<strong>Ashburne - Amberthorne</strong><br/><br/><div class="floatleft">(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/54/29/2e/54292eda7aecbf7e8de1395949b4700a.jpg)<div align="center"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: georgia;"><strong>Asher Bray</strong></span></div></div>Asher remained quietly seated in his chair as Graham assumed the role of Lord Ellery, and used it to effectively lay down the law of discretion before Meg.  The Captain thought his approach was a touch harsh, but he was not going to openly contradict his lover when he was addressing her so formally, despite being in the middle of the whole ordeal.  Graham was concerned, reasonably so, and at the moment Meg was a convenient target to allay his frustration.  Of course, he would step in if things became too intense, and so far everything that had been said was fair.<br/><br/>So he waited patiently, idly swirling the amber liquid around his glass while taking intermittent sips.  After what just happened, it would be more prudent to keep his wits than surrender them to the bottom of that glass, tempting as it may be.  It made a low scraping sound as it slid across the wooden top in rejection, the room having gone quiet after Graham had said what he needed.<br/><br/>That left the tension in the air thick enough to choke on, and after several heartbeats Asher could stand it no more.  He stood from his chair and, while making eye contact with his partner, approached Meg where she was seated.  It was a casual endeavor; his intention was not to intimidate or threaten.  That was not how he treated a lady under his protection.  There was a bit of animosity toward Meg that stemmed from Graham, and Asher wanted to make sure she knew that her interests were still in mind.  She had survivalist instincts and a good head on her shoulders that knew how to reason; she would know, as Asher knew, that there was no benefit for her to divulge their secret.<br/><br/>First and foremost, Asher was the guardian.  The barrier between Graham and the outside world which had been cruel to his Lord, and it was no different between him and the gentle lady… only she was not as threatening as a jagged blade in the dark, or an arrowhead aimed at his love’s heart.<br/><br/>Like a proper barrier, he came around her chair and stood in front of it, blocking her from Graham.  Or rather privately sharing with her the trust that was but a glint in his brightly colored, weary eyes.  The day had been long and arduous, ending in a climactic event that was not at all the one he had in mind.  It had taken its toll, creasing his brow in a slight frown and turning down the corners of his mouth, made even more severe by the days' old beard he had yet to remove.  The look of someone who was irritated at the situation rather than the woman before him.<br/><br/>It started out as another lecture, continuing from where Graham had left off.  “We cannot work together without trust; there are already enough knives pointed at our backs…<em>but</em>… I know it isn’t that way with you.  You have my trust, and my protection – for as long as you’ve need of it.”  He passed the other side of her chair, pausing to put a hand on her shoulder, then moved on to the fireplace to prod the growing fire with a poker.  He hoped Graham would soften at the exchange and follow his lead, but he had spoken the truth regardless.<br/><br/>It was in his blood to protect; loyal to the ones who deserved it.<br/><br/>“Do you have any concerns?  Speak freely, as there are no secrets between us now.”