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 Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 8:13 am
Marcus mumbled something completely unintelligible before reluctantly opening one eye. "We are." He yawned. "Look at that."
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Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 1:48 pm
Terryn glanced out the window, her half sleeping mind needing a few moments to recognize the figure coming out to greet them. "Your grandmother found us already."
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Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 7:57 pm
"Something is wrong." Marcus had only needed a second to read his grandmother's expression, and it was one that followed only the gravest matters. He rose from the seat and opened the door, little wrinkles already on his forehead. For all of his irritation and mocking, there was no doubt that Marcus cared for her.
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Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 8:11 pm
"You do not think that we are in more trouble than we thought?" Terryn followed him out meekly, having seen what the duchess could do when fully incensed. This wasn't her anger face though. She was concerned for something important.
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Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 8:15 pm
The Duchess looked at them both silently for several moments. For once, she was not scheming or trying to phrase something. She was genuinely at a loss for words. "You did it," she said at last, motioning towards Terryn's ring. "Congratulations." There was nothing congratulatory in the least about her tone, but it was certainly not anger.
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Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 8:19 pm
"I..." Terryn was already preparing her defense, but was surprised, and slightly disturbed that it was no longer required. "Thank you." She kept her voice low, though for what reason she had no idea. "Is...something wrong?"
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Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 8:34 pm
"Terryn," began the Duchess, and it seemed to Marcus that it was impossible to utter any name with such sympathy and regret. "I am so sorry, but your father--" She broke off, at a rather inconvenient place, and looked up at the young couple.
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Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 8:36 pm
"My...father?" Terryn's heart nearly stopped for a moment, the little color she had in her face quickly receding. "What...what happened to my father?" She tried her best not to start trembling or weeping, hoping that nothing serious had befallen him. "Where is he?" It was all she could do not to screech at her, but there was a noted tone of desperation in her voice.
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Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 8:47 pm
"Inside." The Duchess could not help but to sound mournful. "It was very unexpected, of course. We hardly had any warning at all. Always seemed fine, of course. Seemed perfectly healthy. We had no idea..."
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Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 8:57 pm
"What?!" Terryn had never had such an emotional outburst as the one she had at that moment. She screamed, cried, and started running for the manor all at the same time. If there was one person in the world that could evoke that completely uncharacteristic reaction in her, it was her father, the man who had always been the for her, who had raised her almost all on his own, who had been her only comfort when things were so uncertain. She burst in through the doors, intent on running straight towards the bedrooms. She was stopped, however in the drawing room.
"Terryn?" The earl looked up from the armchair, his eyes tired and sunken looking. "Where are you going?"
Terryn froze, turning on the spot and changing her course for where her father was sitting. Paying no mind to decorum, she sat right down on the floor, her skirts fanning out in all directions as she clasped her father's hand. "Father...Papa..." She didn't understand. He didn't look ill. Worse for the wear, yes, and tired for sure, but not really ill. "What is wrong?"
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Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 9:53 pm
Marcus studied his grandmother. "And you? You're alright, aren't you?" The Duchess nodded, and Marcus started after Terryn. He was surprised to see the earl. Surprised to see him alive, to be precise. "Sir..."
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Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 9:58 pm
The earl sighed, glancing up at Marcus. He had already seen his daughter's left hand, but was in no congratulatory mood. "Marcus...could you please tend to your grandmother for a moment? I would like to talk to my daughter alone if you do not mind."
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Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:11 pm
Marcus hesitated, and finally nodded. He tried to catch Terryn's eye as he left, but she was on the floor, and the Duchess seized him and sat him down on the stairs impatiently.
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Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:20 pm
A few minutes, and many tears on both their parts later (which was surprising to both parties), Terryn was practically weeping into her father's lap, not because she had any softness for Serina, but because of the obvious hurt it was causing her father. "Papa...I am so sorry. I never would have left if I knew."
"I know, Rynna, I know." It was strange to call her by that nickname. It was something he hadn't used in a very long time. Then again, Terryn hadn't called him Papa since her 16th birthday when she declared herself too mature for such monikers. "But you needed to go off and do something for yourself. Look at what you have now. There is a whole life for you with Marcus. You can not keep dwelling on me..."
"Papa..." And she went right back into her sobs.
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Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:30 pm
Marcus and his grandmother, meanwhile, sat in a stony silence for several moments. "Gran? I'm--" He fidgeted uncomfortably. "I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused." It was clear that Marcus was referring to more than just the past few weeks.
For nearly a minute, it seemed that the Duchess had gone deaf. "It wasn't quite so horrible. Not that you should be proud of anything you did," she added sternly.
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