"I wouldn't be surprised if she had the continent under her thumb by this time next year," he kept the ridiculous exaggerations going.
"By this time next year we'll have a niece or a nephew," she bumped her shoulder against Derbie's waist, "at least one though I suspect it'll be more given all you love birds." His pale cheeks burned violently red and Blair grinned.
"Are you not looking forwards to you our future children, dear sister?" Derbie tried to tease back, "a little girl with Clayton's dark tones but your reckless enthusiasm? Or maybe a little boy with your eyes but Clayton's height, just so he can get books off of the high shelves for y—" Derbie cut off with an oof as Blair elbowed him sharply. 
In the time since Clayton had agreed to her fake Courtship, they'd behaved almost like a real couple would have. Their outfits matched, they spoke in close whispers, and there were sweet but proper caresses; and it'd had the intended result of finally ending the cascade of Letters sent to her house. But between the outings spent in friendly conversation, to the Events full of posturing and plotting, Blair had found herself enjoying Clayton's companionship far more than she knew she was supposed to. Once the marriage Season was over, he'd return to his Earldom and she'd go home to the coast, and their fake relationship would come to its natural end. There was absolutely no room for her to consider what any children might look like as they'd never exist. 
"I'd rather consider how likely it is that you and Alaric will follow in Gavin's footsteps and produce Heirs after your first nights," she crudely teased to redirect Derbie. She'd known Gavin had been sneaking out to see Eniola, but she hadn't realized they'd gotten that physical with their intimacies until Eniola's pregnancy was announced to the family. 
Derbie blushed brightly again, shaking his head at her bluntness, "as if you'll fair any better if we all prove that fecundate," his rejoinder made her shrug. 
"I am in no hurry to find out," she couldn't tell him her relationship with Clayton wasn't real, they'd never kissed and it was all a show to keep the world at bay. "I will be happy to play favourite aunt to the lot you all produce in the next year."
Derbie laughed at her audacity, "there are four aunts, how do you suspect you'll be the favourite?"
"Please, we all know I'm the fun sister, just imagine the bad influence I'll be for the children," Blair mocked herself easily. 
"Hellfire and damnation," Derbie agreed.
"Speaking of, I need to go to Abernathy's for my final fitting," Blair had a dress made for Eddy's celebration.
As her previous mentor, Lord Daro Korolenko had arranged a celebratory feast for Eddy's selection to be Master Gentileschi's apprentice. Blair could easily had re-worn a gown, but it felt important to celebrate her little sister's success properly, and that called for a new gown. Blair was looking forwards to her sister's unofficial Debut, knowing that Eddy would miss her real one next year so she could study under her new Master. 
"Did you want company, or are you meeting up with Clayton?" Derbie politely inquired, and Blair felt like flushing in guilt. 
"Since we're supposed to match our appointment is together," Blair confirmed as if it were a date. Although they should technically have a chaperone, given Blair's already well known nature, no one seemed to expect her conformity to the old traditions. It was strangely liberating, but also frustrating as her opportunities to take advantage were sky high but the relationship itself was a fake. There were no stolen kisses, or barely contained desires to combat. 
At least not that she could admit to, it was bad form to suggest a fake relationship and then actually fall for the person who had only agreed to fake it. She blamed Clayton; he was funny and charming, and never seemed to expect her to only be a pretty face. And although she wasn't the dancer Eddy and Hida were, Clayton had enough grace to make it look like Blair was just as talented, his guidance steady and comforting.