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tampered2007-08-20 04:59 am
roseblooms.livejournal.com) wrote in tampered2007-08-20 04:59 am
[ COMPLETE ] Alexis & Megumi - Garden Tea
When; August 20, Evening
Rating; G (gasp.)
Characters; Alexis Hargreaves [![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
maitre_de_carte] & Yamamura Megumi [pinkenglishrose]
Summary; Alexis expects company for tea and gets it.
Log;
Arrival... a sense of deja-vu, in the oddest sense, because it felt like more than one time that this had occurred. Of course, there were certain things she was uncertain of and would much rather have not thought of. Yet knowing herself and the kinds of thoughts she was subject to having when she was trying to gain some peace of mind, and when she would channel her thoughts and anger, made this a little more than odd. Of course, there was the fact that she had awoken in a house that most certainly wasn't hers, yet she felt like she was familiar with the surroundings. The maid that tended to her there told her she'd been asleep for two days, which made this odd in itself- it wasn't possible, and if that had happened, there were only two things that would keep her asleep for more than her normal internal clock's requirement. And one, she was certain, couldn't be possible considering the fact that the only people who knew of it weren't even in the city.
The other was probably similar to when she was in the midst of her delivery with Saya and needed to be drugged to tolerate the pain.
And from the looks of what that girl Alicia told her, she had been quite injured before arriving here. Which she recalled clearly, and figured the owner of that home was someone involved in the medical field, so she had met with him, and after thanking him for his hospitality, left the flat. And that had been that.
She didn't know why she was aware of the fact that his name was "Alexis"- assuming, perhaps, she may have seen it written somewhere, or why the fact that his eyes had troubled her, as they'd watched her when she'd left.
She also didn't want to begin to think of why she'd had that nightmare with him assuming control over her in the most improper manner.
Calling it the stress of the arrival as well as all the people who needed healing... she figured it was just overwhelm talking.
Of course, she often gave her such horrible dreams to trouble her, so leaving it as a combination of both drugging and dreaming, she had let the thoughts slide and reacquainted herself with the City that she had formerly been in. After a certain amount of exploration, she headed towards the gardens, stopping past the blood-scented cherry tree, then walking on ahead. The evening was settling in and she inhaled the fragrance of the growing flowers close by as she walked on ahead, suddenly distracted by a falling cherry blossom that floated it's way to her. Laughing to herself, she extended her hand and silently commanded the wind to bring it towards her, letting it fall into her palm.
Cursed it may be, but the City was certainly pretty when it had to be.
Even though he had the certainty that, indeed, targets had been placed upon him, it hardly deterred Alexis as he decided to partake in a small afternoon stroll. Alicia knew the drill, to be certain, after he had announced his departure, and, similarly, the small amount of guards he had stationed in conspicuous areas knew their roles and duties. As such, he had nothing more to do than take his leave and mind his step. Even if he knew that his own son had fixed forces upon him, Alexis was smarter now to know what to do in such an event. An ever-present watch and an effective defence (should the threat arise) were two weapons which would see to his security.
Idly, he again checked the time upon his pocketwatch, eyes following the perfectly scrolled hands upon the ivory countenance. More than an hour before afternoon tea, and he had seen to it that Alicia used a proper darjeeling instead of a thick Irish breakfast blend. The taste still lingered upon his tongue from the morning tea, and he had even attempted to douse it with smoke - to no avail. A look of mild distaste crossed his face, but it quickly subsided as the pocketwatch closed with a metallic snap.
And when he looked up, he saw a familiar figure, clad in pink with black tresses covering a good deal of that half-bared back. Pensively, he observed her from underneath the shade of a rather large tree. Seemed that nature took a liking to her - discreetly, he patted the small vial at his breastpocket. He silently continued watching as she seemed to make her rounds halfway across the park, still upon the path. The path surely would lead her to him, eventually, ahd he decided upon taking rest upon a close-by wooden bench, under the pretense of eyeing the sakura tree not too far away.
For the briefest moment, she couldn't help but feel awkward, almost uncertain, about the fact that she was here at all. Though this was quickly countered by the fact that she had wanted to come here, wanted to enjoy nature's graces and she liked coming to this garden before she left. However, there was still that lingering sense of a whisper, the way gran would every time she wanted her to come home at her expense until she grew old enough to warrant a trust from her to make her stop doing it.
Shaking off the thoughts, she began to walk down the path by the flowers, her steps slowing down only when she realized she wasn't alone. A man was there, and on closer observation, she realized she recognized who she was looking at. The Lord who had tended to her on arrival! Instinctively, she smiled, he had been generous to her and treated her kindly as well as made sure of her comfort.
"Lord Hargreaves." She greeted, nodding her head politely. "Fancy seeing you here."
When he had finally been addressed, his stare left the large blossoming tree and turned to the voice he had heard. Yes, he knew well enough that she would, indeed, address him, and, as per his preparation, his blankly placid stare turned into an equally calm, mature smile. She seemed not to have any memory of any cruelty, and all the better that she hadn't. While fingers idly traced the golden chain at his waistcoat, he shifted about in the seat, soon crossing his legs a touch.
"Ah, Miss Yamamura," he started, keeping a close watch upon her before taking the initiative in looking away. If he kept a hard stare upon her, well, surely she would feel uncomfortable. That wasn't the done thing in such an instance. "I trust you are feeling much better now, yes?" Again, he looked to her, an eye straying to watch the ankle that had been injured prior. "Healing properly and such, hmn?"
For the very reason that he looked away, or showed himself to be doing so, Megumi felt that her previous fear of this man somewhat disintegrate. Of course he wouldn't harm her... right? Surely a gentleman who knew his boundaries would make sure to be proper with a lady, and as she understood, he wasn't from present time, which made this even more likely. Of course, some incredibly twisted people came from that time, but still.
When he indicated her foot, she glanced down before nodding with a smile. "Your aid helped greatly and I am a healer myself, it wasn't difficult to settle things back." she told him. Walking ahead calmly, she stopped a short distance away from him and grinned a little. "I apologise if I was intruding. I never got to thank you for your hospitality that time. I never expected to land back here of all places!" she laughed softly, moving her hands behind her back.
"It honestly was no trouble at all, I assure you," he replied, his matured smile curving a bit more as he again looked to her graciously. "As such, you've no need to feel as though you've intruded." Even if it were such an intrusion, Alexis thought to himself, it was an intrusion negated by such serendipity that it hardly played a prominent role. He felt the glass vial press against him as he inhaled a touch of the light breeze. Eyes again strayed from Megumi to sweep the surroundings in a patient, surveying manner. "After all, madam, you were our guest," he added formally, bowing his head to her in a strangely servile manner.
It seemed some of the irises were in bloom, he idly noted before once more tossing a congenial look to Megumi. Had her hair been up in a proper adult manner, well, he wondered at the similarities that might or mightn't emerge. Of course, he had speculated upon such before, and it was hardly the time or place to do so now. "Ah, madam, I've been so rude as not to invite you to take a seat. My apologies," he suddenly stated in an effort to break the mild silence with a look of apology. "Please, do take a seat, if you would prefer."
The only discomfort that she would really feel in this entire situation may as well just be the fact that he treated her so formally, the way Gran's guests would. For them, she would become a perfect daughter of an established household, also guided by the pulls of strings she marionetted over her, until she learned how to break them. At that time, she had cut her hair out of rebellion, which had warned her grandmother against further abuse. After all, she didn't want her to run away back then...
Wondering about the thoughts coming into her mind, Megumi shook her head politely, smiling at the man again. "Oh, no. I merely came down here for a stroll. It's getting late, so I had best be on my way home." she told him with a friendly smile. "Though I did wish to extend an invitation to lunch sometime!" she chuckled a little at her own words, a light blush touching her cheeks. "As a gesture of thanks. I'm afraid I'm not equipped with servants here, but I'm certain I can do a good job!" she figured since he was here, she may as well make the invite. It wasn't as though she was to run into him more often than necessary.
An indulgent smile crossed his expression once he had received a rather informal invitation. It was interesting, in a way, how she seemed rather genial to him, although such a courtesy he had extended, perhaps, hadn't merited such kindness. However, her memory seemed erased of any sort of blemishes upon his character, so it seemed likely that it was a natural extension. Either way, it earned her a decadently gentle smile as he rose to his feet. If the lady wished to be on her feet, he would have been rude as not to follow suit.
"Madam, I would accept, had I not known you were planning to act as a maid of all works for yourself and your guest," he replied with the tone of a refined gentleman. A brow lifted in an ironic sort of humour, he stared to her hand as he took hold upon it. "Your hands," he muttered while observing them, "are hardly befitting to strenuous activity." Giving a chaste kiss to the back of her hand, he then let go and gazed at her with the same ironic smile. "I feel terrible at declining such an offer, however, and I only hope it hasn't offended you."
Oh if only he knew. It wasn't as though she hadn't prepared things for groups before, once she'd moved out to live with Axl. Then again, it wasn't as though she hadn't prepared things for him, and Lord knew he was such a ravenous eater. However, when he took her hand, she blinked, confused by the triggered sense of familiarity, and when he spoke, she certainly felt a warm sensation run over her arm and into her cheeks, which burned a pretty deep crimson now.
Realizing he was still speaking to her once she'd lowered her hand, she combated her own embarrassment with a light laugh and a shake of her head. "I really don't mind, but if that's how you feel..." She nodded once, then gestured with a hand. "I still feel terrible for not being able to repay you, but I wouldn't want you uncomfortable." Politeness, of course, it was all about politeness. "So please, if there's anything I can do, let me know. I appreciate that you looked after me, even though I was a complete stranger to you."
It was an almost endearing thing, how women tended to blush at such formalities. Alexis regarded it with a small chuckle, raising a hand to his chin in a sort of mockery of deep, pensive thought. "Consider the balance null and void, madam, between myself and you," he replied smoothly, calmly looking now to the blossoming irises he had seen prior. "Of course, I've no need to count the score betwixt you and I, have I?" Coolly, he gazed at the girl from the corner of his eye. Such an eagerness to please, really, and he wondered if it would at all be fitting to turn it about.
Then again, he had compelling reasons to do so. All for the greater good, wasn't it?
A more brilliant cousin of his pensive smile came forth while he turned to face her completely now. "Although, my dominion is open for guests, should you wish to take advantage," he continued, taking the time to pull out that golden pocketwatch once more. "At your earliest convenience, of course - I shan't intrude if you've other plans for an afternoon tea," he added, looking from the watch to her with a kindly smile.
His gaze was almost fatherly, and she had to wonder. Though she hadn't seen any sort of family portraits or anything similar in his living quarters during the time that she was there, she wondered if this man was indeed, a parent. Thinking it too rude to ask him directly, she decided to hold that thought for a later time, and she only chuckled when he mentioned afternoon tea. It appeared that English traditions hadn't changed much within the last hundred years or so.
"It would be improper not to offer, at least..." she commented to him, in reference to the balance of what they owed each other. Then, at the mention of tea, she only smiled brightly up at him and shrugged a shoulder. "I wouldn't want to impose, Lord Hargreaves." she replied politely. "Though it is rather nice to see someone enjoy the fine side of having a proper tea. I never could get Axl to settle for a bit just for..." she trailed off, moving a hand to her mouth in embarrassment. "Ah, sorry about that.." she apologised, grinning sheepishly now. "That's something better suited for ladies to speak about, than to a gentleman." Of course, she was hinting complaints about their 'partners' so to speak, and looked away for a bit, observing the irises the man had been looking at prior.
"Though I would like to treat you to tea sometime too! It simply isn't done, if you don't accept at least that." she added as she turned around to look back at him, with a hint of a pout.
The watch cover was certainly getting a good deal of abuse, and at such a thought, he reminded himself to set it with perhaps a touch of oil to the hinge. It snapped open again, and the hands indicated a quarter past three. Considerably close, he thought as he once more pocketed the small watch and turned his gaze once more to Megumi with a faint smile. "I fear you have me there, madam," he responded, laughing briefly as he took a step forward. "It would be rather unbecoming of me to decline your offer." Of course, with such a tone in his voice, he seemed as though he hadn't even dreamed of turning it down to begin with.
"It would also be a touch forward to extend an invitation to afternoon tea on such short notice as now, would it?" he asked. "Because, at last check, it is a quarter past, and I insist upon taking tea." And if he could at all twist such a situation about, he had a good opportunity to do so. "And I do so hate spending it alone, as though I were a declining old man," he added almost jauntily, as though he were poking fun at himself.
Now he had her on the spot, and she wasn't exactly blind to the suggestion of a minor guilt trip. Of course, there wasn't anyone to give any negative suggestions to, were she to refuse even now, it wasn't like this was their country in the first place, but perhaps some deeply rooted teachings of politeness stood stronger than the rest. He did seem to have an unmerciful fondness for that watch of his, and she ended up laughing a little too, a hand covering her mouth at the thought of him being a declining old man. Older, yes... but he didn't appear to be that old at all.
If anything, he was... well. Handsome was one word that came to mind, and she went with it. Perhaps his demeanour just added to it. She knew many a girl who would swoon for such attention over themselves, and her, despite being spoken for, already felt flattered by him. It was almost scandalous, but she knew how deeply her own feelings ran. She had nothing to fear- if anything, she worried for Axl, so long distanced from her.
"A good tea is never enjoyable if spent alone." she commented lightly, and finally, making her decision, she smiled up at him. "Put that way, you make it very difficult to refuse, Lord Hargreaves."
The smile was a clear indicator - how one could miss it, Alexis had to wonder as he saw it. It had worked, the indirect manipulation, and quite brilliantly, as he had not truly been called out on it. The invitation had met with glowing approval, and it only seemed natural that he return the favour with a patient smile of his own. After all, the lady was to be kept at ease, lest suspicions begin to enter the mind.
"I beg pardon if I've backed you into a corner," he began as a mild disclaimer, just in case he had to explain himself. "But if you are accepting, then I perhaps should not say anything to change your mind." His arm extended to her, rather out of a very ingrained habit. He had reasons for wanting to keep up such a gentile facade with this girl, and many more than what seemed upon the surface. Discreetly, his other hand checked the breastpocket again as he straightened out the lapel of his jacket, and his placid look of anticipation stared down to Megumi, as though the answer was all he was waiting for. "Then shall we, madam?"
He certainly had backed her into a corner, and the worst part was him mentioning it. It made it all the more difficult to refuse, but then she wasn't going to. It wasn't as though she had something extraordinary planned for the evening. However, when he offered her his arm, she was surprised, just mildly by the gentlemanly attitude, and not wanting to be any more rude than she might have seemed by refusing him the first time around, she slipped her hand through the crook of his arm, and rest her other hand against his forearm, used to this sort of behavior by many of the social class she came from.
"Please lead the way, Lord Hargreaves." she told him with a small smile. A little tea wouldn't hurt.
Even though it hardly seemed as though this girl was of the same time period - the clothing and sometimes that speech gave it away - it seemed as though politesse was inherent within the English tradition, and that development was quite a pleasing one. Megumi holding to his right arm certainly proved such, and he shot her a pleasant smile, as warm and bright as the summer day about them, before staring forward and continuing on. Mild chit-chat kept the atmosphere alive and well as he escorted her to the flat, and once they arrived at the door, they were greeted by the blonde maid Alicia as she took his hat and jacket obediently.
"I trust you're still preparing the tea?" he asked after her once the formalities were out of the way, and she responded with a brief "yes sir" before ducking off into a corridor. Once that had been out of the way, he gestured to the sofa and waited for Megumi to take a seat. "You won't mind at all if it is darjeeling for the afternoon, I hope?" he inquired politely.
As she entered, she was suddenly hit with a sense of deja-vu, knowing that she was brought in here before was one thing, but there was just something striking her as ominous in accepting tea, especially considering the fact that Alexis was insisting so strongly on it. Of course, she understood it as a formality, he was only being polite, but there was something...
No, she was probably just being paranoid for some reason.
But as she turned to look at the living room, taken by the decor for a bit, she glanced over at Alexis before shaking her head. "That sounds lovely, sir." she replied, politely, before slowly slipping away. She didn't take a seat immediately, her attention going to her surroundings, a small smile appearing on her lips. "Heh... this feels like stepping into a history book." Even though a lot of things were quite modern in comparison, it was obvious that there had been selective decoration chosen for this flat. "You have good taste, Lord Hargreaves."
For some odd reason, Alicia had taken to peering out from the kitchen door to look questioningly at her lord, and, while she did so, Alexis shot her a quick cool look as she once more ducked behind the door. He knew quite well what that inquiry was even without her speaking - no, the tea would be untouched by anything but pure water, and he had made it clear with his stare. Clearing his throat, he turned his attentions to Megumi once more, watching as she surveyed the furnishings about the parlour. They hadn't been exactly what he was used to, but for the most part, it had sufficed. "I fear it is not quite up to par, madam, but it is the best one can do for the time being," he humbly replied.
When he thought back on the history book comment she had made, he smiled oddly at it. Odd to think of it as history, but the idea of persons from future times also lingering here had desensitised him, in a way, to the oddity of the situation. "I must admit, though, it does seem a touch bare," he continued as he took a seat by the unlit fireplace. He still kept a steady gaze upon her at every move, the cunning seemingly properly disguised by a calm, pleasant mien about him. With such a natural curiosity, he had to wonder....
If he was a Lord, she expecting nothing but a remark like that. Of course those of rich environments would find this lacking to what they were used to, but it certainly wasn't to her. If only because two years of her life were spent living in the East End, where Axl stayed... of course, she often decorated his place and made it cozy and he felt bad that she was living there when she came from such a rich background, but it didn't matter to her as long as he was there. Wasn't that saying something like having true wealth in a loved one's company anyway?
She continued to look around until he sat down, and she paused when he spoke, turning to look over her shoulder. She had a bit of a girlishness to her, and it showed in the easy way she kept herself, her manner of talking and the sort of shy curiosity she held. Now that the paranoia had mostly passed, she felt a little more at ease and took a seat to the couch close by, looking at him with questioning.
"Forgive me if this may seem forward, but do you have family here?" she asked, smoothing her dress down and smiling a bit. "I apologize for assuming," she added quickly. "I just didn't see anyone else but your guards around and I wondered..."
A somber look crossed his expression when she asked him of family. Family, indeed... he mentally scoffed at the thought as the image of green-gold eyes flashed within. The insolent boy.... Quickly, though, he adapted his look into a wry sort of smile, almost seeming a touch nostalgic while he leaned back into the upholstery of that winged armchair. "I've a son, yes, who resides here," he replied with a short nod. "Though it seems I am an estranged father of the sort." Estranged, if it meant misplaced loathing, was quite applicable. Alexis his a small ironic smile behind interlaced hands as he propped elbows upon the arms of the chair.
If he knew his son, indeed, there was a plot boiling behind those gold-tinted eyes already.
Once more, though, in an attempt to divert his thoughts from dwelling upon such unpleasantries, he found his eyes staring from over the rims of his glasses to skim over the girl's figure. Indeed, a light, pleasing figure, and the face to match it. "And of you, madam? If you pardon my curiosity," he returned. "I remember you mentioning friends here, but surely that cannot be all...?"
So she had been right in her assumption, and to hear that he had family made her smile a bit, however, to hear that he was estranged from his son made her expression become one of concern. How sad... as a mother herself, she was already so deeply attached to her daughter of three years that to think of being separated from her made her completely saddened. Not wanting to think of it so, she looked apologetic, a hand moving to her mouth in worry and she whispered, "Oh... I'm sorry to hear that, sir." However, she took the change of subject with a small smile appearing on her lips. Then, leaning back in her seat, she gave him a nod.
"I do have friends here, but back home, I have a daughter. She just turned three years of age last month, actually!" she told him, a hint of pride in her voice. Saya really was a lovely child, and she blushed a little, looking down for a bit, before looking back up, slightly worried.
"I do hope she's alright... I didn't even get to see her before I left."
That was a strange revelation, and yet, with this girl, it hardly registered much shock to Alexis whe he heard of a daughter. He shot her an apologetic smile, now lowering those hands to let them rest upon the arms of the chair in which he sat. "Terribly sorry to hear that, madam," he replied politely. "A child without her mother is in sorry shape, indeed - but certainly, your daughter is perfectly safe?" And even he was mildly curious... the mention of a daughter seemed to bring up even more questions for him to ask - perhaps personal, but, hopefully, he could remedy whatever rudeness he might unleash with more niceties. That tactic seemed to work well enough upon Megumi.
"And if I am infringing upon any privacy, do let me know - however, I am curious...," he began once more after a brief silence. "You are married, I am assuming?" he interrogated, a hand at his chin in contemplation. If she were married, he certainly wondered as to how the ethics of her world worked toward such an end. It mattered little, seemingly, so long as public knowledge of such an affair did not exist or was brought to attention in polite society. Which now made him even more curious about such social differences, if there were any, that remained.
The mention of being married did make her cheeks color considerably more than they were formerly. While it was true that Axl and her had lived together for a long time once she was old enough, she had been raised in the kind of society where she knew for a fact that having a child out of wedlock was not only frowned upon, but it often made the females the target of all the brutal accusation, in comparison to the man. Regardless, she wasn't embarrassed about it- she knew Axl loved her, and was still looking for her.
And that made it alright, really.
"No, Lord Hargreaves. I'm not married." she kept her gaze turned away, moving her hands to her lap. "Her father and I have been together since we were younger, but..." she knew she shouldn't be getting emotional, but she couldn't help but move her hand under her mouth, tension lining her brow. "We were opposed, and separated... until we met here again.. but I do not know where he is anymore. It's been two years, since I've last seen him." she inhaled softly, not able to raise her gaze.
"I... understand if this revelation... bothers you, Lord Hargreaves. It isn't exactly of a proper nature." she laughed weakly, suddenly feeling very estranged herself now.
A most interesting development, indeed. For what seemed hours, he kept a contemplative stare upon Megumi, as though he were properly calculating the correct response to such an announcement. A child out of wedlock... a bastard child. And he himself surely would know. Of course, there were such measures as to keep whatever shame would come of it from the public eye, and he had utilised every one of them. It hardly mattered what business was conducted within the household, really. Rather indulgent, so Alexis had thought.
After a while, he exhaled a measured breath as a brow lifted. "Proper or no, if such things are not mentioned in the public eye, certain exceptions can be made," he replied with a cautious voice, catching her eye with his serious emerald stare. "I do hope you understand, madam, that I shall make such an exception for you under the stated circumstances." At those words a sober smile curved his lips, as though he signaled that they still were on good terms.
She blinked, twice rather, having not expected to hear such a thing at all. She knew that the man was definitely a century older, and she knew, or at least understood that thoughts from that time were a lot more critical where it came to things like this. So it was almost pleasant... almost, to have him say such a thing, if the word exception wasn't used.
Still, it was better than nothing. The man had been kind to her, so she didn't want to fall out with him over something that obviously had no bearing on his own personal life, save for the fact that he was associating with her. And to many others, it didn't matter anyway.
"I thank you, Lord Hargreaves... but you have me a little confused. An exception?" she asked, tilting her head to a side.
"Yes, an exception," he responded, cocking his head slightly as he kept a fixated gaze upon Megumi. "You see, once in a certain station, certain benefits come of it." The benefits, of course, Alexis knew far too well - a reward for good behaviour, of sorts. That was how it went in society, and the inverse was just as true as the standard. Again, his look turned a more serious shade as he cleared his throat. "And knowing certain persons, madam, also merit such benefits."
He smiled once more, this time taking to rising from his seat and crossing to the window. "Do you understand, Miss Yamamura?" he asked, looking over his shoulder as he stood near the draperies. "What I offer are certain benefits, and I shall extend them forward, should you accept." He knew precisely what he was doing - digging a hole even deeper to ensnare someone in debt was nothing new to him or to the society in which he operated. Once more, he faced the window, overlooking the scenery of the city and counting the seconds it would take for her to answer.
Megumi was mildly startled by this sort of offer coming from Alexis. Suddenly feeling as though she probably should have lied about her daughter, she moved a hand behind her and turned to look at Alexis. It wasn't that she was embarrassed about having Saya, but more for the fact that she certainly owed Alexis for helping her, and now she wasn't quite sure about what she was being expected to do.
Slowly standing up, Megumi moved a hand to her chest, attempting to fight off her own unease, and tried to assure herself that all would be well. He certainly wouldn't be asking for something she couldn't or wouldn't give, would he? He barely knew her, and then...
"I don't understand why you would need to offer such a thing, Lord Hargreaves." She then replied, standing straight and lowering her hand. She kept a confident front, watching his back. "Things are fine as they are."
She had seen it. Alexis had almost been shocked by her ease at which she shoved the suggestion aside - but, so it seemed, the women of her upbringing were, perhaps, more vocal than what he had been accustomed to. In any event, the situation proved to be an interesting study. After a moment of contemplation, he turned slightly to her, smiling as gently as he could muster while the sunlight filtered in through the window behind him. "I see. Then the offer is unnecessary, correct?" he asked, just as casually dismissing it as he brushed past her to resume his seat in the armchair.
"I meant no disrespect, madam, if that is the reason," he continued, setting once more into the chair and looking up to her with a calm, kindly expression. "A mother such as yourself should be proud of your daughter. After all-" he paused, shooting the small table at his side a sly glance, registering the poisonous green colour of the tome that rested there before looking again to his guest - "the daughter typically follows the lead of the mother."
That made her stiffen in place, the words feeling like a jab to her heart. Was he actually saying what she was hearing? It felt like some strange episode of Twilight Zone where things just turned upside down and switched into a reality that no one had any understanding of. Still standing, she looked at Alexis with a look that was a combination of a confused, and mildly offended one. But the embarrassed blush on her face grew and she covered her mouth with a hand, immediately turning around so that her back was to him.
"What are you trying to imply, Lord Hargreaves?" her voice was firm despite how badly she could feel herself chilling at the suggestion. "What good could you do for my daughter's future?"
"I certainly cannot do any good to your daughter, madam, considering that she isn't here, correct?" he replied swiftly, using a gentle tone as though to coax her back into a calmer state. She certainly had been provoked by his suggestions, which was, in itself, an interesting turn of events and a fascinating case study. It seemed that the differences in women through whatever centuries were to come only manifested on the surface, for the most part. Nodding his head slightly in acknowledgement of this observation, he kept a charming and genteel smile while still observing the girl as she turned his back to him.
"But, then again, one hardly needs to provide any services to such a fetching young lady as yourself." He chuckled a bit to himself and shifted slightly in the armchair. "Surely a girl with such a cultured background and beauty as you hardly needs charity," Alexis smoothly added, patiently waiting for her either to turn about or sit down once more. Now he was curious as to what effect this would produce, if any at all.
Just that suggestion had her on her guard, considering the kind of things her own grandmother would say about her relationship with Axl. She was somewhat startled at the way he adressed her, so familiarly and yet so gently that she felt awkward for having jumped to conclusions. Moving a hand to the side of her face, she touched it, feeling the heat under her fingers which seemed colder than normal, and she composed herself, before lowering her head.
"I hope you will forgive my outburst, Lord Hargreaves..." she stated calmly. "But I have to be wary of such... offers." She tried to be as gentle as she could where it came to her wording, she'd surprised Axl often by picking up on East End slang and shoving it in the faces of people who bothered her. There was that one classic time with her gran, too....
She shook her head, slowly turning around, a wary smile on her face as she moved her arms in front of her, folding over her chest. A defensive position to take, where it came to body language. "A lady of my standing was also not expected to have a child out of wedlock. But love can be a strange force." she shook her head. "I am not ashamed of my daughter. But to compare her to me... " her look became somewhat saddened. "My mistakes must never be reflected on her."
It was interesting how such a series of comments as he had made quelled whatever fire he had incited within her. Mentally, he took notes, all the while still holding that beguiling smile to his face, should she be met with any suspicions at any moment. She already was on the defensive, as those arms had clearly indicated. But if he played his hand correctly, there would be no more ill ease within her. "You've honestly no need to apologise, madam," he answered her calmly, lifting a brow at the saddened expression upon her face as though to challenge it.
"I perhaps should have made myself clearer in my observations," Alexis continued on, once more rising to his feet a few metres before Megumi. He kept his distance, but it seemed all for naught when he spoke once more in that warm, casual tone. " What I had meant was that your daughter shall certainly take on your strengths. I do beg pardon for the misinterpretation," he added with a short, respectful bow, rising to his full height with a soothing smile upon his face. Hopefully, none of that effort went to waste.
Perhaps it was like preying on someone when they were emotionally weak, and for Megumi, the thought of her daughter having to go through any of what she had to, in her own riskier years. And while she suspected this thoroughly, emotions were a dangerous thing. It was why her grandmother had kept her marionetted for the longest time, just so she wouldn't go off with anyone else. But now, after her own rebellion, she knew the consequences of her own actions... and the result was sitting back home, wondering where her mother was.
However, when Alexis approached, she found herself startled by his words, an embarrassed blush appearing on her cheeks and she moved her hands to the corners of her mouth, blinking in surprise. She'd certainly made the mood awkward, hadn't she?
"Oh... I..." she looked flustered, before quickly bowing her head, moving her hands in front of her, keeping her eyes lowered, as if unable to face him. "I'm sorry... it was awfully presumptuous of me to... " she winced a little. "Well fancy that, I've let my old fears get the better of me." she added wryly, looking awkwardly to a side, before looking back up at Alexis with an apologetic gaze. "Forgive me... after hearing so much negativity, it was... good gracious, I feel awful now."
It had worked efficiently, and even though he had that sense of triumph lurking underneath the surface, he kept it there, merely allowing his expression to remain neutrally sympathetic as he remained where he was. Interesting how well he could fluster her - more notes to file away within the recesses of his mind. "No need, as I said, madam," he repeated, nodding his head this time as though to reinforce the sentiment. "The misunderstanding was my fault entirely, after all. I merely can beg your forgiveness for such an error."
He chuckled to himself, retiring once more to the armchair with a small sigh. "I suppose in my old age I must be losing my grasp upon the language," he joked, pausing once he heard a small clatter of silver from the corridor. "Ah, seems Alicia is right on time," he remarked just as the blonde rolled in the tea cart and promptly set about to preparing the tea for consumption. "Do you take sugar with your tea, madam?" Alexis asked, gesturing to the blonde maid, who eagerly paused, looking up from pouring the warm tea into two cups.
Another sense of deja vu, she didn't understand why, filled her head as she looked upon the tea set on the cart, and she paused, watching Alicia, as though trying to place something in her face, although she remembered her clearly, but there was...
Maybe she was overreacting, and once more, she seated herself and requested three teaspoons of sugar, with some milk, and a whispered, "Thank you." She never quite developed a taste for tea that was too strong, and waited until Alicia had served the tea to Alexis and her, and left the cart there, before she looked down on it. Then, oddly, something came to mind and she smiled to herself, carefully sipping the tea to make sure it met her taste, before setting it back down on the saucer and looking up at Alexis.
"They say how one takes their tea is an indicator of one's personality." she seemed calmer now. "Did you know that, Lord Hargreaves?"
After taking one small sip of the tea, he again set it down upon the saucer with a satisfied look as he examined it quickly. It hardly needed anything added to it, and he had been glad to have broken Alicia of the bad habit of adding unnecessary condiments. Merely one lump, no more, no less - just as he had ordered time and time again. When Alexis was addressed once more, he looked up to the other with a raised brow. "I've heard of such, but rarely have I heard an explanation," he replied, leaning forward with an intrigued smile now upon his face.
It had merely been ladies' gossip he had overheard from countless times the ladies descended the stairs after an allocation of time for a gentlemanly smoke in the parlour. How curious that such a trivial thing had been passed down. "I assume you know what is indicated by my own preference, then?" he prompted, raising the saucer and cup slightly in demonstration.
She found herself smiling, and she shook her head. "Perhaps, but those are usually based on assumptions." She set her own teacup and saucer down on the table before her, combing her hair over her shoulder, before she turned to look at Alexis with an amused look.
"The assumption that I can make from the way you take your tea, strong, one lump of sugar, according to George Orwell, means that you are ready to endure bitterness by sweetening it a touch. Although the rule is to always have tea without sugar, because once sugar is added to tea, you're merely having sugar in warm water, I think it's interesting to see that you wish to taste the true taste of your tea while adding a pleasantness to it..." she paused, chuckling a little and speaking as though to the cup of tea in front of her. "Lord Hargreaves is a very direct person, who usually aims to get what he wants even if he has to lower himself a little to a sweetness that he shouldn't necessarily be using, with his authority, to gain it."
A light twinkle of mirth shone in her blue eyes as she smiled at him. "You're a man of business. I'm not surprised, really." tilting her head to a side, she smiled at him, before giggling under a hand. "I'm not wrong, am I?"
Interesting how that ladies' gossip maintained its triviality. However, it hardly surprised Alexis that it had such a nature - most ladies' gossip was rather trivial, mostly unconfirmed rumours and old wives' tales, and none of which was usually true. But there was little sense in speaking the truth about such things when such a delicate creature's emotions were in peril. "A man of business, is that it?" he echoed with an amused lilt to his voice before taking one more small sip.
Although, in retrospect, perhaps he should have ordered the sugar reduced by half.
Once the tea was downed, he shot a bemused smile to Megumi as he leaned back once more into the upholstery. "A lady's instincts are hardly wrong, are they, madam?" he replied in a slightly perpedantic answer. "I believe you've hit the nail right upon the head - quite good, if I may say so." And once more, he took another swill of tea, turning then to look through the window once more. Even with the passage of time, it seemed a woman's sensibilities remained ever as fragile.
Whether or whether not she was right was left for the ones who really knew him to know. As she reached out to pick up her own teacup, she stopped her own hand, before looking at the tea for a while. Then, she smiled and shook her head, picking the cup up by the saucer. It had been an awkward instance of her body commanding her to stop and be careful about what she consumed in this place, and at Alexis' acknowledgement, she looked up at him with a shake of her head.
"I'm surprised. I wouldn't have thought a playful little assumption like that would hold much water with a man such as yourself, Lord Hargreaves." She wasn't a fool by nature, a dreamer, perhaps, but her deduction hadn't been made on tea-drinking alone. But generally, most men of the time period she was assuming Alexis from were not only dominant males, but also very chauvinistic. And part of it showed in the 'offer' he might have been making earlier.
"A lady's instincts can be destructive at times." she said it easily, but there was a hint of truth in it. After all, some feelings could become so destructive that they'd personify animosity to the bone, like she'd done. Drinking some more tea, she reclined in her seat, looking down at her cup. "Ah, but that is foolish talk, really." she chuckled, then looked at Alexis again. "If, however, these assumptions were to be true, then according to my own tea drinking taste, I'm going to inherit the Queen's title." she joked. "Royalty, after all, never sees the harshness of business. Therefore, such a silky taste might be a bit of a luxury" she added with a light laugh. "This is good tea, sir."
It was curiously amusing to watch Megumi carry on as she had so far - a kind of blessing, considering the plans he had involving the girl. Even so, Alexis knew how to keep up appearances and maintain a pleasing face to the public... it proved, so far, to be a valuable skill in handling this young lady. Still with such a graciously hospitable look, he kept his stare upon Megumi as he took a drink of his own tea - now half-empty. "Then I suppose you're far more a lady than you believed, madam," he replied in a cheerful voice, taking the opportunity to once more skim over her figure with a quick glance. Pleasing, indeed.
"I should commend Alicia upon her skills - she's quite outdone herself," he remarked, taking another swill of tea. It was exceptionally good, as far as the blonde maid's skill with tea. Almost as though on cue, her head popped back out from the kitchen, only to swiftly duck back in as he looked up to her with a calmly challenging stare. "Would you care for a scone, perhaps?" He gestured to the cart, still laden with a few of them, some preserves, and some clotted cream. "You're more than welcome to them, should you want any," he added, looking up from the tea cup's rim to her with a gentle smile.
Unfortunately unaware for her own sake, Megumi continued to have some of her own tea until she was nearly done, merely listening to him and his words, making her own judgments in her mind. He was strangely amicable, making things seem so welcome for her, and it was warming to know that he was at all. However, it was just odd to see a man such as himself, with the personality she was observing merely from his own talk and body language, be as accepting as he was.
At the request of having more, Megumi shook her head once and set her teacup down, gesturing with a hand. "Oh, thank you, but I couldn't. You've been so kind already, and it's getting late." It wasn't as though anyone was waiting for her, but she had friends she could make an excuse of. Besides, it was already moving towards evening, and once she downed the last of her tea, she set the cup and saucer on the table again, leaning back in her seat with a smile towards him. "I wouldn't want to impose on any other plans you have for the evening and I favor sweets enough to need to restrain myself." she chuckled a little.
"If anything, madam, I feel I may be more an imposition to you than you upon myself," he replied with a calm voice after taking the last drink from his own cup before setting it aside. A personable lady, if not a little too apologetic and withdrawn. But, then again, it was a perfectly natural trait in women to be on the overly cautious side in social situations, and he hardly blamed such upon them. Nature took its course, as simple as that. He shrugged slightly at the thought, still remaining in his seat with an intense look centred upon her.
It wasn't as though he was challenging her to leave - no, he had plenty of time to get to his bidding with her. But it would seem a touch off if, say, he displayed such cool ease at the opportunity of her departure. Although laissez-faire, his expression seemed likewise encouraging her to remain for even just a few more minutes. "Honestly, madam, it is no imposition if you are within my company, and I do so dislike you thinking otherwise."
"It's not..." she felt awkward, but she felt it was best not to overstay her welcome. Unable to form a response then, she began to lift herself off the couch, smoothing her skirts down with her hands and turning to him, she smiled with a short bow of her head. "It's not like that at all, sir. I would love to meet with you some other time. After all, we do have our tea date to keep." she added, hoping for that to work as an assurance, even if it was just being said politely, for him to not be offended at her turning down his request, even though she knew he was just being polite too.
Raising her head, she looked at him with a small smile. "You've been very kind to me ever since I've arrived here again. Thank you, Lord Hargreaves." she added, a smile on her lips. "In a city like this, I'm just glad there are people still willing to help others." Again, there was a grain of standard politeness in her statement, she needed to make sure he wasn't uncomfortable at her leaving. She stood there, waiting for him to stand, since she knew it would be rude for her to just walk out.
She stood there, and Alexis knew exactly what he was expected to do. It was impolite, truly, to allow a guest to leave while remaining seated, and even more so for a lady. It was almost certain that Megumi herself knew of such a nicety, and even though he had a compelling desire to progress even further with his work upon her, he also knew that finesse was a tool that, when used well, would ensure greater results that stuck. Sighing a bit to himself, almost in disappointment, he shot her a mildly rueful smile and thus pushed himself upward from the chair.
"You are certainly more than welcome any time you wish to return," he started as he rose to stand at his full height once more. "I merely hope the period of time in between visits will not be unnecessarily long." Keeping an at-ease smile upon his face, he once more took hold of her hand, observing it a touch longer than perhaps the situation merited before placing a polite kiss upon the back of her hand. If, of course, one acted a proper gentleman... if such advances were made with a subtle hand, more impact resulted. Less was more, after all.
She wasn't used to such polite shows of chivalry, and once again, his gesture mildly confused her. And as it expectedly would, she could feel her cheeks burn at the action, her fingers almost instinctively tightening together at his hold, and on realising she was doing that, she drew her hand back, moving it against her chest slowly as though telling herself to ease her racing heartbeat, and then lowered it, taking care not to make it too obvious how shy his action had gotten her. Now that the formality was over, she bowed her head again. "Thank you for having me over today!"
Then, adding as an afterthought, she looked up and smiled at him. "If I am not occupied with any of my other work here, I will visit you again, if you do the same, Lord Hargreaves. It wouldn't be done if I kept intruding here!" Stepping back, she then added, "I'll show myself out, do not trouble yourself, sir." as though to tell him to sit back down. She'd already made things awkward this evening with her silly misconception and didn't want to trouble him any more.
Yes, he had felt those contractions about his own hand, and it was hardly a mystery what lie behind it all. When he looked up from his show of politesse, Alexis could see a slight tinge of rosy pink at her cheek - but he said nothing of it once he let go of her hand. It would certainly give her something to think over, if nothing else. His head bowed to her slightly when she had finished speaking, and he crossed the room at her suggestion of showing herself out. Once he was by the draperies, though, he turned about to smile at her once more before she left.
He knew well now that he had, perhaps, abused whatever proximity he had had with Megumi, but the revelation wasn't coloured at all by any remorse. Why would he show any remorse for something he had planned all along, anyway? "Have a good evening, then, Miss Yamamura," he called to her from across the room, still keeping that hostly look fixed upon her. And she would be back, too. He knew too well.
As she was retreating, she paused when he called to her and turned to look over her shoulder. Pausing to take in his appearance, she stopped in the doorway and for the briefest moment, believed she saw someone else. It was an illusion and perhaps the evening falling was doing it, but... her eyes narrowed briefly. Once she blinked, it was gone, but she was certain, on his left shoulder...
There was a woman there. And she had him... held. She found herself thinking. But thinking it further as another illusion (she'd needed to get over those drugs after all), she shook her head and then called, "Good evening to you, Lord Hargreaves." And turned to leave.
She never realised it, but the entire time, she held her hand over where he'd kissed it, until she had to move it to lift her skirt once Alicia let her out.
No wonder the warmth was suddenly slapped with a chill once she stepped back into the open...
Rating; G (gasp.)
Characters; Alexis Hargreaves [
maitre_de_carte] & Yamamura Megumi [pinkenglishrose]Summary; Alexis expects company for tea and gets it.
Log;
Arrival... a sense of deja-vu, in the oddest sense, because it felt like more than one time that this had occurred. Of course, there were certain things she was uncertain of and would much rather have not thought of. Yet knowing herself and the kinds of thoughts she was subject to having when she was trying to gain some peace of mind, and when she would channel her thoughts and anger, made this a little more than odd. Of course, there was the fact that she had awoken in a house that most certainly wasn't hers, yet she felt like she was familiar with the surroundings. The maid that tended to her there told her she'd been asleep for two days, which made this odd in itself- it wasn't possible, and if that had happened, there were only two things that would keep her asleep for more than her normal internal clock's requirement. And one, she was certain, couldn't be possible considering the fact that the only people who knew of it weren't even in the city.
The other was probably similar to when she was in the midst of her delivery with Saya and needed to be drugged to tolerate the pain.
And from the looks of what that girl Alicia told her, she had been quite injured before arriving here. Which she recalled clearly, and figured the owner of that home was someone involved in the medical field, so she had met with him, and after thanking him for his hospitality, left the flat. And that had been that.
She didn't know why she was aware of the fact that his name was "Alexis"- assuming, perhaps, she may have seen it written somewhere, or why the fact that his eyes had troubled her, as they'd watched her when she'd left.
She also didn't want to begin to think of why she'd had that nightmare with him assuming control over her in the most improper manner.
Calling it the stress of the arrival as well as all the people who needed healing... she figured it was just overwhelm talking.
Of course, she often gave her such horrible dreams to trouble her, so leaving it as a combination of both drugging and dreaming, she had let the thoughts slide and reacquainted herself with the City that she had formerly been in. After a certain amount of exploration, she headed towards the gardens, stopping past the blood-scented cherry tree, then walking on ahead. The evening was settling in and she inhaled the fragrance of the growing flowers close by as she walked on ahead, suddenly distracted by a falling cherry blossom that floated it's way to her. Laughing to herself, she extended her hand and silently commanded the wind to bring it towards her, letting it fall into her palm.
Cursed it may be, but the City was certainly pretty when it had to be.
Even though he had the certainty that, indeed, targets had been placed upon him, it hardly deterred Alexis as he decided to partake in a small afternoon stroll. Alicia knew the drill, to be certain, after he had announced his departure, and, similarly, the small amount of guards he had stationed in conspicuous areas knew their roles and duties. As such, he had nothing more to do than take his leave and mind his step. Even if he knew that his own son had fixed forces upon him, Alexis was smarter now to know what to do in such an event. An ever-present watch and an effective defence (should the threat arise) were two weapons which would see to his security.
Idly, he again checked the time upon his pocketwatch, eyes following the perfectly scrolled hands upon the ivory countenance. More than an hour before afternoon tea, and he had seen to it that Alicia used a proper darjeeling instead of a thick Irish breakfast blend. The taste still lingered upon his tongue from the morning tea, and he had even attempted to douse it with smoke - to no avail. A look of mild distaste crossed his face, but it quickly subsided as the pocketwatch closed with a metallic snap.
And when he looked up, he saw a familiar figure, clad in pink with black tresses covering a good deal of that half-bared back. Pensively, he observed her from underneath the shade of a rather large tree. Seemed that nature took a liking to her - discreetly, he patted the small vial at his breastpocket. He silently continued watching as she seemed to make her rounds halfway across the park, still upon the path. The path surely would lead her to him, eventually, ahd he decided upon taking rest upon a close-by wooden bench, under the pretense of eyeing the sakura tree not too far away.
For the briefest moment, she couldn't help but feel awkward, almost uncertain, about the fact that she was here at all. Though this was quickly countered by the fact that she had wanted to come here, wanted to enjoy nature's graces and she liked coming to this garden before she left. However, there was still that lingering sense of a whisper, the way gran would every time she wanted her to come home at her expense until she grew old enough to warrant a trust from her to make her stop doing it.
Shaking off the thoughts, she began to walk down the path by the flowers, her steps slowing down only when she realized she wasn't alone. A man was there, and on closer observation, she realized she recognized who she was looking at. The Lord who had tended to her on arrival! Instinctively, she smiled, he had been generous to her and treated her kindly as well as made sure of her comfort.
"Lord Hargreaves." She greeted, nodding her head politely. "Fancy seeing you here."
When he had finally been addressed, his stare left the large blossoming tree and turned to the voice he had heard. Yes, he knew well enough that she would, indeed, address him, and, as per his preparation, his blankly placid stare turned into an equally calm, mature smile. She seemed not to have any memory of any cruelty, and all the better that she hadn't. While fingers idly traced the golden chain at his waistcoat, he shifted about in the seat, soon crossing his legs a touch.
"Ah, Miss Yamamura," he started, keeping a close watch upon her before taking the initiative in looking away. If he kept a hard stare upon her, well, surely she would feel uncomfortable. That wasn't the done thing in such an instance. "I trust you are feeling much better now, yes?" Again, he looked to her, an eye straying to watch the ankle that had been injured prior. "Healing properly and such, hmn?"
For the very reason that he looked away, or showed himself to be doing so, Megumi felt that her previous fear of this man somewhat disintegrate. Of course he wouldn't harm her... right? Surely a gentleman who knew his boundaries would make sure to be proper with a lady, and as she understood, he wasn't from present time, which made this even more likely. Of course, some incredibly twisted people came from that time, but still.
When he indicated her foot, she glanced down before nodding with a smile. "Your aid helped greatly and I am a healer myself, it wasn't difficult to settle things back." she told him. Walking ahead calmly, she stopped a short distance away from him and grinned a little. "I apologise if I was intruding. I never got to thank you for your hospitality that time. I never expected to land back here of all places!" she laughed softly, moving her hands behind her back.
"It honestly was no trouble at all, I assure you," he replied, his matured smile curving a bit more as he again looked to her graciously. "As such, you've no need to feel as though you've intruded." Even if it were such an intrusion, Alexis thought to himself, it was an intrusion negated by such serendipity that it hardly played a prominent role. He felt the glass vial press against him as he inhaled a touch of the light breeze. Eyes again strayed from Megumi to sweep the surroundings in a patient, surveying manner. "After all, madam, you were our guest," he added formally, bowing his head to her in a strangely servile manner.
It seemed some of the irises were in bloom, he idly noted before once more tossing a congenial look to Megumi. Had her hair been up in a proper adult manner, well, he wondered at the similarities that might or mightn't emerge. Of course, he had speculated upon such before, and it was hardly the time or place to do so now. "Ah, madam, I've been so rude as not to invite you to take a seat. My apologies," he suddenly stated in an effort to break the mild silence with a look of apology. "Please, do take a seat, if you would prefer."
The only discomfort that she would really feel in this entire situation may as well just be the fact that he treated her so formally, the way Gran's guests would. For them, she would become a perfect daughter of an established household, also guided by the pulls of strings she marionetted over her, until she learned how to break them. At that time, she had cut her hair out of rebellion, which had warned her grandmother against further abuse. After all, she didn't want her to run away back then...
Wondering about the thoughts coming into her mind, Megumi shook her head politely, smiling at the man again. "Oh, no. I merely came down here for a stroll. It's getting late, so I had best be on my way home." she told him with a friendly smile. "Though I did wish to extend an invitation to lunch sometime!" she chuckled a little at her own words, a light blush touching her cheeks. "As a gesture of thanks. I'm afraid I'm not equipped with servants here, but I'm certain I can do a good job!" she figured since he was here, she may as well make the invite. It wasn't as though she was to run into him more often than necessary.
An indulgent smile crossed his expression once he had received a rather informal invitation. It was interesting, in a way, how she seemed rather genial to him, although such a courtesy he had extended, perhaps, hadn't merited such kindness. However, her memory seemed erased of any sort of blemishes upon his character, so it seemed likely that it was a natural extension. Either way, it earned her a decadently gentle smile as he rose to his feet. If the lady wished to be on her feet, he would have been rude as not to follow suit.
"Madam, I would accept, had I not known you were planning to act as a maid of all works for yourself and your guest," he replied with the tone of a refined gentleman. A brow lifted in an ironic sort of humour, he stared to her hand as he took hold upon it. "Your hands," he muttered while observing them, "are hardly befitting to strenuous activity." Giving a chaste kiss to the back of her hand, he then let go and gazed at her with the same ironic smile. "I feel terrible at declining such an offer, however, and I only hope it hasn't offended you."
Oh if only he knew. It wasn't as though she hadn't prepared things for groups before, once she'd moved out to live with Axl. Then again, it wasn't as though she hadn't prepared things for him, and Lord knew he was such a ravenous eater. However, when he took her hand, she blinked, confused by the triggered sense of familiarity, and when he spoke, she certainly felt a warm sensation run over her arm and into her cheeks, which burned a pretty deep crimson now.
Realizing he was still speaking to her once she'd lowered her hand, she combated her own embarrassment with a light laugh and a shake of her head. "I really don't mind, but if that's how you feel..." She nodded once, then gestured with a hand. "I still feel terrible for not being able to repay you, but I wouldn't want you uncomfortable." Politeness, of course, it was all about politeness. "So please, if there's anything I can do, let me know. I appreciate that you looked after me, even though I was a complete stranger to you."
It was an almost endearing thing, how women tended to blush at such formalities. Alexis regarded it with a small chuckle, raising a hand to his chin in a sort of mockery of deep, pensive thought. "Consider the balance null and void, madam, between myself and you," he replied smoothly, calmly looking now to the blossoming irises he had seen prior. "Of course, I've no need to count the score betwixt you and I, have I?" Coolly, he gazed at the girl from the corner of his eye. Such an eagerness to please, really, and he wondered if it would at all be fitting to turn it about.
Then again, he had compelling reasons to do so. All for the greater good, wasn't it?
A more brilliant cousin of his pensive smile came forth while he turned to face her completely now. "Although, my dominion is open for guests, should you wish to take advantage," he continued, taking the time to pull out that golden pocketwatch once more. "At your earliest convenience, of course - I shan't intrude if you've other plans for an afternoon tea," he added, looking from the watch to her with a kindly smile.
His gaze was almost fatherly, and she had to wonder. Though she hadn't seen any sort of family portraits or anything similar in his living quarters during the time that she was there, she wondered if this man was indeed, a parent. Thinking it too rude to ask him directly, she decided to hold that thought for a later time, and she only chuckled when he mentioned afternoon tea. It appeared that English traditions hadn't changed much within the last hundred years or so.
"It would be improper not to offer, at least..." she commented to him, in reference to the balance of what they owed each other. Then, at the mention of tea, she only smiled brightly up at him and shrugged a shoulder. "I wouldn't want to impose, Lord Hargreaves." she replied politely. "Though it is rather nice to see someone enjoy the fine side of having a proper tea. I never could get Axl to settle for a bit just for..." she trailed off, moving a hand to her mouth in embarrassment. "Ah, sorry about that.." she apologised, grinning sheepishly now. "That's something better suited for ladies to speak about, than to a gentleman." Of course, she was hinting complaints about their 'partners' so to speak, and looked away for a bit, observing the irises the man had been looking at prior.
"Though I would like to treat you to tea sometime too! It simply isn't done, if you don't accept at least that." she added as she turned around to look back at him, with a hint of a pout.
The watch cover was certainly getting a good deal of abuse, and at such a thought, he reminded himself to set it with perhaps a touch of oil to the hinge. It snapped open again, and the hands indicated a quarter past three. Considerably close, he thought as he once more pocketed the small watch and turned his gaze once more to Megumi with a faint smile. "I fear you have me there, madam," he responded, laughing briefly as he took a step forward. "It would be rather unbecoming of me to decline your offer." Of course, with such a tone in his voice, he seemed as though he hadn't even dreamed of turning it down to begin with.
"It would also be a touch forward to extend an invitation to afternoon tea on such short notice as now, would it?" he asked. "Because, at last check, it is a quarter past, and I insist upon taking tea." And if he could at all twist such a situation about, he had a good opportunity to do so. "And I do so hate spending it alone, as though I were a declining old man," he added almost jauntily, as though he were poking fun at himself.
Now he had her on the spot, and she wasn't exactly blind to the suggestion of a minor guilt trip. Of course, there wasn't anyone to give any negative suggestions to, were she to refuse even now, it wasn't like this was their country in the first place, but perhaps some deeply rooted teachings of politeness stood stronger than the rest. He did seem to have an unmerciful fondness for that watch of his, and she ended up laughing a little too, a hand covering her mouth at the thought of him being a declining old man. Older, yes... but he didn't appear to be that old at all.
If anything, he was... well. Handsome was one word that came to mind, and she went with it. Perhaps his demeanour just added to it. She knew many a girl who would swoon for such attention over themselves, and her, despite being spoken for, already felt flattered by him. It was almost scandalous, but she knew how deeply her own feelings ran. She had nothing to fear- if anything, she worried for Axl, so long distanced from her.
"A good tea is never enjoyable if spent alone." she commented lightly, and finally, making her decision, she smiled up at him. "Put that way, you make it very difficult to refuse, Lord Hargreaves."
The smile was a clear indicator - how one could miss it, Alexis had to wonder as he saw it. It had worked, the indirect manipulation, and quite brilliantly, as he had not truly been called out on it. The invitation had met with glowing approval, and it only seemed natural that he return the favour with a patient smile of his own. After all, the lady was to be kept at ease, lest suspicions begin to enter the mind.
"I beg pardon if I've backed you into a corner," he began as a mild disclaimer, just in case he had to explain himself. "But if you are accepting, then I perhaps should not say anything to change your mind." His arm extended to her, rather out of a very ingrained habit. He had reasons for wanting to keep up such a gentile facade with this girl, and many more than what seemed upon the surface. Discreetly, his other hand checked the breastpocket again as he straightened out the lapel of his jacket, and his placid look of anticipation stared down to Megumi, as though the answer was all he was waiting for. "Then shall we, madam?"
He certainly had backed her into a corner, and the worst part was him mentioning it. It made it all the more difficult to refuse, but then she wasn't going to. It wasn't as though she had something extraordinary planned for the evening. However, when he offered her his arm, she was surprised, just mildly by the gentlemanly attitude, and not wanting to be any more rude than she might have seemed by refusing him the first time around, she slipped her hand through the crook of his arm, and rest her other hand against his forearm, used to this sort of behavior by many of the social class she came from.
"Please lead the way, Lord Hargreaves." she told him with a small smile. A little tea wouldn't hurt.
Even though it hardly seemed as though this girl was of the same time period - the clothing and sometimes that speech gave it away - it seemed as though politesse was inherent within the English tradition, and that development was quite a pleasing one. Megumi holding to his right arm certainly proved such, and he shot her a pleasant smile, as warm and bright as the summer day about them, before staring forward and continuing on. Mild chit-chat kept the atmosphere alive and well as he escorted her to the flat, and once they arrived at the door, they were greeted by the blonde maid Alicia as she took his hat and jacket obediently.
"I trust you're still preparing the tea?" he asked after her once the formalities were out of the way, and she responded with a brief "yes sir" before ducking off into a corridor. Once that had been out of the way, he gestured to the sofa and waited for Megumi to take a seat. "You won't mind at all if it is darjeeling for the afternoon, I hope?" he inquired politely.
As she entered, she was suddenly hit with a sense of deja-vu, knowing that she was brought in here before was one thing, but there was just something striking her as ominous in accepting tea, especially considering the fact that Alexis was insisting so strongly on it. Of course, she understood it as a formality, he was only being polite, but there was something...
No, she was probably just being paranoid for some reason.
But as she turned to look at the living room, taken by the decor for a bit, she glanced over at Alexis before shaking her head. "That sounds lovely, sir." she replied, politely, before slowly slipping away. She didn't take a seat immediately, her attention going to her surroundings, a small smile appearing on her lips. "Heh... this feels like stepping into a history book." Even though a lot of things were quite modern in comparison, it was obvious that there had been selective decoration chosen for this flat. "You have good taste, Lord Hargreaves."
For some odd reason, Alicia had taken to peering out from the kitchen door to look questioningly at her lord, and, while she did so, Alexis shot her a quick cool look as she once more ducked behind the door. He knew quite well what that inquiry was even without her speaking - no, the tea would be untouched by anything but pure water, and he had made it clear with his stare. Clearing his throat, he turned his attentions to Megumi once more, watching as she surveyed the furnishings about the parlour. They hadn't been exactly what he was used to, but for the most part, it had sufficed. "I fear it is not quite up to par, madam, but it is the best one can do for the time being," he humbly replied.
When he thought back on the history book comment she had made, he smiled oddly at it. Odd to think of it as history, but the idea of persons from future times also lingering here had desensitised him, in a way, to the oddity of the situation. "I must admit, though, it does seem a touch bare," he continued as he took a seat by the unlit fireplace. He still kept a steady gaze upon her at every move, the cunning seemingly properly disguised by a calm, pleasant mien about him. With such a natural curiosity, he had to wonder....
If he was a Lord, she expecting nothing but a remark like that. Of course those of rich environments would find this lacking to what they were used to, but it certainly wasn't to her. If only because two years of her life were spent living in the East End, where Axl stayed... of course, she often decorated his place and made it cozy and he felt bad that she was living there when she came from such a rich background, but it didn't matter to her as long as he was there. Wasn't that saying something like having true wealth in a loved one's company anyway?
She continued to look around until he sat down, and she paused when he spoke, turning to look over her shoulder. She had a bit of a girlishness to her, and it showed in the easy way she kept herself, her manner of talking and the sort of shy curiosity she held. Now that the paranoia had mostly passed, she felt a little more at ease and took a seat to the couch close by, looking at him with questioning.
"Forgive me if this may seem forward, but do you have family here?" she asked, smoothing her dress down and smiling a bit. "I apologize for assuming," she added quickly. "I just didn't see anyone else but your guards around and I wondered..."
A somber look crossed his expression when she asked him of family. Family, indeed... he mentally scoffed at the thought as the image of green-gold eyes flashed within. The insolent boy.... Quickly, though, he adapted his look into a wry sort of smile, almost seeming a touch nostalgic while he leaned back into the upholstery of that winged armchair. "I've a son, yes, who resides here," he replied with a short nod. "Though it seems I am an estranged father of the sort." Estranged, if it meant misplaced loathing, was quite applicable. Alexis his a small ironic smile behind interlaced hands as he propped elbows upon the arms of the chair.
If he knew his son, indeed, there was a plot boiling behind those gold-tinted eyes already.
Once more, though, in an attempt to divert his thoughts from dwelling upon such unpleasantries, he found his eyes staring from over the rims of his glasses to skim over the girl's figure. Indeed, a light, pleasing figure, and the face to match it. "And of you, madam? If you pardon my curiosity," he returned. "I remember you mentioning friends here, but surely that cannot be all...?"
So she had been right in her assumption, and to hear that he had family made her smile a bit, however, to hear that he was estranged from his son made her expression become one of concern. How sad... as a mother herself, she was already so deeply attached to her daughter of three years that to think of being separated from her made her completely saddened. Not wanting to think of it so, she looked apologetic, a hand moving to her mouth in worry and she whispered, "Oh... I'm sorry to hear that, sir." However, she took the change of subject with a small smile appearing on her lips. Then, leaning back in her seat, she gave him a nod.
"I do have friends here, but back home, I have a daughter. She just turned three years of age last month, actually!" she told him, a hint of pride in her voice. Saya really was a lovely child, and she blushed a little, looking down for a bit, before looking back up, slightly worried.
"I do hope she's alright... I didn't even get to see her before I left."
That was a strange revelation, and yet, with this girl, it hardly registered much shock to Alexis whe he heard of a daughter. He shot her an apologetic smile, now lowering those hands to let them rest upon the arms of the chair in which he sat. "Terribly sorry to hear that, madam," he replied politely. "A child without her mother is in sorry shape, indeed - but certainly, your daughter is perfectly safe?" And even he was mildly curious... the mention of a daughter seemed to bring up even more questions for him to ask - perhaps personal, but, hopefully, he could remedy whatever rudeness he might unleash with more niceties. That tactic seemed to work well enough upon Megumi.
"And if I am infringing upon any privacy, do let me know - however, I am curious...," he began once more after a brief silence. "You are married, I am assuming?" he interrogated, a hand at his chin in contemplation. If she were married, he certainly wondered as to how the ethics of her world worked toward such an end. It mattered little, seemingly, so long as public knowledge of such an affair did not exist or was brought to attention in polite society. Which now made him even more curious about such social differences, if there were any, that remained.
The mention of being married did make her cheeks color considerably more than they were formerly. While it was true that Axl and her had lived together for a long time once she was old enough, she had been raised in the kind of society where she knew for a fact that having a child out of wedlock was not only frowned upon, but it often made the females the target of all the brutal accusation, in comparison to the man. Regardless, she wasn't embarrassed about it- she knew Axl loved her, and was still looking for her.
And that made it alright, really.
"No, Lord Hargreaves. I'm not married." she kept her gaze turned away, moving her hands to her lap. "Her father and I have been together since we were younger, but..." she knew she shouldn't be getting emotional, but she couldn't help but move her hand under her mouth, tension lining her brow. "We were opposed, and separated... until we met here again.. but I do not know where he is anymore. It's been two years, since I've last seen him." she inhaled softly, not able to raise her gaze.
"I... understand if this revelation... bothers you, Lord Hargreaves. It isn't exactly of a proper nature." she laughed weakly, suddenly feeling very estranged herself now.
A most interesting development, indeed. For what seemed hours, he kept a contemplative stare upon Megumi, as though he were properly calculating the correct response to such an announcement. A child out of wedlock... a bastard child. And he himself surely would know. Of course, there were such measures as to keep whatever shame would come of it from the public eye, and he had utilised every one of them. It hardly mattered what business was conducted within the household, really. Rather indulgent, so Alexis had thought.
After a while, he exhaled a measured breath as a brow lifted. "Proper or no, if such things are not mentioned in the public eye, certain exceptions can be made," he replied with a cautious voice, catching her eye with his serious emerald stare. "I do hope you understand, madam, that I shall make such an exception for you under the stated circumstances." At those words a sober smile curved his lips, as though he signaled that they still were on good terms.
She blinked, twice rather, having not expected to hear such a thing at all. She knew that the man was definitely a century older, and she knew, or at least understood that thoughts from that time were a lot more critical where it came to things like this. So it was almost pleasant... almost, to have him say such a thing, if the word exception wasn't used.
Still, it was better than nothing. The man had been kind to her, so she didn't want to fall out with him over something that obviously had no bearing on his own personal life, save for the fact that he was associating with her. And to many others, it didn't matter anyway.
"I thank you, Lord Hargreaves... but you have me a little confused. An exception?" she asked, tilting her head to a side.
"Yes, an exception," he responded, cocking his head slightly as he kept a fixated gaze upon Megumi. "You see, once in a certain station, certain benefits come of it." The benefits, of course, Alexis knew far too well - a reward for good behaviour, of sorts. That was how it went in society, and the inverse was just as true as the standard. Again, his look turned a more serious shade as he cleared his throat. "And knowing certain persons, madam, also merit such benefits."
He smiled once more, this time taking to rising from his seat and crossing to the window. "Do you understand, Miss Yamamura?" he asked, looking over his shoulder as he stood near the draperies. "What I offer are certain benefits, and I shall extend them forward, should you accept." He knew precisely what he was doing - digging a hole even deeper to ensnare someone in debt was nothing new to him or to the society in which he operated. Once more, he faced the window, overlooking the scenery of the city and counting the seconds it would take for her to answer.
Megumi was mildly startled by this sort of offer coming from Alexis. Suddenly feeling as though she probably should have lied about her daughter, she moved a hand behind her and turned to look at Alexis. It wasn't that she was embarrassed about having Saya, but more for the fact that she certainly owed Alexis for helping her, and now she wasn't quite sure about what she was being expected to do.
Slowly standing up, Megumi moved a hand to her chest, attempting to fight off her own unease, and tried to assure herself that all would be well. He certainly wouldn't be asking for something she couldn't or wouldn't give, would he? He barely knew her, and then...
"I don't understand why you would need to offer such a thing, Lord Hargreaves." She then replied, standing straight and lowering her hand. She kept a confident front, watching his back. "Things are fine as they are."
She had seen it. Alexis had almost been shocked by her ease at which she shoved the suggestion aside - but, so it seemed, the women of her upbringing were, perhaps, more vocal than what he had been accustomed to. In any event, the situation proved to be an interesting study. After a moment of contemplation, he turned slightly to her, smiling as gently as he could muster while the sunlight filtered in through the window behind him. "I see. Then the offer is unnecessary, correct?" he asked, just as casually dismissing it as he brushed past her to resume his seat in the armchair.
"I meant no disrespect, madam, if that is the reason," he continued, setting once more into the chair and looking up to her with a calm, kindly expression. "A mother such as yourself should be proud of your daughter. After all-" he paused, shooting the small table at his side a sly glance, registering the poisonous green colour of the tome that rested there before looking again to his guest - "the daughter typically follows the lead of the mother."
That made her stiffen in place, the words feeling like a jab to her heart. Was he actually saying what she was hearing? It felt like some strange episode of Twilight Zone where things just turned upside down and switched into a reality that no one had any understanding of. Still standing, she looked at Alexis with a look that was a combination of a confused, and mildly offended one. But the embarrassed blush on her face grew and she covered her mouth with a hand, immediately turning around so that her back was to him.
"What are you trying to imply, Lord Hargreaves?" her voice was firm despite how badly she could feel herself chilling at the suggestion. "What good could you do for my daughter's future?"
"I certainly cannot do any good to your daughter, madam, considering that she isn't here, correct?" he replied swiftly, using a gentle tone as though to coax her back into a calmer state. She certainly had been provoked by his suggestions, which was, in itself, an interesting turn of events and a fascinating case study. It seemed that the differences in women through whatever centuries were to come only manifested on the surface, for the most part. Nodding his head slightly in acknowledgement of this observation, he kept a charming and genteel smile while still observing the girl as she turned his back to him.
"But, then again, one hardly needs to provide any services to such a fetching young lady as yourself." He chuckled a bit to himself and shifted slightly in the armchair. "Surely a girl with such a cultured background and beauty as you hardly needs charity," Alexis smoothly added, patiently waiting for her either to turn about or sit down once more. Now he was curious as to what effect this would produce, if any at all.
Just that suggestion had her on her guard, considering the kind of things her own grandmother would say about her relationship with Axl. She was somewhat startled at the way he adressed her, so familiarly and yet so gently that she felt awkward for having jumped to conclusions. Moving a hand to the side of her face, she touched it, feeling the heat under her fingers which seemed colder than normal, and she composed herself, before lowering her head.
"I hope you will forgive my outburst, Lord Hargreaves..." she stated calmly. "But I have to be wary of such... offers." She tried to be as gentle as she could where it came to her wording, she'd surprised Axl often by picking up on East End slang and shoving it in the faces of people who bothered her. There was that one classic time with her gran, too....
She shook her head, slowly turning around, a wary smile on her face as she moved her arms in front of her, folding over her chest. A defensive position to take, where it came to body language. "A lady of my standing was also not expected to have a child out of wedlock. But love can be a strange force." she shook her head. "I am not ashamed of my daughter. But to compare her to me... " her look became somewhat saddened. "My mistakes must never be reflected on her."
It was interesting how such a series of comments as he had made quelled whatever fire he had incited within her. Mentally, he took notes, all the while still holding that beguiling smile to his face, should she be met with any suspicions at any moment. She already was on the defensive, as those arms had clearly indicated. But if he played his hand correctly, there would be no more ill ease within her. "You've honestly no need to apologise, madam," he answered her calmly, lifting a brow at the saddened expression upon her face as though to challenge it.
"I perhaps should have made myself clearer in my observations," Alexis continued on, once more rising to his feet a few metres before Megumi. He kept his distance, but it seemed all for naught when he spoke once more in that warm, casual tone. " What I had meant was that your daughter shall certainly take on your strengths. I do beg pardon for the misinterpretation," he added with a short, respectful bow, rising to his full height with a soothing smile upon his face. Hopefully, none of that effort went to waste.
Perhaps it was like preying on someone when they were emotionally weak, and for Megumi, the thought of her daughter having to go through any of what she had to, in her own riskier years. And while she suspected this thoroughly, emotions were a dangerous thing. It was why her grandmother had kept her marionetted for the longest time, just so she wouldn't go off with anyone else. But now, after her own rebellion, she knew the consequences of her own actions... and the result was sitting back home, wondering where her mother was.
However, when Alexis approached, she found herself startled by his words, an embarrassed blush appearing on her cheeks and she moved her hands to the corners of her mouth, blinking in surprise. She'd certainly made the mood awkward, hadn't she?
"Oh... I..." she looked flustered, before quickly bowing her head, moving her hands in front of her, keeping her eyes lowered, as if unable to face him. "I'm sorry... it was awfully presumptuous of me to... " she winced a little. "Well fancy that, I've let my old fears get the better of me." she added wryly, looking awkwardly to a side, before looking back up at Alexis with an apologetic gaze. "Forgive me... after hearing so much negativity, it was... good gracious, I feel awful now."
It had worked efficiently, and even though he had that sense of triumph lurking underneath the surface, he kept it there, merely allowing his expression to remain neutrally sympathetic as he remained where he was. Interesting how well he could fluster her - more notes to file away within the recesses of his mind. "No need, as I said, madam," he repeated, nodding his head this time as though to reinforce the sentiment. "The misunderstanding was my fault entirely, after all. I merely can beg your forgiveness for such an error."
He chuckled to himself, retiring once more to the armchair with a small sigh. "I suppose in my old age I must be losing my grasp upon the language," he joked, pausing once he heard a small clatter of silver from the corridor. "Ah, seems Alicia is right on time," he remarked just as the blonde rolled in the tea cart and promptly set about to preparing the tea for consumption. "Do you take sugar with your tea, madam?" Alexis asked, gesturing to the blonde maid, who eagerly paused, looking up from pouring the warm tea into two cups.
Another sense of deja vu, she didn't understand why, filled her head as she looked upon the tea set on the cart, and she paused, watching Alicia, as though trying to place something in her face, although she remembered her clearly, but there was...
Maybe she was overreacting, and once more, she seated herself and requested three teaspoons of sugar, with some milk, and a whispered, "Thank you." She never quite developed a taste for tea that was too strong, and waited until Alicia had served the tea to Alexis and her, and left the cart there, before she looked down on it. Then, oddly, something came to mind and she smiled to herself, carefully sipping the tea to make sure it met her taste, before setting it back down on the saucer and looking up at Alexis.
"They say how one takes their tea is an indicator of one's personality." she seemed calmer now. "Did you know that, Lord Hargreaves?"
After taking one small sip of the tea, he again set it down upon the saucer with a satisfied look as he examined it quickly. It hardly needed anything added to it, and he had been glad to have broken Alicia of the bad habit of adding unnecessary condiments. Merely one lump, no more, no less - just as he had ordered time and time again. When Alexis was addressed once more, he looked up to the other with a raised brow. "I've heard of such, but rarely have I heard an explanation," he replied, leaning forward with an intrigued smile now upon his face.
It had merely been ladies' gossip he had overheard from countless times the ladies descended the stairs after an allocation of time for a gentlemanly smoke in the parlour. How curious that such a trivial thing had been passed down. "I assume you know what is indicated by my own preference, then?" he prompted, raising the saucer and cup slightly in demonstration.
She found herself smiling, and she shook her head. "Perhaps, but those are usually based on assumptions." She set her own teacup and saucer down on the table before her, combing her hair over her shoulder, before she turned to look at Alexis with an amused look.
"The assumption that I can make from the way you take your tea, strong, one lump of sugar, according to George Orwell, means that you are ready to endure bitterness by sweetening it a touch. Although the rule is to always have tea without sugar, because once sugar is added to tea, you're merely having sugar in warm water, I think it's interesting to see that you wish to taste the true taste of your tea while adding a pleasantness to it..." she paused, chuckling a little and speaking as though to the cup of tea in front of her. "Lord Hargreaves is a very direct person, who usually aims to get what he wants even if he has to lower himself a little to a sweetness that he shouldn't necessarily be using, with his authority, to gain it."
A light twinkle of mirth shone in her blue eyes as she smiled at him. "You're a man of business. I'm not surprised, really." tilting her head to a side, she smiled at him, before giggling under a hand. "I'm not wrong, am I?"
Interesting how that ladies' gossip maintained its triviality. However, it hardly surprised Alexis that it had such a nature - most ladies' gossip was rather trivial, mostly unconfirmed rumours and old wives' tales, and none of which was usually true. But there was little sense in speaking the truth about such things when such a delicate creature's emotions were in peril. "A man of business, is that it?" he echoed with an amused lilt to his voice before taking one more small sip.
Although, in retrospect, perhaps he should have ordered the sugar reduced by half.
Once the tea was downed, he shot a bemused smile to Megumi as he leaned back once more into the upholstery. "A lady's instincts are hardly wrong, are they, madam?" he replied in a slightly perpedantic answer. "I believe you've hit the nail right upon the head - quite good, if I may say so." And once more, he took another swill of tea, turning then to look through the window once more. Even with the passage of time, it seemed a woman's sensibilities remained ever as fragile.
Whether or whether not she was right was left for the ones who really knew him to know. As she reached out to pick up her own teacup, she stopped her own hand, before looking at the tea for a while. Then, she smiled and shook her head, picking the cup up by the saucer. It had been an awkward instance of her body commanding her to stop and be careful about what she consumed in this place, and at Alexis' acknowledgement, she looked up at him with a shake of her head.
"I'm surprised. I wouldn't have thought a playful little assumption like that would hold much water with a man such as yourself, Lord Hargreaves." She wasn't a fool by nature, a dreamer, perhaps, but her deduction hadn't been made on tea-drinking alone. But generally, most men of the time period she was assuming Alexis from were not only dominant males, but also very chauvinistic. And part of it showed in the 'offer' he might have been making earlier.
"A lady's instincts can be destructive at times." she said it easily, but there was a hint of truth in it. After all, some feelings could become so destructive that they'd personify animosity to the bone, like she'd done. Drinking some more tea, she reclined in her seat, looking down at her cup. "Ah, but that is foolish talk, really." she chuckled, then looked at Alexis again. "If, however, these assumptions were to be true, then according to my own tea drinking taste, I'm going to inherit the Queen's title." she joked. "Royalty, after all, never sees the harshness of business. Therefore, such a silky taste might be a bit of a luxury" she added with a light laugh. "This is good tea, sir."
It was curiously amusing to watch Megumi carry on as she had so far - a kind of blessing, considering the plans he had involving the girl. Even so, Alexis knew how to keep up appearances and maintain a pleasing face to the public... it proved, so far, to be a valuable skill in handling this young lady. Still with such a graciously hospitable look, he kept his stare upon Megumi as he took a drink of his own tea - now half-empty. "Then I suppose you're far more a lady than you believed, madam," he replied in a cheerful voice, taking the opportunity to once more skim over her figure with a quick glance. Pleasing, indeed.
"I should commend Alicia upon her skills - she's quite outdone herself," he remarked, taking another swill of tea. It was exceptionally good, as far as the blonde maid's skill with tea. Almost as though on cue, her head popped back out from the kitchen, only to swiftly duck back in as he looked up to her with a calmly challenging stare. "Would you care for a scone, perhaps?" He gestured to the cart, still laden with a few of them, some preserves, and some clotted cream. "You're more than welcome to them, should you want any," he added, looking up from the tea cup's rim to her with a gentle smile.
Unfortunately unaware for her own sake, Megumi continued to have some of her own tea until she was nearly done, merely listening to him and his words, making her own judgments in her mind. He was strangely amicable, making things seem so welcome for her, and it was warming to know that he was at all. However, it was just odd to see a man such as himself, with the personality she was observing merely from his own talk and body language, be as accepting as he was.
At the request of having more, Megumi shook her head once and set her teacup down, gesturing with a hand. "Oh, thank you, but I couldn't. You've been so kind already, and it's getting late." It wasn't as though anyone was waiting for her, but she had friends she could make an excuse of. Besides, it was already moving towards evening, and once she downed the last of her tea, she set the cup and saucer on the table again, leaning back in her seat with a smile towards him. "I wouldn't want to impose on any other plans you have for the evening and I favor sweets enough to need to restrain myself." she chuckled a little.
"If anything, madam, I feel I may be more an imposition to you than you upon myself," he replied with a calm voice after taking the last drink from his own cup before setting it aside. A personable lady, if not a little too apologetic and withdrawn. But, then again, it was a perfectly natural trait in women to be on the overly cautious side in social situations, and he hardly blamed such upon them. Nature took its course, as simple as that. He shrugged slightly at the thought, still remaining in his seat with an intense look centred upon her.
It wasn't as though he was challenging her to leave - no, he had plenty of time to get to his bidding with her. But it would seem a touch off if, say, he displayed such cool ease at the opportunity of her departure. Although laissez-faire, his expression seemed likewise encouraging her to remain for even just a few more minutes. "Honestly, madam, it is no imposition if you are within my company, and I do so dislike you thinking otherwise."
"It's not..." she felt awkward, but she felt it was best not to overstay her welcome. Unable to form a response then, she began to lift herself off the couch, smoothing her skirts down with her hands and turning to him, she smiled with a short bow of her head. "It's not like that at all, sir. I would love to meet with you some other time. After all, we do have our tea date to keep." she added, hoping for that to work as an assurance, even if it was just being said politely, for him to not be offended at her turning down his request, even though she knew he was just being polite too.
Raising her head, she looked at him with a small smile. "You've been very kind to me ever since I've arrived here again. Thank you, Lord Hargreaves." she added, a smile on her lips. "In a city like this, I'm just glad there are people still willing to help others." Again, there was a grain of standard politeness in her statement, she needed to make sure he wasn't uncomfortable at her leaving. She stood there, waiting for him to stand, since she knew it would be rude for her to just walk out.
She stood there, and Alexis knew exactly what he was expected to do. It was impolite, truly, to allow a guest to leave while remaining seated, and even more so for a lady. It was almost certain that Megumi herself knew of such a nicety, and even though he had a compelling desire to progress even further with his work upon her, he also knew that finesse was a tool that, when used well, would ensure greater results that stuck. Sighing a bit to himself, almost in disappointment, he shot her a mildly rueful smile and thus pushed himself upward from the chair.
"You are certainly more than welcome any time you wish to return," he started as he rose to stand at his full height once more. "I merely hope the period of time in between visits will not be unnecessarily long." Keeping an at-ease smile upon his face, he once more took hold of her hand, observing it a touch longer than perhaps the situation merited before placing a polite kiss upon the back of her hand. If, of course, one acted a proper gentleman... if such advances were made with a subtle hand, more impact resulted. Less was more, after all.
She wasn't used to such polite shows of chivalry, and once again, his gesture mildly confused her. And as it expectedly would, she could feel her cheeks burn at the action, her fingers almost instinctively tightening together at his hold, and on realising she was doing that, she drew her hand back, moving it against her chest slowly as though telling herself to ease her racing heartbeat, and then lowered it, taking care not to make it too obvious how shy his action had gotten her. Now that the formality was over, she bowed her head again. "Thank you for having me over today!"
Then, adding as an afterthought, she looked up and smiled at him. "If I am not occupied with any of my other work here, I will visit you again, if you do the same, Lord Hargreaves. It wouldn't be done if I kept intruding here!" Stepping back, she then added, "I'll show myself out, do not trouble yourself, sir." as though to tell him to sit back down. She'd already made things awkward this evening with her silly misconception and didn't want to trouble him any more.
Yes, he had felt those contractions about his own hand, and it was hardly a mystery what lie behind it all. When he looked up from his show of politesse, Alexis could see a slight tinge of rosy pink at her cheek - but he said nothing of it once he let go of her hand. It would certainly give her something to think over, if nothing else. His head bowed to her slightly when she had finished speaking, and he crossed the room at her suggestion of showing herself out. Once he was by the draperies, though, he turned about to smile at her once more before she left.
He knew well now that he had, perhaps, abused whatever proximity he had had with Megumi, but the revelation wasn't coloured at all by any remorse. Why would he show any remorse for something he had planned all along, anyway? "Have a good evening, then, Miss Yamamura," he called to her from across the room, still keeping that hostly look fixed upon her. And she would be back, too. He knew too well.
As she was retreating, she paused when he called to her and turned to look over her shoulder. Pausing to take in his appearance, she stopped in the doorway and for the briefest moment, believed she saw someone else. It was an illusion and perhaps the evening falling was doing it, but... her eyes narrowed briefly. Once she blinked, it was gone, but she was certain, on his left shoulder...
There was a woman there. And she had him... held. She found herself thinking. But thinking it further as another illusion (she'd needed to get over those drugs after all), she shook her head and then called, "Good evening to you, Lord Hargreaves." And turned to leave.
She never realised it, but the entire time, she held her hand over where he'd kissed it, until she had to move it to lift her skirt once Alicia let her out.
No wonder the warmth was suddenly slapped with a chill once she stepped back into the open...