Enjoying the Gardens

[Noelle d'Aubigne]

"Darling, one thing you should know about me by now is that I know how to get myself out of trouble better than I know how to get into it." I grinned at her, twisting my hips enough that it displayed my body nicely.

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

I chuckled as she preened; she was very beautiful, my sister, and she knew it. "Fine, what trouble have you gotten out of recently?" I teased.

[Noelle d'Aubigne]

I laughed, long and low as she pried at me. "I couldn't tell you," I teased, flashing her a grin. "I've become good friends with the Princess Phreya de la Courcel; I've mentioned her in a few of my letters," I said. I refrained from telling Abby I'd laid with both Phreya and her brother Delaunay at the same time; she was to delicate for that.

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

My eyes widened with admiration. "Well, you're playing in high circles, aren't you?" I teased. "I believe you did mention her, but not much bout what she is like."

[Noelle d'Aubigne]

"She's much like me," I said, my mouth curling into a wicked little smile. "Probably why we get along so well, actually."

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

I laughed. "And I thought one Noelle was trouble enough," I teased.

[Noelle d'Aubigne]

I flashed her a grin, genuine this time, no facade behind it. "I think Father is lucky you didn't turn out like I did," I said, wrinkling my nose at her teasingly.

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

"Indeed," I said. "Do you remember that time that you sneaked out in the middle of the night and Father sent out a search party, he was so worried?" I laughed.

[Noelle d'Aubigne]

"I do," I replied with a devilish little grin. "I also remember making his head horsemaster head father off so I could finish getting dressed."

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

I laughed. "He was awfully handsome," I recalled.

[Noelle d'Aubigne]

"That he was," I said, flashing her an impish grin. "Did you ever take stock in him yourself?"

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

"He was too busy mooning over you," I replied. "I was a bit partial to his second groom."

[Noelle d'Aubigne]

"Really," I said, my grin growing some to know the groom hand fawned over me as much as it did knowing Abby had taken fancy to another. "I don't remember him much. Did anything happen with you two?"

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

I chuckled. "You should know me by now," I said. "He kissed me a few times, and I let him put his hand under my bodice, but once he tried to tumble me in the hay and I didn't want to."

[Noelle d'Aubigne]

I shook my head, giving her a wry look. "And that aspect of you, darling, I'll never quite understand. Once you finally.. do it, you'll wonder why you never did before," I said, chuckling softly.

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

"It's not that I don't want to, exactly," I said, blushing. "I just haven't found someone I like enough yet."

[Noelle d'Aubigne]

"If there's one thing I've learned," I murmured, reaching up and drawing my fingertips across her smooth cheek, "it's that anything is possible in the City. Much nicer than how it was at the estate, anyway," I added as I let my hand fall away, a grin coming to my mouth.

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

I giggled softly. "I should be so lucky," I said. "What's the best way to meet people here?"

[Noelle d'Aubigne]

"Fetes," I said with a smile. "Or walking Mont Nuit, sometimes."

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

I mulled over this information. "What about this Midsummer fair?" I asked. "Should we go to that?"

[Noelle d'Aubigne]

"I'm planning on going to the fete at least," I said. "Mayhap the first day as well. What of yourself?"

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

"I'll go to whichever days you go to," I said. "I'd be too nervous to go to my first event by myself."

[Noelle d'Aubigne]

"The best way to meet people is on your own," I reminded her with a grin.

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

"But as my sister, it's your duty to provide the moral support I need as I venture out into the big big world," I teased back self-depricatingly.

[Noelle d'Aubigne]

I gave her a dry look. "Alright. I'll let you use my perfume and borrow a brooch," I said, tone matching my face.

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

I frowned. "Don't be cross, Noelle," I said apologetically. "I was just joking."

[Noelle d'Aubigne]

I looked at her a moment before reaching out and taking her hand up in mine. "Lets continue on," I said, tugging her along with me. "So, how has Father been with you since I've left? Was he harder? Or did it ease him up some?"

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

"About the same," I said. "Sometimes he would brood about what letting you go meant. He would say things like, 'Soon you'll want to go to Noelle,' as though it were inevitable. But he was as strict as ever with my studies and activities."

[Noelle d'Aubigne]

I laughed instantly at that. "That does sound like him. He didn't cry when you left, did he?" I grinned at her, my words teasing.

Mostly.

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

"Not that I saw," I said. "Though I definitely heard a sniffle or two as he embraced me goodbye."