A Late Arrival (Spicy!)

zozee9 · February 09, 2016, 04:38:07 PM

Even Illi, despite her attraction to Davishire, was not convinced by his speech. He was trying to place all the blame on his sister, even though his actions caused the situation. And, she realized, hers. She shouldn't have allowed herself to be caught in such a situation... and yet, had the kiss not happened, she would not have had any regrets.

Illi was upset, but it pained her heart to even think of rejecting his proposal. She could see his guilt. After a short pause, she slowly responded, "Yes." If nothing else, that meant she could get out of this embarrassing room.

visualspice · February 13, 2016, 04:46:53 PM

Davina simply stared at the two, gaze hard, judging. But there was a hint of mirth there. She couldn't say she was completely against her brother finally getting frisky with a woman-
She would have just preferred it to be a whore- or a woman of higher status.

Connections were everything, and her family's position was by no means in a precarious place. She just hoped her brother didn't ruin things. If so...
She'd have to take matters into her own hands. With a nod, of her head, she stepped aside to allow the pair to pass, as Davishire offered a rigid arm to Miss Illi. And as they walked away from Davina, her eyes boring into them felt nothing like the leaded guilt in his gut.

Once they were well out of ear shot, and then some, he released a breath and told her evenly, "If you'd like to take your leave, I'd understand."

Although only her reputation might have been tarred infront of his sister, and in an act to rebel against her, he knew Davina would say nothing. That was the point. And though there was even a point at all for it, it was still ungentlemanly of him to act in such a manner. He wondered what had become of him just then, and part of him realized....

Had this all come to fold over his own repression of feelings towards her.

zozee9 · February 13, 2016, 05:31:08 PM

Illi stared at the ground for a few seconds. She didn't know how to respond to him. Her chest hurt. Why did her chest hurt? She had read that hearts throbbed when someone was in love, but she didn't feel very much in love. She felt angry.

She lifted her head to yell—well, Illi's version of yelling, which is a slightly faster and barely louder speaking than normal—at him, but then her eyes met his. She couldn't explain what, but she saw something in his eyes that made her hesitate. Her anger started to melt, slowly, and her bottom lip dropped into a pout. 'Where would I go?" she asked, still a little sharply. She wasn't going to forgive him just like that.

visualspice · February 13, 2016, 05:35:27 PM

"Away." Came his voice, eyes never leaving hers.

zozee9 · February 13, 2016, 05:45:47 PM

Illi was tempted to turn around and start walking. Not because she necessarily wanted to, but rather because she wanted to know if he would stop her. But instead she stayed, maintaining their eye contact. She opened her lips, and then closed them. Opening them again, she asked, "Should I?"

visualspice · February 13, 2016, 05:46:38 PM

"You don't deserve this."

zozee9 · February 13, 2016, 06:18:33 PM

Illi's eyes grew wide. "I don't deserve this?" she asked, her growing passivity having faded. "You say that as if I put myself into this situation. Or, if nothing else, as if you aren't involved in it. I don't deserve this. But what can I do now?"

visualspice · February 13, 2016, 06:21:57 PM

He gave her a solemn look.
"I should not have invited you. I know my family, these events, well enough I should not have been so selfish." And at her question, he studied her face. "I could escort you back to your carriage," he went on, softly. She would be safer far away from Davina, and all other prying eyes.And most of all... he was afraid and guilty to be so near to her. He didn't deserve her near by his side. He was a fool to think he did. Men like his, family's like his...
They were never giving such choices.

zozee9 · February 13, 2016, 06:25:22 PM

She was not fooled by his expression. Slowly, and a bit coldly, she responded, "Your family did not cause this. This event did not cause this." Illi's face turned into one of lonely disappointment as she asked, "Is this really all the humiliation you know? You stole a kiss from me—my first kiss—without even asking, and you blame everything except yourself?"

visualspice · February 13, 2016, 06:27:26 PM

He stared at her for a long time. Her first kiss. An idea like that should have meant much more to him,a nd he was ashamed further still by her query.

"No." He sighed, stopping with her in the hall. "I blame myself most of all."

zozee9 · February 13, 2016, 06:40:50 PM

Illi looked at Davishire. She wanted to yell and him and she wanted to hug him and she didn't know what she wanted. After the weight of the silence became too much, she shook her head and replied, "I think I will go back to my carriage." She paused. Despite them having kissed, she felt further away from him now than when she had been home. Formally, she added, "I would hate to ruin your party by keeping you away from your other guests, and, well, I am sure my aunt would worry if I returned to her place too late."

visualspice · February 14, 2016, 06:36:09 AM

He didn't hesitate in his nod. Nor did he correct her when she tried to take some of the blame. As far as he was concerned, he had already ruined the night, and as he escorted her to her carriage, and helped closed her in, he stood back, looking at her through the carriage window and feeling an absolute, defeated fool.

"Safe travels, Miss Treyburn."

zozee9 · February 14, 2016, 10:15:17 AM

Illi looked back at Davishire as the carriage started taking off. Then she turned around, slumped down in her seat, and started crying. She didn't know why exactly she couldn't control her tears now, when she had been doing fine just a few minutes beforehand, but she couldn't help it. Now that Davishire was out of view, all her emotions came pouring out.

By the time she reached her aunt's house, it was quite dark outside. Clouds covered the stars in a wicked premonition. She had stopped crying by then and her the redness in her eyes was barely noticeable. With a deep breath, Illi went inside, greeted her aunt, talked for a while (out of respect), and then went to bed. Her exhausted emotions put her to rest almost immediately.

visualspice · February 14, 2016, 12:10:37 PM

The night went on, and Davishire remained a quiet, looming figure in the corner. He spoke to no one if he hadn't needed to, drank a bit too much (but over a long period of time). He never danced, nor ate any of the dessert, and anyone that tried to introduce their daughters was left with the cold shoulder.

He was thankful when the night ended, the last guest leaving well after midnight. And though he stood, watching them leave, he left the curb to return to the manor as soon as it was proper, ignoring the clucking from his mother. She was always an ignored figure. Perhaps it's why he and his siblings had turned out as awful as they had. But without his father, and he as the male figure head, he would use that status to his advantage and waved off even Davina, who tried to poke around for more information about where Miss Treyburn had gone.

"I'm retiring for the night. You should do the same."

"And about Miss Treyburn...?"

"There is nothing to say about her." And up the stairs he went, disappearing into his room.

zozee9 · February 14, 2016, 12:40:16 PM

Illi woke up with the sunrise, freezing cold. She quickly got out of bed, jumped on her toes to the window, and gasped. "Gorgeous," she whispered to herself. The entire city was covered in white. She opened the window and stuck her head outside, looking up at the sky. Fat, fluffy snow was falling at an incredible rate. Opening her mouth, she caught a few snowflakes before quickly putting her head back inside and closing the window. She ran back to her bed and jumped on, dunking her cold face in the blankets. Snow was the prettiest thing, even if it did make her so chilly.

"Illi?" her aunt called from downstairs. "Is that you I hear?"

"Yes Aunty!" Illi yelled back gleefully.

"Get dressed and come down here! I have something I have to talk to you about!"

She threw on layers of clothes, determined to stay warm and even more determined to convince her aunt to let her go outside and walk. Illi went downstairs and drank the tea that had just been freshly brewed for her. Her aunt's wrinkled face looked worried and there was suddenly a sinking feeling in Illi's stomach. "My dear, I am afraid I heard rumors that this snow is only the beginning of a large storm. You may be stuck here a day, or a week, I cannot say. But I could not bear to let you travel home until the weather is safe."

Illi smiled. "If it is alright with you Aunty, I would gladly stay here. I rarely get to see you anyway!"

visualspice · February 14, 2016, 12:46:34 PM

Davishire stayed up until the sunrise, unable to sleep, and unable to stop thinking about Illi. As the snow got worse and worse, he felt himself become as cold and distant as the weather, that was until it seemed the snow wasn't going to stop-
and talk through the house was that this was only the beginning of a very large winter storm.

Davishire heard that and began to storm through the house, marching into the parlor and taking a look over the local map. He knew enough to know who Illi's Aunt was, as he knew most within Wellspeer, however, upon seeing it's location and to how close it was from the direction of the storm...

He had a felt a cold chill ripple up from his belly. With haste, he threw on his winter attire and stormed out towards the stables. His sister and mother thought not much of it. Davishire would go on brooding rides in terrible weather more often than not, so when Grace Callister raised a brow as her son galloped off out of the gates, she sighed.

"He needs to get married."

"Quite."

zozee9 · February 14, 2016, 12:52:06 PM

"I don't suppose I could go on a walk?" asked Illi. Her aunt looked at her disapprovingly, so she quickly added, "I did not bring any winter clothes here. I would quite appreciate being able to go out and buy some." It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the truth either.

With a sigh, her aunt agreed and gave Illi some money. "Thank you, Aunty!" Illi said while giving her aunt a hug. She spent her time finishing her tea before heading out into the snow. Little kids all bundled up ran around throwing snowballs at each other. Illi laughed, wishing she was able to go back to those times. If she threw a snowball now, it would be considered so improper. Oh, how easy life was when you were young... now she had to worry about kisses and men.

Illi's mood was dampened by the thought, but only temporarily. She hadn't walked for long before she discovered a bookstore! With a bounce in her step, she walked in and started browsing around. There was no better place to be than a bookstore—well, other than a library, that is.

visualspice · February 14, 2016, 12:56:39 PM

He wasn't sure how long it would take him to get to Miss Treyburn's Aunt's home, but by the time he was on the road to her village, the snow was coming down two fold, making it near impossible to see. But he was determined, and not about to let snow get in his way. He had to make sure Miss Treyburn was alright- or he'd never forgive himself if her safety had been compromised because of him- Even if the situation hadn't turned out so horribly when they had said their goodbyes.

zozee9 · February 14, 2016, 01:04:49 PM

Illi banished herself from the bookstore after around an hour. The money she had was just for clothes, and any more time spent surrounded by what she wanted but could not have would start to become torture. To her surprise, the light layer of snow outside had thickened considerably. She carefully but quickly stepped in the footprints of those before her until she found a store to buy shoes and clothes in.

She spent her time looking around the store, completely oblivious to the antsy owner who wanted to go out for lunch before the snow fell heavier but wanted a customer more.

visualspice · February 14, 2016, 01:52:30 PM

While Illi was making her rounds in the town, Davishire was heading up the road to her Aunt's manor. The house name of Westinson was chiseled into a welcoming slab of rock nearly drowned in snow as he passed. His dapple grey steed chuffed as he pulled it's reins to a halt and quickly tied him beneath an outdoor trellis nearby.

Rushing up to the door, Mrs. Westinson greeted him, but was surprised by his arrival, gesturing for him to come on inside.

"Oh my good heavens, you look atrocious!" But then remembering her manners, she bowed before Lord Callister. "Forgive me for my brash manners, it's just you look a fright. Have you traveled far in this weather?"

"Yes," he went on, catching his breath. "Illi... I mean, Miss Treyburn- I've come to make sure she has arrived in your care."

"Miss Treyburn? Oh.. she's gone out to town. She should be back any time now. May I have Walter take your coat?" she inquired, her doorman stepping forward, but Davishire shook his head.

"No." He turned like a hawk to Mrs. Westerson. "In town you say? And you allowed it in such weather?"

"Oh, the tailor is not far from here. Even in bad weather I doubt she could get lost. But dear heavens, the snow is coming down rather thickly now..."

Davishire bared his teeth.
"But she is safe aside from that?" he asked, standing at attention. Her aunt nodded. "Then I bid you good day. I will go to the town to see that she is alright."

And he marched back outside as a massive gust of wind struck at his face.