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Post by Henrietta Langois on Jan 6, 2009 17:09:40 GMT -5
It'd been a good deal of time since I'd had any new clothes for day wear, and with the lovely little chest my mother had sent me, gold enough in there to buy three dozen good dresses, I couldn't resist. You must appear your best at all times, Henrietta. The disdain was palpable even through those few words, but in the next, the paper was torn where her control had flickered, and she'd pressed the quill through it. Especially since you have failed to ensare Jean, and secure your future. I do not know what is the matter with you, girl. Why, you are beautiful enough to have any you want, smart enough to trip him over his tongue and send him to the jewelers for a ring before he even realizes what had happened. But, then again, mayhap I am wrong, and I overthink you. You did fail constantly while you two lived here. Mayhap I expected too much of you, daughter.
I'd ordered a fire built in my hearth even in the middle of the summer, the heat of the flames combining with the heat of the air, making sweat pop onto my face. I watched the flames for a good hour, her letter frozen in my hand before I threw it suddenly, hurling it into the fire with a curse to my mother. And then I watched the flames curl the paper with its heat, watched the ink curdle and burn away.
Smoothing out my dress over my stomach, I straightened my posture, keeping my chin level to the floor as I swept through the doors of Sujet a la Mode. I'd restock with the latest fashions, buy a few things to surprise my lovers with behind closed doors, and when I had a husband that outranked my mother, I would tell her to burn in the seven hells, that I would spit on her grave.
Heat undoubtedly flashed through my eyes for a moment before I settled myself, but my face was serene, never flickering from its courtly appearance as I began browsing dresses. Patience. Patience. And then I would show her.
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Post by Prince Sabriel de Trevalion on Jan 7, 2009 14:24:38 GMT -5
It was a lot of time that had passed. Sulking in Azzalle after Elua knows what twisted manner of fear and stupidity kept me from returning the night after I'd asked for August's forgiveness, and my attempt to make amends. I think perhaps my conscience was torn amongst itself, and a part was unwilling to give in to his desires. A part that wanted vengeance. After that random dalliance at the fete, the rather rude awaking afterward, pleasant in some respects, I took my leave without thinking, wandering out of the city. I hadn't been thinking, disappearing for a week, and after the plague, I was denied entrance, even given my station.
My coil purse was light, but sustaining, and my clothes shabby and ill fitting. I'd gotten back to the city just the day before, and after a long overdue cleansing and washing, I figured I might try to purchase some more presentable attire. I couldn't plead for forgiveness looking like a vagabond. I must have been a slight odd sight: recently groomed and washed, yet clad in very unappealing old clothes, some even tattered. I doubt anyone would really recognized me quite yet for a scion despite my ring, and god given intimate features, only.
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Post by Henrietta Langois on Jan 7, 2009 15:29:07 GMT -5
The drall task of flipping through clothes and browsing racks made the nagging voice of my mother recede, and slowly I began to relax, even coming close to actual enjoyment. I loved new clothes, loved the latest fashions, jewelry, anything that made me stand out. I always had; I didn't think that had anything to do with my mothers incessant pushings when I was little.
Half a dozen dresses hand been sent to a dressing room to await me already, and as I turned to browse more, I caught sight of a man. When had he come in? He looked vaguely familiar too, but at the angle I was at I could not be sure. Running a hand over my hair to assure myself it remained sleekly back, I flipped through the racks again, though my eyes stayed on the gentleman... and when he turned, I could not help but smile to myself.
"Sabriel," I said softly, though in a tone that would be carried across the room to him. The shoppe was far from busy at this time of day, and as I looked at him, my mouth curled to a smile. Had I been a cat, I would have been flicking my tail in contentment, mayhap anticipation.
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Post by Prince Sabriel de Trevalion on Jan 7, 2009 17:21:33 GMT -5
I heard my name ring sweetly through the air, though not my title. So much for incognito I suppose I didn't know quite yet where the voice came from, as I let my head pan the shop. I'd barely been there a few minutes, so I was a bit startled.
Finally, I caught a lovely women looking at me, a sight of recognition on her part. Myself, however, turmoil in my mind, rendered her name a blank to my mind. I stared slightly dumbfounded.
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Post by Henrietta Langois on Jan 7, 2009 23:10:28 GMT -5
He didn't recognize me. Amusement flickered across my face, quirking the corners of my sultry mouth as I moved out from behind the rack I stood by, my eyes never moving off of his. No response, but the confusion that painted his handsome face was enough to explain to me why. "Henrietta Langois, your highness," I said, sinking into a suitably low curtsy for him before rising again, looking at him with a softer smile. "We met at a fete a few months ago, shortly before the plague hit the city."
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Post by Prince Sabriel de Trevalion on Jan 10, 2009 20:47:03 GMT -5
It was that she turned the corner, approaching me directly. She introduced herself, or re-introduced herself, as it would have seemed. I stared a moment, placing a face to a name. However, what came to mind first was a smell, and the fete, and a lushious beauty so very teasing, and so very disappointing. Then I remember her small ordeal.
"Ah, Henrietta..." I let a smirk come to my face in rememberance, the name coming off my lips lowly. "Quite a surprise to see you here. I would have guesses your game had finished, and you had your prize since last time you saw me."
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Post by Henrietta Langois on Jan 11, 2009 17:11:29 GMT -5
My dress was a lavender today, but one so muted, so grey that it appeared more silver than aught else. I'd chosen it for its ability to emphasize my slim waist and bosom, for its color didn't draw the eye, merely the bearer of the dress. Now that I faced Sabriel, I was doubly glad I'd worn it; it was humble enough, but still flashy in its own shimmering right. The recognition that entered seemed.. slow, but it was difficult to tell, and I had the feeling only my life long training by my Shahrizai mother had let me pick up on it. "Yes, your highness," I said, smiling at him with a curl of my lips. "I have had my.. prize.. though I do not think it was what either of us expected."
Stepping away from the rack, I approached him more so that we should not have to call to each other across the stores breadth, my gait still holding it's natural roll. "How have you faired? It is good to see the plague did not harm you as it had so many unfortunate others."
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Post by Prince Sabriel de Trevalion on Jan 14, 2009 15:02:08 GMT -5
I eyes bounced easily with her figure as she moved, waiting until after she arrived near me that I let it drift to items amongst the store. "I'm stable, if that accounts for much," I met her eyes briefly, then going to a coat on the rack. "But, it seems I had a strange twist of luck, and found myself out of the city during the plague, so I suppose it was a relief. I wonder if your here now celebrating your liveliness then?"
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Post by Henrietta Langois on Jan 14, 2009 17:10:46 GMT -5
Mmm.. my my, as brash and brazen as ever. His eyes didn't leave my body until I was well and truly in front of him, and the cat like curl of a smile on my mouth broadened slightly for it. I liked a man who wasn't afraid to look, who didn't hide behind suave glances and words with a thousand meanings.
"Something like that," I murmured, my mouth holding a cast of amusement. My fingers slid over the blue-black coat hanging next to me, brushing away lint that was small enough that I didn't need bother. "I find I'm in need of new clothing. I find the City busier than I first thought when traveling here. I have missed a certain person, though. He was rather good company in the little bit of time we spent together."
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Post by Prince Sabriel de Trevalion on Jan 17, 2009 1:06:27 GMT -5
You flatter me I thought. I wasn't so blind as to catch that comment with that tone of voice be directed at anyone other than me. I moved to the coat she held, pulling it out a little more, taking a good look at it. No doubt, flattering house Courcel couldn't hurt my situation.
"Quite a few thoughts you just gave me. Any ideas how you might solve them," Pulling out the coat completely, walking over to the mirror, and comparing it to my build.
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Post by Henrietta Langois on Jan 18, 2009 8:30:30 GMT -5
I stepped away politely as he took the coat from the rack, and as he moved to the mirror to compare himself to the garment, I followed, my feet taking slow, nonchalant steps as if I were strolling. "Perhaps if his highness could share what thoughts those were, I could help you." I smiled, a slow lift of my lips as I held my hands out for the coat, offering silently to help him don it if he wished.
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Post by Prince Sabriel de Trevalion on Jan 22, 2009 2:49:46 GMT -5
"Help me help you?" I responded, not moving my gaze from her. "I'm not a mind readers, so I certainly couldn't tell you how to solve your own dilemmas...." I looked at her through the corner of my eye, "...or desires for that matter,". I stood silent there a bit more, wanting to take this coat, never one to fumble endlessly over apparel.
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Post by Henrietta Langois on Jan 27, 2009 13:41:34 GMT -5
Confusion swept over me, and I barely kept it from manifesting itself upon my features as I regarded him. "The dilemma of helping you with whatever thoughts you said you just had," I said gently, careful of how I worded it. I was no fool; injuring a Princes ego was never a good thing, but how could he have been that lost so easily?
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Post by Prince Sabriel de Trevalion on Jan 28, 2009 1:42:17 GMT -5
"I....wait...." I looked around, wondering who was paying attention; which was either everyone or no one, depending on how discreetly one could eavesdrop. "My lady....I think...I think I'm very confused. I thought YOU had a dilemma....."
Elua....
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