log; complete

[maitre-de-carte.livejournal.com]

when; 31 August, afternoon.
rating; PG.
characters; Alexis Hargreaves (maitre_de_carte), Megumi Yamamura (pinkenglishrose).
summary; One has to maintain social obligations and appearances - and a lord certainly isn't exempt.
log;


"I must commend you upon your skills, miss...."

The afternoon sunlight streamed in through the windows, shining upon the now barely empty saucers and plates that littered the dining table between them both. There were only crumbs that remained of the bread, and what little had been left of the pasta she had served stayed upon the plates. The food hadn't been exactly what he had expected - after all, Italian food seemed more of a dinner than a luncheon - but nonetheless it had been surprisingly good. As much as he had kept in line with manners, he found that he had eaten a good portion of what he had been given, and Alexis contently dabbed at the corners of his mouth with the napkin provided him. "Your cooking is superb, if I may say so," he added, smiling politely to his host.

She had taken the liberty of inviting him for an afternoon luncheon, and with the offer as tempting as it had been, he had found it hard to refuse. Particularly since it coincided well enough with his plans for Megumi. He eyed her over the glass of water he had requested... and she was beginning to come in handy, indeed, even though he had yet to use her to her full potential. "This was Italian, yes?" he asked casually, taking a small sip of the icy water. "Either way, very good."


Men were always such voracious eaters, and this had shown no less in the Lord's actions once he'd begun to eat. She'd started work early in the day, showering, preparing, making the place presentable and herself as well. She was dealing with nobility and she couldn't exactly do a half-assed job- though she wouldn't have been half-assed with anyone else. Cooro stayed with her, but was usually out during the day to play and such, so after cleaning his room, she'd finally given in and requested the household items themselves to assist her, which had been fun at the same time. She felt like something straight out of those cartoons Saya and at one point, Axl used to watch on TV, and it had been amusing in itself.

Taking a sip from her own water glass herself, she drank first, then dabbing her mouth with a napkin, she nodded once. "Correct. Or you could say, influenced." Her cheeks colored at the compliments, and she shook her head. "I didn't want to disappoint you, especially after all the help you've given me." She smiled a bit shyly and glanced over the table, just the sight of it was enough to tell her that her effort hadn't go to waste, there was barely anything left!

Smiling at that, she turned to look back at Alexis with a smile. "Admittedly, I only recently began to cook. When my gran was alive, I barely had to. The first few attempts were simply hilarious and poor Axl had to live through them." she raised a hand to comb back her hair, today she was dressed in a light lavender lunch dress, and her hair combed to a side to fall over her shoulder. Appearances had to be kept after all.

"I do hope you have room for tea." she added, with a hint of mirth in her eyes.


Disappointment was a little too easy at times, and especially with certain persons. However, so far, he had no such disappointments with Megumi, even if she had yet to do very much to properly aide him. But good things came to those who waited, and he made a note of it while observing her from across the dining table. As personable as he could be, Alexis shot her a pleased, almost flattering, smile as he set down the napkin he had used. "With such skill, miss, I might be inclined to say you are lying," he responded placidly as he shifted a bit in his seat. "Your talent almost belies your words." And he almost agreed with his own statement - but there certainly was no need in making that public.

Once he saw fit to rise, he did so, pushing the chair back in underneath the table. "I can only hope to see such craftsmanship within your tea," Alexis remarked as he crossed the length of the table to the seat Megumi herself occupied. He spoke as he offered to pull the chair out for his host - "But, of course, I believe it shall exceed my expectations." And he certainly hoped so... but then again, a lady didn't always have to persevere so when a maid just as well did the job.


She had to control a short giggle when he came to assist her, deciding not to protest and she moved her napkin to the table as she began to slide out and stand to the side. The day was pleasant and she had eaten in a rather ladylike manner, making sure not to have too much in a way that would seem inappropriate for a lady of her standing. Once Alexis had moved and settled in the seat, she motioned towards the sitting room and lounge, a spacious area for their ease, and waited for him to step ahead and smiled in amusement.

"Then I hope I do not disappoint there, at least!" she told him. Once they began to head out, she turned around to look at the dishes and the utensils, then made a head motion as though saying, "Off now!" only to have them all begin to move, quietly, levitating carefully off the table into the kitchen all in order.

"I hope you won't mind rose petal tea?" she asked, quickly turning her attention to Lord Hargreaves, though it was still possible for him to turn around and see the dishes flying off at this distance.


Alexis had to wonder briefly if, somehow, the girl's powers as a witch went so far as telepathy - but he stopped himself from such a silly thought once he reminded himself of the basic capabilities of witches. He simply chose to grace her with a thoroughly gentlemanly look of appreciation as he looked over to her. "Certainly not, madam - although I must confess I find it quite an honour," he replied, taking a seat in one of the armchairs Megumi had in the sitting room. And it seemed a good deal like an honourary edxtension of courtesy; one knew better than to waste good rose petal tea upon anyone less than an esteemed guest.

If his calculations had been correct, then it certainly seemed as though all was going according to plan.

"I should find it an honour, indeed, especially if it is served with your own hospitality," he continued with a small noise of content in his throat. Mentally, though, he was making a solid note of keeping his palate especially sensitive to any foreign substances in the tea. Even though she hardly seemed a candidate for such actions, one hardly ever could depend upon what everything appeared to be.


Lucky for him that she wasn't, the most he might get out of it would probably be a touch of natural honey to sweeten it, other than that... she wasn't like him and he was probably fortunate she never thought of putting anything else beside the product itself in her drinks. Once he'd seated himself, she smiled at him, and calmly seated herself on the couch adjacent to his so she could still move and look at him as well. An odd move, considering she'd just asked him to save space for tea, and she looked at him calmly.

"I happened to find a delicious blend earlier... now that the city requires its Citizens to earn their keep, I think I stocked up at a good time!" she laughed softly, then turned to look in the direction of the kitchen door, before looking thoughtful. "Hm, it should be ready... I did set it earlier..." Turning to Alexis, she smiled a bit. "Excuse me for just a moment." Standing up then, she walked over to where they'd left from, looking at the doorway, then gasped and quickly backed off, as a pretty silver tea cart strolled by itself carrying a tray of delicious confectionaries and a rather distinguished looking tea-set and cups on it, and she moved a hand to her forehead, looking somewhat embarrassed, before following it and putting a hand on the handle, but not really pushing. It was doing it itself, as it was.

"So sorry about that..." she apologized sheepishly, as she walked behind it until it came to a stop. The teapot began to move, and Megumi winced, grabbing it by the handle and seemingly reprimanding it with her eyes, until it settled down. "... milk and sugar?" she asked, trying to avoid the awkwardness of explaining her enchanted objects. Finally giving in though, she chuckled as she began to pour Alexis a cup. "As... you can clearly see, my house help is very enthusiastic..."


House help. Somehow, Alexis had to smile to himself at the thought - no, he knew better, and he had seen a good deal enough to know better, as well. However, he remained silent on the matter, keeping the thought internal while a gentle stare focused upon his host as she worked dexterously to pour some tea. And the tea itself did have a pleasant aroma to it.... "Ah, merely one lump will do, madam," he responded patiently.

"I suppose you did have good timing in obtaining this, then. I'd imagine this would have otherwise cost you quite a deal," Alexis mused, his eyes roaming to stare at her hands as they worked in preparing his tea. Delicate hands... certainly unfit for hard work, and yet he had developed a certain sort of schadenfreude for seeing such a sight. It hardly amounted to much, though, once he considered what other manner of hard work he could force such hands to withstand.


Preparing the tea as Alexis would want it, she set the cup on a saucer and handed it to him, then moved the cart and made it lower itself, so Alexis could pick from the assortment of confectionairies, not limited to the crumpets she'd made, and cookies. Once everything was in place, she took her own teacup, once prepared and went back to her seat, stirring her tea with a shake of her head.

"It's a little easier around the house with, ah... spells like that." How awkward was it to have to worry about animated household objects. Really...

The aroma of the tea wafted to her nose and in that, she found herself enjoying it as she looked down at the tea. Reclining a bit in her seat, her eyes went to linger upon the Lord in front of her, wondering... then piecing together something that had struck her as odd from when she'd seen Lord Cain.

Lord Cain, Alexis Hargreaves... they looked similar, didn't they...?


A bit cautiously, he took up merely one of the crumpets that had been set out, all the while keeping a firm grip upon the tea he had been handed. And so far, it hardly seemed as though Megumi's skills were lacking any more than they had in making luncheon. Once he had a proper hold of everything, Alexis took a delicate sip of the tea... no foreign substances within it, as far as he could detect. And he certainly had no reason to believe that she would have done such to begin with; however, one couldn't be too cautious.

Once he had swallowed the tea, he shot Megumi an appreciative smile. "Fantastic work, madam. You've quite outdone yourself," he chimed, bowing his head slightly in deference to such. It wasn't at all less than tolerable, that was certain. And to maintain the company that seemed, thus far, quite pleasant, indeed, was something worth note. "And I'd certainly not doubt it if a bit of your personal magic went into this," he added with a genial chuckle. Such an interesting thought....


Snapping out of her thoughts for a bit, just managing to catch the compliment, she blinked twice, before she bowed her head, mostly out of modesty toward the comment than anything and looked down at the tea. "You flatter me, sir, but once again." she looked up with a somewhat gentle smile, shaking her head once. "Someone wise once said that even the plainest of foods can gain a flavor in the presence of pleasant company. Looks like your presence here has complimented the occasion!" she then said, grinning a bit at him.

"It's been fun, Lord Hargreaves. You're such good company." she smiled, then motioned to him. "Ah, please do have some of the crumpets, or the cookies. I baked them all myself." she added, looking a little flustered at admitting that.


Alexis hadn't but begun to spread a touch of butter upon that crumpet when he had been asked to try one, and he looked up to Megumi with a blank look before giving a small, encouraging smile to her. "I trust they shall be just as delicious as your tea," he remarked as he set the butter knife down upon the cart. And he well could tell they had been but recently baked - not simply because of the heat, but it was something undiscernible to the untrained eye. He took a curious sort of bite at it, soon to look back to his hostess with a praising look.

"I do believe I was right," Alexis commented. No, certainly not bad... especially when paired with some choice praise for his own company and the flustered look he saw upon Megumi's face. It seemed almost to taunt him into thinking quickly of a way to deepen that flush upon her cheeks. "Although I'd believe you would even make a banquet of just curds and whey," he added after a momentary pause, taking to coolly sip at his tea as though he had said nothing out of the ordinary.


Eek... was probably the only sound she'd wanted to make at the realization of her own distraction. Her hand briefly brushed over her own lips for a moment, before returning to the teacup and she once again looked down at it, his comment about curds and whey causing her to laugh a little.

"Now that's a little too much flattery, sir." she chuckled, shaking her head, though it did cover for her earlier awkward reaction when she had been lost deep in thought. Sipping her tea some more, she sighed and then looked over at him.

"I must admit, this is rather relaxing after all those people getting injured..." she shook her head. "It took a while to recharge after that last patient. Some people can be ever so cruel..." she muttered, shaking her head with a soft shudder, looking up at Alexis. "By the way..." she tilted her head to a side. "If it is not too forward, I recall you bringing up a son in an earlier conversation we had... he wouldn't happen to be Lord Cain, would he?" she asked, more casually than anything. Smiling a bit, she shook her head. "It's just... ah, do forgive me, there was a slight resemblance..." she made it obvious that she hadn't heard Cain's last name yet.


That name. That blasted name - and yet Alexis certainly kept a cool demeanor even when he heard it being spoken. She proved to be a sharp young lady, perhaps a little too much for her own good. But of course the question would have arrived sooner or later, and he had had his suspicions when hearing of her dealings with the boy and his servant. Close, yes, but it had seemed not to be at all a give-away. His eyes strayed back to Megumi, looking a bit baffled before giving a gentle smile, if only tinged with a small amount of embarrassment.

"I beg your pardon, madam, but my son bears no such appellation," he replied, taking a slow drink of tea. If that were ever the give-away.... But he soon would deal with matters on that end. "I must say, your tea is quite good - pleasant to see someone who knows well how to prepare it." And really, it wasn't too bad. A pleasant excuse of a distraction in such a terse subject of conversation.


She blinked in surprise, feeling her cheeks color at her error. Well.. she had been certain about it, though the way Alexis switched subjects one would think he was trying to deny it. Then again, he had said that that wasn't his son's name, and she sighed softly, recalling that he did say that his son and him were... not communicating with each other. She knew it wasn't her business, but she did wonder what exactly was it that could separate father and son strongly enough to deny each other's existence.

Allowing the subject to take a turn, she smiled at his compliment and lowered her gaze shyly to her own tea, shaking her head a bit "Years of practice, sir." she stated, as she raised the cup to drink some more. "I don't think an English household is ever complete without someone who can prepare tea." she chuckled to herself then, looking to a side for a bit.

"Though the best time is to have it shared with family, I suppose..."


"You may well be right, madam," he responded, looking up from the rim of his own teacup with a small smile. The slight slyness there, whether there by the success of the appropriate conversation topic switch or the actual subject, seemed barely detectable, and yet with his stare lingering well enough on the girl before him, one had to wonder. The dark hair, perhaps, was what was getting to him, even if it wasn't up in a proper twist.

Alexis sighed a little, setting his nearly-empty saucer and cup aside. "You must miss your daughter ever so much, am I correct?" he asked tentatively, a flash of concern lining his smile. A natural turn of the discussion, and a sure method of gaining some personal trust - oh, yes, he knew well how to manipulate conversations to his whim. Always the gentleman, though. "I certainly would understand if such were the case, even if I am not a mother as you are, Miss Yamamura."


She may have been childish in doing so, but the thought of Alexis being a mother was making her laugh inside. She blamed it on the curse day some days back, when she was truly enjoying the illusion of a family, and the added topic direction didn't help. Instead of replying, she took a sip of her tea, then sighed, leaving the nearly empty cup on the saucer and moving to set it aside.

"It's alright... missing her to the point of sadness wouldn't be done, would it..." she laughed weakly, moving her hands back into her lap as she looked down at them. Just some days back... how distant it seemed now, but she had been playing mother and wife. How much worse could things get? This City with it's cruel illusions...

The worst part was playing the diligent wife, and that memory made her cheeks color a little in embarrassment. Keeping her gaze lowered, she shook her head again. "Perhaps I'm glad she isn't here... she wouldn't have had to see the effect of some curses..."


The curses. Yes, and he knew quite well just why such a thought had occurred to Megumi. The routine inspections revealed some rather interesting scenarios - certainly not without exception his own dilemmas with his young-again sons. And he certainly seemed clear of the sin of lying if Megumi hadn't noticed a certain set of green-gold eyes seeking out his beloved father. Of course, with her own dilemmas, it seemed not to have attracted her attentions. Thankfully.

A thoughful look crossed Alexis's face at her last comment, but he remained silent for just a bit longer. "Of course, it would be ever so stressful upon the girl to see her mother acting as part of another family, wouldn't it?" he mused, then taking the time to drain the last of the tea in his cup. "Acting as though in matrimony with one other than her father certainly wouldn't do for such a young girl."


Surprised at the fact that he'd caught that, she raised her gaze to Alexis, her reactions uninhibited for the moment as her hand flew to cover her mouth with her fingers. He... he knew about that? Looking shocked for a moment, she curled her fingers into her palms, before her blush grew deeper and she moved her hand to her chest, as though feeling a slight pain in it.

"You... you saw that, my Lord." Her voice was slightly smaller, but she knew he wasn't the only one to have noticed it. However, those who did... well. They were still kind enough to observe discretion, considering how upset Megumi had been about it.

Releasing a breath she felt like she'd been holding in forever, she sighed, feeling her shoulders sink slightly. "That's something she or her true father should never have to witness... I can only imagine how terrible it would be for myself to endure the same..." she murmured. 'What would they think of me now?' was something she left unspoken. She didn't want Axl to know if he ever arrived here, and it troubled her to think she'd acted that way at all with a man she had known for less than a few days.


Such an interesting reaction. It was understandable, of course, how Megumi would be a bit upset at the mere notion of straying, perhaps - but now it was a source of intrigue for Alexis while he kept a steady look upon her. And yet he wondered what would come of it if she knew the circumstances surrounding her recuperation in his own dwelling. To pursue such at this very moment, however, would get him nowhere, even if the female spirit was so easy to subjugate.

"I must say, madam," he began while rising from the chair he had occupied to turn to the curtained window, "you've quite the caring nature for your family, haven't you?" He still stood there, quite close to Megumi as he showed her a placid, contemplative smile before sweeping past her to approach the window. "Commendable, really - such loyalty to the one you so love. I'd certainly congratulate your - ah, should I call him a lover?" He turned about just a bit, a look of an inquisitive nature directed to her. "I do find it most troublesome, determining the correct word...."


He was looking at her again, and the mere fact that he was addressing the subject was making her feel sick inside. Something else felt wrong with this entire situation and though she didn't exactly have a reason to be, the more Alexis spoke, the more she felt cornered and something felt off in his manner of talking. Though he seemed to be treating it with a casual eye, and she knew she should do the same, propriety called for it, the subject matter was slowly becoming one of a darker and more personal nature.

And the last statement stung a little more than it should have and she had to grip her knees, fisting her hands over them and keeping her head lowered.

"It was a curse." She didn't know if it was an answer or if she was assuring herself of her position. "My loyalties lie with Axl and Sayako and no other."


The odd stance she had taken... a defensive one in nature, and he didn't need to see those curled fists to know fully well he was right. An uncomfortable thing to talk about... and with good reason, so he believed. An unwed mother was quite the controversy, even more so for the bastard children that came of it. "Now, now - madam, I certainly meant no offence, if that is what you were thinking," he said reassuringly, taking a slow step back toward her.

If anything, he well could use this situation to his advantage.

"My dear madam...." Alexis took the opportunity of taking a gracious kneel before her, looking up to Megumi with a sobered expression - concern, after all, was a good way to avoid any need of reparations. "My most sincere apologies - the topic shan't be brought up again by my grievous error." The chivalry never hurt, and especially when it served merely to further his purpose, bit by bit. And so he felt no grief over taking hold of her hand once more to give an apologetic kiss to the back of that pale, slim hand of hers.


How did he do that always? Granted her reactions were probably of no help, but the fact that he always seemed to be able to twist his own words around and make them sound as innocent as he did was... a little more troubling to her than the fact that he was saying them was.

She remained quiet at his assurance, however, suddenly met with the older man's sharp green eyes facing her, she stilled when she saw him in front of her, so close in fact that she caught a whiff of the cologne he wore. And when he kissed her hand, it was all she could do to not tug it back, though her cheeks colored in reaction to it, her own blue eyes staring at him in a sort of confused and uncertain gaze.

"Lord Hargreaves, please..." she shifted awkwardly, then almost instinctively moved her other hand to his shoulder to urge him to stand as she would do, slightly lifting herself off her seat. "Don't... you didn't say anything wrong..." lowering her gaze, she shook her head. "It just..." she sighed softly. "It just troubles me to think of how Axl will react if he were to ever know... even if it was a curse..." she was confiding without realizing it, and she sighed agitatedly, moving her hand to the side of her head. "Goodness, this is such a horrible situation..."


Such a predictable success, honestly. And it took the smallest of gestures, honestly, just to see such a pretty crimson on those cheeks. Of course, had he the minf to proceed any further, he would not be surprised if her entire body flushed red. No, he wouldn't be surprised at all... he had seen it perfectly well for himself before.

Alexis seemed to eye that hand that rested on his shoulder for a bit too long, but he soon took to the physical cue graciously, almost seeming to forget he still had hold of her hand while he stood at his proper height. But nothing he did was by accident.

"Surely this is a fault of mine - please, there is no need to fret." And still that hand kept a loose hold upon hers, and he didn't dare take a step back, under the pretence of, perhaps, so eagerly attempting to make amends. "There must be something I can do in order to set it right once more," he seemed to ask, letting a serious and concerned expression do more of the talking for him than those words.


Sadly enough for her, she wasn't someone who would suspect people of foul play right off the bat. Considering her history, it was hard to mistrust people who showed their care for you when they did- a good experience the first time around did that. And Axl had been more than a good experience, he had become her world for being one of the kindest human beings she had the fortune and in it's own way, misfortune of meeting.

In her stress over the matter, she did notice that his hand hadn't let go of hers, and she blinked, tilting her face up at his statement. The eagerness was surprising and she wondered just what caused him to so anxiously seek her apology for what he was saying, which meant in itself that he had realized how his words had been bothering her. And instantly she felt bad, allowing a smile onto her face as she moved the hand she had used to urge him onto the side of his still holding her right hand, and shook her head.

Though the words that came from her next surprised even her. "The only thing that could be done would be so that Axl or Sayako were never hurt by this. It would kill me to know their feelings for me would change over a curse... and that's not something you can give, Lord Hargreaves." Her expression became more mellow and sorrowful as she looked to a side. "Yet I would deserve it... if they did."


She seemed even receptive of the idea that he hadn't been at all proper in not removing his hand. In a way, it was interesting - yet it still brought to Alexis's mind a certain impropriety that seemed to stain women far more than men. Such a fault, however, could be turned about to better suit his own needs and plans for this girl who now so genuinely let her fingertips run along his hand. Almost wanton, that little touch... but he had seen far more of that in her before as to make this seem chaste.

"Madam, if I may...," he started, almost a little hesitantly, still keeping a solid glance upon her. "I would hardly believe you are at fault, nor am I to believe you would not be forgiven." It was easiest to lie when the subject neither concerned or interested oneself - Alexis had found this to be the case more frequently than not. For the time being, he simply seemed to ignore the hand upon his, even if he were counting the seconds upon which it remained there - if needed for collateral.


As assuring as the hold on her hand was, she decidedly drew it back when he spoke, curling her fingers lightly into her palm and moving it against her chest. His concern was flattering but at the same time, she knew the nature of her beloved ones, and Axl... well. As forgiving as he was, she feared that this news would make her think she was happier with someone else and give her her space, something she didn't quite want. Ever. She'd come too far for it to become something so easily thrown away.

Keeping her eyes lowered, she shook her head and glanced to a side. "That is kind of you to say. Truly..." she turned to look back at him with a smaller smile, and moved her arms behind her, giving a short laugh. "But why are we discussing this... it doesn't concern anyone but myself. I'm sure it must be quite a bore!"


He had been aware before of the proximity he had with her for a while, but Alexis didn't seem willing to take a step back and be as proper as he should have been in such a situation. Then again, Megumi seemed not to notice it, herself, and with such a tendency to overlook, he could easily take advantage of it. A calm look, just a tinge of concern, and she was in the palm of his hands. Such control... he was used to it.

Control enough to have her divulge things even without realising it.

And he still seemed a little reluctant to move away, even though he did so after a few more moments of relishing in whatever scent it was she had upon her - gardenia, perhaps, would explain that freshness to it. "To be perfectly honest, if it concerns you, madam, it is hardly a bore," he stated simply, moving once more to sit again in the chair he had occupied. Even if he were no longer so close as to identify the scent about her, his direct stare seemed, more or less, to help bridge the distance.


She realized she'd been holding her breath when Alexis was near her and released it in a sigh- of relief or just at the given space, she wasn't certain, but it came out. Her hands moved back to her sides and she looked up at Alexis sitting ahead of her again, before taking the seat she was in formerly, smoothing down her skirt and sitting down properly.

"I'm... flattered that you would think so, sir." she finally whispered, moving a hand up to comb a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

Raising her gaze back to Alexis, she smiled a bit. "But all this talk about me does pique my curiosity about what you intend to do with this information." An amused look entered her blue eyes before she shook her head. "Especially since you seem to be quite picky about the information you wish to share about yourself."


The hair, yes. It wasn't a very potent stare upon her, but he found his eye occasionally straying to see a lock of a dark colour traced by the pale sunlight from the windows. The three strands he had collected earlier still remained with him, a small vial in a breastpocket ever to accompany him. Such a strong magick as that was too dangerous to entrust in the hands of anyone else - the same held true of any information he chose so to divulge.

"Merely ask, madam, and ye shall receive," he calmly responded, keeping his eyes focused upon Megumi the entire time. It was a sharp look in his eye, even behind such a patient smile, that seemed to await eagerly the question he surely would receive. "Anything it is you'd wish to know, feel free to ask."


There was a lot she didn't know about the man, though she was certain that if she was to ask something, she wasn't going to get an entirely true story, if things were going as they were. Though he had no reason to lie to her either, but a man like him... well. She did however, notice the way his gaze so strongly remained on her and she felt like she was being observed- analysed, even, and she almost forgot what she was going to ask.

But then it was gone, and she moved her hands together as she leaned forward a bit, so that she could meet his gaze fully.

"To be quite honest... there isn't much I would like to ask you that wouldn't seem too intrusive. This is a meeting between friends, not an interrogation, hm?" she laughed a bit, shaking her head. "Though, if I may chance upon a rather silly and typically feminine question..." she let out a short breath. "I know back in Her Majesty Queen Victoria's time, the concept of arranged marriages was quite popular... was that the same way for you? Or were you able to wed someone you loved?"


Interested in marriage... yes, just as she had said, how typically feminine. And it was a bit of a bore to answer, even if it seemed to others a fascinating topic of discussion. The one whom he had called a wife... she had met with an untimely end, but all justified. He looked calm as he puzzled over the question - or so it appeared. He took to clearing out his throat, as though launching into a long, sordid tale for the gentlemen in the parlour.

"I had been married, yes, and it was arranged," he answered cautiously, looking almost rueful while leaning back into the chair. "She was decent company, but she met with a rather early death, I'm afraid." An early death she so merited, as punishment. "Disease caught up to her in a most unprecedented manner," he lied quickly, looking off to the side in a manipulation of a distressed expression, albeit faint.


She wasn't one to delve into people's histories unnecessarily, having been a student of medicine, she knew the worth of anonymity and a healer never asked questions while healing, did they? Of course, this was a bit of a different situation but nevertheless, she didn't want to offend Lord Hargreaves without intending to.

Though she did note the way he addressed her... decent company, disease... for her, it merely fit together the pieces of why exactly the man had estranged his son, though, what she didn't mention was the observation she'd made during a previous curse day when he had quite openly addressed yet another young man as his son. Another young man who didn't quite bear the resemblance Lord Cain did, but close either way. But this affirmation cinched it for her, she now knew that there was the possibility of him having favored someone else... weren't all men like that when it came to their preferences? With a small sigh, she shook her head and looked up at Alexis again.

"I'm sorry to hear that..." she whispered apologetically. "I imagine if your son was very young, it would have been hard on him too, wouldn't it?" treading carefully now.


It was a tough wager she was making, a gamble of sorts she was taking with the conversation. An interesting bet... and he kept a poker-straight face even when he heard mention of his son. She was a curious one at times, but she seemed also to know just when to stop. Her eyes showed the peril she perceived, and he knew she had the foresight. The notion alone gave a small smile to his face.

"He was, fortunately, a very resilient young lad," he remarked, a touch of a paternal pride within Alexis's slight grin. "We did have a bit of a grieving period, but we managed just well enough past her death, if I may say so myself." His gaze moved away from her this time, looking to the side with a mockery of a nostalgic expression across his face. The best way to sell the lie was to make it convincing - he had had quite a number of years to learn and perfect that, and it had proven so useful.


That... did surprise her, and she restrained herself from raising an obviously questioning eyebrow. Resilient... hm. Strange word to use for an incident that one usually endured, but she wasn't going into the technicalities of his wording. But she followed up anyway, and with a small shake of her head, she leaned back a little. "You sound like you both got along well, then..." she tilted her head to a side, her own blue eyes calmly watching him. "Hearing that does make the present separation seem a touch more upsetting, if that is the case. But I suppose there would be a more than good reason for that..."

Her gaze then went to the table where the cups were, and as though she'd just realized something, she blinked at it, momentarily distracted. The napkins on the table were rolling the crumbs between them as though playing a game of ball. Then, with a flick of her wrist, she whispered, "Manners!" and the cups quickly levitated into a proper position, back onto the tray and the napkins moved to dust off the crumbs off the table from the crumpets and cookies and everything was rearranged. Concealing a chuckle, she turned to look back at Alexis with a small smile. "So sorry about that..." she apologized, then blinked.

"Goodness, we've been talking for a while..." It had already been an hour and a half past. "Would you like more tea, my Lord?"


The distraction that had been provided by what seemed such magical oddities was a strange, yet welcome one. It wasn't as though he himself could not redirect the conversation in a manner that benefitted himself, but certainly now he had no way to be blamed for the sudden change in conversation. The less obvious it was, the better - at least, so he believed. And he hardly seemed to be too fazed by the whole matter even when addressed once more for tea.

"If it's not too much trouble, madam," he responded casually, keeping a pleasant, patient smile upon her even as he heard a small clatter of chinaware and silver. No doubt from some more rogue cutlery, he thought with a hint of sardonic amusement. "Seems the conversation had, likewise, swept me away...."


A little disappointed at the distraction, but figuring it couldn't have come at a better time, she smiled a little, then got up to pick up the teapot so she could refill his cup. The tea was still nice and hot, and it steamed a little as she poured it. Having noted his tea-drinking habits, she prepared it as he wanted, strong, one sugar, and she stood up, stirring the tea as she held the saucer, and gently tapping the teaspoon to the side, she set it down, then handed him his teacup again, a smile back on her face.

"I must say, sir. You are rather patient to put up with my company." Chuckling a bit, she turned to begin pouring herself some tea too, though she didn't plan on having another cup, doing it more out of politeness than anything. "I do appreciate that someone does enjoy the pleasures of having good tea."


He had to refrain from shuddering a bit at the clatter of the spoon against the rim of the china. Such a crudeness - but he paid it no heed and kept a gracious appearance even while again taking the proffered tea. "It's rather easy to be patient in the presence of such lively company, madam," he returned charmingly. "You should give yourself far more credit, if I may say so."

Even while so casual, he seemed to maintain an authority in such matters as merely trying the tea for a good flavour. He certainly looked a bit impressed once he managed to taste it - an observant young lady, truly, to notice his own habits, and useful enough to be able to incorporate them. He smiled back to her, making himself rather cosy - "Although I admit, it is hard not to be flattering when the hostess's tea is as delectable as that," he remarked.


Once she'd poured her own tea, she listened to him speak, and felt her ears turn a little red at his comments. Polite as ever, she never missed the formality of the situation and knew it couldn't have been more than what he had to say a face value, though to have him say that at all was a sort of motivating factor in itself.

"After hearing that, I would think you're trying to flatter me, Lord Hargreaves!" she replied, chuckling a little as she seated herself on the opposite side of the couch that he was sitting on, waiting for her tea to cool a bit, before taking a sip and then drinking it, merely to offer him some company in it. After all, not drinking when your guest was was considerably rude. "I'll only believe my tea is as good as you say it is if you will join me again after this." She added, with a bit of mirth to her tone.


Yes, she seemed so clever in order to see through such a ruse... and yet still she retained a bit of naivete. After all, she had only seen through one layer of such an elaborate little trap. It was interesting, in a way, even though Alexis knew this usually was the default responce, if not a little better than expected. Calmly, he again scrutinised her form from the corner of his eye, quickly again sipping upon his tea cautiously, as though nothing had happened.

"Flattery is as perceived by the intended, isn't it, madam?" he replied then, turning his head properly to give her a thoughtful, almost apologetic smile. "But there is always some truth to flattery, don't forget." He took yet another drink and paused to examine the tea once more - such a nice, dark amber - and then a semblance of a genuine smile came to life and he turned his stare once more to Megumi. "Therefore I cannot turn down your offer."


A smile settled on her face, she merely listened to him, before closing her eyes momentarily and thinking about things, all the while enjoying the scent of the tea she held. Then, re-opening her eyes, she turned to look at Alexis with a thoughtful smile, amused by his own smile towards her and returning it with her own. While she had no reason to doubt him, intuition begged her to be careful and so she listened. It wasn't as though he could do her any harm, right?

"Then I will be most honored to have you over again when it is convenient to you, My Lord." How the conversation went from food to families and back to tea was only something people of their upbringing could manage. Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad to have company for tea after all. If only she knew what purpose these visits would really hold, perhaps she would think twice about having him here.

"Besides, I do owe you so much more for rescuing me."


"You're still worrying over that?" he interjected suddenly, lifting a brow in surprise. "Please, do think nothing of it, madam - your hospitality has more than made you and I even," Alexis continued, looking forward now, almost as though in thought. If he were far less wiser, he would have exploited such a specific little concern... but there were expiry dates even upon those.

And though he seemed lost in thought, the wheels turning in his head were concocting something far from a mere pleasant thought or what to say next. "Dare I even say it, madam, but should such things as that be kept merely betwixt acquaintances?"


"But of course. It's not something I'm too proud of, and I wouldn't want anyone worrying for me!" she replied with a bit of a laugh. Had she not been so caught up in the moment, she may have noticed how quickly her answer came. Though at the same time, she sincerely meant what she was saying. To have worried anyone about the circumstances of her appearance here... no one needed to know what had transpired between the time she was at home and when she came here.

No one needed to know. That was that.

"Thank you, however..." she trailed off for a bit, before looking down at her teacup. "That condition was one that I would have rather not been seen in, anyway. So... if I may request that even you..." she smiled awkwardly as she looked back up at him.


"That even I...?" Alexis seemed to pause, looking back to Megumi with a confused stare on his face. A few seconds after, he seemed to be hit with a dawning of comprehension - so even she wished to maintain a certain reputation. That was a useful thing to remember, wasn't it? "Ah, yes. I shan't mention it any further," he responded matter-of-factly, taking another swill of tea in a calm demeanor.

So even she had certain blemishes which she wished to keep hidden. Interesting.

"I do beg pardon if I was rude enough to continue discussing it, madam." By this time, now, he had downed all the tea he had been served - a rather interesting feat, considering it had been offered a mere few moments ago. He seemed to frown at it, as though willing more tea to be poured into it, but then shrugged it off and set the cup aside.


"No, not at all, sir. As I said, I don't want anyone worrying." Her condition upon arrival wasn't one that she would have wanted anyone to have seen, because it would lead to more and more questions and she really didn't want to go into any of that.

"But that's long over, hm? I suppose staying here won't be too bad." She then added, smiling again at him. She would be saying something completely else had she known what had happened after her arrival, but perhaps ignorance was bliss in itself. Otherwise Alexis wouldn't be sitting here at all.


It was almost interesting how she continued to insist upon no worries - a nicety, certainly, but the sincerity emanated from it each time he heard it. Alexis would almost have gone so far as to think it to be something of a give-away to her inner workings. She wore her heart on her sleeve, so it appeared, even if it was in a somewhat subdued manner. And that had its place within his plan, that was certain.

He looked over to his hostess, a blankly contemplative stare remaining for a moment. Staying here won't be too bad... how true did that ring just then when he thought it over. It certainly wasn't London, not of his own time, and yet such a place was turning out to be ever so useful.

Suddenly, a brilliant smile curved at his lips. "I suppose you may be right, Miss Yamamura."