Lawrence smiled as pleasantly as he could manage. An unexpected nervousness washed over him from talking alone with the father of the woman he fancied so much. He sipped again from his drink before answering, buying a bit of time to clear his thoughts.<br/><br/>"My family is, I'm sure as you know, no where near as prestigious as yours sir, though I'm honered to bare their name. My father was Baron Chester, he oversaw some land in the south of the kingdom, he died a number of years ago. My mother still occupies the family home, along with my brother and his wife, who by birthrite took over the Barony.<br/><br/>Lawrence tried to gauge by the Lord's face his thoughts on a young man who held no title, possibly entering into a courtship with his daughter, but was unable to read his reactions. He guessed the lord's stoic demeanor was a characteristic of true nobility, but with all Lawrence had experienced over the last few minutes with even asking Lord and Lady LaVelle's permission to court Miranda, was finding it difficult to maintain his composure.<br/><br/>"The La Corsa del Palio is soon Lord LaVelle, have you chosen a steed as a favorite for victory?" he asked, trying to turn the conversation away from any of his possible shortcomings that may be running through the Lord's mind. "The race should be an interesting one this year".<br/>