Watching her ambusher's eyes all but sparkle, Lacey couldn't help but wonder if it was her accent, or her profession which drove such excitement into the noblewoman's mind.  The voice that replied was cultured, where her own was not.  Subtle and delicate, it was everything that defined the nobility.<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote"><em>"That is quite alright Miss MacAllister you are a guest here also you have done me no harm, quite the opposite it would seam.  You are a woman of learned interests ? I have a passion for reading and understanding myself perhaps I might observe as you view this Papyrus you speak of.  I would hope that Lord Winterstone would allow just that, I have heard that he will not permit us of the fairer sex to see such sights as that which stirs upstairs.  I would have half a mind to make a fuss but with my aunt here and feelings as they are this eve, I believe it may in fact be for the best." </em></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>"Ye're too kand, Miss.  Aye, ah've studied words an' latters, an ah work wi'tha Library o'Glasgow.  Ye'd beh more than walcome te be observin' whal ah do be verifyin' any scrolls tha Winterstane' do be trustin meh wit'"<br/><br/>A few sips of her wine helped pass those awkward moments between verbal parries, and young Lacey couldn't help but wonder just why the Lady Rowena was not permitted wine.  What manner of illness or religious observance would deny that?  Strange, indeed.<br/><br/>The sounding of the dinner bell caused young Lacey to jump, startled that it had happened already.  A few glances around, showed her that the others were already being led away by the servants.  "Ye'll pardon me, Miss.  Ah imagine ye'll be havin' a seat neer th'ead of tha tebble.  Ah'll meck me own way in, an mayhap we'll be seein' yer after.  Fer tha papyrii."<br/><br/>With a bit of a duck of her head, Lacey headed off towards the dining room, sliding in with the servants, and locating her spot in the middle of the table.  Another, more superstitious person might be offended by the left side of the table, but Lacey just took it in stride, and settled herself with a near-silent smoothing of her skirt.<br/><br/>Soup was delicious, and the flavours of the sorbets were fantastical.  The conversation around her at the table was the quiet murmur of people discovering their footing with their new neighbours and those topics they had enough in common with each other that interesting talk could be had.  With herself settled, it was time to see who else had been relegated to the table sinister...