|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 10:36 pm
Eyes darting back and forth from Rory to his father for a moment, she blinked, confused but relieved. "Y-yeah... I mean, probably." She couldn't be certain, but she was pretty sure Faolan didn't make a habit of rescuing girls from arranged marriages on a regular basis. Gossip was commonplace in the upper districts, but she hadn't thought word would get around so quickly here at Farstep. She nodded to the man, laughing a bit, very uncomfortable but still genuine, as she answered, "I met Rory the same day the annulment happened. Couldn't really leave after that."
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 10:53 pm
Rory gave Lee's hand a little squeeze, smiling at her.
"You would really gi' all your money up t' live in Farstep?" Rory's mother asked, studying the girl. "You're not one o' them outsider girls tha' come here t' just see if it's true about how didikai men are great lovers, are you? I think Rory might disappoint you if tha' be th' case."
The boy's hand tightened a little on Lee's and he sounded like he started choking on the bite of steak he'd just eaten. His cheeks burned with his embarrassment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 11:09 pm
Lee was stupid, but not so stupid that she'd threaten her relationship with her family over that. Mouth falling slightly agape and eyes widening, she answered, "Wha? N-no! No, I was thinking more... long term, I guess. And less physical..." Coughing at the awkwardness of her wording, she looked down, only to notice that there was food on her plate. How had she missed that? As horrible as she felt for Rory at this point, she couldn't help but laugh at his reaction, hiding her face and stifling her laugh as best she could.
Finally beginning to eat, she saw where Rory got his cooking talent from, but kept her thoughts to herself. As much as it seemed like she should compliment the meal, she didn't want to seem like a suck-up to Rory's mom.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 11:13 pm
Rory coughed, getting the choking to stop, and looked at his mother, muttering something in the foreign language his family seemed to use in their home. His mother kicked him under the table and he gave a soft grunt of pain before looking at Lee. "What d'you think o' th' meal? Mum tends t' cook a lot more traditionally than me."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 11:23 pm
Looking up and nodding enthusiastically to Rory as she finished her bite, she answered his question while looking at his mother. "It's delicious. Hardly ever get meals this good..." Rory was the only person to cook for her and know what he was doing. Lauss would try, but he tended to be utterly lost when it came to cooking without a recipe.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 11:26 pm
"Are you not cookin' fae th' girl?" Mr. McCormick asked, chuckling. Rory just rolled his eyes.
The littlest sister was watching Lee intently the whole time they were eating. "Are you an' Rory gonna get married?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 11:33 pm
It was Lee's turn to choke on her food now, but luckily she recovered rather quickly. Clearing her throat, she sat back, not sure how to answer. "I... I dunno yet." Shooting Rory a playful look, she smiled back at the girl before continuing. "That's more up to Rory, anyway."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 11:43 pm
"W'll get married when I ask her, Kendra," Rory grumbled at his youngest sister, earning him another kick under the table from his mother. He looked at her. "What?"
"You really wanna marry an outsider, lad? Why doncha let me fix you up wi' a nice girl through th' matchmaker?" his mother asked.
"W' been o'er this, Mum. I donnae want t' be married just 'cause th' girl is obligated. I want it t'be fae love," Rory told her.
"An' you found love after a couple o' weeks, did you?" she countered.
Rory looked at Lee a long moment before looking at his mother again with a grin. "Aye."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 11:58 pm
Lee'd half expected such a reaction from his mother, one of the reasons she kept herself from answering the girl's question with a simple "yes". Sinking further in her chair, she felt even worse for Rory now, knowing what it felt like when her parents had implied he wasn't good enough for her. Pausing as she asked the question, Lee felt as if she should assure the woman that they were taking things slow enough, that they wouldn't rush into anything without being sure. She didn't want to burden either her or Rory with the prospect of marriage so soon; she was comfortable with it, but she didn't expect him to be. His answer, simple and direct, surprised the girl, and she gazed over at him, adoration clear on her face.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 12:03 am
The rest of the meal went mostly in silence, at least for the men. Rory's little sisters chattered on all through dinner about whatever was interesting them that day. Afterwards, the two girls helped their mother clear the table and Rory got up. "I'm gonna gae talk t' Da a moment about th' horses, yeah? You'll be alreet here fae awhile?" He watched his father head outside then looked at Lee again. "Gae help me mum an' sisters wi' th' dishes. She'll appreciate it an' she can get a chance t' talk at you some more. Plus, I know me sisters hae all kinds o' questions about your outside life."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 12:14 am
"O-okay..." Swallowing her nervousness, Lee nodded haltingly, looking away to prepare herself for whatever questions she might be faced with now that Rory wouldn't be around. It would have helped if she'd ever washed a dish in her life, too, but that was beside the point.
Turning reluctantly to face the women of the household, she stepped over to them, peeping, "Need help?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 12:18 am
The girls and their mother had been chatting away in their language and that now halted with Lee's question. Mrs. McCormick waved the girl over and handed her a dishtowel. "Help Kendra dry them off." She went back to helping Sally wash them. "What exactly be your interest in me son, girl?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 12:26 am
Nodding, Lee did as she was told, happy to be getting such an easy part of the job. At the woman's question, Lee paused and looked over at her, resuming her work before answering, "I'm not... sure what you mean..." Wasn't it obvious? She loved the boy. Was there any other possible answer?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 12:30 am
"Rory's ne'er been popular wi' girls. They can o'erlook the McCormick hands, but his eyes mark him too much wi' haen th' deadspeak. His grandmother had th' same trouble really when it came t' findin' a husband, only she didnae gae t' an outsider," Mrs. McCormick said, scrubbing at a pot. "I really ne'er expected Rory t' gae t' one, either. I'm sure he's tol' you what they did t' him, aye?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 12:40 am
Lee worked in silence for a moment before looking down and uttering quietly, "He did, yeah..." Biting her lip, she continued on, terrified of the woman hating her but even more scared that she might doubt her feelings for Rory. "Which is why I could've understood if he would've wanted to stay away from me. But, to be honest, I don't see what his eyes... what his ability has to do with how I feel for him..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
