Shortly after his friend Cyril had entered Valentine was looking for the young maid he had sent to fetch his paddle for that evening. As the oters arrived he took this time to politly escuse himself and make his way from the dining hall towards the stairs. Nodding in greeting to his father, he still wanted to talk to him but that would have to wait until he got back, he wanted to make sure he had his instrument in case his father approved of tonights planed entertainment.<br/><br/>"I-iim sorry sir." said the maid, valentine had come upon her as she was coming down the stairs."i... had a little trouble finding your room.. lucily one of the other staff helped me out when they saw me." she said, her eyes still downcast, her shyness still getting the best of her.<br/><br/><strong>'Do not worry about it, The dinner has yet to start."</strong>he said, he took the carrying bag from her and smiled.<strong>"now, get back to the kitchen and see what you can do to help.. if they yell at you let them know it was I that pulled you away from your duties."</strong>he said to her. The young girl nodded, dared to glance up at him.. her cheeks flushed and a shy smile spread across her face before she scurried back off to the kitchen.<br/><br/><strong>"Such a cute girl, she will do well here as long as she avoids Alistair"</strong>he said to no one in particular.He returned to the Dining hall in time to see his father leave while carrying Evie.. His eyes catching the young girls body shuddering in sobs and she looked to have injured her hand.Seems he would not be needing that paddle tonight.. though if she came and requested it that would be a different story, as he had known Evie long enough to know that spankings were in no ways a punishment for her if done right.<br/><br/>He entered the dining hall, hanging back for a bit and observing the goings on. As much a dinner as this was supposed to be others had taken to doing what they damn well pleased.. most notably his brother. His own anger flashed as Alistair demeaned and insulted his mother, commanding her to do all sorts of things. There were few things in this world that would rile him up.. but mother being treated badly was one of them.<br/><br/>A deep breath was had before he stepped up, his mothers words bringing a smile to his face.<strong>"mother, sorry I had to step out."</strong>he said coming up to stand behind her opposite his father. he leaned in and gave her another peck on the cheek.<strong>"Good evening father, a pleasure to see you again."</strong>he said as he stood upright again. the hand closest to his mother being lightly placed on the upper slopes of her rear, out of sight from his brother at least.