To Admire from Afar [ 5/5, Daven and Lynesse, C]

[Lord Daven St. Claire]

There was something magical about Spring. Granted, Daven didn't believe in magic and thought it was all fairy tale nonsense. People needed to get their heads out of the clouds and focus on what was on the ground. Nonetheless, he couldn't deny that Spring had a certain affect on people. The weather was warming up, the flowers were blooming, the birds were singing and bees were buzzing. At least, something was buzzing through Daven's blood at the moment.

The tall and physically intimidating Duke of Twinport was within the gardens, but he was trying to keep out of sight for the time being. What was he doing? He was watching. Granted, several would accuse him of spying, but to him, he was merely watching and observing. Surely, there was nothing overtly sinful in doing such a thing. But what was he watching? Or perhaps the question was better posed as ... whom was he spying upon?

The Lady Marisa de Vere, of course. She had chosen to wear a particularly fetching gown that day, and it suited her well. It was foolish to say that Daven St. Claire was falling in love with the woman, but it was rather plain he was taken by her. Yet, she was consistently out of his reach. That was going to have to change, and soon. For now, though, he was content to watch and be completely oblivious to the fact that someone might find him doing so. Besides, there was nothing suspicious about peering around the hedge, was there?

No. No, there was not.

[Lady Lynesse St. Claire]

Lynesse had decided to take advantage of the warm weather and spend her daily exercise going on a simple walk about the grounds. Her thoughts were on the events that had been happening around her lately. Lynesse was getting more aware of the fact that she was growing up. It would help her family if she was to wed and stop her subtle spurring of anyone that dared to try and court her. Unfortunately, she could not bring it in herself to lower her rather high standards. A man that suited her family, herself as well as being an asset to the house of St. Claire. Surely, that was not too much to ask? It seemed to be so though. Walking along, her mind was on a fair few things. That is, until she spotted her father up ahead looking rather suspicious in her eyes.

Problems disappearing from her mind as she observed her father for a few minutes, she approached him and crossed her arms across her chest as she delicately cleared her throat to announce her presence. Slight and graceful as she was, she often moved about as silent as a kitten with the softest of paws. "Have you dropped something, father?" She asked in a tone that showed that she would rather not believe him if he said yes. Amused at her fathers antics despite her disapproval, she waited to see how the man would explain away this one.

[Lord Daven St. Claire]

Just what was Marisa doing, anyway? She seemed to be talking to someone, but he couldn't tell just who it was. Ah, well, he supposed it didn't really matter. After all, as long as she was distracted, he could continue to watch her with ease. There was always something to admire about the woman. Indeed, he had been wondering just when he could meet with her in private next, but he also knew he had to be careful. Daven didn't want to scare her off. He was starting to genuinely enjoy her company.

Suddenly, a clearing of a throat and voice sounded behind him. Daven spun around, grunting as he did so, and then scowled when he realized that it was Lynesse, "How many times do I have to tell you not to do that to me, daughter," he grumbled at her with his deep rumble of a voice. "And what are you talking about? I've not dropped anything. I was watch-..." he paused, and then glared at her bit. No. It wasn't going to be easy for her, damn it!

[Lady Lynesse St. Claire]

Lynesse stood calmly as her father spun around and grunted. Hiding a smile at his scowl, she bowed her head slightly in apology. "My apologies, father. It is something that cannot be helped. Perhaps I should wear a bell," she suggested mildly, for it was something she had thought on from time to time when her silent steps startled someone unexpectedly. Lynesse then merely smiled a slight smile when he replied that he had not dropped anything. She knew perfectly well what he had been watching, or in this case, who. "Watching something? Is there an interesting critter in the hedge?" She asked before giving a bright grin at the man that was meant to let him know that he had been caught. Needless to say, she was quite unaffected by his glare. Truth be told, Julias glare was a hundred times worse, in her opinion. "All right, I will stop with my teasing. But really father, do be more discreet," she requested of him though she wondered if she would be able to maintain the same discretion if it was she admiring someone from afar. So far, she had yet to do so but if it were the man she met in the marketplace, she might find herself unable to help glancing towards his way for he was rather handsome.

[Lord Daven St. Claire]

"I damn well might," he didn't bother to hold back his language with the young woman, especially since she was his own daughter and could more or less handle it. After all, she had yet to run away from him, even when they were having a heated argument over this or that. The girl was damned stubborn. There were times Daven loved that about her, and there were times he detested it. The latter may be the case if she pressed the matter regarding just what he was doing.

"I am being discreet," he blurted out before putting on a darker scowl. "And I'll watch who I bloody well want to watch." He sniffed then, and crossed his arms over his broad chest. Yes, he was acting like a stubborn boy at the moment. Nevermind that Marisa de Vere was actually younger than Lynesse herself, or that house de Vere had a rather unfortunate reputation of being untrustworthy, or that it probably wasn't even proper in the slightest. Daven liked her. That was all there was to it!

[Lady Lynesse St. Claire]

Lynesse was not bothered by the language, used to her fathers way of speaking as she was. While, at any other time, she may have pressed on, there was something she currently wanted. Pushing her father further about being caught redhanded would not help her case. She had a rather different notion of what discreet was and he was not being it. Remembering that she had a request, she dismissed that from her mind. Lynesse would worry about her fathers interest in the de Vere Lady at another time. For the moment, she had her own topic of discussion that she needed to address.

"It appears we have different notions of discretion, then," was her last statement on the matter before looking up at her father with a look that clearly said she wanted something and that 'no' was not an answer she would take to very well. "As it stands, I did have a need to speak with you, so I might as well do so now," she said, after all, St. Claires were practically renowned for not being the type to beat around the bush. They got to the point. "I wish for you and Julia to join me in a visit with the Duke of Oakdale, Jasen de Winter," she said, her cheeks slightly turning pink at the fact that she was asking for them to meet with a man on her behalf for the first time in her life.

"I am to meet his siblings to correct the fact that I do not quite know them, and I felt it was only fair that he meet the both of you as well," she said. For all of her outspoken nature, she did not quite know how to inform her father that she was interested in the Duke. Especially when she was not sure if the Duke meant to seek more than just friendship from her. Then again, the second eldest St. Claire had never asked for something like this before so perhaps that was a dead giveaway in itself as to where her interests in the de Winter man lay.

[Lord Daven St. Claire]

Relieved that the topic shifted from him to her, an eyebrow understandable winged upward at her preparation for issuing her request. Her shoulders were set, her look was one of determination, and she was also bracing herself for something. That typically meant that it was going to be a ridiculous request or it was something she had never requested before. It turned out to be the latter.

"The Duke of Oakdale?" Daven echoed, his eyes narrowing when he saw that her cheeks were turning pink. Oh, hell. Was this really happening already? They'd only been in Court for a month and already, his daughter was eyeing a man. What would Helena do in a situation like this? What would he do in situation like this? Bah. Daven started grumbling quietly.

"And why would you like us to meet with him?" Daven knew exactly why, but he wanted Lynesse to confess to it.

[Lady Lynesse St. Claire]

Lynesse watched her fathers reactions and nodded in confirmation that it was the Duke of Oakdale she wished for him to meet. She noted his narrowed eyes and mentally cursed herself for not being able to have control over the fluttering feeling that came over her at the thought of the Duke. "I believe that a friendship between our families would be of benefit. At the very least, an alliance," she said, stating the more logical reasons to warrant such a visit. "I also have interest in the Duke of Oakdale and seek for him to court me, should he find me suitable," she confessed, seeing no other way to phrase her words. "I believe that may be part of his reason for suggesting I meet with his siblings but I cannot be sure. He is a hard man to read," she stated. Truth be told, she was sure this meeting with the de Winter siblings was a test for her. Much like how a meeting with her father and Julia were a test for the Duke.

[Lord Daven St. Claire]

"Ah, so which is it? You're interested in an alliance with the de Winters or you're interested in the man? Or is it just a convenient mix of both?" The urge to circle around her was very strong, but he was trying his best not to act like a complete dragon in this discussion. What would be nice? Attempting to sniff out any lies? Pish.

"Tell me, when you met him, what was the first thing that stood out to you about him? What captivated your attention so?" Daven wasn't really suspicious on that point, but genuinely curious. After all, he had a similar experience with Marisa de Vere, but he didn't know if it was genuine attraction or if it was the mere fact that he had been feeling rather lonely as of late.

[Lady Lynesse St. Claire]

"A convenient mix of both but truth be told it is more the latter," she stated, since she was not one to lie. An alliance would be of benefit even if things did not go the way she wanted. At any rate, she would cherish a friendship with the Duke even if he was not to court her for he was a wonderful conversationalist and she had enjoyed his company. She was rather grateful that her father seemed to be quite calm so far, though that was still not quite the word she would use.

Lynesses lips quirked up into a soft smile as her father asked her what had stood out to her about him. It certainly had not been his outward appearance since she had met him beforehand and had not felt the way she did now on their first meeting. "He appreciated my wit more than my beauty," she stated without hesitation. She valued her mind over her beauty and to have a man compliment her mind and wit had meant more than a hundred compliments on her appearance. "He also seeks an equal partnership with his match, much like you had with my mother," she stated, wondering how he would take the mention. "That is how I always envisioned myself with my own match." There was also that odd fluttering feeling she had felt upon making accidental eye contact with the Duke of Oakdale but she rather thought her father need not know of that. It was her own, cherished secret to keep.

[Lord Daven St. Claire]

Daven paused for a long moment at the mention of their mother, and he immediately looked away. In truth, the mention of Helena had brought a brief flare of pain, but he wasn't dare going to bring that up in front of Lynesse. That was something he had sorely missed since his wife's death; the companionship. They had been true partners in their marriage, and he couldn't think of a better arrangement. In many ways, he had been blessed. "I see." He replied at last, albeit quietly.

"Very well," he finally stated with a firm nod, "I'll see about arranging a meeting with him. Now. This sort of thing is not going to catch him completely by surprise, is it?" Daven didn't appreciate such things, and thus he safely assumed no one did.

[Lady Lynesse St. Claire]

Lynesse waited out her fathers pause as he looked away. She mildly regretted bringing up her mothers name but it had been necessary to get her point across. Her father had been acting odd as of late, a fact reiterated by Julia. Lynesses perceptive eyes and mind wondered if he was not perhaps, lonely. Unable to help a broad, happy smile when her father said he would see about arranging a meeting with him, she went on her tip toes and snuck a quick, daughterly kiss to his cheek. "I don't believe it will. He knew I planned to speak with you about meeting with him," she assured her father. After another brief moment, the young St. Claire had the hint of a smile of mischief upon her face. "I know you will not go easy on him, and I do not expect you to but please remember, that I rather like this lords friendship," she said, though she personally felt that if one could not handle the father, they certainly would be at a loss with her. At any rate, this would prove rather interesting and she had every confidence the Duke of Oakdale would more than stand his ground.

[Lord Daven St. Claire]

The affectionate kiss to his cheek was accepted as his due, but he wasn't quite mollified when it came to his daughter and the Duke of Oakdale. The fact that she wanted him to remember that she had an interest didn't make him feel all that better. "I will handle him as I see fit. If he cannot had a bit of handling from the likes of me, then trust me, all he will be good for is friendship." That was he realized that it was being just a little unfair about the man. "Bah," he eased away from her. "Don't worry. It will be... fine and all be as it should be." Or something like that.

Forcing himself not to look toward Marisa, he started walking the opposite direction. If Lynesse had a desire to follow him, that was fine. He didn't know if he wanted company, or if he wanted to be left alone, at this rate.