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This Could be the Start of Something...Good? (Caerina)

Started by Ivory, September 08, 2013, 01:53:05 PM

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Ivory

Audric had no idea what he was doing, likely much to the amusement of his staff.  Women usually didn't make him so flighty -- but, then, he knew what his usual women liked: words whispered in the moonlight, tales of gallant adventures, trinkets of his affection...coin...

But those were low-born women, one and all.  He had never courted a lady before...

...And this, he had to remind himself, wasn't really courting anyway.  No, no, their marriage was already an inevitability.  This little meeting was just so he could get to know his future bride-to-be...and to see just how unlucky he had been in his arrangements.

He had heard little about this particular young woman, but what little he knew was not bad.  She was said to be pretty in an unusual way (whatever that meant) and bred to be a perfect Connlaothian Lady...  In other words, she was meant to help guide him through the maze of Connlaothian politics and gossip.

Oh, this had been a bad idea...but it was too late now.

Caerina

It should have been one of her sisters. Not her. Why did her parents chose their youngest and perhaps the most innocent of their three daughters for such an important assigment. She wasn't as beautiful, with long blonde hair and sparkly eyes like her sisters, who could with only a smile make a man do whatever they wanted him to.

As they neared the destination, in her carriage, Nera couldn't even sit properly. Shifting from one side to another, trying to think of what she should say. Nera barely knew anything about her future husband, except he had a close friendship with the Duke. And that was something her family needed. A source of information.

Nera had no idea how he looked but she was sure he wasn't as nervous as her. No one could be. Not only was she getting married to someone she didn't know, but she also needed to steal information from him and send it to the other side. One bad move, a wrong word and she was gone. Now, she was on enemy territory, and mistakes could mean losing her head.

As the carriage stopped, Nera took a deep step before exiting. Her simple, but flatterng dark blue dress made her look a bit more paler and her dark hair around her face made her dark blue eyes glimmer in the light of the day.

Ivory

It was the sight of the carriage that finally stopped Audric's incessant pacing and, dare he say it, muttering to himself.

If Calent were here, he'd be getting the brunt of Audric's general annoyance.  As it stood, however, there was no one, really, to hear him except the guards and servants...and the guards, he thought, probably had a betting pool...

He stood rigidly at attention as she dismounted from the carriage, belatedly remembering that a proper gentleman would help the lady down.  He strode forward, then, just as her foot graced the step, with one hand extended towards her.

"Lady Nera," he began, an expression of genuine, pleasant surprise on his handsome face.  And he was truly delighted to find that Caerina wasn't some dumpy troll; she was quite lovely indeed.  Certainly, she was different in appearance from Connlaothian standards...but he had never been as picky as some!  "It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

Caerina

To say she was surprised wasn't right. Nera was astonished by the man in front of her. He seemed pleasant and charming, and really relaxed in her present. The same could not be said for her, since she was very unsure of her movements and the words that she was supposed to say.

"The pleasure is all mine." Nera bowed with one of her gentle smiles on her face.

Her sisters told her that she should seize any chance she gets to charm him. That was perhaps an easy task for them who were in society for the last couple of years, but for Nera it was actually quite a challenge. She never was the one to get high points for flirting and seduction, so she decided to go with her natural self, a bit more polished than usual.

This wasn't the right time to quit or to doubt yourself. Too deep in now, all you can do is continue ahead. So, she raised her head from her bow and smiled to her future husband.

Ivory

"They've set up tea on the veranda," Audric offered once she had straightened, looking her over with another smile, this one seeming more satisfied than before.  He offered her his arm, like a gentleman was supposed to do when escorting a lady.

They had gone no more than ten paces before Audric glanced at her sheepishly.  "I'm not used to all of these formalities and things, yet.  And we'll be married soon, so I'm not sure there's really a point to them anyway."

He just hoped he wasn't embarrassing her...

With a rakish smile that was utterly charming (and he knew it!), he said, "I'm Audric.  Can I call you Nera?"

Caerina

Nera casually hooked her arm with his. For her, it was something she practiced her whole life, something she was used on practicing. But, never with men. After a long ride, tea sounded heavenly to Nera, and she almost forgot that she was nervous. Ner was more than surprised when she heards his words. After all, she was the one used to formalities, but she did agree on his point.

"Of course you can." she said with a smile "Audric."

It was quite strange for her, not using any titles or family names. She tried out saying his name out loud because it sounded so foreign and unfamiliar to her. Well, she should probably get used to it.Nera knew that he has spent his whole life as a soldier, but he was well mannered for someone of that profession.

Ivory

Hearing his name fall from her lips, he grinned readily.  "Good."  That wasn't so bad, was it?

"I'm told I'm supposed to give you a wedding present," he offered hesitantly.  "But I'm sorry to say I hardly know you.  I would hate to get you a gift you won't enjoy."

Pausing in their walk, he plucked a single flower from a nearby bed, and he held it out to her in offering with a smile.  "I have heard you like flowers.  The gardens will be yours to do with what you like when we're wed."

Caerina

Nera gently took the flower from his hand as her shy smile now grew bigger and filled with more real happiness than politeness than earlier.She couldn't believe what he gave to her as a gift. Now that Nera thought, she couldn't remember getting a gift this valuable to her in ages.

"I will do my best to keep it at least as beautiful as it is now." she said, her voice still filled with a tone of childish happiness. Then she made herself look a bit more serious "Thank you." Nera said, looking at the beautiful flower in her hand.

"I don't believe I ever got a gift this valuable." she said as she raised her gaze from the flower to his face.

Ivory

Audric laughed, sounding almost boyish as he did so.  "You shouldn't sound so pleased.  It's a rubbish gift, I'm afraid."  Because it was something that had been done without much thought, more of a gesture of good will.  "I should have preferred to give you something more appropriate to the wife of a Duke...a horse or perhaps some sapphires to match your eyes.  Will you hold it against me if I give you something like that as well?"

It would certainly make him feel better -- like he had actually made an effort for her!

Caerina

She chuckled lightly at his words.
"I am truly honored by your gift... And while many wouldn't appreciate this garden as a valuable gift, to me it is more valuable than jewels and horses." she told him, because she knew that many would like that gift "Of course, I don't mind those either." Nera joked with a smile. She always had dresses, horses and jewels but a garden was the only place for her where she could relax and be free.

She realized she felt much more comfortable around him now. Perhaps she could really pull this off.

Ivory

"You're too kind," the Duke answered with an easy grin, not entirely believing her words but grateful for them, nonetheless.

They had rounded the corner, now, and the gardens were stretched out before them.  Calent had been proud of his gardens, and Audric was happy that Nera would appreciate them and continue to care for them.

A vast field of flowers spread out before them, complemented by pools of water and a gazebo in the center.  The gardens were meant to be appreciated from within, rather from the veranda or house.

Understanding that, Audric paused at the entrance to let her sweeping gaze take it in rather than rushing her through their scenic walk.

Caerina

Nera had to keep herself from staring at the beautiful sight in front of her. Someone, even before her visit, has made the gardens look so lively and colorful. In her head she wondered who could have done something like this. Audric just didn't seem like the type to spend time and raise flowers.

"Truly wonderful." she said "Almost as beautiful as my gardens in father's mansion." a small proud smirk played on her face. She could surely make these gardens at least just as beautiful.

Nera warned herself not to get carried away, since taking care of the flowers in the garden wasn't why she was here. Her objective was to marry this man and smuggle information. Why wasn't Audric a bad man? she wondered in her head. That would make all of this a lot easier. She wouldn't even feel sorry.

Ivory

That made Audric laugh quietly, apparently more amused by her comparison than offended.  "Calent will be glad to see it improved.  He's kept up the gardens in honor of his late mother.  She loved flowers."  Although she wasn't a very warm person otherwise...  Calent had, apparently, wound up with that trait.  It was little wonder; his father had been even worse!

"If you like, we can have a picnic over in the gazebo rather than on the veranda.  Or anywhere else you like.  This will be your home soon too, and I want you to feel as comfortable here as I do."  He glanced to her with a warm smile, finding himself rather liking this girl.  She was not the stuck-up, arrogant creature he had assumed he would be made to wed.

Caerina

"Thank you. I would love to see the gazebo." she said with too much enthusiasm "I mean, if that's okay." Nera corrected her attitude. She rather like it here in the gardens and she wanted to spend some more time there enjoying the view. Nera was sure she would be much more relaxed here than in any other place in the house.

From time to time, Nera's perfect lady mask slipped a bit making her look a bit more wild than the society approves. "I wonder, is the life of a Duke more interesting than a soldier's life?" she asked with a smile, genuinely interested.

Ivory

The soldier-turned-noble looked a bit put-out by her question.  With genuine kindness, however, he said, "You needn't ask my permission, now or after we're wed.  That may not be the way society does it, but I'm not interested in having another damned servant."

Even though it was said with a smile and gentle tone, he realized his words sounded, likely, a bit harsh.  He was grateful that the servants were kept in line by the butler and housekeeper, because if he had to deal with that adjustment too, he would have gone mad!

Taking her hand in his, he turned to face her.  "I only mean," he added softly, hoping to make up for his rough speech and habit to speak his mind.  "You're a person.  There are things you like and, I'm sure, things you don't.  You have your own dreams and your own thoughts.  And I'm looking forward to learning all of those things about you, because I respect you as an individual.  And I hope you'll learn to feel the same way about me."  He bowed his head over her hand, then, placing a soft kiss upon the back of her hand.

Still half-bowed, he looked up at her with a boyish grin.  "And, the answer to that depends on how much of a hole I've dug myself into."  Audric laughed quietly.  "I'm a very poor gentleman, I'm afraid."

Caerina

Nera felt her eyes widen a bit. She wasn't used to people being so open to her. In the society where sheived her whole life it was all about lies, secret plots and manipulations. Yet, somehow she was flattered by his words, becausd they were filled with the honesty she had not heard in a while. It was perhaps naive, but she felt a strange overwhelming happiness because of what he had said.

But, Nera also knew that people often changed their minds. At the moment, perhaps she didn't need his permission, but later on in their marriage there will surely be a time when they disagree on a matter. It was, after all, expected from her to listen to him and not the other way around.

"You are doing wonderful." she told him with a gentle smile, full of childlike honesty. After all, as a little girl she always repeated to her parents that she didn't want to marry a gentleman, but an adventurer. Who knew that her wish might come true. A pitty circumstances weren't more optimistic.

Ivory

Audric chuckled and shook his head.  "You're a very good liar.  I'm doing terrible, and I know it."

Taking a moment, he turned to one of the guards that lined the walkway, and, with a flick of his wrist, gestured for him to come over.  "Tell the servants to move everything out to the gazebo."  That was the one positive to having servants!  The man saluted crisply, and, although he managed not to stare at the couple directly, there was a telling sparkle in his eye and smirk playing about the corners of his lips.

Audric pretended not to notice.  Besides, it was natural to take an interest in someone's life after you've trained together for so long.  That couldn't be held against the men, as long as they remained professional and did their jobs.

"Feel free to wander where you like.  It will take them a moment, I'm sure, so we have some time for you to enjoy a walk before tea."  Allowing her to take the lead, he answered her question a bit more seriously.

"Interesting isn't the word I would use, I'm afraid.  I've always been a bit of a troublemaker, and, well, soldiers are good at finding trouble."  He smiled at her broadly and gave her a bit of a shrug.  "This is going to sound crazy, but I'm finding this life feels...stifling."

Caerina

Nera spent her whole life being in the company of lords and ladies, playing by  the perfect rules that the high society maintained. Her sisiters were very adept at everything that society demanded, she was just not. Always asking one too many questions, not too worried about other people and too shy too survive in that kind of enviorment, Nera knew what he meant.

"You'll get used to it. It doesn't really get better, but you do get used to it." she told him as they walked "Besides, all you need to do is find your inner gentleman and perhaps you're even a natural talent." Nera smiled sweetly to him.

On the other hand, Nera never was a talent when it came to being a Connlaothian lady. She spent six years in a boarding school and yst she found that girls half her age were more adept in little talks and charming manipulations than her. It just wasn't in her blood.

Ivory

"To tell you the truth, I was never a very good soldier, either," he answered her musingly.  "At least with authority.  I suppose I can blame our parents for that -- mine and Calent's.  Calent's father brought me here as a ward when I was a little boy, and Calent and I were raised as brothers for five years or thereabouts.  It completely ruined me," Audric added with a bright laugh.  "I was moved into the barracks as soon as I was old enough to begin training as a soldier.  And you know how boys are...  If you have a choice between learning which fork to use for each course and learning to swing a sword, we'll pick the sword every time."

He was only kidding -- mostly.  It was true he had a slight problem with authority when he was younger -- and still had a problem showing due respect to Calent.  Ah, well.

"It seems that I'm suddenly quite popular, now that I have a title.  Before I make both of us the laughing stock of Connlaoth, I suppose I should resume my studies on silverware."

Caerina

Nera chuckled at his story. She didn't know much of his history before she came here, no one really did. But, turns out her trip was useful, as she found out some interesting things about him, nothing she could sell off to her parents but somethings she would keep as a reminder of how he became the person who he is today.

"You don't have to tell me about awkward childhoods." she smirked "When I was a child I used to talk to trees, guess when you have no friends even plants are good."

Nera's title and the title of her family wasn't really among the highest, but they were still among one of the oldest and most respected families in Connlaoth. As her both sisters, Nera did have a whole bunch of possible husbands who were all asking for her hand. But, since t was the choice of her parents, Nera didn't have much choice in it.

"Besides,silverware isn't that hard to get once you learn the basics." she smirked knowingly "That is society. They like new shiny titles."

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