|
|
Post by Raynesleigh on Apr 17, 2012 15:42:09 GMT -5
Emma looked at him glaring. "I don't see the need to be called your mistress if I am not your mistress," she mused irritably then sat the pewter cup down. "Why can't I be a friend visiting your sister. I know how a mistress is supposed to act with her lover. Like a lover and to be honest Will...I mean Alistair, I don't think tis a good idea to be hugging and touching you in public....Kissing even." she trailed off and then looked at him, crossing her arms over her chest. It was nice that he found her attractive and all but honestly.
"Why can't you just say that I am your sister's friend? Why do you have to say I am your mistress. If I am called your mistress I might as well be it for all the good that will do my reputation while I am here..." Not that she had much of one here or home but she didn't like the idea of being thought of as a whore when really she was still innocent in the ways of men.
"And I suppose the Irish part is because of my hair and short temper," she mused thoughtfully. That wasn't as terrible as being a fake mistress in her idea. "Not to mention I've never been kissed before or had a man look at me like he wanted me so I doubt my being your fake mistress would be believable...Besides, you look at me as though you would rather swallow cod liver oil then be my lover so why trouble yourself?" she asked with a raised brow, sitting on the corner of his desk.
"And my reasons for wanting to stay in Scotland are purely my own." Going back to her guardian's custody and that of his heiress' husband did not seem like fun. Her uncle was of poor health and when he died, she would be ward to Robert and that was something she truly didn't want.
-----
"You go to court? Oh I wish he wouldn't allow that," Brett mused then moved a piece on the chess board before looking at Catherine. "Court would chew you up and spit you out before you could spin twice..." he mused thoughtfully. "Those ladies at court are brutal, and the men are to. My dear I doubt you would be able to tell an honest gentleman from a scoundrel. You are an innocent and I know plenty of men that would prey on you for it. Dishonorable intentions abounding," he mused thoughtfully.
Imagining her at court was almost unbearable. She was twenty aye, but she was a damn child compared to the wolves at court. Naive and innocent. Men would try to bed her, use her, marry her for money or gain. Women would use her as a ploy for revenge or to ridicule because she was so mindless of courtly ways. it would not be good for her. The only ones good at court were normally the ones raised with in it. His half brother was a good sort of course, but that did not make up for the bastards that treated him as he was. A bastard half brother to their king. Allistair knew of his birth and Catherine might as well but it was no honor being a king's by-blow.
"You would need a man to protect you if you ever went there my dear Cat," he mused, taking a sip of his wine.
|
|
|
|
Post by anjelrocker on Apr 17, 2012 18:06:21 GMT -5
He lifted the pewter cup to his lips and said. "Well, I could teach you how to kiss a man." He was grinning but the look on her face said other things as he finished off the scotch. "Aye, I suppose that I could just say that you are my sister's friend..." He could also say that he lusted after her and that was the truth of it as he put the pewter cup down on the desk and started pacing. "Your reasons and I doubt that your guardian will approve..." He stopped himself. "Your guardian is the Earl of Brighton, isn't he?" William asked knowing exactly what he was going to do as a slow grin spread over his face.
"If Bedford is your guardian then he will be wanting you returned to him... and yet, I have you." It was perfect as he would write a hostage letter to the man who took his life and he would have him come here and William would kill him. "Then, you are my hostage... I will allow you to act as my sister's friend rather than my mistress but that is not what I am putting in the ransom." He was stroking the beard on his chin as he looked to her for a moment as if to get her reaction.
Yes, revenge was going to be sweet.
---
She watched him for a moment when he was saying how court would chew her up and spit her out. "Lord Cauldwell, I do know how men can be... I mean, my brother is not exactly a saint." She stated as she made the first move on the chess board as a strategy. "I mean, I have just turned twenty and without a suitor. I am on my way to being a burden and an old maid to my brother." She was the woman who ran the household for her brother with all the responsiblity. The kept was her fortress and the staff was her army, she was firm when the time came but she was also kind and gentle. Doing her own fair share of the work at times.
"You go to court sometimes, Lord Cauldwell... are you offering to protect me?" She could not believe that she had asked that as she said. "Ah, I mean of course because Allistair is sometimes busy... and I do suppose that you will be to..." She paused wanting to run away but she continued to sit watching for his next move on the board.
|
|
|
|
Post by Raynesleigh on Apr 17, 2012 19:12:11 GMT -5
"My uncle as well as Bedford look after me. Uncle has not been in the best of health these past couple of years. So when I am with my Uncle I have to listen to him and if Bedford is around, I have to listen to him to. He and Belle are heir apparents and the guardians of my dowry and fortune. Neither of them will be to happy if you ransom me and if you return me it'll be me that pays for your ransom. So I hope you aren't returning me," she said then sighed. "But its your decision. Even so, I think of this as an ill-gotten vacation away from my domineering family and I intend to enjoy myself," she said simply then shrugged and slid off the corner of the desk.
"Now...are you finished. I am still little pissed that I was dragged her like this and as I am your hostage, the least you can do is have some fabric ordered for me so I can make my own gowns instead of making them off of your sister's," she said simply then looked at him. "How about you show me around?" she asked curiously. "After all, you are the reason I'm here and as I'll be here for at least a month, you can at least show me the property," she said with a shrug and then tossing a stray curl back from her face and tucking it behind her ear.
-----
Brett looked at her and smiled. "You could say that. Taxes are due soon. Perhaps when I leave, instead of sending a messenger, you and your brother and if your friend is still here, can all travel with me to Edinburgh where the king holds court. I can be your worldly escort, you can meet men to dance with and men that will court you. It will be fun I'm sure," he mused then moved his piece then looked at her. Admiring her pretty flushed features.
"And aye, your brother is not a saint but there are worse men in this world than him or me. I have some scoundrel tendencies myself Lady Catherine...But a lot of men do a lot worse then flirt," he mused then sipped at more of his wine before reclining back in his seat.
|
|
|
|
Post by anjelrocker on Apr 17, 2012 20:13:32 GMT -5
It seemed that his 'hostage' did not know how to take this role, but being demanding was not really apart of it as he raised an eyebrow. "You are a demanding lass, are ye not..." He said with a smile thinking that it was amusing to bother her, to see her temper flare up as he nodded. "Aye, suppose I could show ye the grounds and get you a few gowns, love..." He said as he went up close to her before grabbing her and stealing a kiss. It was a demanding kiss but soft as he pulled away from her and said. "That is how ye kiss a man... I'll show ye more later." Winking at her, he went towards the door knowing that her temper was going to flare up like a blazing fire. He wanted to see that fight in her, despite her not being Belle... she was a little she devil and an angry one at that. Her arse and curves were not half bad.
"However, if you are going to demand things then I should be getting something out of the mix... and I am sure that your guardian cares so much for you." He knew this not to be true because his half brother was a cruel bastard. However, he knew that he was a greedy bastard as well and would want what was his. "Donae worry, lass... you won't have to listen to Bedford again once I am done with him." He said seriously. "Now, about that tour?" He asked her.
---
She was looking carefully at the board as she glanced up at him. "Both you and I know that my brother does far more than flirts." She had some idea of the 'bees and the birds' because of the original Lady MacLeod before she had passed away when Catherine had only been seventeen. "As for you..." She paused as she focused on the chess piece. "I expect that all men have some knowledge of relations... it is the way of the world, men are to be experienced while ladies are suppose to stay innocent and pure." She had said this very softly as she made her move.
"You do not sound so thrilled about me going to court, My Lord?" She noted wondering if he realized that she loved him and she was sure there was no other for her. Catherine did not care who he was, only that he was always kind to her... even thought she was an ugly duckling.
|
|
|
|
Post by Raynesleigh on Apr 18, 2012 10:46:56 GMT -5
Emma certainly had expected being kissed by him and tried to push him away as he kissed her. He was trying to scare her surely. She felt her body react heatedly and before she knew it, he was gone from her body and saying something about her demanding things. She frowned deeper and then followed after him. "You don't have to treat me so," she said, angry that he had stolen her first kiss, even if it had been pleasant. But then the sorry ass had to open his mouth.
"Neither one of them give a damn for me," she said simply. "And what will happen after you finish with Bedford. I won't have a home to go back to," she mused. "And...well...it will be your fault I'll be without a guardian. Even if my guardian is an ass." She sighed, walking with him then looking at him. "And if you don't succeed in doing whatever cruel thing you are thinking of, it will be me that suffers his wrath. And he has a mighty wrath," she said simply moving with him from the room and then looking at him as they walked. She admired the stone walls and tapestries. The true beauty of this castle with its stone walls and turrets. The inner courtyard and surrounding farmland. It was pretty and open. Nothing like London where houses were close and people lived on top of each other with only small gardens. There was an openness here unlike where she lived.
-----
"If a man stayed innocent and pure, he wouldn't be able to satisfy his wife when it came time to the marriage bed," he said bluntly then smirked and looked at her. "And it's not that I am not thrilled. Court can have it's fun, but you've never been then they are rather cruel to outsiders," he mused then sighed and ran her fingers through his hair before taking his piece and moving it strategically before gazing back at her. "You just don't seem like the type that normally goes to court. You are...uncorrupted," he mused.
"But I suppose I can speak with your brother about the possibility of you coming to court. He would have to come with you of course, but it's possible. And I'm sure with the proper schooling in courtly etiquette, you will do fine," he grinned.
|
|
|
|
Post by anjelrocker on Apr 18, 2012 12:51:34 GMT -5
"Are you suggesting that I would fail?" He asked her as they were walking, there was the fact that she was not Belle. Something that bothered him but then, according to her... Belle had moved on and knew what Bedford had done despite that still loving him. But then, this was what the shy little redhead who use to hide from him. He had remembered bringing her a puppy when she was only ten, a gift to both her and his fiancee. "As for what will happen to you..." He looked her up and down. "You are a Lady and you will be under my care since I will marry Belle when Bedford is dead and gone." William said honestly before going on. "I will make sure that you are treated well and I will have you wed to a good man who will care for you..."
He then thought of the possible situation that Belle would reject him since she apparently loved Bedford, not that he understood why. "And if Belle rejects me then I will marry you since you do not have a guardian." He had a feeling that she would not like that idea at all but she was a woman and did not really have a choice in the matter. He supposed that could be a form of revenge was to just marry the kidnapped female since he had planned on having Father Beaton wed himself and Belle when she had arrived.
"How do you like the land, kid?" He asked her with a slight smirk on his face as he continued to walk.
---
That comment made her blush a deep scarlet as she did not know really what to say about that when he had said about the marriage bed. Looking down at the chess board, she said. "Ah... well, I suppose knowing how to... ummm... you know... is important." She had alwaus been told that it hurt and that it was not pleasing. However, she did not really want to say that at this moment. Brett would think her unladylike. "The late Lady MacLeod told me the etiquette of the court before she passed on. She was going to take me before she died." Catherine said sadly. "She wanted to find me a proper husband..."
She had also remembered what she had said when she had told the older woman that she liked him... the old woman had smiled and said. "He'll come around." However, Catherine was not so sure... he probably liked blond since they were the prettiest hair colour in her eyes.
Moving another peice, she looked up. "Although, I could use a brush up." She grinned.
|
|
|
|
Post by Raynesleigh on Apr 18, 2012 13:16:12 GMT -5
Emma looked at him frowning. "I am not a child any longer and I am not a baby goat either," she said looking at him harshly. "But I think I would like it here. It's nice not smelling human waste all the time but rather fresh grass and trees. granted there is that smell of manure but it is something I can handle given the true fresh air I get out here," Emma said simply. She sighed and looked at him, running her fingers over her dark red curls before looking forward as they made it into the courtyard.
"And I don't think I ever want to get married. Not to a man who wants to control every move I make and who I have to be faithful to while he runs about lifting the skirts of any woman he wishes to bed....My uncle did that to my aunt...and I saw the havoc it wreaked on her. My parents had a good marriage before they died. I think I want the same marriage they did. A good one...not one gotten out of convenience or revenge. I could never truly marry a man who is in love with another woman." She looked at him pointedly then sighed. "And I admit Alistair, I doubt she would marry you if you ever did anything to her beloved husband....they were lovers long before they got married..." Emma said simply.
-----
"And I can teach you easily," Brett grinned. About many things, he added mentally. it was shocking how little she saw herself beautiful. THen again, it was most refreshing having a woman who was not vain and because of that, she had a simple elegance and a natural beauty not aided by perfumes and face creams and kohl and all kinds of things that add to the artificial beauty of the women of court. He to understood that ugly duckling phase. As a youth he had been pock faced and short and it wasn't till seventeen that he grew tall, managed to get a handsome face and a deep timber of a voice. He was handsome now but he had not always been thus. So knowing she to had had that horrible time through her teen years and now being so beautiful, it left them with something in common.
"For example. The way you are sitting, slouched over and gazing at the chessboard, is not appropriate. You never slouch. You sit straight and shoulders squared and never lean to far forward. Doing so allows a man to see down your dress," he grinned, making a pointed glance at the cleavage of her breasts before smirking and looking at her.
|
|
|
|
Post by anjelrocker on Apr 18, 2012 13:58:06 GMT -5
He did not want to believe such a thing but he did not see why she would lie as he looked almost devastated with the fact that his Belle who he had thought of was not in love with him but the man that he hated most. "I see..." Was his only reply as he could only nod but in his mind, he was brooding and he thought that he could use another scotch. He wanted the tour to be over as he countined with walking not saying anything about her comment about not wanting to wed him. Not that he cared about her, she was just a child. Well, she certainly was no longer a child and he knew that for sure. "I doubt that you will ever have a choice on who you will be getting married to." He said seriously as he then said. "This is the gardens that my sister cares for some times. It was a small little garden but there was room for so much more to be done with it as he did not point or any of the flowers since he did not know any of them.
"There's a stone bench in the middle... this garden use to be my adoptive mother's before she passed on after her husband. My... father." He looked at her as if to say do not say a damned word. "Now, do you have any questions about this entire situation if you are going to be staying with us as a guest?"
---
"I was simply studying the board..." Catherine said as she sat up a little straighter and put her shoulders back. "A man should not be looking down my dress and be focused on my face." She said since she knew that she was right in this matter before making her next move from a straight and upright position.
|
|
|
|
Post by Raynesleigh on Apr 18, 2012 14:19:35 GMT -5
Emma looked at him then looked away, crossing her arms over her chest. She didn't like the idea of not having her fate in her own hands. She always swore if she ever broke free of Robert and her Uncle and Belle, that she would enjoy her freedom, maybe marry below her station just so she could have a simpler life and not be caught up in war and politics and all the drama that Belle enjoyed so vigorously.
"I can't think of anything at the moment," she mused then looked at him. "I have to ask though, why would a man want a mistress if he was enamoured with another woman?" she asked curiously then shrugged. Not quite understanding the logic of that. Especially if he loved Belle. But then again, she did not know much about why men did what they did. Strange creatures, and very often cruel and selfish. Then again, so were women.
"It just does not make sense. Then again, hardly anything makes sense..."
-----
Brett grinned at her. "Men are by nature, scoundrels, cads and rakes. Another rule Lady Catherine. So a man might often be ungentlemanly enough to look in places he shouldn't, especially if the view is offered up, warranted or otherwise," he grinned at her then licked his lips and took another sip of his wine. "Always be on your guard. The men and women of court are like wild dogs. They smell fear and attack when they find their prey at their weakest. Never show weakness..." he smiled then looked at the board, slowly moving a knight piece before looking back at her.
"What did the late Lady MacLeod tell you of Scottish Court?" he asked curiously, realizing he was enjoying this back and forth between them quite a bit. She was smart and witty, and thought lightly on her feet. That would be a good thing when they went to court. He was certain he could convince Alistair to go. Along with the redhead, if she was still around. "I am quite intrigued," he admitted looking at her with a smile as he sipped from his wine then noting he was out. He sat his cup down and cleared his throat.
|
|
|
|
Post by anjelrocker on Apr 18, 2012 15:24:04 GMT -5
A smirk came to his face as he said. "A man has needs, Lady Emma... and sometimes, the woman in which the man loves is not fulfilling those needs. Point in case was the fact that he had not seen Belle in seven years and so, he was not going to stay a virgin for his entire life. He had been a virgin when he was suppose to wed Belle as the age of eighteen. He had lost that virginity on his way to Scotland knowing that he could not return for a long time and so, he had had his first thrust with a sweet lass named Sarah in the northern borders of England. He had never seen that maid again.
"it might not make sense but it is the way of the world. I have had a few mistresses in my days." Some in the Scottish courts, some from the village and his most recent had been Jennifer Connelly. A pretty young woman who was the daughter of a merchant and her brother was one of his guards. She had blond hair and a lovely set of breasts, but he had thought that Belle was coming and despite having been with a number of women. William believed in a marriage where you were faithful to the other person.
"However, I think that once one is married... they should be true to the other under the oath of God." He said seriously as he glanced at her with a shrug. "You do not make much sense either but I will not hold it against you." He teased her.
---
"Oh? I suppose that this must include you, My Lord? Or are you an exception to this rule?" She asked curiously as she watched him move his knight and she thought about moving her rook as she paused for a moment before looking at him with hazel eyes. "Well, she told me of the ladies of the court. How I will be expected to be a lady in waiting most likely to the Dowager Queen." She said. "Duties... but, she also told me of the politics of the court." She did not go into broad detail about this since she wanted to surprise Brett with how much she did know. She had played hostess to a number of her brothers guests and she had had her fair share of men who thought they could trick her.
"After all, I have been taking care of this household since my adoptive mother passed on." Her real mother has passed on when she had only been six but that had been her life before she had been taken here. Something that she was thankful for every day.
|
|
