Once Rosalyn had dropped the news about the duke's impending arrival, she took up the offered acorn, and looked at the grounds a smile crossing her lips. It was evident that the house and its grounds were a beautiful oasis of a little wildness in the tamed streets of the city, and the primal flowing there made it all the better. She could have planted the acorn anywhere on the grounds and it would have grown up healthy, but to find the correct spot where sun shone bright and no shadows were cast in its way, a spot where the soil was rich and nourishing, and preferably close to a line of magic in the soil. Those were notoriously few in the city, but the Hall's channeled primal magic saw to it that there were a few fledgeling lines on the property certainly. Not enough to call a 'ley line' but an oasis of natural, primal magic flowing at a spot where the barrier between Primal and Material had thinned, though not breached.<br/><br/><strong>"I shall make sure that this shall grow into a strong dryad tree soon, I might need to take a bit of preparation to bless a spot properly for it. I might not be a priestess, but I know a few old rites."</strong>She smiled amusedly and walked along with a sway to her hip, the acorn in her hands as she set forth to carry out the task with the seriousness that it deserved, knowing it showed his trust in him to give this part for her to decide.<br/><br/>Christina was chuckling merrily at the time and looking at Tehr's expression, in a cheerful good mood at the time. Whether it was due to his return or the little victories she had scored in shocking him, it was more difficult to tell. Nevertheless, she smiled in a beautiful fashion while running her fingers Alex's side there.<strong>"I am surprised you would react so strongly, brother dear, but I am glad you are willing to admit find our mother beautiful. I hope to look as good at her age as she does now,"</strong>Christina chuckled before kissing Alex's cheek and stepped over towards Tehr.<br/><br/><strong>"So brother, you planted the first acorn already, but tell me, did the dryad that spawned crave for more than a bit of warm soil to grow in? I seem to recall the tales telling that they could often capture the hearts of men and lead them away, only to return them years later, often exhausted but happy, yet confused at how much time had passed... though I would suppose that at least bits of it are intermingled with other fey legends and you certainly didn't disappear at length... but tell me, did she seek to celebrate her blooming with a good seeding?"</strong><br/><br/>Carolyn had found herself blinking at the question before glancing at Tehr curiously.<strong>"Come to think of it, I don't know about that part, I took a bit of time aside to freshen myself while Master Tehr took it upon himself to plant the first one. Though I would not say his stamina seemed taken on his return, but given this is him we are speaking of that isn't a guarantee now is it?"</strong>She cast her own curious look towards Tehr, while offering a bit of praise to his stamina and recovery alike.<br/><br/><strong>"As funny as it is to watch this,"</strong>Alex spoke up at this point,<strong>"I'd like to remind that he may already be thinking of other things relating to our lady elf's little surprise and thinking on that matter,"</strong>he stated in a somewhat relaxed tone.<strong>"Allow the man to relax on return home rather than immediately pouncing to tease and needle him all over."</strong><br/><br/>The looks of confusion on Carolyn and Christina's faces were soon met by a small smirk on Alex's lips as she continued. "After all, if he's too flustered or stunned to answer, you'll blow your best material while he's off balance and it'll be far less funny." So much for an apprentice's loyalty to a master! Then again, the mischevious playful look about him suggested he was half-joking, and if he hadn't been Tehr could have always punished him for it later.<br/><br/><strong>"Oh well. I was hoping to tell you dear brother, in your week's absence I've been making some early contact with the McKinnons family to talk, and some with the Bones and Grays, all of them relatively old, but minor families, all of with young daughters perfectly willing to talk with a lady from the rising house of Wynt, and unfortunately, in Grays case, a rather insistent young man who believes himself quite a romantic. He's thankfully learned to keep off the grounds for now but meeting with his sister has been difficult without him dropping in. It seems he doesn't quite regard my claim of being courted by Alex as proof that I am taken. Still, those three houses are now leaning towards us a bit."</strong>She chuckled.<br/><br/>"Oh and the reason the Bones house is called that? Apparently their ancestors included a number of magic users, including priests and wizards alike, and some with a real talent for Necromancy, and invoking Hecate and the other 'old gods'. Unfortunately other than mentioning that historic little tidbit when inquired about it in their home, they've said pretty little. As for the McKinnons, they're quite amusing but a family of landowners mainly, bringing in fresh goods for the Londinium markets, while the Grays are, hmm, an 'artistic' family with a history of also giving sons to join the wars for the King and Country in the past." She shrugged briefly.<br/><br/><strong>"A bit of socializing isn't harming anything though I would prefer to leave the Young Master Grey out of things. Ironically, while I an not overly jealous about your sister's affections when she joins you, the idea of that boisterous pea-cock and her leaves me wanting to pluck him of his finery and then tar and feather him. If the lad wasn't a braggart I'd almost be tempted to try and arrange something to find out, through an intermediary, if his self-assurance is earned or not."</strong>