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Post by Benedict Liatris on Oct 28, 2008 23:30:50 GMT -5
I dressed for riding the day I went out with Fiona: A brown leather riding vest and breeches, with a cotton shirt underneath, and black leather boots. I'd asked the cook to prepare a picnic lunch, which she had in a wicker box: Fresh peaches, sandwiches of sliced beef, and assorted crudites. Around noon, I walked out the front door and sat on the stairs to wait for her. The facade of my new home was something I was particularly fond of, grand as it was.
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Fiona d'Anwar
Aristocrat
Future caretaker of the Barony d'Anwar
Daughter of Luc and Julie d'Anwar
Posts: 1,151
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Post by Fiona d'Anwar on Oct 29, 2008 12:45:20 GMT -5
Thankfully it had rained the night before, keeping the dust down and away from the skirts of the only riding outfit I had brought from home. It was done in a dusky blue, near the colour of my eyes but not so much so that it made me look washed out. I was feeling rather short that day, the boots that I walked up his drive in not having the heel I was used to. I hoped it wouldn't matter much though, as we were to be astride.
He was sitting on the steps of an impressive mansion. One of these days, I'll have something like this... I thought to myself. "Good afternoon my lord," I said with a smile and a curtsy.
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Post by Benedict Liatris on Oct 29, 2008 15:20:38 GMT -5
When I saw her, I stood up and walked the rest of the way down, before bowing to her. "Good afternoon, my lady," I said. "And please, call me Benedict." I grinned. "You look very pretty today."
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Fiona d'Anwar
Aristocrat
Future caretaker of the Barony d'Anwar
Daughter of Luc and Julie d'Anwar
Posts: 1,151
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Post by Fiona d'Anwar on Oct 29, 2008 15:35:13 GMT -5
"Thank you Benedict," I said with another smile, wider this time from the compliment. "You look quite sharp yourself."
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Post by Benedict Liatris on Oct 29, 2008 15:54:15 GMT -5
"Thank you," I said. "Are you ready? Let's go find you a horse."
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Fiona d'Anwar
Aristocrat
Future caretaker of the Barony d'Anwar
Daughter of Luc and Julie d'Anwar
Posts: 1,151
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Post by Fiona d'Anwar on Oct 29, 2008 23:45:03 GMT -5
"Of course," I replied merrily, following him.
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Post by Benedict Liatris on Oct 31, 2008 12:15:04 GMT -5
The stables were up a path to the left of the house, and I fell into step with Fiona as we walked there. "I hope you have been well," I said.
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Fiona d'Anwar
Aristocrat
Future caretaker of the Barony d'Anwar
Daughter of Luc and Julie d'Anwar
Posts: 1,151
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Post by Fiona d'Anwar on Nov 2, 2008 23:32:49 GMT -5
Thoughts flashed back to the Aragonian restaurant and the taste of Milo's mouth, causing me to smile. "Very well," I replied. "I've been keeping busy. And yourself?"
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Post by Benedict Liatris on Nov 3, 2008 16:54:51 GMT -5
"Also well," I said. "I've been riding almost every day; I found a very nice trail for us to go on today." I grinned. "I think my father wishes I spent more time indoors, studying."
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Fiona d'Anwar
Aristocrat
Future caretaker of the Barony d'Anwar
Daughter of Luc and Julie d'Anwar
Posts: 1,151
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Post by Fiona d'Anwar on Nov 4, 2008 0:30:12 GMT -5
"Well, you've balanced me out then," I said with a smile. "I've spent far too much time in a stuffy classroom, trying to concentrate on my lesson."
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Post by Benedict Liatris on Nov 5, 2008 20:47:39 GMT -5
"Lesson?" I asked. "Where are you a student?"
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Fiona d'Anwar
Aristocrat
Future caretaker of the Barony d'Anwar
Daughter of Luc and Julie d'Anwar
Posts: 1,151
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Post by Fiona d'Anwar on Nov 5, 2008 20:53:58 GMT -5
"The Academy, I'm taking D'Angeline literature and music theory," I replied with a fond smile for my subjects of choice.
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Post by Benedict Liatris on Nov 6, 2008 23:54:29 GMT -5
I wrinkled my nose a bit. "You ought to meet my sister," I said, "she would love to hear about the literature class." I grinned. "My hands are too big for instruments." I held them out; they were big hands, calloused and rough from the outdoors.
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Fiona d'Anwar
Aristocrat
Future caretaker of the Barony d'Anwar
Daughter of Luc and Julie d'Anwar
Posts: 1,151
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Post by Fiona d'Anwar on Nov 7, 2008 0:34:40 GMT -5
"But perfect for other things," I replied with an impish grin, pausing before listing off possible activities. "Riding, or working with weaponry, or other manly activities."
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Post by Benedict Liatris on Nov 12, 2008 1:29:48 GMT -5
I stood up just a little taller. "I guess the things I like to do are best described as manly," I said, chuckling, as we rounded the last bend to the stables. Daisy and the horse I'd requested for Fiona were trotting about the corral. "I requested a mare for you," I said. "I hope you like her."
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Fiona d'Anwar
Aristocrat
Future caretaker of the Barony d'Anwar
Daughter of Luc and Julie d'Anwar
Posts: 1,151
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Post by Fiona d'Anwar on Nov 12, 2008 1:33:56 GMT -5
I reached out to close the space between us, lightly laying my hand on his arm. "Thank you for this Benedict," I told him with a smile. "I'm sure she'll be lovely."
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Post by Benedict Liatris on Nov 17, 2008 23:59:18 GMT -5
Her touch on my arm was warm, and I found myself enjoying its presence very much. "You're welcome," I said, as we approached the stable.
The hostler came out to greet us. "Afternoon, young master."
"Afternoon, Willoughby," I replied. "This is the Lady Fiona d'Anwar. Do we have a good saddle for her?"
"Yessir," he said. "We have both astride and sidesaddle."
I looked to Fiona. "Which do you prefer?" I asked.
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Fiona d'Anwar
Aristocrat
Future caretaker of the Barony d'Anwar
Daughter of Luc and Julie d'Anwar
Posts: 1,151
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Post by Fiona d'Anwar on Nov 18, 2008 13:42:20 GMT -5
"Astride, if you would please," I said, smiling to both of them.
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Post by Benedict Liatris on Nov 22, 2008 19:56:42 GMT -5
Willoughby bowed and disappeared into the stable. He reappeared a few minutes later with a ladies' astride saddle. "If you'll follow me," he said, opening the gate to the corral and motioning for us to follow.
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Fiona d'Anwar
Aristocrat
Future caretaker of the Barony d'Anwar
Daughter of Luc and Julie d'Anwar
Posts: 1,151
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Post by Fiona d'Anwar on Nov 23, 2008 13:52:14 GMT -5
We followed Willoughby into the corral and to our waiting mounts. I smiled to Benedict as the ostler saddled up what could only be the mare I was to use.
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Post by Benedict Liatris on Nov 29, 2008 11:12:31 GMT -5
Willoughby finished saddling up the mare and I said to Fiona, "May I help you up?"
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Fiona d'Anwar
Aristocrat
Future caretaker of the Barony d'Anwar
Daughter of Luc and Julie d'Anwar
Posts: 1,151
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Post by Fiona d'Anwar on Nov 29, 2008 20:49:03 GMT -5
"Yes thank you," I said with a smile for him, approaching the mare and waiting for him to boost me up.
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Post by Benedict Liatris on Dec 2, 2008 19:41:06 GMT -5
I put my hands on her waist and said, "Put your foot in the stirrup, and on my count, push up." I paused, waiting for her. " One...two...three!"
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Fiona d'Anwar
Aristocrat
Future caretaker of the Barony d'Anwar
Daughter of Luc and Julie d'Anwar
Posts: 1,151
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Post by Fiona d'Anwar on Dec 3, 2008 18:24:07 GMT -5
He boosted me up and I settled into the saddle, arranging my skirts properly. "Thank you Benedict."
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Post by Benedict Liatris on Dec 6, 2008 13:55:44 GMT -5
"You're welcome," I said. I went over to Daisy and strapped the picnic basket to her saddle, before swinging myself up and into the seat. "Shall we?"
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Fiona d'Anwar
Aristocrat
Future caretaker of the Barony d'Anwar
Daughter of Luc and Julie d'Anwar
Posts: 1,151
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Post by Fiona d'Anwar on Dec 6, 2008 14:51:47 GMT -5
"Of course Benedict, lead on," I said with a smile, getting ready to maneuver an unfamiliar mount after him.
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Post by Benedict Liatris on Dec 11, 2008 19:09:19 GMT -5
Flicking the reins, I led Daisy out of the corral and towards the wood path.
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