Tehr nodded agreement to his apprentice.  Alex had certainly come as a pleasant surprise.  The changeling nobleman / woman had slid right into Hewthorne hall and house Wynt with the practiced ease of someone who must be used to taking whatever role fits them the best at that moment.  Yet Tehr could see in the apprentice mage the subtle undercurrents of their slightly more stealthy background.  It wasn't to say that Alex wasn't trustworth, just that occasionally Tehr caught hints of his/her masterful skill at subterfuge.  Tehr had no doubt that Alex was working primarily for himself first, his house second, and house Wynt third.  but it seemed like that was a perfectly acceptable thing since the goals of the changeling aligned very well with Tehr's goals.  In fact, the only possible downside that Tehr could see to Alex's joining Hewthorne hall had been that his sister Christina had been spending much less time in his bed, choosing the changeling instead as her go-to lover.  But even this was all right by Tehr, he wasn't by nature a jealous man, and it did seem that the two of them were developing honest and deep feelings for each other.  They must be if they were bandying about the idea of marriage and even children.  So who was Tehr to feel possessive over his sister, a relationship that could never be anyways, when weighed against her love for the changeling?<br/><br/>Addressing Angelique he smiled at his lovely assistant, he almost couldn't think of her as a servant anymore, for she was more vital to Hewthorne hall's day to day existence than any one else.<strong> "Actually I would appreciate your critical eye looking over my work some time later, but before high tea.  I don't know if Emily d'Ravos will be in attendance for high tea, but I would like to set up in the lounge for it, as I will be ready for a break by the afternoon.  Lady d'Caleor will be there and I hope to have at least a solid first draft of my papers by then to show her.  I'll need some focus though, so if you could give me the rest of the morning, I would appreciate it.  Avoiding any distractions would be best, though of course I trust you if you do need to bring anything to my attention."</strong><br/><br/>He nodded and wished the group a good morning before heading to his office and library.  Pulling down the one or two books he had that dealt with law, he began skimming seeking out any information that might be relevant to the formation of the trading company, the newly acquired red and opalescent grey stones floating out of his sight above his head as he worked.  He worked through much of the morning, planning on taking a break to relax for a short bit when Angelique did come and bring him a cup of tea.  He suspected she had something on her mind as well, and hoped that there was nothing amiss in Hewthorn hall.  Then again, he'd noticed that the increasing amounts of primal energy being used in the home, constantly being channeled by he and Alex, along with the free loving, sex positive, and feminine empowered attitude had led to an increased amount of erotic tension.  It could be she just wanted a little private alone time with her friend and master.<br/><br/>It was only a little while later, when he was sitting at his desk, quill in hand, that he realized the date was the 26th and his own birthday was less than a week away.  No one had mentioned anything about it, there'd been so much else going on with the ball, visiting guests, and much more occupying their time.  But he had no doubt in his mind that his old friend and companion Angelique would remember that the first of next month would be his twenty fifth birthday.  He hoped she would not make too large a deal about it.  No, she knew him too well to embarrass him, doubtlessly she wanted to meet with him for one of the other reasons.  Trying very hard to convince himself of that, he went back to work.