Spirits of the Earth

OOC: Taggy-poos to Klei 8D

Also this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_PZPpWTRTU) |8*

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It was really only a few days since the Grand Duke's Masked Ball had gone off without a hitch, though it wasn't that fact that had Lord Edward Draven enthusiastic, for as he was smoothing down his suit and kissing his child goodbye, he explained to her how very improper it would be for him not to make good on his promise to the young Riley Gray.

"Yes, yes, I know it seems presumptuous, but when I was his age, surprises were few and far between. Just think of how his eyes might light up to see our horse at his front door!" he told Britta, who only grinned at him and gave a cooed bubbling of spit. Edward's eyes sparkled with affection as he moved forward and swept her into a hug, then kissed her a few more times before depositing her back into the care of the maid, Sarah.

The older woman was delighted to see her master so rambunctious, for it had been ages since he had been outside of their keep, and she held onto Britta, keeping her to her hip as she helped the young toddler wave goodbye to her daddy as Edward grinned up towards the window and lead the sable horse with the dark brown mane down the gravel path.

It would be some ride, but the day was beautiful and Edward- feeling adventurous, was up for the task. Mounting onto 'Abigail', he gave a light push into her side with his boots and she trotted off down the roads. From what he was told, their estate shouldn't be too far from his own, (at least the keep he kept in the capital) for if he were traveling from Highheart, he'd need more than a day at best! But since he was already in the city due to the masked ball, he was making a several month affair of it and also finally making use of his manor home there.

Though not as lovely as the rolling hills of Highheart, this side of Connlaoth was still breath taking as he thoroughly enjoyed his horse ride until he pulled up the Gray's estate. And when he approached the front, he swung off the horse, boots first, and landed into a puddle. Not thinking much o fit, he removed his riding gloves and took Abigail's reins and strolled forward towards the manor door to give the heavy iron knocker a good hit and then clasping his hands behind his back much like a school boy, he grinned and waited for the door to be opened.

The Gray Estate, as it was, was more of a city home than one of the great country estates. But still, the blue-grey stone house was well-situated in Uthlyn and had some gardens to its property and a small stable which kept only one horse, and it was for the carriage, not for riding.

On this particular day, the household staff had leave of their duties. They didn't keep a large staff, and at present there were few enough people in the home to give them some leave. So it took some moments before the door was answered, and when it finally was, it wasn't by a butler or maid. Indeed, Edward might have to lower his line of sight, for the door was answered by a girl no more than twelve, a bit breathless from presumably running full speed through the house. Her relation to the Lady of the house could not be mistaken. The girl bore a clear resemblance to Dahlia Gray in her face and had the same curly hair, though hers was flame red and, rather than neatly kept up, floated around her face and down to her shoulders in a somewhat unkempt bushy poof. But what was even more remarkable about it, upon closer inspection, was that nestled in her hair, looking quite comfortable if a bit curious about the visitor, was a large white-and-brown-spotted rat. And, in the hand that hadn't opened the door, she held a rather unhappy looking and rather large frog.

Lilly Gray, for this was the girl in question, looked Edward Draven over in silence for a moment. They hadn't been expecting any visitors and this was a stranger. "Hello? Can I help you?" she finally asked with a slight hint of suspicion in her voice; not of Edward in particular, but the tone any child might use with a stranger they aren't suspecting. Then, as if suddenly realizing she was still holding onto it and it might not look proper, she stuffed the frog into the pocket of her dress.

Edward blinked when the door open but he only saw the top of red hair before he peered down. Smiling warmly at the girl, and even more so when he saw the dear rat, he cleared his throat and bowed his head.

"Good day, my lady. I have traveled from Reajh in hopes to request the pleasure of a visit with both your mother and brother, Riley. You see, my horse Abigail and I," to whom he gestured towards, and with a click of his tongue and pointed of his finger, the trained horse obeyed and gave a bow of her head. "She and I discussed a possible surprise visit to see your brother, though I hope I'm not too presumptuous, er, your are sister to young master Riley?"

Lilly looked the man over, not entirely impressed by his airs, and maybe a bit more suspicious. Or at least more skeptical! He was acting a bit mad, after all, wasn't he? But more importantly, Lilly didn't normally have the power over answering the door and admitting people or not. She wasn't going to relinquish it just like that!

"You talk to your horse?" was the first thing she said. She, of course, frequently talked to her rat, and even the frog. But she wasn't a grown up. Grown ups weren't meant to 'discuss things' with their horses. "Riley is my brother," she finally answered, but didn't make any motions to let Edward into the house. "But I don't know who you are. And I'm not meant to let strangers into the house. I think..."

But she was cut off. "Lilly? Was there someone at the door?"

The question preceded a silver-haired woman who showed up a moment later. She smiled graciously at the man, who, though she didn't know him, was clearly a gentleman by the manner of his dress. "Lilly, have you left this gentleman standing unattended to in our doorway?" she asked the girl, though warmly, before turning to Edward. "You'll have to excuse her. Come in, please," she entreated, holding the door open. "Please excuse us; our staff is out for the day. But how can I help you, sir? I don't think I've made your acquaintance; I'm Helen Gray."

"Ah, you must be Lady Dahlia's mother in law," he stated warmly, bowing his head before her. "And no, I couldn't step in. Not until Abigail has been properly tethered that is." ANd he stroked her long cheek before bowing, "OH! Do forgive me. Where are my manners? Allow me to introduce myself. The name's Lord Edward Emmanuel Draven. How do you do?" And when he raised his head up, some a smile graced his lips as he stood there, horse giving a gently pawing at the ground with it's hoof.

The woman smiled what might have been a somewhat knowing smile upon hearing Edward's name and nodded her head in polite acknowledgment of his introduction. She opened her mouth to say that it was a pleasure to make his acquaintance, and perhaps something about the horse, but Lilly spoke first.

"He said he's here to see Riley," Lilly announced in a manner that made it clear she thought that very odd indeed. She chose to ignore the fact that he'd said her brother and her mother. Lilly, for one, was not keen on the idea of strange men showing up to meet with her mother. Especially ones that talked to their horse. "And he seems to know an awful lot about us."

Plainspokenness clearly ran in the family.

Helen gave a little sigh, but kept her manner warmly polite, even while reminding Lilly that, "You forget that your mother and brother just attended a ball in Reajh, Lilly. It stands to reason that they may have made some new acquaintances." At this, Lilly shot Edward a baleful, unconvinced look, but Helen returned her attention to Edward, never losing her polite smile. "Yes, I am," she finally answered. "The late Lord Gray was my son. And this is my granddaughter, Lilly Gray, who I will guess has not properly made her introductions to you."

At a nudge from her grandmother, Lilly bobbed a reluctant and hasty curtsy.

"Lilly, why don't you take Lord Draven's horse around to the stable? I'm sure Clover will be glad of the company. Then go and fetch your mother. And please, dear, do take that rat out of your hair."

For her part, Lilly wanted to stick around and see what this was all about and why this strange man was at their house unannounced, but she dutifully bobbed over to the horse, taking the rat from her hair while she did so and stuffing it in the frog-less pocket of her dress. Then she took Abigail's reins from Edward and led the horse around the side of the house, glancing back over her shoulder once or twice.

"Please, come in, Lord Draven. I hate to leave a guest waiting at the doorstep." She stood aside to let Edward pass into the house, then led him into a small-ish sitting room off of the main hall. "I have to inform you that, unfortunately, if you are here to see young Riley, both of the boys are away this week. But please, make yourself comfortable. We can't have you have come here for nothing. Can I get you anything to drink, Lord Draven?"

When Lilly gathered the reins, Edward blinked and took a step back to allow her to get closer to Abigail.
"Abigail is sweet, but if you wish to treat her, she does like carrots," Edward suggested, and gave a crooked grin as he heard the frog croak once in the young girl's pockets. And after her seeing stuff two animals in there, he wondered what other sorts of critters she had hidden on her person. Shaking his head after she left, his smile brightened before he turned his attentions to Dahlia's mother in law.

Bowing his head slightly at the mention of her late son, he told her in earnest, "I have heard of your late son and am sorry to hear of it. I have recently lost my wife, so I know how hard it is to over come grief. But I can only imagine how you must feel to have lost him."
And then raising his head again as she gestured for him to come inside, his smile returned, abliet sheepishly as she took a few uncertain steps inside.

He was removing his riding scarf as he did so, studying the foyer of the home and it's quaintness before his brown eyes shifted over to Helen and he nodded towards her, and frowned when he came to realize...
"So Riley is not here?"
And for the week?! The poor man wore his heart on his sleeve, and his emotions plain as day, so it was mroe than evident in the wilt of his shoulders that he was crestfallen. He had brought Abigail all the way out here to see him! How foolish he now found himself without being able to carry through with his surprise intentions!

"That's a shame. I was hoping to make good on a promise I told Riley at the ball. I offered him a ride on my horse and an invitation to my manor. Though perhaps I should have kept the intial offer, I came here today in order to surprise him. I figured, when I was a boy his age, I loved surprises and that well- this would have been perhaps, a nice reunion after the time we had spent together at the Grand duke's royal masked ball."

Helen gave a small, gracious smile in acknowledgement of Lord Draven's words about her son. "I'm sorry to hear about your wife, Lord Draven. Losing a spouse is very difficult." She smiled a warmer smile, though, at his explanation of his business with Riley. "I'm sure he would have loved that. But no, unfortunately Riley is not here. He and his brother are spending the week in the country with Milo's godfather, an old army companion of my son. I'm sorry to disappoint you. But perhaps you can stay for tea or a small drink? I'd hate to think you'd made a wasted trip here."

A few moments later, Lilly came tearing into the drawing room barefoot; clearly she'd wasted no time in stabling the horse and calling for her mother. She didn't want to miss this! Who was this strange man, and what was he really doing here? She plopped drew up close to her grandmother and resumed staring suspiciously at Edward.

"Lilly, where are your shoes?" Helen reprimanded. "You're forgetting we have a guest."

"They were muddy," Lilly retorted, then turned to Edward. "I like your horse," she said bluntly, almost as though she were saying something she didn't want to. She didn't particularly want to admit to liking anything about him just yet!

Then, not long after Lilly came back in, Dahlia came into the drawing room, but she didn't look like she was expecting a guest! Her curly hair was tied loosely back in something of a 'poof' and she was wearing plain trousers and what was clearly a man's shirt, marked with soot and clay and paint. It looked as though it'd been used as a work shirt for some years. And, smudged on her cheek, was the faint mark of clay. She stopped stock still when she saw Edward, her eyes widening a little in surprise.

"Lord Draven!" she stammered, her cheeks just barely coloring. "I... Lilly didn't tell me we had a guest! I was just working on... in my studio and..." She ran a hand through her hair in an unconscious tick. Dahlia wasn't used to being caught quite so off her guard. "How... are you? Are you staying in Uthlyn, then?"

Helen and Lilly, for their part, exchanged looks between themselves.

If Edward was disturbed at all by the lack of order in the Gray household, he didn't show it, and in fact, appeared outwardly.. charmed by it. His eyes alight by the energy and activity there in, and even blushing subtly at how (well at least in his own mind, ) he perceived it to be endearing.

"Well, Lilly, if you like Abigail so much, perhaps later I can take you both for a ride in the park? It seems my initial plans have been thwarted to take your brother out, so perhaps, you and er, whatever siblings are still home- might be able to share in at his expense? But only if your mother agrees... Then afterwards we can feed her apples, and maybe eat some ourselves." ANd the last part he added in a bit of a lowered whisper as he bent over to ensure only the little girl would hear. THough no doubt, her Grand Mother would be able to as well.

And it was here, with his body half bent over, ass facing Dahlia Gray, did the disheveled woman enter the drawing room and with a turn, and his hands clasped neatly behind his back, he regarded the woman with a beam- though the beam of a smile faltered a little at the quirky way she looked. But like the shoeless girl who kept rats and frogs in her pockets, he was no less charmed by her messy dress and face. And in fact, for a brief moment, he was a bit smitten by it.

The way her ash gray hair remained barely kept in a frizzy tail, and how her cheeks lit up beneath dried bits of smeared clay... why, he was, for the moment, speecheless in her presence, that was, until her exclamation of his name came out, her shock, evident, and her inquiry- there in.

Giving a sheepish smile himself, his own cheeks heated on their own as he bowed before her, a bit rigidly, before clearing his throat.
"Reajh," he corrected. "Though it's not too terribly far from Uthlyn. Just a few hours on horse." And his eyes glimmered a moment as he took her in, finding her most attractive in her off-taken state before he, again, became sheepish and righted his posture more appropriately.
"I'm terribly sorry for the surprise, Lady Gray. It's just that at the ball- I had been talking to Riley and came with my horse to surprise him, only to find, much to my dismay, he has flown the coop." ANd he gave a bit of a twitchy grin at his silly kick back to the ball. They were, after all, birds of a feather there, as it were.

Remaining sheepish, as he knew he had caught her off guard (and probably upset her so, his late wife, after all, hated to be caught answering the door in her night gown, or other such inappropriate things) and though Dahlia was hardly dressed in appropriately, he wasn't born yesterday, and knew she would probably have preferred not to be caught so off guard in this way. And for that, he felt immensely guilty, but in a sense, took a bit of pride int he fact he caught her this way- for at the ball, it wasn't that he was not charmed by her or her family already, but to see a woman so exposed...

Oh.. he really needed to keep his mind away from staring at all of the pottery caked onto her form.

"Your mother in law and daughter have seen me in. And I.. I'm sorry to intrude, dreadfully so, but as I stated, I was hoping to catch Riley and offer him a ride on my horse. Though I suppose, if it were not so inconvenient, if any of your other children are home..'A nd he looked about, straining his ears as if to catch the possible noise of another lurking... "Then I would not mind obliging any of your other children in a ride upon Abigail. That is, with your permission." And at that, he gave a bit of a leftward smile, one that was almost dreamy in the way it tugged at his cheek. "Though I'd understand if you'd rather I see myself out. I have showed up quite rudely so, without so much as a proper announcement and here I see you were busy. Clay pots... or .. sculpting?" he inquired, gesturing towards her dress. There was no use in hiding the fact it was quite obvious.

Lilly folded her arms and looked at Edward, clearly unimpressed. Her little baby brother might respond to obviously staged whispers, but she was eleven, not some little kid, and she could see straight through his act - as she saw it! "No, thank you," she answered curtly. "We have our own apples. I can eat them any time I like." A vague look of regret might have passed her face (After all, she wouldn't mind going riding! Especially on such a beautiful horse! But riding with someone else, of course.), but she certainly wouldn't admit it out loud. Frowning sourly at Edward, she added, "And both of my brothers are out."

Helen sighed. She wasn't entirely surprised at Lilly's behavior. In the day that Riley had been home after the ball, but before leaving with Milo, he'd gushed about the new friend he'd made, and Lilly  hadn't been impressed then, either. But Lilly had been the closest to her father, and Helen suspected that she resented the entrance of some other man in her brother's life. But all the same, that wasn't an excuse for bad manners, and she cleared her throat. A clear message to any of her grandchildren.

Getting the hint, Lilly heaved a sigh and 'corrected' herself. "Excuse me, Lord Draven. I would love to feed your horse some of our apples. I don't really feel like riding, though." That would have to be good enough; her grandmother couldn't expect much more, surely!

Dahlia, still collecting herself, shot a thankful look to her mother-in-law for handling Lilly. It was bad enough that she'd abandoned this man at the ball when Janette had her... incident... as, she supposed, had Riley. (Though, was she overthinking that? Surely he hadn't really waited for her to dance. Surely he'd gone straight on and danced with some other lady. Right?) And now he'd shown up at their house before she'd even managed to send a letter of apology. And now Lilly had to choose this moment to put all of her pre-teen charm on display?

"Yes," Dahlia repeated, still looking a bit bewildered, "Riley and his brother are spending the week with Milo's godfather... Um, can I get you anything?"

Helen looked between Dahlia and Edward and, deciding it would be the best, announced, "I'll go make some tea, shall I? Lilly, come along with me. You won't make your grandmother carry a tea tray wiht her weak old arms, will you?"

Lilly had also been watching the interaction between Edward and Dahlia and didn't like it one bit and definitely didn't want to leave them on their own! But one look from her grandmother told her to shut her mouth, and she followed Helen out of the room.

Dahlia watched them go, then turned back to Edward, feeling a bit conspicuously alone with him now. (Surely she was overthinking this). "Oh, pottery," she answered, with a bit of an embarrassed laugh, when he asked 'pottery or sculting,' and she looked down at the smudged white shirt, as if just realizing she was wearing it. For a moment, a shadow of something passed her face. The shirt had, of course, been Kerry's. Once she had delighted in stealing his shirts to use in her workshop. The newer and cleaner the better. Now she didn't need to steal any; but she didn't dare touch the ones that hadn't already been turned into smocks. They stayed clean and pressed and folded in the wardrobe that had been 'theirs' but now was definitively 'hers.' But it was only for a moment, and when she looked back up, she seemed more collected.

"Of course I wouldn't rather you 'see yourself out,'" she admonished him, but warmly, and with a smile. "Don't be silly. I'm sorry that Riley isn't here to receive you, though. Oh, please sit down," she added, suddenly realizing that they were both still awkwardly standing. "I think we both owe you a bit of an apology, er, after the ball. Neither of us gave you a proper good bye. Or any, for that matter! And now I'm afraid your trip here is proving to be a bit of a disappointment."

Edward, still smiling like a teenager, nodded warmly at Dahlia's words. Though his blush would take ages to go away (after all, he felt so ridiculous), but he didn't want to dampen the mood, so he simply nodded his head and obliged.

"Very well, I shall take a seat, but don't think I'll be needing that apology," he said with a smile and shake of his head. "I waited as long as I could and was proper, but assumed you both were busy. The evening was lovely anyhow. And as far as today goes, don't worry about it, Lady Gray. I'm sure something can be done with the day, that is to say, if you'd be alright if we made a thing of it. I did bring a horse, after all."

ANd as he went to sit down, still grinning over at her like an excited teen- he then suddenly yelped and shot up from the chair, just as a frog ribbited and leaped onto the ground.

"Oh, no, really I feel I ought to," Dahlia continued with her apology, despite Edward's objection. "I wouldn't want you to think we'd just abandoned you, but my sister... well..."

Dahlia said this as Edward finally sat down, and she crossed his path to move to sit down herself. But she didn't get anymore out because at that moment, Edward yelped and shot up, just when Dahlia was in exactly the wrong place! Startling backwards, she tripped over Edward and tumbled backwards onto the drawing room carpet.

Watching her fall, Edward did the only thing a gentleman could- So he reached for her as she was headed for the ground.
"Lady Gray!" he shouted. And as his hands fetched around her wrist, it was too late- she was already on the ground and with her dead weight there, it dragged him down too with an 'Oof' as he landed awkwardly over her person.

Dazed a moment, he pushed himself up and looked down at the poor woman, his blonde hair a mess about his face.
"Are you alright, Lady Gray? Please forgive me and my clumsiness. I.. I didn't want to sit on Young Miss Lilly's frog and I-"
And before he finished that thought, the little green frog ribbitted and leaped past the pair of them from where they were now situated most inconveniently upon the floor. Naturally, it landed in poor Dahlia's hair, as Edward simply gaped at the frog as it just stared, with awkward flat lips and it's eyes in opposing, blinking directions, back at Edward.

Dahlia's first 'oof' from her own fall was followed quickly by a second when Edward was dragged down as well, landing on top of her. Though the second one might have come out as a bit more of a groan. Edward was a lot more solid than she was! Once she had her wind back, Dahlia could feel her cheeks warming again. A bit warmer than her first blush; it was one thing to find Edward unexpectedly in her sitting room and another thing entirely to find herself on the floor of her sitting room with Edward on top of her!

But nonetheless, amusement shone in her eyes; it was just too ridiculous. She gave a short, embarrassed, breathy laugh, looking up rather sheepishly at Edward (her cheeks still pink) and opened her mouth to say something, but was interrupted by the frog landing - naturally - on her head. What next? Then whatever words she might have said disintegrated into laughter. Still laughing, Dahlia reached up, conscious of her movement beneath Edward, and removed the frog. Then she carefully propped herself up on her elbows. This put her in a slightly less compromised position, but also put her rather closer to Edward.

"Sorry," she laughed. "Welcome to my very orderly household, Lord Draven. As you can see, everyone is welcome here - men and frogs alike!"

As if to punctuate her point, at that point a sleek, wiry grey deerhound loped into the sitting room. Excited to see people on the floor and wanting to be involved, his tail took up a quick wag and he trotted over, and began licking Edward square on the face.

At her laughter, a smile cresented his lips; and as her laughter continued, his smile broadened into something more warm and genuine and by then, he had moved to shift himself onto his knees.

"My lady, please allow me to help you to your feet." And as he was offering her hand, the family dog entered the room, quite delighted by this predicament as Edward's face scrunched by the over abundance of doggy-breathed kisses.

"Well, at least your dog likes me. I'd be in trouble if he were a mean beast," and playfully, he ruffled the dog's neck fur, then his cheeks. AN the dog, enjoying it thoroughly, lulled out it's tongue as it gave a few contented thumps of it's back paw.

"And don't apologize. I think we've done enough apologies for one day!" he said with a soft laugh,a d after patting the dog upon the head, he re-offered his hand out to Dahlia.
"So.. about that hand I offered, if you're willing to take it, I'm willing to get us both off the floor."

Dahlia couldn't help but snort with suppressed laughter when the deerhound entered the scene, greeting Edward enthusiastically and a bit... wetly. She managed not to send herself into stitches again, though, instead ending up with a broad, amused grin across her face.

"Oh, I think you can go ahead and call me Dahlia now. Now that we're, ah, so well acquainted," she laughed.

Scooting herself up to a sitting position, she hooked an arm around the dog and pulled it affectionately away from Edward. Then she took ahold of the beast's head and gave it a quick kiss on the nose. "There, you've had your kiss, you ham, now off you go," she said laughingly, admonishingly, to the dog, then gave it a playful swat on the rear. The deerhound gave her one quick lick on the face, then shuffled off and flopped down in front of the fireplace, tail still wagging.

With a gracious bow of her head, Dahlia took Edward's hand and pulled herself up. Once on her feet, Dahlia ran a hand through her hair in a mostly-futile attempt to get it back into some order. "You must think I run quite the madhouse," she admitted, looking up at him with big, earnest eyes. "But I swear it's not usually this crazy. Normally I have two boys to add to the chaos!"

Lilly, unnoticed at first, came back to the room as Dahlia got back on her feet. But she hung back at first, not liking what she was seeing. After Dahlia made the comment about her brothers, Lilly stepped into the room properly and cleared her throat loudly. "Excuse me, Lord Draven. But my grandmother would like to know how you take your tea."

The disapproving look of the girl could not be missed.

As the two now stood off the floor, it was hard for him to keep his gaze from Dahlia Gray, though his  brown eyes did travel to follow the dog to where he finally settled by the fireplace, which only made the Lord smile even brighter.

"A mad house? Nonsense," he insisted. "If I were to have as many children as yourself, I should think my own home would fair the same." And his grin was a bit smitten as he took her in, when a throat clearing drew his attention elsewhere.

"Three lumps of sugar, and honey if you got it. I've always preferred by tea rather sweet." He said with a shrug, though if he noted the girl's souredness, he did not dote on it as he turned back to Dahlia. "Will you be having tea as well?" And noticing a piece of clay, or some such, tangled within her hair, he reached forward and plucked it out, but as he did so,t he dry bits crumbled between his fingers.

"Er, you had some clay right there. I was trying to spare you from it, but I think I've made it worse," and he laughed awkwardly, having found himself in quite the odd moment with Miss Dahlia, and he, fumbling t help her brush some of the dried bits from her shoulder. Though he supposed, it didn't matter if he did that. Her own clothing was already crumbling with the drying mess from her pottery adventures.

Dahlia had to laugh at his comment about having 'as many children as her.' "If you think this is a lot, you should have seen my home growing up. I was one of ten!"

Then Lilly entered, and even if Edward missed it, Dahlia couldn't ignore her look. Composing herself a bit more, her almost childish grin turning to a more polite smile, she took half a step back from Edward. She couldn't help but feeling a little bit like she had when she was still a kid and she'd been caught with Kerry. Not that this was anything like that! And she felt a little guilty, too, because she knew that Lilly missed her father every bit as much as Dahlia did.

Lilly looked a bit incredulously at Edward's request for 'two sugars and honey,' her bright blue eyes widely wondering if he was joking. But when he insisted that he preferred his tea sweet, she assumed he was serious and just nodded her head. At that point, Edward reached out to remove the clay from Dahlia's hair and Lilly's nose scrunched up. Having fulfilled her grandmother's request, Lilly turned on her bare heal and headed straight out of the sitting room. Gross!

Dahlia laughed again, but rather self-consciously now after observing her daughter, and uncertain of her own feelings at the moment, and moved her hand to brush the clay out of it. In doing so, her hand brushed against Edward's as he was trying to do the same thing and she glanced up at him a bit sheepishly. "Yes, I'm a bit of a mess, aren't I? If the boys were here, they'd never let me stay in the sitting room in this state. But luckily for me Lilly is much less fastidious." She grinned again, again a bit sheepishly, then suggested, "It's probably safe for you to take a seat now, Lord Draven, if you like. Though I can't offer a complete guarantee that you won't find more little creatures."

Lilly returned a moment later, burdened by the tea tray, with Helen not far behind her.

"Really, Miss Dahlia, you may call me Edward. I do believe we are on more friendly terms now?" he reminded, grinning much like a young boy in love- and perhaps he was, or at least was beginning to coin some affection for the beautiful, albeit filthy, woman before him.

"And I-" though before he had a chance to accept the offer, he turned and smiled when Helen and Lilly returned. "The tea smells lovely." And he went to take a seat, this time mindful where he did, and was fortunate enough this time that there were, in fact, no animals beneath him, but the dog's gaze did remain upon him, his tail thumping happily when the others entered the room. And after accepting his tea, he nodded to them both, "Thank you." And took a sip and landsakes, it was a bit sugary, but hey, at least it was something to wake up his limbs from half a day on the road.

Dahlia smiled feebly as Edward finally sat down and nodded acknowledgement at his insistence that she call him ‘Edward.’ Well, at least they were over that. But then again, it suddenly felt a little strange. It was one thing, boldly suggesting that they dance alone on the balcony when they were at the ball, but Dahlia wondered about her attitude now that she was here in her own home, with her daughter and mother-in-law. But she couldn’t deny that, whatever the reason, she felt a little flush to find Edward here. Once Edward took a seat, Dahlia sat at an opposing chair, cautious not to soil it.

Lilly plopped down unceremoniously next to her grandmother, who was already sitting with her cup of tea. She was staring meaningfully at Edward, just barely managing not to glare daggers at him. “What about your horse?” she asked. “Does she want a bucket of honey, too? Should I bring her one?”

Dahlia shot Lilly a look, but it was too late for her daughter to take the words back now.

“How long are you staying in Uthlyn, Lord Draven?” Helen asked politely to break the tension coming from Lilly. “You must stay with us, of course, now that you’ve come all the way here. If you haven’t already made arrangements yourself, of course.”

Both Dahlia and Lilly suddenly looked at Helen, but she paid them no mind. Helen Gray was always a gracious host. And, taking advantage of her proximity to Lilly, she gave her granddaughter a nudge.

"Oh, yes, Lord Draven!" Lilly spoke up with an automatic (forced) brightness. "Then you can take me riding!"

"How long am I staying in Uthlyn? Well,  had only presumed to stay for the day- leave as the sun was setting after allowing Riley and any of his siblings a chance to ride Abigail, though you are too gracious to offer me any more than that," he assured Helen, realizing it was not his place to stay here more than through the day anyway, for surely it would be too improper, even though it was so graciously offered.

Though at Lilly's last comment, her turned to look at her, but couldn't help but smile. He knew she had a thing against him- She was probably over protective of her mom.
"Well, perhaps not a bucket of honey- but apples.." he nodded thoughtfully. "Yes."

But then as she went on about riding, his smile brightened. "I'dbe delighted to take you riding, Lilly. Though you might want to leave the rats and frogs behind. I'd hate to think what would happen if Abigail were to get spooked by one of them."

"Nonsense!" Helen retorted with a friendly air. "You can't travel back all that way after nightfall. It'd be much better for you to have a comfortable night here, then set out in the morning if you're in a rush to return to Reajh."

Dahlia looked at Helen, not quite sure what to say. She doubted her mother-in-law was acting entirely innocently (she had, after all, confided in Helen about the man she had met at the ball only yesterday and the confused feelings it'd sparked). And, though much more composed now, she was still a bit flustered by the whole situation! "Perhaps Lord Draven is anxious to get back to his daughter," Dahlia offered, not wanting to force Edward into an awkward position.

"All the more reason not to travel alone at night," Helen answered.. "It can't be safe, I mean. Lord Draven," she amiled warmly at Edward, "you won't make an old woman worry all night long about your safety in the midst of this wretched war, would you?"

Dahlia just sighed and shook her head. You had to give it to her; as unassuming and gentle as Helen was, she certainly knew how to play her hand.

Lilly suppressed a groan at all this insistence that the strange man who talked to his horse stay longer. Turning to Edward, she asked (having heard some of the curfuffel caused by her frog when she came to ask about how he took his tea), "Does Abigail spook as easily as you do, then?"

So many questions and offers coming in every direction. He smiled politely at Helen, not sure it was even polite to decline a second time, but as he stammered over a response, he noted the mention of his daughter- and before he could reply to that, better reasons to keep him there at night (the dangers of the night streets, after all) silenced his tongue for but a moment before he nodded.

"Perhaps I can consider it. But I wouldn't want to intrude.."A nd his eyes found Dahlia's before he turned away, smiling over at Lilly as she mentioned the stability of he and his horse.
"I assure you, she has even better manners and strength than I. She's a good horse, finely raised, and well in her prime. I think you should all like her well. And I think she is fond of the grounds heres. When she we came up the drive, she moved with more enthusiasm, though it might have been due to the fact she was hoping to get some carrots.

Dahlia met Edward's eyes for long enough to give something of an ocular shrug that said, 'If you want to.'

Lilly, meanwhile, frowned at Edward's remarks. "Around the garden?" she asked indignantly. "I can walk around the gardens here on my own. Plus, you said you were going to take Riley for a ride in the countryside!"

She, of course, had her own motives. Getting Edward as far away from the house as possible!

"But of course! If you wish to have a ride about the country, and so long as your mother approves, then through the country we shall go!" And he turned a beaming smile enthusiastically towards Dahlia, where a look in his eyes asked her the obvious as he went back to sipping at his tea. "So are there any other children home today? I'd love to meet them if they are." And he took another sip- yes..t he tea was a bit too sweet, he should ask for one less lump of sugar, or so he gadged. He always forgot how much he put in it. Just a silly detail he could never commit to memory and with all the excitement, he just assumed his tea ought to be as sugary as it can get.
"And this tea is wonderful. Is it local? Or do you enjoy imported teas from Essyrn?"

"Oh no," Dahlia laughed, "I'm not hiding any more in the woodwork. We just have the three." No, she thought, she just had the three. "Lilly's the only one home now. And of course, if it's not too much of an inconvenience for you, I'm sure she'd be happy to get out of the city for a bit."

"Yeah," Lilly agreed, "Milo and Riley got to go all the way to nearly to Stonehill, and I'm stuck here."

Dahlia had to resist rolling her eyes at her daughter. This was a complaint she'd heard quite a bit in the last few days. "I don't know about the tea, though, I'm rotten at that sort of thing..." Dahlia answered Edward's polite question about the tea. This was shifting back towards 'awkward' again a bit rapidly. Dahlia wasn't sure she wanted to think very much on 'why.' Suddenly, she didn't realize if they had actually entertained anyone Since that they hadn't known Before. Either Dahlia's family, or military friends of Kerry, or friends that they had had as a couple... Occasionally parents of friend's of the children, but children always provided an ample source of conversation. This had all been much easier at the ball, in a structured social setting... and with masks! It felt much different to have this man in her sitting room, taking an active interest in her children!

"It's just local," Helen finally cut in, thankfully! "We get imported tea every so often, but usually we content ourselves with tea from our own mountains."

Lilly was getting bored with all this polite grown up tea talk. She straightened herself up to try to see if Edward's cup was empty yet so she could get him out of here. Then she'd have to think of what her strategy would be to make sure he never came back! "Are you nearly done, Lord Draven?" she asked not trying too hard to hide her impatience. "I haven't been out of the city in weeks! And I like being out in the countryside much more than my brothers, anyway. They're both so serious!"

Edward smiled at her, charmed by her expression of only having three children. By the looks of things, it appeared as if she had a whole herd! Though he supposed things were just like that with multiple children. He had grown up a single child, after all, so he hadn't the luxury of such chaos in his home- and perhaps, wasn't so marred by it's existence and the very presence of it was refreshing.

And at Dahlia's approval, and nodded as Lilly put in some enthusiasm on the matter, but before he had a chance to comment, Helen was answering his question about the tea.
"Ah, it's very good. Perhaps you'll have to acquaint me with the seller, or at least give me a name, if it's not too much trouble," he said with a gentle bow o fhis head, but Lilly had gained his attention again as he blinked and turned towards her with a soft smile.

"Yes, I'm almost done with my tea. But that enthusiasm is charming," he said, giving a knowing smile towards Dahlia. "Though since it's just the three of you here now, I think it would be only polite to extend the invitation for the ride out to your grand mother and mother- that is to say, if either of you would be interested... I certainly would welcome more to join us. It is a lovely day, after all."

Lilly frowned at being called 'charming.' That was for other girls. The kind that didn't keep frogs in their pockets and rats in their hair. Just one more strike against this man who'd waltzed into her life and house and already charmed her little brother. She'd have to act swiftly before he charmed anyone else!

"Oh, they can't come, too, if you only have one horse, I mean, Lord Drave," she interjected, trying to add some last-minute politeness to her statement. "We only have a carriage horse and it's her day off today." That made sense. After all, it was the rest of the staff's day off!

Dahlia gave a quiet laugh at Lilly's last comment. And her eyes looked for Edward's, perhaps to say, 'Sorry she's a bit of a handful' and maybe, 'But you got yourself into it.' Either way, a smile creased her grey eyes.

"Well, it sounds like we couldn't possibly join you," Dahlia said, amused. "I'm afraid I'm hardly in a state to leave the house anyway!" she added with a bit of a sheepish grin at her current attire. "Even for the countryside. And I don't even remember what state I left my poor decanter in. Don't let us hold you back, though!"

Edward nodded at the girl's defense of the carriage horse and it being his day off,a nd he found himself smiling, a smile which only broadened when Dahlia refused to join them anyway.
"It is quite alright, though I'm sure Abigail would not have minded no matter what you dressed like. Besides, I think you look radiant in men's clothing, if it is alright for me to admit." And his smile grew a bit broader as his eyes were only seeing Dahlia Gray.

A palpable silence followed Edward's last comment. A symphony of crickets. The compliment, that she looked 'radiant' dressed down in her working clothes (men's clothes! which would, of course, be illegal to wear out of the house), might have just rolled away if it'd come from a different man. Someone who habitually deploys their charm in their everyday mannerisms. But coming from Edward, who was so boyishly earnest in all of Dahlia's interactions with him, it stuck. Especially paired with that look on his face!

Dahlia blinked, perhaps staring at Edward in response to his comment while her brain tried to churn up an appropriate response.. "Well, that's sweet of you to say," she finally responded, a bit slowly, "but I'm afraid the rest of society is a little less liberal than your good horse."

That was enough of that as far as Lilly was concerned! The girl leapt to her feet, announcing decisively, "We should get going! It won't be light outside forever and think of the damage we'll do to my poor grandmother's nerves if we're out after dark!"

Lilly got a look from both Dahlia and Helen for that comment, but by that time the girl had already shot out of the room to hurriedly get ready - the sooner she could get this man out of her house, the better!

---

It was a lovely, green day in the rolling hills outside of Uthlyn. However much Lilly might not like her company, she could never stay unhappy when she was out here. The hedgerows, the streams and ponds, the dark shaded borders into the forest. So, at the moment, Lilly sat perched upright on Abigail, surveying the country. Dressed in her riding clothes and with her naturally-wild hair forced into a braid, she actually even looked a bit like a young lady rather than the will-o-the-wisp that had first greeted Edward.

But she couldn't let her love of the outdoors distract her from her goal: Getting Edward Draven to leave their family alone! How, though? Maybe she should learn some more about his motives....

"Doesn't your daughter like to ride, Lord Draven?" Lilly asked as sweetly as she could manage. "I guess she must not if you have to come all this way to take someone else's children riding. Oh, I mean, I like Abigail a lot and I'm very happy to be out here," she added quickly to make the comment seem less barbed. "It just seems unfortunate for you to have to travel so far."

Edward was enjoying himself thoroughly. THough he wasn't on the horse's back any longer, he was holding the reigns as he guided Lilly along through the country side. And the place was gorgeous, with a golden glint from the sun tinting everything, and rosey shadows that made everything appear as pretty as a picture. Song birds were singing and clouds appeared as long, colorful streaks across the sides. ANd the rustling of winds through the trees, soothing.

Sighing contentedly, he turned towards the child.
"My daughter Britta is still just a babe. She's not old enough to ride a horse. Though when she is, I should fancy she'd like riding every day."

Studying Lilly, his brown eyes shined with enthusiasm. "How about you? Would you fancy a horse ride like this every day if you could?"

ANd at her inquiring about how long it would take him to get there, he simply laughed it off.
"I do not mind a bit of travel. I have been cooped up in my home for too long, it would do me some good to stretch my legs and do some more frequent traveling."

Lilly gave Edward a long, sidelong look. She had the distinct feeling that ever-sunny Edward was immune to her remarks about taking out other people's children. As in not his. As in her mother's children, and her father's. Even at eleven, she wondered if he wasn't a little naïve. He might be harder to shake than she'd hoped!

"Well, I couldn't go out riding every day," Lilly answered eventually, with a little shrug. She didn't like the question. As if Edward were trying to point out that his daughter would have all these things that Lilly didn't; that Lilly's parents could give their children. Stupid, smug, high nobility, she decided, without knowing anything in particular about Edward's background other than that he had a baby daughter and a horse.

"I have other things I have to do, anyway. School and chores and looking after all my pets." Suddenly a new idea struck Lilly; a new plan to offend Lord Sunshine. "You know, responsibilities. Don't you have any? How come you're not off in the army, anyway?" She gave him another sidelong look before announcing with a defensive pride, "My- our father was in the army."

"Ah, this is true. Studies always come first. But a little riding never hurt anyone, so long as the chores and work were all done!" He was all smiles at such an idea, but as Lilly continued to go on  in attempts to thwart the mood, Edward simply nodded at what she inquired.
"Yes, many men have joined the army, especially as of lately. I've actually already served when I was quite young. For many a year, too. I was actually stationed along with the current Duke of Allar. We can share a lot of interesting tales, but perhaps I can share those with you when you are older. The army is rarely a pleasant thing to speak of." Especially now with the war and so much death.

"Though I suppose if I were needed again, I'd be more than honored to assist with the war efforts. But with my wife passed and my child so young, I am needed there most of all."
Not to mention, the current Duke of HighHeart was just so..... demanding. He was certain the Duke would throw a fit if he were to join now while he was grooming his heir to be to assume his throne next in line. It was really all tiring work, but at least he had his daughter. Britta made everything worth it.

Lilly's mood, which was at first just mildly annoyed with Edward, was starting to genuinely darken now. The lord's words, however unintentionally, weighed heavily on the young girl.

It wasn't fair. Her father had had a family. He'd had three young children. That's three times more than just one. He'd joined when he was young. But none of that had spared him from the war. So why did it spare Mister Smiles, here? And again it felt like Edward was flaunting his higher station. 'Stationed with the current Duke of Allar... We share a lot of interesting tales...' He just had to say that he was best friends with a duke, didn't he? Was that why he got to leave the army to take care of his daughter? Why Lord Edward Draven was alive, and Karol Gray dead?

Some of this must have shown on Lilly's face, and her slight frame had now a definite sulky posture to it. Her bright blue eyes, her father's eyes, glared angry and sad at the lord holding the reins of the horse.

"That's lucky for your daughter," she finally said, her voice a little thick. Then, with more bitterness than an eleven-year-old girl ought to have and not caring if it was rude, added, "I guess it's probably easier to get out of the army when you're friends with a duke."

"Get out of the army?" Edward blinked at such an accusation as he turned to face Lilly. He saw her expression, and his own turned softer. "You miss your father, don't you?" He said, slowing down the horse as he continued to guide her across the field. "The war is a terrible thing," he admitted, growing quiet a moment. "It has already taken so much from this country, I have to wonder myself when it will end."

Edward's gentle response only made Lilly angrier. He wasn't allowed to talk about her father! What right did he even have to talk about how horrible the war was? How would he know? And, at the same time, the whole conversation was opening up that raw part of Lilly's heart that, above all else, did miss her father.

Lilly wasn't like her brothers. She wasn't serious and solemn and quietly thoughtful. She was lively, and fiery, and didn't - at eleven - have the emotional toolkit to handle the grief and anger she was left with. So, not unlike her mother (though Lilly wouldn't have known it), Lilly was prone to outbursts since the death of her father. Where her anger at the world, and her grief at her loss, snapped and overtook her.

And now was one of those times.

"What do you care?" she snapped back at Edward, her eyes bright with unshed tears, but also fierce and wild. She was squirming in the saddle as she shot this retort at him, until she was free of it, and dropped ungracefully to the ground.

Lilly picked herself up and scurried out of Edward's reach before turning on him. She was shouting now, and she didn't care if it wasn't ladylike or polite, "What are you doing here?! Riley has a father and my mother has a husband!" Even if he was dead. "None of us need you!"

Then, before giving Edward the chance to catch her and drag her back to her mother and grandmother, Lilly spun on her heel and tore across the field, her flaming red hair streaming behind her, and disappeared into a small copse of forest.

Edward found himself gaping, guilt ebbing at his being, as if only realizing the true anger behind this child's grief- and then, a quick calculation made him realize as to why.
"Oh, Lilly I.." but before he could get a word in, the girl was off the saddle and running.
"Lilly!" he shouted, gripping the reigns of the horse and a pat to her rear and hurriedly, he and the horse rushd towards the copse of trees the girl had dashed into. But upon approaching, he dropped the hold on the reigns and moved forward, hesitating only at first as he called out to her,
"Lilly, please! I'm not here to replace your father! Not by any means! Please come out!"

Great, what could he do? The little girl was fast and quickly disappearing from his sight.
"Lilly!?" And frantically, dark brown eyes searched all around for her as he pressed himself between the tight trees, tall brush crunching beneath his boots.

Lilly didn't stop at the sound of Edward's voice or his pleas. The girl ran headlong through the forest. She knew she could lose Edward. After all, he'd either have to tie up the horse, which would buy her time, or lead Abigail through the woods with no paths, which would also buy her time! Lilly ran until her foot caught on a tree root, sending her sprawling over roots and stones on the forest floor. She stood up and looked down at her scraped and bloody knees and elbows. Her face screwed up, but she didn't cry. Lilly was not going to cry. She was too angry.

She stood there, panting, and listening until she heard the sound of boots tromping loudly through the forest. Fearing for a moment that her stumble had cost her her head start and that the Awful Mister Smiles and Sunshine would catch her, Lilly had a moment of inspiration when she saw the tree attached to the root she'd tripped on. It was a tall, strong oak. Its lowest branches were higher than Lilly could reach, but if she hiked up her dress a little she could shimmy up the trunk.

With a few more scrapes to her knees, Lilly made her way to the oak's spreading branches. The first few, larger branches were farther apart, but once Lilly passed those, it was easy going and she quickly gained height in the tree. When she paused to look down, her head reeled a little; she had always loved climbing trees and being outside, but she was a bit surprised at how high she'd gotten. Lilly felt her stomach drop and raise a little. But then she thought of Edward and his stupid remarks and how he had a horse his daughter would ride every day and how he was best, best friends with some duke and how he never stopped smiling and how angry he made her and her fear dissipated. Gritting her teeth, Lilly reached for the next bow and pulled herself higher in the tree until its limbs became young and springy.

Lilly Gray was not going to be caught that easily!

The trees and brush were growing denser, and as he man pushed through, not caring how the branches scraped at his body- his horse, however, did. Abigail jerked her head back, shaking her head and trying to remain outside of the thick area her master was taking her, and when Edward felt the resistance, he turned around on his heels and tried once, twice, before giving up. His nerves were about to carry him away, to loose his cool, but he paused a moment to regrip himself, to keep himself focused-

He couldn't lose Lilly, whatever would he tell Miss Grey if he did? Making haste to tie Abigail to a thick three limb, Edward hastily patted the horse's long nose before telling her, "Stay here, Abby." Before he dashed off into the dense woods alone.

Dried leaves and foliage crunched beneath his boots as he raced along, shouting, "Lilly!? LILLY!?" Over and over again. He was growing desperate, now finding not even a trace of her- and then his boot caught hold of the same root that downed Lilly and in an awkward cry, the man went down.

Lilly stopped climbing when Edward drew too close. The boughs of the tree swayed under her. She was really high up now and the tree's limbs were springy and young. But when Edward suddenly trundled beneath her and - bam! - fell on the same root she had, the girl startled, causing the small branch she was holding onto (thankfully not the one she was sitting on!) to snap loudly, sending a small cascade of leaves and acorns falling down on top of the distressed man. Lilly quickly grabbed the trunk of the tree to prevent herself from falling as well. She stayed there, silent; she was sure Edward wouldn't come up the tree after her, but that didn't mean she wanted to be found!

At the sound of a snap from up above had Edward gasping as he rared back, a broken limb hanging precariously above his head. And he panted a moment before holding it as he realized...

"Lilly!?"
Had she really climbed so high up into the tree to avoid him? She was up there so high, it was dizzying, even from his position on the ground!

Lilly was in a jam. Edward has spotted her and she didn't have much of anywhere left to go. Plus, she knew now that she was going to get in trouble no matter what happened.

Well, if she was going to get in trouble anyway, there was no point in making it easy for him. Her pride wouldn't have let her, anyway. The only sensible thing to do would be to go back down and let Edward take her home. Even if he hadn't found her, it would be a long walk home on her own without the horse. Plus, her grandmother might be right, it might not be safe to be out after dark. And she definitely wouldn't get home before nightfall on her own two feet. But even if she knew that, there was no way Lilly Gray was going back down, apologizing, and letting Stupid Lord Idiotface take her home.

Even if she didn't have a Plan B.

"Go away!" she shouted, standing on the bow now, holding onto the tree's swaying trunk. Glaring down at Edward made her realize how far away from the ground she was and sent her head spinning a little. "Go away! I don't want your help or your horse or anything to do with you!"

Edward winced. His knee was still throbbing and he cautiously got to his feet with a limb. Like Lilly, he scraped his knee pretty good, but after gingerly testing out his weight on it, he stood at his full height and called up to her,

"Lilly, please! I did not mean to make you upset! Please come down here so we can talk!" And then he paused, realizing how dangerous it was for her up there, he then added, "If you want I can take you home! Back to your mother's! Lilly!" He implored. "Please!"

Lilly glared down at Edward. Oh no. She wasn't going to lose this battle! She didn't even know what the stakes were, but she knew she wasn't giving in! Risking her stable grip on the tree, Lilly leaned precariously forward to grab a fist full of acorns.

Then, in the only response Edward would get, she hurled them downward straight at him.

Edward's eyes widened when he saw her move, fearing the worst, his hands shot out, as if to catch her, but then suddenly, she was yanking and throwing at him a fist full of acorns, that plopped and scattered along the brnaches on their way down. Gasping, his outraised hands were now held up to guard his face.

"Lilly!?" By Angsar's name, what was she doing!?

"I told you to go away!" Lilly repeated, but the last two words came out as a half-choked sob as a wave of frustrated and upset emotions broke through her. She shouldn't be up here. She shouldn't have to be up here. He shouldn't be here at all! Her dad should. And that, suddenly, was all she wanted. To fall into her dad's arms, to rest her head against his chest and let him carry her home, like she was still a little girl. Like he was still alive. Without realizing it, Lilly had started crying, but she clung resolutely to the old oak's trunk. She was not climbing down this tree for that man!

Edward's gaze had become frantic, taking in the girl and her dangerous position above her. But then he heard it. The sob, a choke- a cry,a nd his own eyes wavered.

"Oh, Lilly.." he whispered. The poor child! And now she was up in that tree all upset! ......
and despite his better judgement to just let her be, for he was not a man to just let a weeping child take in her sadness and be all alone, he moved to climb up there himself.

His knee protested at first, but ignoring the pain, his hands gripped into the rough bark and soon enough, he was reaching the flimsy and precarious top near to her. With one boot n the branch beneath hers, he pushed himself up, being mindful of the layer of leaves and branches that got in the way,a nd pushed them aside as he poked his head up towards her.


"Lilly... please... I'm sorry if I've upset you. Let us climb down from here. You can talk to me, or I can take you back to be with your mother. PLease... it is not safe to cry here in the tree. Let me take you back home on Abigail. Once you're home, I'm sure you'll feel right as rain."

Lilly's eyes widened in surprise when Edward actually started climbing the tree. He was crazy! What was he doing? She couldn't believe that a grown man was actually coming up the tree after her. The surprise of the situation actually stopped her tears, though her cheeks and eyes were still salty. But she wasn't going to be coaxed down so easily. After all, they hadn't just been sad tears; they'd been angry tears.

Lilly had collected herself by the time Edward neared her but rather than stay and talk to him - much less climb down - she jumped for the next branch up and scurried farther up the tree several more meters. The limbs were bending heavily under even her weight now and Lilly had to hold on tight to brace herself against the swaying branches. When she'd gone far enough and the branches were green and bendy - and weak - enough that she was sure Edward couldn't follow her, she looked angrily back down at him.

"I said go away!"

Edward gasped when he saw her climb up further.
"Lily, please!" And a bit of anger and desperation came through in his voice. "That's dangerous! You're up too high! Please come down here at once! Before you fall!"

"I wouldn't be up here at all if you'd just go away!" Lilly countered.

She had to keep her arms wrapped firmly around the thin trunk of the oak to keep from falling. But still, when she looked down at Edward, she felt the bile rise up in her stomach again and - sighting another cluster of acorns a few feet away, she let go with one arm to grab the acorns. But the force of tugging on the acorns caused her to lose her balance and she fell from her perch with a squeal.

Lilly caught herself a branch or two down, though and, panting from shock as she clung to the branch, she found that the bunch of acorns were clutched in her hand. So she did what she'd meant to do: she threw them at Edward.

He wasn't quite sure if he could recount the exact events of what unfolded next. The girl's precarious position had him more than a little on edge, but when the acorns came at him, they only sought to anger him further. Was she so mad she did not realize the danger she was in?

And he was so naive to not realize ... so was he?

For he knew not what happened next except well...
he slipped, and more than once, for an acorn had lodged itself near the branch he was perched and he miss stepped and slipped...
and found himself barely able to catch the branch below him-

But the place was too thin, and when his full weight was placed upon it-
There was a snap, a fall, and most undoubtably a yelp, before Edward went crashing through the tree....


And opened his eyes a moment later as he stared up at the Oak in shock. And in that moment, he was frozen in panic and could not breath, but the second his breath returned to him, he let out a groan as a sharp pain shot up his leg as he clutched onto it from his stiffed position upon the forest floor.

Oh. No.

Lilly watched what happened open-mouthed and wide-eyed. The girl winced every time Edward hit a branch on his long way down to the forest floor. All of her anger and sadness was gone for now, and so was the color from her face, replaced by fear. What just happened?

"Lord... Lord Draven?" she called down. The bough swayed beneath her as she leaned forward to see if he was okay or even.... alive. "Lord Draven, are you okay?"

A wave of relief hit her when she heard the man groan and Lilly suddenly started climbing down the tree as quickly as she could, even falling once or twice herself, but always catching herself. It felt like it took forever to get down the tree, and once she got down to the lowest branch, she had to jump, landing with an 'oof' on the forest floor. But Lilly picked herself right up and scrambled over to the fallen man.

"Lord Draven?" she asked, her voice a little frantic, and gripped his shoulder, giving it a little shake. "I didn't mean to make you fall! Are you... are you okay? Lord Draven?"

The fall had been a dizzying sensation indeed, and despite finding himself groaning in pain, his stomach was almost certainly still in the branches, until another sharp pain of his leg shot up through him and he let out a noise. Damn! Perhaps he shouldn't have tried to move...

Gritting his teeth, he blinked back a few threats of sparkling tears from his eyes and only then did he realize Lilly was down out of the tree,a nd safely beside him.

"Be... Better I fall, than you," he said, trying to smile, but winced through it as pain became him again.

Lilly just stared at him, white-faced, for several moments. He was even trying to smile now? But she didn't dwell on it. She had to get him somewhere. Or maybe get help. Or... or... something! Because if she didn't...

She was going to be in so. much. trouble.

"Can- can you get, get up?" she asked, still in shock. "Lord Draven?"

Even if she was worried about getting in trouble, even if she still didn't like him, guilty feelings pulled strongly at Lilly. She hadn't meant for anyone to get hurt! Not even him! What had he been thinking, following her up the tree, anyway?

"Should I go get help?"

Edward grit his teeth, and at her question, paused for a moment, eyes going distant as he tried to think over an answer to it. Though when he tried to move, he closed his lips to suppress another cry of pain.

"I... I think my leg is pretty bad off," he told her, voice course and gruffy as he winced. "If... if you could bring... bring me Abigail. Maybe... maybe we can make our way back to your mother's..."

For Lilly, as smart as she was, was still too young for him to wish to send her off all alone for help. Maybe if he could at least get them on the horse, he could get Lilly home and...

Just a subtle movement sent another sharp pain through him,a nd this time he did gasp as he gripped at his leg.

"Just.. just be quick on it, Lilly." Because the last thing he wanted to do was to have this leg, if it were broken.. to get worse...

Left untreated...
He didn't want to think about htat right now.

Lilly nodded, wasting no time before jumping up and running as fast as she could through the forest. She fell once or twice, skinning her knee again, but jumped straight back up and tore towards Abigail. Once she got to the horse, she worked on untying Edward's knot, looking guiltily up at the horse whose master she'd caused to fall from the sky.

"It wasn't my fault," she told the horse defensively, "he shouldn't have followed me up!"

But soon the knot was undone and she started leading the horse through the forest. It took much longer to lead Abigail through the trees than it had taken Lilly on her own, but they made their way as fast as Lilly could manage. Fifteen or twenty minutes later, the pair returned, and Lilly carefully brought the horse around as close to Edward as she could manage.

"Can you pull yourself up?" she asked, still sounding quite scared. "If I help you?"

Through sheer determination and will power, Edward pushed past the pain and managed to drag himself onto the horses saddle. Though once seated, he could at least rest his leg up at a somewhat more comfortable angle, but after getting Lilly on with him; he realized how bad this was the second Abigail took off towards Lilly's home.

Each trot shot a pain through him like no other, though he tried to ignore it, to save face for Lilly's sake, the pain was evident in his face. And it seemed like ages before they even returned to the home, but as they arrived, Dahlia's mother in-law was there to greet them at the door, smiling up at them- until she saw Edward's face, and also Lilly's.

"Angsar's sake, what happened!?" she exclaimed, pushing the door open to get a better look at the pair.

"We had a bit of an accident. Lilly is well, but I think my leg has seen better days." And though he  again, forced a smile, the pain was evident in his eyes and the paleness of his skin.

The woman gasped.
"My heavens! Let me fetch Dahlia!" And with haste, she rushed back into the house.

Helen returned with her daughter-in-law only moments later. Dahlia had, while they were gone, changed into a simple blue-gray dress - nothing that looked like she was trying to impress him, but at least so she’d be properly dressed! - but when she saw the situation outside of the house, she wish she’d left on her work clothes. Her gray eyes went from Lilly to Edward, silently trying to assess the situation. “Dear lord…” she breathed.

Dahlia shook herself from her surprise and she moved quickly over to the horse. “Alright, Lilly, down you come,” she instructed, reaching up to help her daughter off the horse. Once she was on the ground, Dahlia gave Lilly a once-over to make sure she was okay. Edward might have said she was, but as a mother she had to check for herself once she’d heard there was an accident. But Lilly looked shaken more than anything else. Scraped knees and elbows were certainly nothing new for her semi-wild daughter.

“Mom, I…” Lilly croaked, looking like she was about to cry. The truth was, however much she didn’t like Edward, listening to him try to hide his pain the whole way home had her feeling very, very badly.

But Dahlia put a finger to her daughter’s lips to silence her and kissed her quickly on the head. “It’s okay, Lil. Just a moment, okay?”

“Come on,” Helen said, more collected now, “I think together we can help him down.” While Dahlia was inspecting Lilly, she had left and come back with a wooden step stool which she placed now by the horse. Working together and employing the step stool, the two women, small though they were, managed to get Edward off the horse and onto the ground. It was clear from his pain dismounting the horse that Edward shouldn’t - and probably couldn’t - stand on his own, so Dahlia held tightly to him to keep support his weight.

“Lilly, are you okay to take Abigail around to the stables?” Dahlia asked her daughter gently, though strain was evident in her voice. Lilly nodded then, after a moment of staring at the injured Edward, hurried to the horse and took her reins and led the horse guiltily around to the stables. Then Dahlia and Helen, supporting Edward between them, managed to get him in the house and - finally, onto the sofa in the sitting room.

“I’ll go get the doctor,” Helen said, a little breathless from the effort of supporting the man for so long. Dahlia nodded, and Helen gave Edward’s shoulder an encouraging squeeze. “I’ll be back as soon as I can,” she said with a smile, then left the house, leaving Dahlia alone with the battered and bruised Edward.

For several moments, she just stared at him, as though she didn’t believe any of it. Then, snapping out of it, she put a hand to his forehead. She didn’t know why; he was injured, not sick. She moved it down to his shoulder, and knelt down next to him. “Are you… Can I get you something? What- what happened?”

The removal of the Lord from his horse was a challenge in itself. Where as he could not put much weight on his leg, it seemed one of his arms was injured too. Though that pain was of little consequence to him, his leg, which must have been bleeding, for his pant leg was thoroughly stained, kept shooting up pains from the broken area each way he turned. But once he was off the horse he felt at least some relief, and into the house he was ushered, sweat slicking his clothing and skin and matting his disheveled hair against his face.

Once settled in, he let out a cry of pain, having put too much weight on the leg than he had intended and clutched on the knee until it somewhat subsided. And with a breathy, forced smile, he looked up at Helen and gave a nod.

"Angsar's name.." he said, giving her a wincing nod. "Thank you."

And then as they were alone,t he room grew quiet- perhaps too quiet as he tried to blink back the sharp tears collecting within his eyes. But then Dahlia's words drew his gaze down to where she knelt.


Edward laugh, this time a more agreeable one as he tossed back his head, tears straining inside his eyes.
"A lemon-soured drink!" he said with a shake of his head, tears now streaming from his eyes as he laughed at the terribleness of the situation, as if he himself did not believe it either. The pain was terrible, but at least, hey, he had lived.

Had he landed in any other way.. it is possible he could have broken his back or neck.

A lemon-soured drink! The semi-joke brought Dahlia more to her senses and she forced herself to smile at his laughter as she answered, "I'll see what I can do." Her mothering instincts taking over, she unconsciously wiped the tears from his cheek with her free hand, her other one still on his shoulder. She gave it a gentle squeeze, and turned her gaze from Edward's face to assess the damage. His leg looked... bad. Dark blood oozed from beneath his trousers. It'd need to be cleaned.

Dahlia looked back at him with a sympathetic, serious face. "Maybe we can get you something stronger," she said, half-joking herself. "And we'll have to clean you up." She stayed a moment longer, gently rubbing his shoulder in an attempt to comfort him. Then she let out a little exhale. "Okay, I'll be right back, okay? Don't you dare move while I'm gone." As she got to her feet, she leaned over him to kiss him on the forehead, just as she might with one of her children.

Lilly came into the doorway just as Dahlia was leaving the room, her face ashen. "Lilly, are you okay to come give me a hand?" Dahlia asked. Her daughter quickly nodded; she didn't want to be left alone with Edward. Guilt was weighing very heavily on her and the last thing she wanted was to stay alone with him.

The pair returned a few minutes later, Dahlia carrying a mug, towels, and a knife; Lilly carefully carrying a basin of warm water. She set down the basin, careful not to spill too much of the water, then looked wide-eyed at Dahlia.

"Mom," she asked meekly, "can I go wash up my knees? Or do you..."

Dahlia set down the towels next to the basin and pulled Lilly into a hug. "Go ahead, sweetheart. I'll be up once I can."

Lilly didn't need to be told twice. With one glance at Edward, she took off, scurrying out of the room and up the stairs.

Dahlia watched her go, then turned back to Edward. Kneeling down next to him again, she wet one of the towels in the basin. The water was warm, and she put the towel gently to Edward's forehead. She watched him carefully, frowning sympathetically, then reached for the mug - filled with a strong, peated whisky - and handed it to Edward. "Not soured lemon, but it should brace you," she told him. Once he'd taken the mug, she looked back down at his leg. "The doctor should be here soon, but do you want me to try to clean the wound?"

At Dahlia's warning not to leave, Edward's brows raised at her questionably.
"I wouldn't try!" he assured her, through a wistful wince. And the second he was alone, he leaned his head back, swallowing the knot in his throat and tried to relax for but a moment, but his leg was throbbing, and so was his shoulder and neck- and when he went to roll them, he winced and decided to forego that. No need to make these injuries any worse.

ANd then when she returned, his gaze was solely upon her, trying to smile from time to time when he caught glimpses of the meek form of Lilly, but his heavy gaze kept to her mother. Accepting the mug, he downed it with a soured expression.

"This is strong!" he commented, with obvious surprise. "Why, I think I'dbe drink in just two sips!" But maybe that was the point....
and with a breathy laugh, he observed his leg with a frown.

"It might be wise to assess it now, and clean it up so the doctor can have a better look at it." Hopefully, it wasn't too gruesome for her, or for him!

Dahlia's eyes, similarly, were glued to Edward, watching carefully for any sign of pain or change in his health or mood. A small, wry smile passed her lips when he downed the drink and agreed to let her clean his leg. "Well, if you're a good boy and behave for this next bit, I'll get you another one. You'll probably need it."

Then she got up again and picked up the small knife she'd brought in with her. "I'm going to have to cut through your trousers," she warned, casting a look back at him. "But I'll be careful." Working slowly, she lifted up a dry section of his trousers and pierced them with the knife, then carefully slid the blade down over the injury. Once she'd made the cut she put down the knife and slowly pulled away the fabric. Dahlia couldn't help but grimace at the sight of the broken, bloodied leg. But she quickly forced her expression neutral again, and gave Edward a reassuring smile.

"This is going to hurt," she warned as she wet a second towel in the warm water, then pressed it gently against the bloodied leg.

"I'm more worried about my leg than my pants," Edward told her through a pain-filled smile. "Do what you must." And he leaned back, trying to relax when she cut it open, and didn't notice her expression until she turned his way and tried to change it for him. He only nodded to her before she applied the towel, and visible winced with a small jerk before tensing himself to keep from reacting to the pain.

Dahlia watched Edward's reaction to the first touch of the towel to the wound then, when it was clear he could handle it, proceeded to clean the rest of his leg. She took her time, careful to inflict as little pain as she could. Once she was done, she took the empty mug from Edward and without a word, went to refill it.

Returning, Dahlia handed it to him and knelt beside him again. "There you go; I think you've earned that." She put a hand on his shoulder again, her fingers moving unconsciously back and forth to comfort him. There was nothing to do now but wait for the doctor. "I bet you're regretting the nice surprise you planned, now, huh?"

Edward breathed out a laugh, but before he could respond, the doctor arrived. And the face he made at Edward's leg was grave.

"I don't even have to access it up close to now that limb is broken," he went on, and as he prodded the man painfully for about an hour, it was deduced his leg was broken, and perhaps even his arm. So after escorting Edward to a designated bed, his opposing limb was bound up in a sling, and then his leg was bound tightly once any dislocations were set (and the pain from that resetting elicited the loudest screams ever imaginable from Edward) before he collapsed into a panting heap.

The fever, which was noted, the doctor prescribed some medicine for, but as far as his assessment was of the limbs...
"Do not move him. The leg could heal improperly. Be sure he stays here- it will take.. several months for this to heal up properly, an then he was be quite stiff and awkward when he has to relearn to use that limb again. I'd give him alcohol for the pain, and just let him sleep as much as he can. Have him also drink plenty of fluids and be sure he eats. He'll need as much strength as he can get to heal properly. I'lll be back at the end of the week to check on him."

Dahlia and Helen listened carefully to the doctor, aiding him when they could, and bade him farewell. Afterwards, with Edward sound asleep in the room they'd transferred him to, Dahlia went to tend to Lilly. The girl was clearly shaken, and she'd curled up in Dahlia's lap crying, but she wouldn't tell her mother what had happened. She'd stayed with Lilly for the rest of the day until her moderately comforted daughter collapsed for an early night's sleep, exhausted from the day's events.

"Several months," Helen said, shaking her head as the two women lingered in the hallway. "The poor man. We should send for his daughter. I can tend to her. It's been a long time since I've been able to fuss over a babe."

Dahlia nodded, glad to have Helen on hand for this. "Yes, I think you're right. I'll check on his fever, then we can figure out the details in the morning."

They bade each other goodnight, and Dahlia walked quietly to Edward's room, pausing in the doorway without entering. She gazed in for several moments, wondering how this had come to pass. Only a few days ago this man had been a stranger who she danced with on the veranda of the royal palace. Now, it seemed, he was going to be a fixture of the household. Dahlia gave a little sigh, then stepped into the room to find Edward groggy, but awake.

"Hello there," she said quietly, smiling a little and looking him over carefully to see how he was doing, moving across the room to the bed. "Are you a bit more comfortable?" she asked and sat lightly on the bed next to Edward, putting her hand to his forehead to feel for the fever. She dabbed a cloth in the basin of water beside the bed, laying it across his forehead. She laid a hand on his uninjured arm, then, and looked at him genuinely. "I'm very sorry about this, Edward."

Edward was just about to drift off to sleep when he felt a hand upon his forehead. Opening his eyes just barely, he gave her a grin and leaned into her hand a bit before he sighed and sunk back into his pillow.

"Do not apologize. It was no one's fault."

Dahlia returned his grin with a small, tired smile of her own, though it was more an encouraging gesture than a genuine smile. But her eyes watched him very closely for a moment after his words, as if looking for any clue of what did happen. It was clear from her sharp gray eyes that she knew there was something he and Lilly were keeping to themselves. But she certainly wouldn't ask him about it tonight.

"Hm," was all she said, carefully wiping his brow with the damp cloth. Then she gave a little sigh, as if to say, 'What on earth should we make of all of this.' Instead, she explained what the doctor had explained to her. "Well, since you weren't quite with us for the entirety of the doctor's visit, I suppose I should break the news to you. It sounds like you'll be stuck with us for awhile," she told him in a tone that was at once self-deprecating and gentle, but was not open for discussion. "The doctor says it will take some time for your leg to heal. Perhaps a few months. I'll send someone tomorrow to bring your daughter here. I can't imagine you'd want to be away for that long. We could house one or two of your servants, too, if you like. But I'll leave that up to you. No need to decide now. Is there anything else you need?"

Edward's brows raised at such an idea, his lips opening to protest that he could not be away from his daughter-
But then she spoke of her coming here, and he pressed his lips together and remained quiet. When she was done talking, he remained staring at her for a time before he sighed.

"No," he said, smiling tiredly. "Really, all Id ever want is my daughter." But then his breath hitched through a smile as he realized...
"Though perhaps bringing a few servants so I can give the word to keep order in my home while I am away would be wise. I can pen a note. But.." and here, he gave another tired smile. "Perhaps come morning. I don't think I'd be good for much of anything right now. Except, perhaps, if it's not too much trouble. I am quite parched. A drink of water.. if it could be spared," he said, closing his eyes as he released yet another sigh.


A few months! Good heavens! Would he be an inconvenience to them? The poor woman- to think, she was forced with a man in such a condition to remain in her house!
And there was not a man about! No head of the house hold. And as this idea rolled about inside his head, pain from his leg reminded him- he ought ot be worried about something else.

"I.. Im sorry if I've become an inconvenience for you, Miss Gray. But your readiness and willingness to accomodate me on doctor's orders is muhc appreciated. Thank you."

Dahlia fetched a glass of water for him while he worried about the implications of staying in a house without a man present. She returned shortly, sitting back down on the bed - clearly Dahlia was less worried about propriety than he was - and handed the glass to him as he thanked her for her compliance with the doctor's orders.

"Oh, don't be silly," she countered, as though having to care for a bed-bound man and his infant daughter wouldn't be an inconvenience. "I can hardly kick you out in this state, can I? Anyway, I suspect Riley won't be disappointed. Well, at your staying, I mean," she added quickly, "not at your injury, of course."

Lilly, she suspected, would be a different matter. And what Milo would think of it... she wasn't sure. At least there'd be another week for the household to settle before the boys came back. Suddenly she wondered what Milo's godfather - a long-time bachelor, charmer, and flirt who had stopped just short of stating any clear Intentions now that Dahlia was widowed and Kerry no longer newly-gone - would think of the situation. Well, she couldn't worry about any of that now.

"Anyway," she said with a reassuring smile, "I think my mother-in-law is looking forward to having a baby in the house again. And she should be here by the day after tomorrow, so you don't have to worry too much about that. I'll bother you about the details in the tomorrow. For now, you might as well start your rest," she instructed, and brushed a strand of hair from his face. Pausing for a moment, she smiled, then said, "Alright, good night."

With that Dahlia, left Edward for the night, glancing back from the doorway. What was she going to do with a grown man - this man - in her house for several months?

...

The next morning, when Edward woke, he'd feel a pair of eyes on him. Curled up on Edward's chest, staring at him with big yellow eyes was a fat, gray striped cat. This, after all, was normally his bed! Who was this stranger stealing it from him?

But it wasn't only the cat. Standing silent, plastered against the wall of the room, Lilly watched him wide-eyed. She gave the distinct impression of being somewhere she shouldn't have been. Wrapped up in her arms, like a rather large teddy bear, was a huge rabbit, with even larger, floppy ears.

Edward groaned, not remembering injuring his lungs, but he must have done so during the fall. But when his eyes began to adjust to his sleepy morning stare, he realized there was a pair of eyes staring back at him. The cat swished it's tail about, peering back angrily at Edward, but the second the man stirred, the cat began to purr.

"No wonder I can't breath," he coughed through a smile,a nd reached his nonbandaged hand out to pet the cat beneath it's chin. Thinking this was acceptable, the cat allowed for it, and it was only after a bit more of this scratching did he noticed Lilly.

"Good morning, Lilly." he said, giving her a tired smile. "Is this your cat? I think she fancies me as her bed..."

"He's a boy."

Lilly's voice was deadpan, and she didn't return Edward's smile. She just stared at him, holding onto the rabbit. Then, finally, she moved over closer to where Edward lay, her expression serious.

"What were you thinking?" she asked in an urgent whisper, her brow knit. "You're too old to climb up trees! Now look what's happened!"

At the correction of the cat's gender, Edward only replied softly with an, "Oh." Then nodded as the girl continued to stare at him. He would have asked what was wrong, but soon the girl just blurted it out. He only smiled, even if it was a bit painful.

"I was thinking I upset a little girl, and I was hoping to coax her down from a precarious height so she herself, would not suffer the fate that I have." Sighing, he looked her over. "Do you hate me that terribly, Lilly? I have only just me you. I can't begin to think what I've one to earn your ire."

Lilly looked at him sulkily, her expression a mix of guilt and stubborn indignation. "I didn't mean for you to get hurt," she told him as though she was reprimanding him, but she avoided eye contact. It wouldn't take an expert to tell that the girl was guilty.

But Lilly wasn't sure what she thought about all of this. And his question hit home, But it wasn't fair. He had upset her, after all. It wasn't like she just lured him up the tree out of spite, just to make him fall. She hadn't wanted him to fall! She hadn't wanted him to find her at all. With all his talk about his big important duke friends and not having to be in the army anymore and still being alive. She'd just... lost her temper. Suddenly the rabbit kicked in her arms and she realized she'd been squeezing it too tightly and she let it flop down on the ground and bounce away.

"I don't hate you," Lilly said defensively, still not making eye contact. "But you shouldn't have come up the tree. I told you not to. I just... I just didn't want to ride anymore, okay?" She glanced up at him quickly then back down and looked thoroughly sulky when she muttered, "I'm sorry you got hurt, though, Lord Draven."

Edward was going to say something, but simply sighed through a smile at her.
"Well, we can't change what has already happened. Perhaps, in hindsight, it was unwise of me to climb up there. But you have to realize the dangers too. This could have been you. And let me tell you,"a nd he smiled a bit more. "It hurts pretty bad!"

And at her mentioning not wanting to ride, he gave a nod.
"I'm sure Abigail will be sad for it, but if you are not a fan of horses, I understand. I would never force you to ride her if you did not wish it."

Lilly finally looked at him when he went on about Abigail being sad, a bit incredulous. Was he serious? Even though feeling bad and sulky, Lilly had to wonder at how dense this man was! Did he really think she was talking about the horse? And about riding in general? Plus Lilly couldn't help but be a little annoyed at how he kept talking to her like she was a little kid. She was eleven years old!

"No, it's not Abigail," she said glumly, looking down again and occupying herself by picking up the fat gray tabby. The cat didn't protest and was clearly used to the girl holding it since it started to purr loudly. "I just didn't want to ride anymore then."

Which should have been obvious, dummy.

But she gave a glum sigh and admitted, "I know it was dangerous. I shouldn't have gone so high. I just..." Lilly paused. No. She wasn't going to confide in him about anything. Much less about being upset about her father. Just because he got hurt, after all, didn't mean she had to like him. "I'm sorry, though. That you got hurt."

Before Lilly could say anything else, though, Dahlia appeared in the doorway, carrying a tea tray. She paused, though, when she saw Lilly also in the room. "Aha!" she said, as though she were catching thieves in the act. "Here you both are. Well, not that you'd be anywhere else, Lord Draven," she said as an aside, falling back to the habit of calling him by his formal name. She moved across the room, setting the tea tray down for Edward. It was simple; plain bread and weak tea. "Sorry," she apologized, "you're not meant to have anything tasty until you're further along on the mend."

That done, Dahlia stepped back and regarded the two, hands on her hips. "Now that I have you both together, bright-eyed and bushy tailed, maybe someone can tell me exactly what happened yesterday, hm?" Though she carried a motherly authority in her voice, her mannerisms were light and a little humorous. That didn't mean she didn't want answers, though. "You've both been a bit cagey on the subject."

Before Edward could get a reply in to Lilly, her mother was already there and acting as if she caught them both in a crime. Edward only smiled at Dahlia's demands and told her,
"I thought it was obvious. We were climbing trees."

"Climbing trees?" Dahlia repeated skeptically, eyebrows raised. She looked to Lilly, but the girl was just watching Edward, eyes wide, unblinking. Dahlia looked back to Edward, raising an eyebrow. "I thought you were riding horses."

"Yes, but it somehow came to be that the trees in that section of the park seemed climbable. Naturally, I would not have climbed up after Lilly, but I was afraid for her- she wanted to climb particularly high. But here I was, worrying about her when I was the one who ended up not being careful and falling in the end. So you see, I'm surely out of practice in dealing with children much older than my own. But I suppose I will get more practice now, being as I've now become your guest."

Dahlia looked skeptically from Edward to Lilly, but her daughter was fastidiously avoiding making eye contact with Dahlia. Instead she was determinedly looking at the cat in her arms. Always a sign that her daughter was keeping someone from her.

"Oh, I'm sure this one will give you plenty of practice," Dahlia agreed, her eyes still on Lilly. She probably ought to be stricter with her, should probably press for the whole story - which it was abundantly clear that she wasn't getting! - but Dahlia's memory of holding her weeping daughter last night stayed her.

Well, she could give it a few days. But she let the silence remain for several moments, looking between them, as if to make sure that neither was going to fess up, then threw her arms in the air in a little gesture of giving up for now. "Well, I guess I can't force it out of you if you're both determined to stay silent," she said with a sigh, but it was mostly a gesture for show, and she shook her head with a wry smile. Maybe, she thought, it wouldn't be too bad to let them share a secret.

"Lilly, you need to go get ready for school, and Lord Draven needs to eat his breakfast," Dahlia told the girl. Lilly, understanding that she was being dismissed, gave Edward a meaningful look, then scurried out of the room. Dahlia watched her go with a little sigh. What was she going to do with that girl. Turning back to Edward, she gave him a half smile. "Sorry, I hope she wasn't bothering you. She can be a bit of a handful sometimes. And you know," she added, plopping herself down in a chair not far from the bed, "you don't have to protect her. But I won't pry anymore. Also," she gave him a wry smile now, "I have some more of those spirits for your tea if you like. Doctor's orders for when your leg's in pain."

Edward only smiled at her remarks, remaining quiet and keeping his lips sealed to what actually occurred. If Dahlia were more inclined her pressing, it would not be difficult for Lord Draven to cave, but as it stood- he remained unmoving in giving up any information about what had transpired and lead up to his most unfortunate predicament.

"More spirits?" He gave a breathy laugh. "Are you and he aiming to keep me drunk most of the day? I can't say I can completely disapprove, but I am not exactly a man fond of too much drink."

Dahlia grinned at Edward's remark. "It's been a long time since I've been accused of trying to keep a man drunk!" She managed not to slip in anything about 'in bed'... it was a bit early for jokes like that! And Dahlia had a sneaking suspicion it wouldn't register with Edward anyway. "I won't force it on you, though," she said, her grin widening a little, before she laughed it off. "But if you're in pain, it's the easiest thing for it. You just let me know when you need it."

At that moment, the large, lop-eared rabbit sped into the room, followed shortly by a skinny little ginger cat - another cat! Just when it looked like the rabbit was caught, though, it turned around and charged the cat, and the two animals tore back out of the room., the sound of their chase disappearing down the hall.

"I hope you don't have any trouble with animals," Dahlia said, looking a bit sheepishly from where the rabbit and cat disappeared back up to Edward. "I let the kids keep, er, one or two."

Edward gave Dahlia a lop sided grin, one that only grew at the mention of the animals.
"I think the hardest thing will be for me to keep all of their names straight!" he told her with a laugh and nod. "But if it's not too much trouble.." And here he grit his teeth. "I might have to take you up on that offer of spirits. The pain, unfortunately, is still there." And he gave a gentle rub to his leg, which elicited a wince.

"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that," Dahlia said as she got up and walked to Edward's side, taking the lid off the pot of tea on the tray she'd handed him, "I can't even keep up with how many of them there are, forget the names!" Pulling a smallish bottle out of the pocket of her dress, Dahlia poured out a measure of the clear spirit into the tea, and replaced the lid. "There's... the dog, of course, we already had her, and one of the cats. Then I think now we've added... two more cats, that giant rabbit, a kestrel, a crow, and a duck - though the duck at least stays outside - Lilly keeps that rat and usually a frog or two, there's a hedgehog they keep in the gardens, and I think Lilly and Riley have some mice, but, I'm not sure."

Dahlia gave a bit of a self-conscious laugh. "It probably all seems like a bit of a madhouse. I probably ought to be a bit stricter about it but," she gave a small shrug, looking a bit sheepish again, "I just can't manage to say 'no' to them about it. You know, it was so empty here after..." she paused there, glancing out the window, and gave a little sigh before continuing, "after their father died. It seemed better to keep the house a bit mad, but at least lively."

"I see no harm in keeping so many animals. So long as you're all comfortable with it and enjoying your lives, why stress? I don't know how I'd feel about so many animals, though I suppose if Britta were to ask, I'd cave every time!" And he gave a good natured chuckle at that. Though as she went on about her husband, he grew quiet too and nodded in her direction.

"Yes.. it is very difficult to lose your love. When I lost Britta.... well, I don't think I'll ever truly get over that."

Dahlia did something of a double-take when the letter was delivered to her by the household maid. It wasn't a letter to her, but to Lord Edward Draven, who was still their "house guest" during his prolonged healing after an unfortunate leap from a tree. But it wasn't who the letter was to, it was who the letter was from. Written in a fine script across the envelope was:


Huh. Somehow, it seemed, Dahlia hadn't been quite curious enough about her bed-ridden house guest. Though of course Edward was from Highheart, she knew that, and she supposed it'd been clear enough that his family was of higher standing than hers. It wasn't so unbelievable that a duke would send something of a "wishing you a speedy recovery" letter when hearing of an injured member of his duchies nobility.

"We better go pass this along to your father," Dahlia said to the blonde-haired little girl by her side.. She hoisted Britta up, carrying the letter in her other hand.

When she got up to what had become Edward's room, Dahlia knocked once before pushing the door open. In the past handful of weeks, they'd reached a comfort level where formalities were no longer very necessary. She entered the room with Britta in one arm balanced on her hip.

"You got a letter," she said by way of 'hello,' "and you'll never guess who it's from." There was an obvious amusement to Dahlia's voice. She didn't yet know that the joke, as it were, was on her.

Edward's eyes lit up at the sight of Britta in Dahlia's arms, and at such a question, he lifted a hand for her.
"Oh? Did Britta try to write me something, did she?" he asked, clearly amused and most proud at such an idea. He had no idea the truth of what she held, for it had been some time since the Duke and he had spoke, so it shouldn't have surprised him. But for now, he could only presume his sweet baby daughter was the culprit, and she smiled and giggled and reached for her daddy when he did the same.

"No, I don't think Brittany has quite mastered her penmanship," Dahlia replied as she let the little girl down onto her father's bed when she squirmed and reached for him. Dahlia's nose wrinkled in a little smile as she watched the pair of them; their obvious affection for each other always endearing. Then after they had their moment, she handed him the letter. "You better see for yourself."

Dahlia, of course, had no clue what was written in the letter. But she stayed by the bed, watching Edward, half interested in what it said and half in how he would respond to the sender.

Edward was all smiles until he glanced down at the letter. But then his smile slowly faded as he looked at the cursive.
"By Angsar's name!" Then he laughed. "The Duke of Highheart?" And he glanced up at Dahlia. "He didn't bring this personally, did he?"
Because he wouldn't put it past that eccentric man if he did!

Dahlia continued to watch Edward as he looked over the letter and raised her eyebrows when he asked if the Duke had delivered the letter himself. "I shouldn't think so!" she answered. "Does he normally?"

She paused a moment, curious what the letter said. But finally she had to concede that it was bad manners to stay and watch someone read a letter. It wasn't addressed to her after all.

"I'll leave you to it," she told him. "Shall I take Britta, or do you want her here with you for a bit?"

Edward blushed a little at the question.
"Well, uh... yes he does, actually. Well, at least for me. But then again,I  live so close to him," he said, giving a shake of his head in hopes to shake off his embarrassment.
But then when Dahlia mentioned she leave, he raised up a hand.
"Oh, no! You don't have to leave on the account of one letter!" he said with a dry, brief laugh. "But perhaps you can hold Britta while I open it? Though I don't suppose," he added sheepishly. "You have a letter opener I could borrow?" He'd hate to seem vulgar and tear through the envelope.

The Duke of Highheart 'normally delivered letters personally' for Edward Draven?

Dahlia probably made too little attempt to hide her mild surprise and amusement at learning that. Well, at least, outward amusement. Personally bringing by letters? Dahlia had always understood that Edward was higher on the noble ladder, so to say, but hand-delivered letters by a Duke? Dahlia also wasn't completely nïave about Edward's at least boyish affection for her. But a duke. Maybe she'd been mistaken. Dahlia couldn't imagine being courted by anyone with a personal connection to a Duke.

"Oh, of course," she complied, reaching out to pick up Britta again. The little girl tugged gently at one of Dahlia's curls to watch it spring back into place. In retaliation, Dahlia blew on the little girl's face, distracting her attention. Her own returned to Edward when he asked for a letter opener.

"Oh, er..." Dahlia wondered. Surely they did somewhere. "Here, give it to me," she finally said, taking the letter from Edward and opening it with her spare hand in one continuous motion. She held it back out to him. "There you go."

Edward blinked at her skilled motion.
"Well, guess there's no need for a letter opener in this house!" he told her with a chuckle and took the letter from her, and pulled it out. "You know, I could use a letter opener like that. And to think, this one is good with children!" he teased, well- flirted AND teased, because, you know, where he was positioned, it seemed like the thing to do you know...
Nice woman, nice house, wonderful company....

And he was sort of somewhat a bachelor- even if he wasn't quite sure he was ready to replace his late wife. At least Britta seemed to adore her, as his daughter giggled until she was bubbling out spit and reaching to pull at the woman's hair. Edward sighed at such a sight. If only his wife had been alive to do that.

Dahlia's eyebrows raised at Edward's comment about 'being able to use that kind of letter opener.' But there was a hint of a smile on her face, too. "Well, I'm at your disposal while you're here," she said simply, leaving the comment intentionally open ended. After half a moment, though, she added, "We do have the standard kind around here somewhere. Assuming none of the kids have reappropriated it as a dagger or something."

Britta squirmed in Dahlia's arms and Dahlia gave Edward a meaningful look. "Are you ever going to read that? You're just killing Britta here with anticipation Look at her!"

Edward's smile went crooked as he observed Dahlia holding his child. Britta noted that smile and she giggled and squirmed sheepishly and tried to reach out for him. And, the distracted daddy that he was, he reached out a hand and let her grab his finger, and encouraged her, cooed at her, before realizing...

"Oh, right.." he cleared his throat and held up the letter. "Suppose I ought to read this?"

And even Britta laughed about that, flapping her arms ecstatically like a bird.

Edward grinned, then looked up coyly to Dahlia.
"Shall I read it out loud?"

He didn't think anything personal would be int he letter anyhow, and he'd probably share with Dahlia the contents of the letter anyway. It was the least he could do, and Harold's letters were always an amusing read. He was probably seeing how the poor Lord was doing. Such a thoughtful Duke, Harold was!

Dahlia rolled her eyes. "You keep this up for too much longer, and I'm going to snatch that letter away from you and read it myself," she warned.

Britta, thoroughly enjoying being in the middle of things, went from clutching onto Edward's finger to grabbing at the letter herself.

"Or if you're not careful, Britta here will take it. And we all know that the first things babes this age do is shove whatever they get their hands on straight into their mouths. So if you want to read it at all, you better hurry up."

Edward laughed and gently tugged the letter away from his child. It crumpled the paper a bit, but he simply brushed it forward to straighten it as he cleared his throat.

"To Edward, Lord of Higsbee,

I have heard the news of your most grave situation! To have an injured limb is most serious! I had to write right away the moment I heard of your condition. I hope the Lord and Lady of the home are taking good care of you. You know how greatly Highheart depends on you!" And here, Edward paused and found himself shaking his head before he went on to read the rest.

"This letter was sent out with haste but make no mistake..."
And here, Edward's face fell as his eyes moved back and forth, reading the rest in silence.
"Oh no!" and he shook his head into his hand.

"The Duke is on his way here! The letter said he'd leave the day after he sent this letter, meaning he'll probably be arriving this day!"
Because the Duke of Highheart was never very good at calculating his arrival and...
Poor Dahlia! To think- she's suddenly have a Duke to entertain in her home-

ANd the Duke of Highheart, to trump them all!

The Duke if Highheart was... coming here?

Dahlia's face fell and she stared, wide-eyed, at Edward for a few moments. "He... what?" she repeated dumbly. Then, without asking, sat down on the edge of Edward's bed.

"Oh, I think I need to sit down for a moment. I think I must be running around a bit too much. For a moment," she gave Edward a meaningful look, "I thought you said that the Duke of Highheart was coming here. Today."

Edward's face twisted in confusion and worry.

"Oh, but you heard me correctly. It says it right here. You can read it yourself," he went on, even so much as to hold out the letter if she wished to read it herself.

Again, Dahlia just stared at Edward, her gray eyes wide. She held up a hand to gesture away the letter. She didn't need to read it. She believed Edward. She just didn't really believe what he was saying.

"No. No, that's okay. I believe you. But... The Duke of Highheart. Is coming here. Today." Her tone was flat, her eyes still looking disbelieving at Edward. "Today."

As if to punctuate Dahlia's point, in the hallway outside, a half-grown young lynx barrelled down down the hall, followed closely by the shaggy gray deerhound. When did Lilly bring home a lynx? A moment later, they barrelled by again. This time with the lynx chasing the hound.

"Well. I can't say I've ever had the honor of entertaining a duke..."

Edward gave a soft, slightly nervous laugh.
"Well, it does seem rather sudden, but that's the Duke of Highheart for you!" And he rubbed at the back of his neck and peered down at the letter, then back over to Dahlia.
"He can be a uh... bit... unique." Yes.. that's the right word for it! "He's rather fond of me... perhaps too fond and well, I'm sure he was just worried. I can't see him staying for too long. A few days at most, if even over night at all..."

Dahlia's eyes widened again at Edward's words. Staying. She clasped a hand to her forehead. "Staying," she repeated. "I hadn't even thought about that..."

Where on earth would she put a Duke?

Dahlia puffed out a long exhale, then moved the hand from her head to her lips, clearly working out logistics in her head. Eventually she returned to the present, then she gave Edward a rueful look.

"You're turning out to be quite the handful as far as house guests go, you know that?"

"Yes... so it would seem.." Edward mused, rubbing at his chin. "Though I think I have apologized for falling from that tree, haven't I?" And he tried to give her the most innocent smile he could muster.

Dahlia had to laugh at that. And it snapped her out of her daze. "Well, you've got me there! I suppose it was my Lilly who's really to be held responsible for this. You and her and that three! But really, a duke, I have to ask," she looked at him differently then, her head tilted a bit, "is there something you're not -"

But Dahlia couldn't finish her question. Because that moment Milo appeared in the doorway. The boy was, though Edward wouldn't realize, the spitting image of his father, but with Dahlia's gray eyes. Young and lanky, at fourteen, he was already taller than Dahlia. He was in general serious and soft-spoken and relatively unflappable, but he looked a bit flustered when he showed up them.

"Um, mom?" He only addressed Dahlia. Though Milo was always, at least, polite to Edward, he tended to feel more like Lilly with regards to this man who appeared in their midst as compared to their youngest brother. "A man claiming to be the Duke of Higheart is here?"

Edward's lips took on the small shape of an 'o' as he blinked at the sound of Duke Harold's arrival. He couldn't help but chuckle and placed a hand to his head and gave it a shake.
"Yeah, that's probably him alright. I'd help you answer the door but..." he gave a helpless shrug. "Doctor's orders not to move!" And he tried to smile at her, in an apologizing and light manner, but he did look a bit guilty. He knew what a burden the duke could be!