Tehr stood quietly for a moment.  He hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, but the servant hadn’t announced him and he couldn’t help that his hearing was keen.  Finally however he couldn’t help but clear his throat loudly to announce his presence.<br/><br/><em>“I doubt he minds…”</em>Marie had been saying before he interrupted.  Her gaze shifted to the quiet little servant woman, who discreetly bowed and gestured to Tehr before making a quick retreat.  Marie stood and curtseyed,<em>“Welcome to our humble home, Master Tehr, it’s been far too long.”</em><br/><br/>Tehr nodded walking forwards to take Marie’s hand and kiss the back of her knuckles.<strong> “Indeed Mistress Marie, at the moment I can’t recall any reason why I’d want to be anywhere but here, and it makes me question why I’ve taken so long to return.”</strong><br/><br/>Jesanie had a faint smile on her lips as she said,<em>“It is good to see you again, please forgive me for any overheard words that may seem a touch crude, I wasn’t aware you had arrived already.”</em><br/><br/>Tehr turned and bowed to Jesanie and likewise took her hand and kissed the back of it,<strong>“Lovely Jesaine, worry not over what I may have heard, you’ve never treated me with anything but kindness and wit, a careless word here or there isn’t ever going to offend me.”</strong><br/><br/>He smirked and added,<strong>“Besides I’ve been known to be careless with a phrase or two myself from time to time, it’s what makes us human I suppose.  At least when we aren’t drooling buffoons.”</strong><br/><br/>Tehr smiled broadly at the two women hoping they’d find the self deprecating remark humorous or at least charming before adding,<strong>“and I’ll admit that I may sometimes seem like a buffoon, especially when confronted with two beautiful women, bosoms bare or not, but I’ll let you in on a little secret.”</strong><br/><br/>He paused and leaned in as if about to whisper a great and important secret, then in a low hushed voice said,<strong>“I’m always a drooling lecherous buffoon, I’ve just learned to hide it quite well.”</strong><br/><br/>He smiled again, hoping to break any tension with his humor, then gestured to the seats, allowing the women to sit first before he took his.  Even as the guest, such a thing was protocol.<strong>“As to the subject of garments, I confess that the less fabric I see, the more I enjoy a garment, but of course that is not a proper gentleman’s line of thought.  But it is not the garments that bring me here today.  It is the company and the conversation, which are far more important by immeasurable quantities.  I only just received your letter today and thought that with my busy schedule it would be best if I visited as quickly as I could.  I hope that is satisfactory?”</strong>