sister Bogna, please make a point to tell her that; I am forever seen as the rebellious baby in the family." Lord Daro laughed at himself, and Edwina foolishly clung to him speaking as if he had plans to introduce her to his family. 
She knew better though, he had been her mentor for almost three years, being introduced to his family had no romantic implications. He'd met all of her siblings, inevitable given that he had been her mentor for so long, all but living with them during this Season before departing for winter. But Edwina had also learned of his siblings as he discussed them over the years. His parents, the Count and Countess Korolenko, had married after a long Courtship, and continued to be focused on the Korolenko Countship and training the eldest, Adam, to one day take over. That had left Bogna, the second born, to all but raise Celestyn and Daro herself, despite being three years older than the third born, and five years older than Daro himself. 
"It's strange to consider an esteemed artist, and my mentor, being deemed as rebellious," Edwina dared smile at him with a mischievous glint, "but I've also learned to take an elder sibling's opinion with great respect." 
"I have been amongst your Briggs siblings," this was the least formal he'd ever spoken to her, and she adored it, "and I can guarantee that isn't the case." 
Edwina wasn't certain why he was so relaxed, but she suspected being at the university left Lord Daro in a nostalgic frame of mind. She had heard that filial rank held less importance at the university than talent did; a fact supported by the inclusion of commoner students, though they did require a sponsor. "I respect Alaric's advice and opinions," she feigned offence. 
"You certainly do respect Lord Alaric, but I've heard the manner you speak with Lady Blair," he wasn't wrong, but Edwina was having fun with the teasing. 
"Blair calls me Eddy, I do not like being called Eddy; I don't even like being called Winnie but at least that sounds better," she was telling the truth. 
"Then what name do you prefer? Not every endearment has to be based on your name," he was still only teasing but Edwina couldn't help but think that any endearment from him would be acceptable. 
But instead of saying that and exposing the depth of her affections for him, Edwina replied, "we do call Hida Pinky; given the shade of her hair." 
Lord Daro's laugh was a beautiful sound, "young Lady Hida is rather pink compared to the rest of the Briggs blonds." Hida's strawberry blonde colouration was a constant source of loving teasing but given that their grandfather had been copper they all knew the progenitor of it. 
"She detests the name as much as I do, both Eddy and Winnie," Edwina laughed lightly too, wanting to keep their walk going but he stopped them in what had to be the Guest Wing.
"Your room is here Lady Edwina," he put deliberate emphasis on her full name, "I am on the gentlemen's side there if you need me," he pointed to the rooms across from hers. "And the ladies' bathing chamber is at the end of that hallway if you need it." 
"As you said, Lord Daro, we shall take our chance to recover from our journey, then start working on arranging my gallery. Will you fetch me for supper, or will our meals be delivered to our rooms?" In the regular sessions, the meals would be served in the Dining Hall, but given the recess things may be different.
"I shall fetch you at suppertime, there is a restaurant I wish to share with you, so you know its excellence before you start attendance," he stepped across the hall to his room and Edwina entered her own, hating herself for being on cloud nine at his dinner plans; it sounded almost like a date. 
It was another foolish flight of fantasy, and Edwina pushed it from her mind to try and focus on the room she was staying in. The guest room was as pleasantly cool and airy as could be achieved, helping her almost feverish feeling skin start to calm. The porters had carried her luggage here, faster somehow than their walk in had been, so Edwina decided to take advantage of the ladies bathing room and the chance to sleep the worst of the heat away. She retrieved the essentials, and quickly headed to the room Lord Daro had pointed out, finding that unlike most bathing locations to the North, the water had a cooler cast to it, refreshing to help combat the arid heat. She even used the chance to unpin her carefully travel-styled hair to give it a wash. Gavin had gifted her some hair oils he'd infused with rosemary and his magic, so she knew her hair would look impeccable. 
A cooling bath felt marvellous, and Edwina left her hair wet, simply braiding it out of the way and letting it help chill her while she rested. What was a terrible idea in a Northern winter was a necessity here in a Southern spring. By mid July the temperature would be almost unbearably hot, a fact of life for the lower territories and one she'd have to adjust to as she stayed. 
The heat left her feeling almost groggy before she managed to nod off, not at all aided by the lack of distant background noise. She lived with seven siblings; her home was never wholly quiet. Even in the odd hours, chances were that the cook or another servant was doing work. Edwina had witnessed how much effort went into food; it was the one artistry she lacked any skill with. So perhaps it wasn't all that unusual that her dreams featured her as a roasted beast, trapped in an endlessly burning carriage.