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 Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2013 3:47 pm
season winter; the new year
occasion the countess of alderin's banquet
location the countess of alerin's manor
summary The last thing Jordun had expected was for Andrus to bring him to a party on his second night back in town. In hindsight, perhaps it ought to have been the first; the very reason he was here was to learn from his elder brother, and the skills that his father wanted him to learn could largely be acquired in social situations with people he had never met before.
His pale eyes scanned the crowd, half restless and half uneasy. Andrus had told him to socialize, but Jordun wasn't entirely sure what that entailed and had spent the past half hour tracking his brother through the crush of dancers, mentally trying to riddle through what it was that made Andrus so successful. He could detect that obvious charm that so many had mentioned within earshot, but not the source of that charm. Was it the way Andrus' smile came so easily to his face? Or was it the way he clasped that one lady's hand, gently but with a certain authority? Or was it simply that he laughed at all the inane jokes the fellow guests tried and failed to make?
Whatever it was, Jordun did not possess it. His brother had, in fact, so thoroughly stolen the show - which was only to be expected - that few heads if any had turned his way. Even the newcomer mattered less today. It was a thought that Jordun could capitalize on. He set his glass down delicately and ventured toward the door.
If I am caught, I can simply inform them I was in need for the privy, he thought, channeling his emotions to Idriss. The little doe lurked outside in the dark somewhere, hidden from view but still close enough for him to feel her. Idriss was never far. Perhaps they will allow me to see the library. There didn't see much chance of that.
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Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2013 4:37 pm
It was just the way things went. The wealthy danced and sang and ate and made merry while the lower class toiled beneath them to be sure that everything went well. Without people like her, parties would never be more than a cavernous room full of awkward shifting. Nobody appreciated them, of course. It was a given for the wealthy to just have everything done for them and they took it terribly for granted... again, it was just the way things went. As long as the wealthy were shelling out coins for an honest day's work, those they snubbed would gladly come up to accept.
Chloe had just emerged from the hall through the servant's entrance, delivering new trays of food to the guests. She had not taken a break and certainly hadn't had the option to socialize, but the pudgy man at the buffet had tried to engage her in patronizing conversation briefly. She stood at a mirror in the abandoned hall, fixing her hair with a small comb and her hands. The countess would not allow for sloppy servants, and one misplaced freckle might mean a drastic cut in pay. She turned only casually as someone entered with her, and it took a moment then to realize that they had not come from the servant's halls. It was a guest, abandoning their post as a pillar of society to... do what, exactly? Andrus had taught her, at least, that the wealthy were not so fond of the required socialization and she could appreciate that there was a different kind of work involved. Still, it was odd. Andrus himself was so involved in the party that she had barely caught a glimpse, and even then had not been absolutely positive that it had been him.
Regardless, the girl flew from her place and stood against the wall with her hands clasped in front of her, smiling pleasantly. Perhaps he was looking for a maid?
"Can I help you, si--"
She stopped. That face... she knew that face. No, no, she knew the features, the structure, there was a resemblance. Unfortunately, she did not notice that she had stopped to stare, brows furrowed, mouth propped slightly open. How rude! She realized herself too late and blustered, flushing in her cheeks and ears.
"I'm sorry, milord! I did not mean to stare!"
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Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2013 4:52 pm
Jordun had been so engrossed in his conversation with Idriss - mostly her insisting that she ought to storm the manor to rescue him and him insisting that she ought not - that he did not notice the servant girl until she spoke. At which point it was obviously too late to pretend that he was doing anything else. Jordun didn't know what the Countess' servants were like, but the servants at Ennisfree were extremely loyal to his father and reported all the comings and goings of the manor directly to Oban Kinross. He hoped this girl wasn't quite the same; it would be a shame to offended the hostess on his first night out.
If Jordun had to be completely honestly, he would have to admit that he might have been as worried about her as she was about him. Servants had landed him in trouble before; most nobles didn't think about it, but the servants had full run of the house, which gave them more power than many seemed to realize.
He cleared his throat uneasily and pulled unsuccessfully at his shirt. "I'm... I'm fairly certain I've done my buttons up right," he said, only half joking. "So that can't be why you're staring..." Lightening the mood was not his strong suit, but there seemed to be less pressure to be absolutely perfect around a servant.
"I don't... I don't know you, do I?" Jordun added for good measure. He couldn't imagine how he would know her but it never hurt to be sure.
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Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2013 5:25 pm
The attempt at humor, as pathetic as it was, made a vague smile flicker briefly into Chloe's expression. When matched with the face, it only compounded the familiarity she felt. Everything in her screamed to just out and tell him what she was feeling, but it would be beyond inappropriate. Still, perhaps he would stay quiet about her the same way she planned to stay quiet about him. perhaps if she went about it in a roundabout way...
"No, no, I don't believe so," she responded. It was always better to pretend like you weren't sure either when approached by the wealthy, "If I may be so bold, Sir, I found myself struck by you. You look so much like someone I know. You could be brothers..."
Wait. Wait. Hadn't Andrus said something about having a brother once? He only had his mother at home, that much she knew, but she'd swear that he had mentioned a brother out... in another country? Why would he be here, then...?
If she was right, she was in no danger. If she was wrong, she may be terminated. Was it worth it?
...yes.
If she was right, if she could be right, then yes, it was.
"...you wouldn't happen to be a Lord Kinross? Milord?"
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Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2013 7:15 pm
The question caught him off guard. The last thing he'd thought would happen was her asking - quite correctly too - if he was a Kinross. Jordun was fairly certain she had never worked at Darrowdown before, or her face would at least have been a little familiar. It was hard to say what sorts of changes Andrus had made around the manor in the last few years, but from what Jordun had gathered, they had been little enough. Taking on new staff probably hadn't been one of the changes.
He nodded and smiled, brow quirked to signify his surprise and mild confusion. "Why... yes, I am," he said, sounding a tad uncertain in response to her forwardness.
Even she must see the oddity in the situation!
Being away from a city for years didn't exactly lend itself to getting one noticed, and least of all Jordun in a city like Palisade. Even half of the nobles in the ballroom had seemed only vaguely aware of who Jordun was, and here was this servant girl, asking if he was a Kinross!
"How did you know that?"
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Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 11:04 am
Silly boy! It was a habit of Chloe's to take in faces and expressions, not that he should have known, but even if she had not met Andrus she was liable to have recognized his family. The girl simply smiled. She had taken a chance, and it had come to fruition. This was Andrus' kin! She could only hope that he was of a similar kind. Now, how to make herself seem less ominous or worthy of escape...
"You look so much like your brother, milord," she replied, giving a tiny nod that was half a bow. She had to be careful now. This boy looked younger and perhaps looser with his tongue. Andrus himself could be in trouble if word got out that he had socialized with the help. "He is a kind man, and one that I have seen many times in my employment here. The familial resemblance is uncanny. I hope that I am not being too forward..."
She wanted to ask him bout horses, about nobility, about the stories he knew and the world outside of palisade from whence he hailed... but not yet. She didn't quite have a proper feel for him. By this time his brother had had her dancing, so they were different at least in one respect.
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Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 1:04 am
At the girl's comment, Jordun felt himself smile with something akin to pride. "Yes, yes he is," he agreed. His brother was a kind man, and a perfectly charming man at that. It was more than could be said for Jordun. Although he had never found himself envying his brother's easy ability to strike up conversations, the dreamer in him had often wondered what it would be like to be Andrus for a day. What was that like, to be so comfortable operating within the expectations of society that he felt able to forgo certain rules in favor of befriending - Jordun assumed it was befriending, given the way she talked about him - servant girls in acquaintances' homes? What was it like to not worry constantly about others' judgment because he knew without much effort that it would be positive?
The distant click of a door closing and the subsequent, cheerful cry of one of the Countess' guests made him flinch and instinctively shift in search of... something. Shelter from prying eyes and judgment? Maybe. Jordun wasn't quite ready for either of those things, and surely being seen in the hall, where he most definitely was not supposed to be, talking to a servant girl, which he most certainly was not supposed to be doing, would only warrant both.
When he turned around he saw that it was a false alarm, but the incident was enough for him to feel the need for prudence.
"I... I would inquire as to how you and Andrus met, but, but perhaps somewhere less conspicuous? Like a library, perhaps, or an art gallery? I do quite enjoy art," he added - quite unnecessarily, he realized. "It may be too soon for me to turn the Countess' guests against me." Even Andrus might have words for him if he made a large fool of himself tonight.
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Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 3:01 pm
Chloe beamed. In that moment, she could not have been happier. Not only was this boy a relative of her Coincidence, he was similar in manner as well. Most would shirk at her outspokenness and perhaps even call upon the count to dispatch her promptly. Andrus had once taken her life in his hand and lit a spark that she would never forget. Now, perhaps it was her turn.
"Yes, come with me," she said, reaching out to take the boy's hand and abruptly beginning down the hall. Most every servant's duties had been diverted to a particular arm of the manor to assist in the party, and within moments they had turned a corner which Chloe had not seen anyone cross in hours. Even better, those who were still wandering the grounds were the newer hires who were less trusted by the countess and less loyal to her as well. The chances of them being ratted-out if they were seen were very slim. Chloe had made friends here, and some seemed to admire her flightiness if not look down upon her as naive. The fact that the Young Kinross was not a familiar face may even mean that he would be free from repercussions.
She released his hand and continued through the halls at a brisk pace, clearly knowing where she was going.
"Your brother mentioned you briefly once. I had forgotten until I saw your face," she began, speaking as they moved, "Wanting to speak to a servant girls says that you are like him as well, to some extent. We met first here shortly after I had begun my employment and he was different than the other rich folk I'd met. He'd been trying to escape."
She stopped then and held an arm out to stop the boy as well as she leaned around the corner. Clear. She turned to her companion.
"How do you feel about traveling by the servants' passages? We would be less likely to be caught by the people who might judge you. On the other hand... it's the servants' passages." There was a shine of adventure in her grin.
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Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 1:56 pm
Well, she was... utterly refreshing. There was such an air of comfort in her company, such a lack of judgment that Jordun felt quite able to relax. There were so many things about him, after all, that didn't quite fit the upper class model of the perfect man, but she didn't seem to mind. At the very least, she hadn't reacted adversely to the comment about art, and that was promising enough.
So he followed her willingly, and after several turns down long hallways, there seemed no other choice but to keep going. The manor was every bit as large as Darrowdown, and within minutes he had all but lost track of where he was and where he was going. She must know the place much better than he, for she maneuvered the halls with the confidence of someone who has spent entirely too much time wandering through them.
Such was the lot of a servant, he supposed, but there were benefits to that as well. There was not a doubt in his mind that any servant at Darrowdown knew the manor better than he did. There were shortcuts through the house, and rather hidden passages too that he and Andrus had discovered as children; no doubt there were many left unfound.
"Escape?" Jordun echoed with a laugh. What had Andrus to escape from? As far as society was concerned, he was every bit the perfect bachelor that Jordun was not - and a successful one at that. His brother felt as comfortable out on that dance floor as any fish felt swimming through water. Crowds sat well with Andrus, whereas Jordun... well, Jordun ended up following servant girls through manors he did not know.
"I used to quite like exploring the servants' passages when I was a child," he said with a smile. Him and Andrus both. "I would rather walk through those than be caught in the act of escaping."
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Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 2:10 pm
Chloe nodded and turned to what appeared to be a panel of wall but which, upon closer inspection, actually held a small gold handle. She had thought it entirely unnecessary upon its first discovery, but its clever masking had appealed to the romantic in her. She could not be certain if it was ever intended to be used by the servants as it led almost nowhere, but as per her rules it had been a door that needed opening. The hall was long and mostly straight, unadorned and dark but Chloe was unfazed. It would take more than an unseen rat to make her squirm!
"It's interesting, the dichotomy of a place like this," she said, finally slowing and brushing her hands on her apron. The girl seemed to be admiring the yawning, useless space with some sort of wonder. "I doubt that the count or countess would ever be found here without some of their blood missing, and I couldn't imagine fair Claudia exploring such a place."
She had finally met the dearest daughter and had been impressed. She was gorgeous, well-mannered and had perfected her polite giggle; she was everything that Chloe was not, and that was fine. It just so happened that gorgeous women were more often the subjects of wild romantic stories.
"The servants and homeowners thrive on entirely different levels. Even the most open-minded noble exists on the surface, where everything is neat and tidy and the servants show face. Beneath, though, is a veritable bees' hive of activity: cooking, cleaning, tending, sneaking about in passages so as to not alter the nobles' view of their manor, convening outside or in specific rooms to cater to their own gossip. We are certainly too different to wholly compare, but the places where the levels meet are most exciting, don't you think?"
They emerged into another hall and now took a nearby passage clearly meant to be servants' passages. Chloe's frantic energy had gone and she felt certain that they would not be caught from here on out. They were safe.
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Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 2:36 pm
The hidden door brought a light to Jordun's eyes, reminding him of the idyllic moments of his childhood that have crystallized in his mind, the adventures he used to have with Andrus leading the way, plunging into dark corridors that felt like forbidden caves and poking into areas of the attic that had seen no use for decades. It had all been Andrus though, him and that wild streak that had run a mile long in their youth. At times even now, Jordun would look to his brother and sense that streak still in him somewhere, just hidden now and more controlled. Less wild, as it were, but not quite tame either.
"I'm inclined to agree," he said as he walked behind her, once again following in this game of thrills and adventure. The Count and Countess were probably hardly aware that such passages existed and their daughters... well, their daughters were the perfect ladies that society required them to be, and always had been. "But that is because the Countess never had sons. Or rather, they never had Andrus for a son." No doubt the two of them had been a little more trouble than their parents had imagined. The roofs over Darrowdown had never been as thoroughly explored as when they had been children.
But ah, Claudia. Her beauty spoke to the romantic in him, and there were any number of stories that he could name with her as the protagonist. For whatever reason, his brother seemed less than interested in the proposed pairing between himself and the Countess' second daughter - hence the reason for escape, perhaps - and Jordun could not understand for the life of him. Was this not what noblemen wanted, a mutually beneficial marriage with a lady who also happened to be stunningly beautiful?
"Well, certainly," he nodded as they moved from one passage to the next. For all intents and purposes, the place seemed deserted. "I don't imagine there are too many of them, from what you say."
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Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2013 10:21 am
"Not nearly enough," Chloe agreed, nodding softly. It was a shame that so few people were able to experience a brilliant crossing-over of class. It had certainly opened her eyes. To the working class it was liable to open their minds about those so often scorned... but than again, that would involve the wealthy opening up. That seemed like more of an issue.
"Stay here a moment," she said as they drew to the end of the hall, I'll check to see if there's anyone inside." She dipped out into the light and walked with a purpose; anyone catching her there would likely imagine that there was some dusting or organizing to do. The room was silent and empty, though, so she smiled and gestured for the Young Kinross to enter. "Come on!
The library was stunning. Who knew how much use it actually saw, but a large collection of books had always been something of a status symbol and so the count of Alderin certainly had collected a few. There was art here among the columns as well, although sparingly and mostly large portraits of ancestry, but it was a cavernous and beautiful space.
"I'd love to look through them. It's a shame I'd likely be caught."
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Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 3:29 pm
The presence of art and books all in the same space seemed to relax him all the more. The past years at Ennisfree had gone by with countless hours spent in the library, drawing inspiration from the dusty smell of books and the rich works of art that adorned the walls. It helped to be around other people's creations when it came his turn to write or paint for himself, and it certainly didn't hurt that his father was less likely to find him or his art when he was there.
In the library, identity ceased to matter. For Jordun, this was the ultimate spot of crossing over. All lovers of art and writing were equals in the presence of masterpieces, and such a vast collection of them too. He smiled as he took it all in; the endless books and paintings that filled the space were so very perfect.
"I would wager that the Count has some very old books in here," he said aloud, almost to himself. "Possibly even some of the very first volumes ever written. I would not put that past him." The Count was, after all, a man of extraordinary extravagance. Such a book would certainly suit his tastes.
But it was the art that really called to him. He turned to Chloe with a shrug. "You are not so likely to be caught tonight," he said. "Not with the entire household busy at the banquet."
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Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 5:18 pm
"As it is, I'm in great danger of losing my employment here," Chloe responded with a little laugh, sliding the rolling ladder to a specific point and beginning to climb it. She was amidst the oldest volumes in the library, and although her time in the library was rarely extensive enough to read much she had plucked them out and felt the pages, wondering at how many hands they had passed through. She respected books like people, and the eldest always had the most to share... you just had to extrapolate! "I've been here before. I've been everywhere in the mansion, really... unless there's some hidden, bricked chamber?" She put the book she had chosen back and needed a bit more searching before she came down the ladder with a thick volume in hand. She returned to the boy and offered him the leather-bound book. "I found this by accident. I don't know whose it is, but it's never been touched, I don't think. Be gentle..."
It had no title and seemed to be bound by a less talented hand than that of a bookbinder. Within was a slew of dusty sketches and watercolors, not of any famous work and well-worn with age. They depicted fantastical scenes of lovers in meadows and four pages later delved into the images of wolves. Chloe had fallen in love with its absurdity.
"Of course, being caught reading is a mark against me either way. It seems silly, trying to keep women from reading. The first time I saw your brother, he saw me with a book. ... he was always adventurous, you say?"
Perhaps the art book had distracted him enough to loosen his lips? She hadn't even learned his name as such... how like his brother!
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Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 7:41 pm
Jordun joined in her laughter. "It will be their loss to terminate your employment," he said, watching as she guided the rolling ladder away and began to climb. There were clearly countless ancient tomes stacked high on the bookcase. "You could work at Darrowdown, though. You would be in no danger of losing employment there." He didn't have to ask to know that; Andrus was good at cultivating relationships in part because he honored them with little question.
Jordun reached to take the book, studying its leather cover. It wasn't the most beautiful book, but there was a sort of charm in its homespun lack of refinement. What lay inside was just as plain, but the images were done by a talented hand. There was a subtle grace to the artist's lines that made his watercolors flow from one to another with ease.
"Wolves," he breathed as he flipped through the pages. Few people nowadays really remembered what they looked like. It had been so long since any had been spotted firsthand. And yet these images seemed so familiar, so real. Half lost in the book, he moved toward the large desk in the center of the room and riffled through the loose papers for a blank sheet and a pencil.
Look, Driss, he thought, mentally sending an image of the page to the doe. The Guardian's emotions stirred. I'm in... well. The library. I don't know where that is.
"It would only be a mark against you with conservatives and the elderly," he said, to show that he had been listening. He laid the book down and put pencil to paper to recreate the sketch he was looking at, a wolf emerging from the shadows of a woods with a snarl. His pencil strokes came with practiced ease to replicate the original artist's flowing marks. "Luckily, I am neither. Nor is my brother, I would think," he added upon hearing how she had first seen Andrus.
Jordun glanced up from his work and smiled. "He was the terror of the house. I simply followed where he went, but we went plenty of places." Half of them places they really had no business visiting, but that had been the thrill of it after all. Just like this place. "But I don't suppose he will have told you that. He doesn't much speak of the past any longer. There are certain expectations that it... remain in the past."
He didn't remember reading about any girl, other than the potential engagement to Claudia, in any of his brother's recent letters. "Of course, he didn't much mention you either. I assume you are not Claudia. Andrus has his secrets," he shrugged. "My brother keeps them for good reason."
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