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 Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 7:27 pm
"Who else would there be?" he wondered. As good as estranged from his two remaining blood relations, unmarried and uninterested marriage, there was no one save him. But that was just as well. He would not be able to settle down until he had avenged Victoria. For now, Sigyn was more than enough.
They retired to a comfortable drawing room. More intimate than one might use for casual acquaintances or business, it was relatively small room with a few shelves of books and a piano off to the side. Thomas sprawled in an armchair and sighed.
"Forgive me. I do not often entertain," he said, which of course meant that he never had guests. Well. Except, perhaps, the odd female the duke forced his way. "Would you like a tour after refreshments?"
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Posted: Wed Jan 01, 2014 5:15 pm
She immediately went to investigate the shelves, picking through the spines of the carefully tended books. At his confession, a smirk curled her lips. "It's fine. I'm not exactly used to being around people much anymore, so we make a right fine pair of socialites." When she'd gone through the books, she moved to the piano, settling onto the bench with a warm smile, remembering the grand piano her father had kept in his study. This piano was in fine shape, maybe not played often, but not neglected either. "A tour would be enjoying, but not necessary today," she said, playing a few notes experimentally. Then she began to play a quiet tune, fingers gliding over the ivory keys. "Just means I'll have to come back all the sooner." She paused her song, adding, "And I think another hunt together as well. I would enjoy that."
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Posted: Wed Jan 01, 2014 8:35 pm
He quirked a brow at her. "You intend to ride on tonight?" he queried. The hour, after all, was not growing any earlier and the winters were colder than they used to be. "I believe Mrs. McClellan intends to make a fine banquet out of the boar tomorrow. She may take offense if I am the only one here to enjoy it."
He listened as she tinkered with the instrument. "Besides," he added. "An argument could be made that it is partly your kill."
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Posted: Wed Jan 01, 2014 8:43 pm
She made a noise before letting her fingers dance again, letting the song wrap around them for a few minutes as she pondered on what she would do. While used to it by now, she didn't particularly feel up to riding in the dark and cold, and a quick mental query of Grosvenor's status proved that he didn't either. He was warm and content in the barn, even if Sigyn was poor company. Sighing, she said, "Alright, I will stay. I guess part of me is curious to see how Blackweald fares, now that I am so close to it after all this time. But it has waited for me this long. It won't begrudge me another day." When she had returned for the Masque, she had made a point to avoid the Prestor Estate like the plague. Hell, she'd not even been in Sunderland long enough to visit when she'd been Chosen by Gros. No doubt it was gone to ruin after a decade of her absence, with no one there to tend to it. Part of her dreaded the sight of her home reclaimed by nature, but part of her almost welcomed it in a way. She tried to ignore the part that screamed at her to run away and never return, because too much pain lay in that path. "And I do wish to taste that beast."
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Posted: Wed Jan 01, 2014 9:20 pm
It was not nearly as entertaining when she refused to rise to the bait - indeed, when she did not even appear to notice the bait. However, he had secured her company for the meal which, at least, was something. After all, it was bound to be a feast far too extravagant for him to enjoy alone.
As to Blackweald...he had visited once after the attack, wanting to help the woman he had called friend, perhaps. Though at the time, he could not truly imagine her agony. However, Alfred had informed him that the young mistress was gone. Missing. Lost to the wind. She had survived the attack, but none knew where she had gone. Alfred, of course, had elected to remain at the estate. He was, after all, a most loyal butler.
A servant chose that moment to appear with warm, mulled cider and a few little delicacies to hold them over until supper. Grouse, unless he was mistaken. Thomas accepted a goblet, brought it to his lips, and said nothing.
If Kathryn was under the impression that her estate was in ruins, who was he to spoil the surprise?
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Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 5:17 pm
~~~~~ She'd seen Ravensgate from attic to cellar and found a keen appreciation for Thomas' head maid. The place was extremely clean and well maintained for housing so few people. It saddened her some to know that her friend effectively lived in this massive house alone, but he'd obviously been doing so by choice, so who was she to judge or pity? And he had been right about the abilities of his cook. The boar had been absolutely divine and there'd been enough food to feed an entire household. Seemed a shame that so much would go to waste. Though she hadn't necessarily wanted to leave, the itch to see her family's home grew more and more persistent, until she'd finally had to give in. Gros stood waiting for her as she paused in the doorway, turning to bid Thomas farewell for now. "I'll be back shortly, I'm sure. Just...something makes me want to see it. I don't know, maybe I need closure."
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Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 6:49 pm
The hours that Thomas had spent with his childhood friend had been fulfilling, indeed, though they amounted to little over a day. Just as well. Though part of Thomas was loathe to see her depart, the majority of him was unaccustomed to spending so long in the company of another. He would be glad of his solitude again. Still, he had one parting gift to give her.
After all, if he allowed her to return to Blackweald expecting the worst, the shock just might kill her. Or worse, she might attack poor Alfred in her surprise, and then where would she be?
"Closure?" he inquired, feigning befuddlement. "After all of the work Alfred has put into maintaining Blackweald for you? That would be a shame. Well, it's your estate. Do as you wish. Ah, but do give him my regards when you see him, won't you?" With that, he gave her a wicked grin - the type which she might remember from his boyhood - and waved her cheerily on. "Ta."
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Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2014 6:41 pm
She stared at him for a full minute, mouth slowly falling open as his words sunk into years of pain, regret, and shame. "Alfred....Alfred is still...there?" she asked, wondering if Thomas was simply being exceptionally cruel, or speaking the honest truth. A dozen emotions flashed across her face and she fought to keep the tears out of her eyes, though she didn't think she would succeed for very long.
Grosvenor came to her almost instantly, resting his head over her shoulder to snuffle her face. The buck shot Thomas a wary look, wondering how the man had upset his chosen so very much so very quickly.
Taking a quick breath, she blinked her eyes a handful of times before narrowing them. She lifted her gaze to glare at her friend, suddenly extremely angry with him. "You wicked boy," she hissed, wanting to slap him. But she stayed her hand and instead swung up onto Grosvenor's back, letting him fall into the near effortless flight of a deer on the run.
Blackweald awaited.
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