Tehr swallowed, hopefully not too noticeably as Rosalyn bent over, her layered skirts pulling up to expose the leather boots  at her feet and draping across her backside pleasantly.  He tried to keep his eyes on the duke, though his attention was on her petite yet curvy frame as she did so.  "It is true sir," he said, "Most people would see this back yard as much wasted space, or seek to fill it with a carefully manicured garden, sporting ground, or statuary.  But I grew up with large swaths of untamed forest around my family estates and a deep love for nature driven into me.  The idea of having trees and grass to relax in is very important to both my sister and myself."<br/><br/>He gestured towards the house, leading them into the solarium, which Christina had already begun to fill with plants and flowers as well as benches and tables to enjoy the room from comfortably.  "I'll call for my servant to bring us some refreshments."  He said as he lead them into the stone floored room that smelt of dirt and plants and life.  Dismayed he realized that he'd not yet had any sort of call rope or bell system installed in the hall, the old one having decayed and having been removed by the workers.  He made a mental note with a wince to have that replaced at some point when he had time.  Instead he opened the door to the main hall, and spotting young Sarah Applemane cleaning, called to her, "Miss Applemane, if you would be so kind as to have lunch and drinks brought to the solarium please?"<br/><br/>Then returning to the two elves he said, "Maybe while you are here in Londinium you can avail yourself of my home and it's natural setting.  Certainly it must be more comfortable then the public gardens for when you wish to get away from the hurly burly of the city."  The public parks in Londinium were broad strips of grass mostly with little trees.  Usually used for outdoor relaxing in the sun and often overrun by the lower classes of the city.  Most nobles who went to them made sure there was at least one guardsman or at least a servant with a stout cane to keep away beggars or commoners who simply wished to bother nobility.  "As for taking in the sun with my sister...."  Tehr treaded carefully, not wanting to offend, "You're welcome to do so if you choose.  I make very few stipulations upon my guests.  I simply wish you to be at ease."<br/><br/>"As for trading stories, maybe I should explain why a human family has such roots with nature.  Certainly we aren't unique, but mayhaps uncommon.  Maybe it will make sense if I tell you about where the Wynt name came from..."  He settled down after his guests were comfortable and began to tell them about his family's roots while they waited for lunch.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">ooc</div><div class="spoiler_body">probably a version of the story he told d'Ravos which we can skip ahead, but maybe they'd talk back and forth between.  <br/>http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=120879.msg7796424#msg7796424<br/><br/></div></div>