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 Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 7:44 pm
Well, Heather was perhaps not as well-mannered as Miss Bankes seemed to believe, but the idea of a play date was an appealing one. "I am certain she would appreciate the chance to run," she agreed.
"Well..." she fiddled with her spoon a moment. "My sisters kept her so busy. I...taught myself, mostly." It was unorthodox, to be sure. Who could possibly learn properly without a teacher? But she was left to herself so often, what else was she to do but teach herself?
After a moment, she chanced a glance up at Miss Bankes through her lashes.
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Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 8:44 pm
Rose's head was tilted slightly, but she bore an amazed smile. "That's very impressive," she said with a small nod. "I don't think I know anyone who's taught themselves to play." She sat back with a chuckle, her blue eyes twinkling in amusement. "You're just full of surprises." She shook her head with another chuckle and gave her companion a grin. "It's quite refreshing, I think."
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Posted: Wed Jan 01, 2014 4:17 pm
Blushing once more, Eliza found herself to be at a loss of words. No one had ever suggested that she might be surprising, let alone considered her refreshing. More often, she was invisible or dull or bookish. Not really worth mentioning - except for her music, of course.
"Do you have any hobbies, Miss Bankes?" she managed to ask, intent on steering the conversation away from herself. How uncomfortable it was to be paid such attention!
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Posted: Wed Jan 01, 2014 4:32 pm
Rose nodded, noting how Miss Eliza seemed to squirm in her seat at the compliments. Poor dear- she probably wasn't used to receiving such scrutiny with her sisters about, noisy things that they were. Her father didn't have much use for them, and neither did she- quite a pleasant surprise to discover that the quiet sister had apparently gotten all the substance of the brood. "I do enjoy my singing," she said with a nod, "And Mrs. Gaynesford has me practice embroidery- both with floss and with ribbon- at few hours every week. Which, to tell you the truth, I used to detest but now that I've gotten better at it it's actually somewhat relaxing," she admitted with a soft chuckle. "And I suppose you could consider nursing fledgling birds and lost baby bunnies something of a hobby. I've certainly learned a thing or two." Having refreshed himself with a brief nap, Dante nuzzled Heather and came over to investigate Miss Eliza with curious snuffles. Rose started to grow tense, but then she remembered that Miss Eliza was as comfortable around woodland creatures as she was, if not more so. Perhaps she actually wouldn't mind the curious little fawn's prodding.
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Posted: Wed Jan 01, 2014 6:36 pm
"Yes, there is something to be said for embroidery," she agreed. Though it was not her favorite pastime and she was only modestly skilled, the monotony of the action was soothing in its own way.
Though she had been listening intently to Miss Bankes - had Eliza heard somewhere of her penchant to care for young animals? - the moment Dante came to say hello, she was lost. Smiling sweetly, she offered him her hand and, if he was amenable to the idea, scratched behind his ears. "What a handsome young fellow you are," she cooed.
Heather, jealous of the attention being paid to the fawn, hopped over and shoved her head under Eliza's free hand. Laughingly, she said, "Stop that. You hardly need to be the center of attention all of the time." Though it might be noted that she patted the rabbit's head anyway.
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Posted: Wed Jan 01, 2014 8:00 pm
Dante soaked up Eliza's affection like a fluffy little sponge, leaning into her scratching fingers with his tail switching in glee, though it was slowing. Rose giggled and reached down to pet the jealous Heather as well. "I think you've been adopted, my dear," she said to Eliza. "If the way he appears to be falling asleep on your knee is any indication." She ran her hand over Heather's soft back again with a fond smile. "Oh, but she's a little charmer, of course she should be the center of attention. She's a lady, after all, and Dante's being a boor," she quipped, though she made no move to make Dante stop since Eliza seemed to be enjoying his affection. Nyx Argyros This is going to be hilarious later when Dante's a big, brim buck and still comes scampering to Eliza for ear-scritchin's like a wee babby.
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Posted: Wed Jan 01, 2014 10:19 pm
Shady Maru Oh, I can picture it now! It'll be adorable. Especially after Byron is around to be jealous. Heather leaned into the petting, abandoning Eliza for a more friendly and obliging hand. "Perhaps it is an even trade," Eliza said, glancing up at Miss Bankes, smile still firmly in place. "After all, I seem to have been dismissed, if the way she is cuddling up to you is any indication."If Eliza noticed her friendly teasing - something that she would not often attempt with persons over the age of twelve - then it did not seem to bother her. More likely, she simply did not realize the words which had left her mouth were more open than those she usually uttered. Animals, after all, did tend to relax her. "It is difficult not to spoil them," she added. "Even though a little firmness is for the best all around."
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Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 7:05 am
Nyx Argyros Of course, I meant "grim" buck. But yes, all the cute. Rose giggled, scooping Heather up into her lap for cuddles with a grunt of effort as the rabbit was a bit large for such proceedings. But with both arms full of fluffy bunny rabbit, Rose didn't seem to mind. "Oh, but it's impossible to stay mad at them when they look at you with those big brown eyes," she agreed. She saw Mrs Gaynesford, still hovering inside and watching proceedings, roll her eyes in exasperation that she had an animal at the table again, but she didn't care. "Oh, she's just so soft. Does she sleep in your room?" There had been a few... disagreements... about Dante's sleeping arrangements. For now she'd managed to parlay his youth and small size into him getting to sleep on the rug in her bedroom, but she had an unhappy feeling that wasn't going to last.
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Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 12:01 pm
Pleased with this new arrangement, Heather snuffled at Rhoswyn's cheek. Perhaps it was a show of affection or thanks.
"Yes," Eliza replied, having moved from scratching Dante's ears to stroking his neck. "She is allowed to live indoors and sleep in my room."
Much like Dante's arrangements, it had started because Heather was a young thing that needed tending and somewhere warm to sleep. Of course, the rabbit had grown rather larger than most creatures, which could have posed a problem. However, in much the same way that she had persuaded her parents to let her keep Heather after they realized she was a Wardwood rabbit, Eliza managed to convince them that the rabbit was perfectly well behaved.
She had, after all, trained her not to mess in the house or chew the furniture. She was as good as any dog, though certainly not shaped like one, and a perfectly acceptable companion for a young lady. Really. Where was the harm?
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Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 5:17 pm
Rose stroked Heather's ears with a happy smile, quite at ease with the giant bunny in her lap and entirely willing to accept her affection or curiosity. "Oh, that's sweet. I hope I'll be able to persuade Mrs Gaynesford to similar arrangements for Dante. He's... quite insistent on remaining close by." She blinked and tilted her head. "It's only just occurred to me to ask- is that normal for a guardian?" She looked down at her fawn with a fond smile and shook her head. "It makes sense, I suppose, with the bond you described earlier."
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Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2014 4:21 pm
"I...could not say," she said, though it seemed that Miss Bankes had her own answer to that. The books said nothing about any particular need for Guardians to stay near their Chosen. Of course, they never said anything to the opposite either. Eliza supposed that, given the bond that Miss Bankes had mentioned, and accounting for the fact that Guardians were born to protect humans, it did make sense that they might be inclined to remain close to their Chosen. "I suppose you are right," she agreed. Shady Maru I'm...running out of smalltalk. orz
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Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2014 8:53 pm
Nyx Argyros LOL! I'm astounded I made it this far. I'm deathly allergic to smalltalk in all its forms. But yay for stretching comfort zones! We can wrap it here if you want. heart Rose opened her mouth to respond to Eliza with a wry smile, but the sound of the garden door opening interrupted her as Mrs Gaynesford stepped out. "Oh... Oh, dear, I hadn't realized the time. I must be late for embroidery lessons," she said, seeming genuinely tense at the idea, though she did attempt to hide it. "Thank you so much for coming, Miss Eliza, you've been a great help." She gave her guest a sunny smile as she let Heather gently back down. Dante hid in Roswyn's skirts as she stood and gave Eliza a warm, if slightly sad smile. "I really had fun today. We shall simply have to do it again; I'd adore the chance to sing with you while you played."
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Posted: Sun Jan 05, 2014 8:55 pm
Shady Maru Figured I'd add a little finishing post. :3 Eliza said. Though she could not understand what might have upset Miss Bankes, she was still more than happy to accept the offer of a future invitation. It was true that she had been terribly uncertain about accepting Miss Bankes's initial invitation, but Eliza found that she was glad she had come. Indeed, she thought that she might even be able to someday call her a friend. It was a pleasing concept. "Good day, Miss Bankes. I hope we meet again soon." With that, she gave Dante a good, parting scratch, collected Heather, and made her departure feeling much better than she had when she had arrived. The future, for once, appeared to have something enticing to behold. To Eliza's eyes, that made all the difference in the world.
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