<div align="center"><em> Valentine Ambrose-on the road the Manor </em></div><hr/><br/>The cold winds wiped around outside the carriage he had procured to take him back to his families estate. It had been long, at least six months, since he had been home. His coat wrapped tightly around his body, though the wind could not enter the cold was still encroaching a bit on the interior.<strong>"lets see, father should be getting the invitations together right about now."</strong>he said to himself. The Christmas party the family always hosted was fast approaching and father had always sent out the invitation around this time.he wondered who would be there, and if there would be anybody new to the party.<br/><br/><div align="center"><em> Now arriving at the Manor</em></div><hr/><br/>In what was probably no time at all, but what felt like an eternity, Valentine found himself stepping out of the carriage and looking up at home he knew so well. His bags were being taken care of by the Driver, at least the stacking of them near the door. He smiled as the cold wind wiped at his coat... It was good to be home. Stepping up he grasped the handle he knew so well and pushed the door open, the warmth of the home hitting him in the face like a gentle breeze and a stark contrast to the wind outside.<br/><br/>As he closed the door one of the servants arrived to greet him "Lord valentine... we were told to expect you after Christmas."the servant said, a young man by the name of Geoffry if Valentine wasn't mistaken. The poor man looked nervous, a fact that bemused Valentine to no extent.<br/><br/><strong>"I was able to leave earlier then I thought from the last time I sent a correspondence. ."</strong>he said, removing his coat and gloves to hand to the young man.<strong>"I assume my room has yet to be prepared?"</strong>he asked, the servant shaking his head, obviously expecting Valentine to get mad. And on some days he might have, had he not been so happy to be home.<strong>'Well, its just good to be home. Take my bags from the front door and bring them to my room... see if you can air it out before I get there. I certain its all stuffy and stale by now."</strong>he said.<br/><br/>He began to walk past Geoffry when he stopped, he did need something to occupy his time while he was waiting for his room to be ready.<strong>"Tell me, where is my dear mother."</strong>he said, turning to the man servant. "My lord, last time I had heard she had retired to her bedroom to prepare for bed." said Geoffry. Valentine nodded and turned on his heals<strong>"Alright, see to my room."</strong>he said, Geoffry nodded and began his newly appointed task for that evening.<br/><br/><div align="center"><em>Front door to his Mothers room</em></div><hr/><br/>As he walked the halls of the manor he looked around, it had only been six months but felt like a life time. He could hear the soft sounds of piano floating in the air and for a moment considered detouring to say hello to his brother as well, of course knowing Cyril he would be both happy and annoyed at him for stopping his practice by showing up.no, Mother would be first, and he was sure that she would be surprised.. after all the last he was able to let them know he was still another week away.<br/><br/>reaching her door he straightened himself, he always wanted to look good for her,and knocked lightly on the door. Hopefully she was still awake and would be excited to see him.