Flight of Fancy [crystaltears & Iressi & Caeli]
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		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Human Solos =&gt; Topic started by: Caeli on 07-01-2009, 00:20:15</h2>
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				Title: <strong>Flight of Fancy [crystaltears &amp; Iressi &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Caeli</strong> on <strong>07-01-2009, 00:20:15</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/6/6c/Adrianna.png)</div><em><strong>Prologue</strong><br><br>The marriage between the Marquess of Dearne and his chosen marchioness, Lady Gwyneth Allardyce, was the perfect match made in heaven. Their union gave them a lovely daughter, Adrianna Gwyneth Torrington, who lived happily with her parents and her younger twin brothers in their country estate until she was seven years old. Then, there was a sudden storm; when the skies cleared, the lord, his lady, and the twins were found dead among the splintered wood and leaves of the smashed carriage underneath the huge tree that overlooked the driveway of the estate.<br><br>The lands, wealth, and mourning daughter were inherited by the marquess' younger brother who had long ago moved to Italy and married, and had no interest in returning to England. He did, however, return to the island on business, arranging the care of the estate and its financials with a trustworthy chamberlain and competent staff; after the overseeing of the funeral of his family, he took young Adrianna to live with him and his wife in their home in Venice, Italy.<br><br>Fourteen years later, Adrianna returns to England at the urging of her aunt and uncle, ready to assume the mantle of responsibility as a peer of England. Her return creates ripples among among the elite matrons of London's highest social classes - she is a wealthy young woman with the title and flawless etiquette to match, the most eligible and sought-after female catch of the Season. Of course, the young unmarried set (as well as the older rakes) need no urging from the parental sector - Lady Adrianna Torrington is, while not as fair and blonde as most traditional beauties, possesses a self-confidence and striking appearance that sets her apart from many of the insipid, catty misses who populate London's marriage mart. Her seeming indifference to marriage and courting make her an even more tempting target, resulting in one too many sappy marriage proposals and badly-written odes and poems celebrating her eyes, hair, and face.<br><br>Enter Lord Darien Kamor, the heir to the Duke of Halle.<br><br>He'd started out the perfect marriage prospect at first. But then something changed - and he was no longer the picture-perfect duke's son. He pressed the bounds of what was allowed, even for a noble; he did things that, if they became widely known in the <em>ton</em>, would get him renounced as a peer of the realm and ostracized for deeds. But there were benefits to being a noble - benefits, like Julianna Rose.<br><br>Darien didn't remember the first time she begged, or even when she first called him Master. For the last few years though, he'd had a slave in a nation that is on the verge of abolishing slavery. <br><br>He first got the idea after reading a few novels - things that the nobility shouldn't read, but read anyway. There was a small passage about the trading of one slave from one master to another; the story intrigued him, so he started to form a plan to get one such woman of his own. He wanted a woman so loyal, so submissive that she would let him do anything to her. The thought was a constant companion of his, and made his nights with prostitutes rougher as it drove him to higher levels of lust.<br><br>He found her in the most unlikely of places: right in front of him. Darien didn't remember many of his firsts with her, but he did remember the first day. It was the day he told her to kneel before him, to kiss his hand. She had already called him Master before, but it now took on a new meaning: a dark, perverted meaning. He was both like, yet unlike the characters in the novels he'd read. He cared for her, and took care of her as well. It was not love - after all, he couldn't love a commoner, and especially a servant. However, he had no trouble however using her for sex, and more.<br><br>The combination of his new, reckless lifestyle and his uncaring rampage through London's darkest underground establishments disgraced the Duke and Duchess of Halle, who had to pretend that they didn't see the sympathetic, pitying glances that others sent them. Still, not all hope was lost; he didn't care for much but his pet, but at the very least, he was no longer doing the things that had earned him his dark reputation.<br><br>His parents, rather fed up with how irresponsible he is, order him to go to the London ballrooms to find himself a bride, hoping that netting himself a wife will knock some sense of responsibility as a peer of England into his head. Close friends of the deceased Marquess and Marchioness of Dearne, they eagerly accept Adrianna into the fold of the family, offering her introductions to other distinguished members of nobility and squiring her about proudly - as well as having their eldest son squire her about to every event.<br><br>Adrianna is extremely glad to have the company and the help; stumbling through London's strict etiquette is difficult enough, without being a foreigner and new player in the game of social cat and mouse... But she is hardly a willing participant to the Kamors' matchmaking tactics, however well-meaning they might be.The family also has reason to be happy - they hope that Adrianna is exotic enough, beautiful enough, and witty and intelligent enough to finally entice their son into marriage, and to woo him away from his idle ways.<br><br>Little do they know that neither Adrianna nor their erstwhile son are willing to be pawns in their matchmaking sessions. </em>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Flight of Fancy [crystaltears &amp; Iressi &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Caeli</strong> on <strong>10-01-2009, 13:19:40</strong>
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				One year past, if she had been asked where she saw herself in twelve months’ time, England was the last place Adrianna would have named in answer. Long had she abandoned any idea of returning to her childhood home; the lingering war political instability in France had rendered any such thoughts impractical as well as dangerous. Not that Adrianna had been all that eager to return to England. Nightmares and tragic memories had been all that she’d been left of her home.<br><br>She might not have wished for the war to happen, but it had delayed her return to England for a few years. A respite, for Adrianna had not been ready to go back a few years earlier.<br><br>At twenty-one, she was an altogether different creature than the cute, pixie-like young woman of five years past. At sixteen she’d been adorable and sweet, the darling of Italian social circles; at seventeen, an elegant grace began coloring her slightest of movements, and she put on a few finger-lengths of height. A few years of responsibility and caring for the estate that her father, the late Marquess of Dearne, had willed to her lent a mature, quiet strength to her manner. Raised by an aunt and uncle who embraced the scholastics as well as the more physical of noble pastimes, Adrianna found herself as able to discuss politics, history, and poetry as well as she could ride a horse. Fashion, and idle conversation, she rather failed at, as Aunt Alessa had a rather deplorable opinion on the empty-minded chits she had met prior to marrying Adrianna’s Uncle Jerrod, and was not of a mind to see Adrianna become one of the mindless flock.<br><br>And so it was thus socially prepared that Adrianna found herself returned to England at one and twenty years, that subdued, graceful elegance as much her sword as her shield, for she didn’t doubt that socializing in London would be a bit different than it had been in Italy. The basics of socializing would be the same, of course – idle chatter, putting on a cheerful face, and the like – but Aunt Alessa had assured her that it was the small details that might trip her up in the ballrooms.<br><br>Unfortunately, neither her aunt nor uncle would be able to make the trip to England until after a month; arrangements for her London debut could wait until then, of course, but in the meantime, it was necessary that Adrianna have a sponsor her to at least introduce her around.<br><br>Luck had its way of finding her, though. The Duke of Halle and his duchess were both longtime friends of her parents, and had somehow heard (likely from her solicitor or Dearne’s steward) that Adrianna would be soon returning to England. When Aunt Alessa had replied with an affirmative, Lady Kamor wrote back, saying that she could do no less than show Adrianna about town, getting her outfitted by the most fashionable modiste in London, introducing her to other young women and to London’s matrons, whose tone would determine how the rest of the ton would see her.<br><br>It had been roughly two weeks since she’d arrived in London, and re-opened Dearne’s London town house. Because she was already far past her majority at twenty-one, she was living there alone (with the house lightly staffed); during days, Lady Kamor had been showing her about town, mostly taking her to Mme. Celeste (a French modiste known for being picky about her clients, and choosing only those who could carry her designs well) and getting her outfitted and ready for her first night out in London.<br><br>That was tonight.<br><br>Adrianna took a deep breath to settle her nervousness while she waited for Lady Kamor to return with the man who would be escorting her that night. She hadn’t given a name, but Adrianna rather expected that she might be foisted off on a male cousin or relative – she’d heard that the duchess’ son was something of a rakehell and rogue, who wouldn’t step in a London ballroom if he could help it.<br><br>She ran her fingers idly over the dress, marveling at the quality of the fine material. The evening gown she wore now was very new, and much more expensive and rich than anything she’d ever worn in Italy – decidedly fashionable, Mme. Celeste had exclaimed, in Parisian ballrooms. Adrianna’s slim figure took to it well: the waistline was slightly lower than the popular, but emphasized the gentle swell of her hips, while the dark jewel-green tones of the silk brought out the color in her large, forthright eyes. The neckline was somewhat modest, and though she wasn’t the most generously endowed young woman... at the very least, Adrianna knew she wasn’t ugly.<br><br>Still, it would be utterly embarrassing for the duchess if Adrianna’s dance card was left empty because nobody wanted to socialize with the shy, Italian spinster. Her hands, encased in long evening gloves, clenched worriedly in her lap, and she nervously brushed back the tumble of amber ringlets cascading around her neck and shoulders while she waited for her escort to arrive.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Flight of Fancy [crystaltears &amp; Iressi &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cosmic Latte</strong> on <strong>22-03-2009, 04:53:06</strong>
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				Lord Kamor, the simple fact that he was going to be called that again, and again was enough to darken his mood. However, worse still was that he had to escort a woman tonight at a ball. A <em>foreign</em> woman. At least a foreign woman by his reckoning, since she had spent most of her time outside of England. That night he would have given his immortal soul to be anywhere else, even outside of England than be in the phaeton (two-horse carriage) with his mother. Darien looked over at his mother, she was beautiful if slightly plump after bearing so many children. She was as strong as fishwife, and smarter than most of the grown men Darien was supposed to look up too. <br><br>She forced him to learn, though in the early days he was willing, all of the proper things one of the peerage of England should know. She was for most of his childhood just as strong as Darien, only in the last few years was he able to break from her grasp, though he still never won at arguments with her. That was something that only God could do, she always said that his father only won one argument, and that was that she should marry him. Adelaide Kamor had a stare that Napoleon himself would fear, at least that's what they said when he was still alive. Darien sat there in silence, only the sound of the two horses trotting along the stone steps, and the occasional yell, or loud conversation from the streets. <br><br>Darien looked down at his hands fiddling with one of the buttons on his shirt before his mother interjected, <strong>"Darien, don't mess with that. I made it perfect for you tonight already."</strong> She leaned over to 'fix' it, he sighed in responce, <strong>"Mother, I'm 22 for gods sak..."</strong> She stared at him with steel eyes, <strong>"What did I tell you boy?"</strong> Darien blinked a little then sighed again, it was hard to not roll his eyes, <strong>"Never to say the Lords name in vain."</strong> Adelaide smiled and nodded, <strong>"Better."</strong> Darien slumped back further into his chair looking out the small window at the streets of London, the only thing that made him smile was one of the better brothels he had visited. <br><br>Darien even thought that he had seen one of the many woman he had slept with on the balcony. Beyond that brief reprieve there was little else to be seen, at least beyond what he has seen every time he has come to London.&nbsp; The ride continued for what seemed like a eternity before they arrived, his back sour from sulking as long as he did. As a servant opened the door of the carriage he in turn helped his mother, as he waited for her he saw a few soldiers flirting with a young lass, her accent was odd, and he couldn't quite place it. As he watched his eyes lingered on the uniforms, and the swords that the officers carried, his mood grew even drearier. <br><br>He both loved, and hated soldiers now, and was happy when his mother walked over to him holding her arm out so he could escort her to the Dearne’s Townhouse. Darien looked around, trying to find every flaw he could in the house, and the surroundings, thinking to himself <em>"Poor little Italian girl, I doubt she will last more than a month here with her sanity intact."</em> He wanted to hate her, and he wanted to hate the evening, but as he walked into the Townhouse his attitude changed. Something about it seemed familiar, he wasn't sure why, then he remembered that his family had long been friends with her's. <br><br>The thought occurred to him, it's very likely he has been here before though he didn't remember the girl, the one he was supposed to escort. His mind was far away when he was finally introduced to her, his mother gave a introduction for him, when his name was finally mentioned he snapped back into reality. His attire was different than normal for tonight, though his choice of collar was the typical black, and white. He wore dark colored breeches that were tucked into his Hessian boots, which were also black. He wore a simple white linen shirt, with a dark greatcoat over it topped off with gloves. His hair was long, and tied back making him look like anything but a Englishman, but at least it was combed. He was awestruck, like he had come across Aphrodite, or some other goddess of beauty. <br><br>He paused just for a moment, his mouth slightly open before his mother covertly pinches his side. When he realized that he hadn't bowed to her, he blushed ever so slightly, and he bowed to her, <strong>"It's a pleasure to meet you Lady Dearne."</strong> He had a slightly silly grin on his face that quickly faded away as he reminded himself, "She is a foreigner, one my mother wishes me to marry. It doesn't matter how beautiful" His mind wandered for a moment before he seemed to concentrate on something finishing his thought, <em>"No matter how beautiful she is."</em>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Flight of Fancy [crystaltears &amp; Iressi &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Caeli</strong> on <strong>26-03-2009, 11:03:12</strong>
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				When Camden heard the knock at the door, he bowed low to Adrianna, his expressionless face as blank as it usually was. She remained staring ahead<br><br><strong>"Shall I get that, my lady?"</strong> He inquired, his chin indicating ever so slightly in the direction of the main hall. Had he been any other servant, he likely would have gone right away; but Camden had more a care to his charge's emotions than most household servants. He had been immeasurably distressed when he alone had been left to care for his lordship's town home. When he'd heard that sweet young Adrianna was returning, he'd spared no energy to return the place to its former glory.<br><br>He'd cared for Adrianna as a child - she could still remember tagging along with him as he went to open the door for guests, his larger hand holding hers patiently as he walked at her pace. Camden had always been rather expressionless, but she never doubted that he cared for her parents (and her) very much.<br><br>She took a deep breath, glad that the butler had thought to ask. Adrianna wasn't sure if she was entirely ready to meet this escort of hers, whoever he was. Of course she trusted Lady Kamor's judgment, but...<br><br><strong>"I'm ready, Camden. Will you please bring my guests here?"</strong> Her soft voice was quivering ever so slightly.<br><br>He patted her shoulder reassuringly, smiling and giving her a quick wink before making his way to the front door.<br><br>When Lady Kamor and the gentleman walked into the town house's parlor, Adrianna was on her feet, smiling warmly as she greeted the older woman (who treated her as her own daughter, bless her soul) with a kiss on the cheek. <strong>"I hope his lordship wasn't too terribly inconvenienced by your request of him, of escorting me tonight?"</strong> She asked, gesturing to the handsome man who had accompanied Lady Kamor. Fine, aristocratic features; almost boyish, but his lean, athletic body attested to age and experience. And tall - Adrianna was on the willowy side, but he was at least a head taller than she.<br><br>She looked him square in the face - his eyes were as vivid a blue as hers were green, and were almost startling in their lazy.... <em>arrogance</em>. Noble to the bone, certainly.<br><br>Before she had time to think of much else, Lady Kamor was introducing... her son? Adrianna quickly swept him a curtsy; as a duke's heir, he would be <em>quite</em> the attention-grabber that night, at the ball. <strong>"My lord, it is an honor. My lady, are you sure this is not an inconvenience? I'd hate to steal a night away from Lord Kamor..."</strong><br><br>The lady waved away her protests, bundling both Adrianna and Lord Kamor out the door with the ease of someone well-used to reluctant children. <strong>"Don't be silly, my dear. I would have no less for Gwyn and Tony's precious gem - you wouldn't believe how much they spoke of you in their letters. Almost made me jealous, that I had no daughters of my own."</strong> Lady Kamor patted Adrianna's hand as they alighted the Halle carriage, and set off for the ball.<br><br>In the dark, it was difficult to make out Lord Kamor's features, but she was quite certain that he was... staring. At her.<br><br><strong>"I apologize again, my lord, that Lady Kamor thought to bother you with this errand. I hope you shan't be too bored tonight, doing the pretty with your - our - peers."</strong>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Flight of Fancy [crystaltears &amp; Iressi &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cosmic Latte</strong> on <strong>26-03-2009, 19:41:25</strong>
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				Darien might have been smiling, a somewhat vacant look in his eyes, but in his mind he was sighing, <em>"Here we go with that 'your lordship' business' tonight is going to be very long..."</em> His eyes didn't wander from her for a few moments, then he realized that she might think he was gawking at her so he finally did look away, letting his eyes wander around the room like he wasn't interested. <br><br>All the while that pretty face, those eyes kept creeping back into her mind. He had to remind himself <em>"She is just a silly foreigner, and after tonight you won't ever see here again."</em> He knew this wasn't true since it was obvious that his mother was trying to don Cupid's bow. He looked back over to her after a few seconds of mentioning his name, or rather his title. He smiled warmly, a well faked smile as he spoke, <strong>"Oh I wouldn't rather be doing anything else in the world."</strong> He looked over at Lady Kamor to see if what he said was ok, seeing no scowl on her plump face he looked back over to Adrianna, <strong>"I'm sure you have heard I don't spend too much time in London myself, so really your not stealing me away from anything."</strong> Though he didn't add the fact that his mother had dragged him here. <br><br>He also quickly thought, <em>"Except a night with Julianna...and I was looking forward to tying her again..."</em> His stance shifted a little as he stood there thinking about her, then as he watched the beautiful, almost Fairy-like. By all accounts he really shouldn't think she was that pretty, but something about her drew made him lust for her, which made standing there thinking about her, and Julianna at the same time more difficult. <br><br>Shifting ever so slightly again he smiled at her, <strong>"Oh it won't be a errand Lady Dearne, I assure you. Its been so long since I have danced in London. So I think because I am dancing with..."</strong> There was a very slight pause as he stopped himself from saying 'foreigner', <strong>"somebody who hasn't been here in a long time as well"</strong> he finally added. <br><br>His mother had looked over at him, almost ready to strike he he insulted her, but she smiled at her son, glad that he knew better. He added after looking back over at his mother, <strong>"Well, is there anything you need to do Lady Dearne before we leave?"</strong> <em>"Other than let me see whats under that dress"</em> <br><br>His rogue, lustful thought surprised him, though he did his best to hide it. He was pushed out the door before he could think about it anymore, his mother pushing them along into the carriage. He sighed softly to himself, but did think to help Lady Dearne into the carriage. Sitting down again in the carriage he looked across at her. The thought that he was going to be escorting her also came into his mind, and he wasn't sure how well he was going to do with being close to her, worse in his mind was the dancing that was to come. He moved a little closer to her, almost like moth attracted to the light. Though he didn't think she was that dangerous...or was she?
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				Title: <strong>Re: Flight of Fancy [crystaltears &amp; Iressi &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Caeli</strong> on <strong>28-03-2009, 01:36:53</strong>
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				Adrianna was quiet for the rest of the way to the ball, glad that Lord Damien Kamor was, at the very least, not one to make inane conversation. She hadn't been in England long, but while going to fittings at Mme Celeste's, or going riding in the park with Lady Kamor, she'd been introduced to countless young misses in the same 'predicament' as herself - marriage mart candidates.<br><br>To say she had been bored out of her mind would have been a gross understatement. Adrianna couldn't remember the last time she'd pleaded a headache from sunstroke - from <em>sunstroke!</em> - in order to get out of a social encounter. She wasn't anti-social in any sense of the word - as a young lady, she was as friendly and talkative as they came, and she had no trouble navigating the social circles back in Venice, where her aunt and uncle had lived. But there, they talked about poetry (and <em>good</em> poetry, mind) and philosophy, the arts, and music; she'd been much surprised by the strange looks and uncomfortable titters that had greeted her comparison of a recent play Lady Kamor had taken her to see, to its original translation in Italian. When she'd asked Her Grace what she'd done wrong...<br><br>"Oh, I apologize, my dear. The young misses here aren't quite the scholars your aunt is acknowledged to be; those topics are the stuff of intellectuals and politicians, not of gently bred, marriagle young women."<br><br>Not knowing how to respond to that, Adrianna had chuckled and said nothing else. Inwardly, she was surprised, and not in a good way. So if they didn't discuss poetry, music, the arts, or philosophy, or even politics, then what <em>did</em> the younger set like to talk about?<br><br>Adrianna wished she'd never found out.<br><br>Dresses.<br><br>Hair ribbons.<br><br>Dancing shoes.<br><br><em>Tea parties?</em><br><br>Well, she would put up with it, because Her Grace had seemed so excited to finally have a 'daughter' come out in the <em>ton</em>. She was even going so far as to help plan Adrianna's debut ball, in three weeks; when Adrianna had tentatively suggested she simply avoid having debut ball because of her age, Lady Kamor had almost seemed to wilt in response. No, she would go along with socializing and parties, balls and picnics, this Season, if only as a favor to the Duchess; Adrianna wasn't particularly looking for a husband, so she could always return to country at the Season's end, and slowly learn the ropes of running Dearne, that Sebastian (the Torrington's family steward) had done so faithfully these past years.<br><br>When the carriage jolted to a stop, Adrianna blinked, suddenly realizing that she could see Lord Kamor's facial features better. The light from the Morrisons' ballroom cast bright rays of light down the steps that led up to its entrance. What filtered through the carriage's open curtains shined directly on his face; even Adrianna, who didn't ogle men for their charming good looks, had to catch her breath at the austere lines that made him look like a vampire incarnate - refined, dignified, and very much in charge of his domain.<br><br>The door opened; the Halle footman bowed, then stepped aside, so Lord Kamor could exit and assist his mother and her charge. Adrianna waited for the duchess to step down from the carriage first, swallowing as her heart thumped in her chest. She was confident, and more than suitably pretty - but that didn't stop her from thinking a silent prayer to not embarrass herself and the duchess.<br><br><strong>"Adrianna? You needn't be nervous, my dear. After all, Darien will be with you, to fend off the wolves."</strong><br><br>Adrianna wanted to groan: <em>he</em> was part of the reason why she was nervous. <strong>"Of course,"</strong> she answered, pulling a smile onto her face. Adrianna took a deep breath. She was going to go in and astound all the <em>ton</em>'s matrons and hostesses, and make herself the belle of the ball, and do her parents proud.<br><br>She extended her hand, placing it firmly in Lord Kamor's.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Flight of Fancy [crystaltears &amp; Iressi &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cosmic Latte</strong> on <strong>28-03-2009, 02:05:39</strong>
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				Darien watched her thinking to himself, <em>"I wonder what she is thinking about? I bet if her dress looks like, all the nobles ladies are alike. Worrying about their dresses, or their hair. Not like Julianna."</em> He sighed a little letting that thought go to its obviously conclusion, <em>"The woman I marry is going to be like that I'm sure. Hopefully she is pretty like this one...oh whats her name I already forgot."</em> He thought for a while, and watched his mother talk with her, listening in till she finally said her name, <em>"Adrianna! That's it. I wont forget this time...I hope."</em> <br><br>As the carriage finally stopped he tried his best to keep a straight face as the door opened, he helped both his mother, and Adrianna down onto the wet streets around the ballroom. He grumbled a little to himself, <em>"Just where I want to be, a Cotillion..."</em> The smell of her perfume reminded him of the lustful thoughts he had just moments ago, but he did his best to ignore them for the time being. A act that seemed easier than it ended up being, he tried to distract himself with the people around the ballroom, but failed in the end. He escorted her inside when he was finally able to be somewhat alone, he breathed a small sigh of relief when his mother went to greet some of the other guests. It was hard for her to read him, though she could tell he didn't want to be there. She was able to tell that he was attracted towards her slightly, but to what extent she was unsure.<br><br>Looking around the room Darien realized something, other than his mother he didn't recognize anyone that was here. At least at first, after a few moments he recognized some of his old dancing partners, all of them grown up into beautiful young women. He saw some of the boys he had been friends with, even though he had trouble remembering them they all knew him. It was like he was a elephant, but one that they had no choice, but let in the room. They gossiped about him relentlessly, he could hear his name mentioned, and even if he hadn't heard he could tell from their stares. They insulted his name, and his actions, though everything they said was deserved. They were all judges, and they had already made their ruling about him before he had even entered the room.<br><br>For the first time in a long time he felt unsure of himself, sure he had put up with rumors before, but never in front of so many people at once. He felt butterfly's creep into his stomach and he squeezed Adrianna's hand a little tighter than he had intended, which snapped his attention back to Adrianna, he finally said, <strong>"Well...I have to say I haven't been to a ball since I was still in school, what would you like to do?"</strong> He looked at her with his intense blue eyes, his voice neutral as he asked. He thought to himself, "Don't say dance...I don't know any of the newer ones...Passepied, Bourrée, Waltz...well I know how to do them I just haven't in ages."
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				Title: <strong>Re: Flight of Fancy [crystaltears &amp; Iressi &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Caeli</strong> on <strong>28-03-2009, 02:53:48</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Adrianna glanced up at him when he squeezed her hand, wondering if he was nervous as well. But he was so much older, and surely he'd been to his share of balls-<br><br>His next words explained some, but brought up more questions. She could understand balls and not going to them often, but... she wondered what it was that was making everybody in the room glance their way, then turn back to their circle of friends. When everybody there looked their way, it was easy to guess what they had been talking about. And she didn't think it was her they were talking about... but him.<br><br>Was he such a successful rake that they all thought he had brought one of his doxies with him to the ball?<br><br>Adrianna wondered what he'd done to merit those stares and gossip.<br><br><strong>"What to do, hmm..."</strong> Adrianna looked around, ignoring the stares, and the whispers, and the speculation. She drew herself up - she was taller than most young women her age, and she wasn't afraid of using her height when it was necessary. Now, she smiled and made eye contact with those who were staring. Slowly, attention was drawn to her, instead of him. She could practically imagine what they were now whispering to each other:<br><br><em>I can't believe Lord Kamor is at the ball, but... who is that he's escorting?</em><br><br>Adrianna tilted her head slightly, so she could meet his gaze, and smiled warmly. <strong>"I'm not all for dancing anything but waltzes myself. If you don't mind, you can partner me for both of those sets?"</strong> She nodded at the table of refreshments set out along one wall, indicating that she wanted to move in that direction. <strong>"Of course, if you'd rather not, we can simply wait until some of the other guests ask to see my dance card. It would be nice to do something more interesting than standing and gossiping about others here."</strong><br><br>At that moment, Lady Kamor bustled up, with the hostess at her arm. <strong>"Amanda, this is the young lady I was telling you about, Tony and Gwyn's firstborn."</strong> Lady Morrison smiled as Adrianna turned to greet her, then dipped down in a curtsy. When she rose, the older woman took Adrianna's hands in hers, a sad smile on her face. <strong>"You're the spitting image of Gwyn when she married your father - you've grown up so lovely since I last saw you!"</strong><br><br>Adrianna lost herself in conversation with Lady Morrison, at least for a few minutes, while she summed up her life since the accident in a few simple sentences. Then Her Grace and Lady Morrison left - probably to find more matrons who remembered the 'match made in heaven', between Anthony Torrington and his marchioness, Gwyneth Allardyce. She took a long moment to compose herself - she was no longer at home, with Camden and the other servants to send people away when she didn't wish to receive them.<br><br><strong>"If you haven't been going to balls, then, what have you been doing, Lord Kamor?"</strong> Adrianna finally asked curiously. <strong>"Hunting, managing the estate...?"</strong>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Flight of Fancy [crystaltears &amp; Iressi &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cosmic Latte</strong> on <strong>28-03-2009, 03:14:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Darien was happy to get some of the attention off of himself, which he was surprised to feel. He scolded himself for caring about such things trying to calm himself. He walked with her slowly over to the refreshment tables, almost like he didn't want to attract too much attention to himself again. Before he could get too far however a voice rung out, <strong>"Darien? Darien Kamor?"</strong> About at the same time she went with Lady Morrison to speak for a few minutes is when Darien found a old face, the older brother of his best friend from before the war. <br><br>Darien smiled a little bit to see a familiar face, <strong>"Hello Raymond."</strong> Darein said simply, not bothering with formality with such a old friend. He added, <strong>"What are you doing here anyways?"</strong> Raymond smiled a little, <strong>"I could say the same about you I haven't seen you at one of these in years, really I am escorting my sister, Isabella, though you know me always on the..."</strong> He paused a little looking over at Adrianna, <strong>"Say...is that the new girl? Wait is that why your here? Or is she available."</strong> <br><br>He made a tiger sound winking to Darien to which he said, <strong>"No she is mine...for the evening"</strong> He added the last part quickly surprised at himself somewhat. Raymond frowed a little, <strong>"Well I guess its fair, a oddball for a oddball."</strong> Darien punched his shoulder playfully before walking off leaving a few moments of peace before Adrianna returned to talk with him. He smiled very softly at her, it almost wasn't a smile in fact just the hint of one. Darien nodded to her, <strong>"What have I been doing? Well the honest truth is that I have been up to no good. Though I suppose the respectable answer is I been preparing myself to inherit my estate, and title."</strong> He chuckled softly as he moved a little closer to her, <strong>"Reading mostly, along with fencing, and horseback riding. Reading a few of the poems of John Keats, though honestly I read more philosophy, than poetry." </strong> He didn't add that he only read John Keats because his mother made him, and that he hated his work. Darien knew on some level he would have rather lived during the glory days of the Roman Empire, or in Greece, or <em>anywhere</em> but here.<br><br>He finally added, <strong>"I know how to dance, and I suppose we should at some point. I don't want to alienate you from them more than they already are."</strong>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Flight of Fancy [crystaltears &amp; Iressi &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Caeli</strong> on <strong>29-03-2009, 07:46:13</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				She cast a curious glance at him, but said nothing else about his work, and what he had been doing in the past few years. From the deprecating way in which Lady Kamor spoke about her son, it <em>had</em> to be a point of contention. Even Adrianna could see that Lord Damien Kamor was a handsome man; if he truly wished to get married, she was certain that he would not have any shortage of willing young women, and willing mamas to throw their daughters at him.<br><br>Of course, he wasn't the only unmarried nobleman in England; but he was a duke's son, and he had a duty to his bloodline, to marry and produce heirs. It was that Englishman's duty that Uncle Jerrod sometimes cautioned Adrianna about. Always be sure of the man she was marrying - it would only be painful were she to marry into a loveless marriage, to have to pretend ignorance of a husband's cuckolding ways while she was with child.<br><br>Besides, no self-respecting Englishman wanted their properties to revert to the Crown, and to the greedy prince that Aunt Alessa and Uncle Jerrod <em>both</em> referred to distastefully as "Prinny."<br><br>The Duchess of Halle was up to something, and that something had to do with her son, and her. Adrianna wanted no part in it.<br><br><strong>"Well, we've some time yet, before the musicians play any waltzes. Let us get some refreshments for now, and stroll around the perimeter of the room. Maybe some old acquaintances of yours will wish to speak with you."</strong>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Flight of Fancy [crystaltears &amp; Iressi &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cosmic Latte</strong> on <strong>30-03-2009, 06:23:36</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Darien chuckled a little at her, <strong>"I don't know if you noticed or not but none of the people here like me very much, besides I don't really know them anyways."</strong> A small lie, but a lie none the less, he did his best not to be disgusted at being there, which made his eyes move to her. She was the only good thing in this ball, the only bit of light in the sea of shadows, gossip, and hateful stares. Looking into her eyes he asked, <strong>"Other than Raymond, which I wasn't even expecting to so. So how was Italy?"</strong> <br><br>It was the only question he could think of, and to him it sounded stupid at best. Darien was surprised to find himself very much out of his element, on the streets of London he could get into the dress of almost any woman there be it noble or otherwise, but he was having trouble even speaking here. He let his eyes watch those around him, their movements, the grace they had. He wondered how many of them were as frightened to be here as Adrianna. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Flight of Fancy [crystaltears &amp; Iressi &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>crystaltears</strong> on <strong>07-04-2009, 23:54:27</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Julianna Rose was a beautiful young woman.. for a commoner. She had long, silky, brown hair that she'd taken great efforts to care for. It had strains of red in it, bringing it to almost the color of rich mahogany or cherry wood. Her green eyes were deep and intelligent, ever alert to her surroundings, though in a rather subtle manner. She walked Darien to the carriage, his mother was with them so she was walking behind them. She held his coat in her slim fingers, a devious smile playing on her lips as she eyed his mother with no small amount of distaste from behind them. The look in her eyes and the smirk on lips quickly changed as they drew near the carriage, she was good at keeping such things from being noticed.<br><br>"Your coat, Master." She said softly as they reached it, and then helped him put it on, drawing it over his arms for him and adjusting the sleeves in his attire below. "Anything else, my lord? My lady?" She asked, and the mother dismissed her with a wave of her hand. Julianna curtsied to them, a practiced gesture of hers, then turned and headed for the servant's entrance to the manor. She hated her circumstances for being born common, but was willing to live with it since it brought her close to him. His mother she could care less about, and to her dismissive nature Julianna rolled her eyes as she slipped into the small side entrance meant for servants. <br><br>Her steps led her to Darien's room, which she entered and closed. How long had it been, she wondered, since she'd slept in her own chamber? Not long enough, despite the many months behind her she still wished Darien had claimed her sooner. She was his, his toy, is pet, his lover... Though a nagging feeling deep inside her had her convinced his devotion did not run as deep. How could they? She was a commoner, and he a noble. Society was unforgiving. <br><br>Her hands and body set about the task of straightening Darien's room. She never truly cleaned it, there were other servants for such things, but her touch made sure it stayed as he preferred it. She knew the order of the books on his bookshelves, the way he preferred his bed sheets folded beneath the covers, where to rest the towel in his bath chamber so that it would be ready for him when he wanted to bathe. She knew his preferences for his entire little world, and for this reason she was not afraid of losing him even if he did not love her. <br><br>As she put things in order in her Master's room she thought of the woman his mother had arranged for him to meet. Would she be beautiful? Would her beauty steal Master's heart as his wretched mother wanted it to? <em>'If only I had been a noble..'</em> she thought, but her past was littered with hardship and strife. Things nobles never knew, least not to such extremes. She couldn't remember when her father had first hit her, nor the day she'd run away, but the memories of long, cold nights and learning to lift enough coin from a stranger's pocket to keep her living another day were strong.<br><br>She also remembered when she had first started working in this household. She'd known nothing of Darien then. To her he was another noble with no real, tangible interests and a shallow list of wants and needs. She held that opinion a bit over a year before Darien had made her his, had told her one day as she had abashedly looked away from a depiction in a book he'd shown her to kneel, and she had listened. The words he'd spoken, the soft velvet feeling of his voice and his sentences a caress to her ears and her years of hardship. His demand, his control, his strength, and his offer to care for her... In the physical ways. She must give him everything and he would care for her. She had readily agreed despite the knowledge hanging ever heavier in her heart that he would never love her. <br><br>When everything in the room was in order Jules sighed and took a look at herself before Darien's looking glass. Her long brown hair was curled and soft, it framed her face, her shoulders, her breasts so well. Her light green eyes drew people to her face, those who looked upon her. The servant's garb she wore was slightly modified by her young skilled hands, taken in to give a better view of her form. It was a subtle change, for she had enough trouble from the head of the servants of this house and from Darien's mother as things were, and she did not want more. Still, it pulled the fabric a little tighter across her ample bosoms, bringing the eyes to them even underneath her apron. "A common tramp." She murmured disdainfully at herself as she waved a hand at the silent image in the glass and headed for the kitchen to see about food. All the while visions of Darien dancing with a beautiful, young, charming lady whirled through her mind and her heart grew that much heavier.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Flight of Fancy [crystaltears &amp; Iressi &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Caeli</strong> on <strong>11-04-2009, 09:08:48</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Adrianna lifted an eyebrow at him, but they flickered forward when she felt someone's gaze on them. Several someones. With an idle glance at their surroundings, the young woman managed to spot the people who were now staring at them so rudely, whispering softly to each other, imagining that nobody could tell whom it was they were speaking of.<br><br>Were all the English so dense as this?<br><br><strong>"Then let them stare,"</strong> she murmured softly, tugging gently at his arm so he looked down at her. <strong>"If you have been out of tonnish circles this long, you needn't yearn to return to whatever place is proper for one of your kind. You can make your own place - as I will surely have to make mine, being both a foreigner, as well as one who should have a place here, courtesy of my own parents."</strong> Adrianna caught the eye of one of the young women who were gossiping in that circle.<br><br>The young lady blinked owlishly at her, lips stopping as she realized that Adrianna was watching.<br><br>Adrianna smiled, shifting her gaze to one of the men in the circle, letting him see her interest. It was too simple - a flutter of the lashes, a brief glance before she turned back to Darien to answer his question. That man would probably approach them later... though he might have the wisdom to approach when Darien wasn't at her arm.<br><br><strong>"Italy was an experience, but as much as I loved it there, it is Dearne that is my home, and I could not give up the place of my childhood memories. I yet remember exploring the woods near our home, and the lovely summers we spent in the summer house..."</strong> Her voice drifted off as her memory supplied vague images of color; of a white veranda, of shade and warmth and laughter, of the now-blurry faces of her parents. Adrianna had been all too young when they had left this world.<br><br><strong>"Would you care for some refreshments, my lord? Our hostess, the duchess informed me, is quite known for the quality of her cook's hors d'oeuvres."</strong>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Flight of Fancy [crystaltears &amp; Iressi &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cosmic Latte</strong> on <strong>13-04-2009, 03:25:14</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Darien sighed a little his eyes not wandering far from Adrianna's, "Well I didn't think in all honestly my lady that it would be so...intense." He let his eyes wander again to the people in the room, at last it seemed that they had turned their attention elsewhere. A few eyes still lingered on Darien, and a few loose lips uttered his name, and Adrianna's name as well, though not to the extent as before. He looked back to her, looking into her eyes his mind wandering back to his primal thoughts about her, something that he would guess many of the men were thinking about her.<br><br>Ironic that he might have been the only one here to have the nerve to take what he wanted.<br><br>That was in the end why many of the people here were truly jealous of him, and why they slandered his already muddied name. He smirked slightly, <strong>"A place of my own? Well I wouldn't mind setting my 'place' next to you..."</strong> He moved in a little closer, <strong>"Or on top of you."</strong> moving back away he fianlly answered her question, <strong>"Yes though all I want is a drink."</strong> He walked over to the refreshment table smirking a little more as he eyed the punch bowl. <br><br>When nobody was looking he took a small medal flask out from a pouch pouring something in to it before taking a glass for himself. He sighed happily as he finished the glass, <strong>"Much better."</strong> He let his eyes wander down her neckline as he asked, <strong>"Well...We are at a Ball. We might as well dance, I promise even if I am out of practice I wont...well step on your tows."</strong> His voice was low, and there was a devilish smirk on his lips as he offered his hand to lead her to the dance floor. <br><br>He thought to himself, <strong>'Well now I get to have a little fun with her.'</strong>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Flight of Fancy [crystaltears &amp; Iressi &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Caeli</strong> on <strong>14-04-2009, 03:33:42</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				When next Lord Kamor answered her, Adrianna glanced over at him sharply at the sly, suave charm that was injected into his tone of voice. Her eyes narrowed - he obviously thought she might be discomfited by his highly inappropriate comment. Well, she would show him.<br><br>Turning her head slightly so she was looking up at him, Adrianna smiled - coolly, with just a touch of frost in her smile. <strong>"On top of me? Only if you could handle my fire. You wouldn't be the first too-forward man that I've burned, Lord Damien Kamor,"</strong> she said, her voice pitched low enough that only he could hear. To the people watching them so avidly, it might look like an innocent conversation, with the two of them leaning towards each other to hear the other better.<br><br>Adrianna accepted the glass of punch that one of the attendants at the refreshment table handed to her. She pretended not to notice when he poured something else into the glass, sipping daintily from her own until it was drained of its contents. <strong>"If you'd like. I wouldn't make you do something you were uncomfortable doing."</strong><br><br>She handed her glass off to a passing waiter, and took his hand, allowing him to lead her to the dance floor. But it wouldn't do to let down her guard - Adrianna could almost feel his not-so-innocent intent as the strains of a waltz began in the background.<br><br><strong>"Are you sure you remember all the steps, Lord Kamor?"</strong> She asked sweetly, just before the pairs on the dance floor began moving in time with the music.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Flight of Fancy [crystaltears &amp; Iressi &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cosmic Latte</strong> on <strong>14-04-2009, 04:45:27</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Darien watched Adrianna, and her false bravado though he couldn't help but wonder who all she had spurn in the past. He just smiled at as she spoke, <strong>"Your fire? Well...I think I could handle just about anything you put out."</strong> He smirked a little bit more as he moved closer to her,<strong> "I do have to say that you 'burning' me has some appeal to it, I like my women feisty" </strong> He put his glass down walking over to the small group of musicians whispering to them for a moment before walking back out to the dance floor smiling softly over at Adrianna, but she could already tell that something was amiss as he gave her one of his charming boyish smirks. <br><br>He suddenly spoke, loud enough so that the crowd could hear announcing to them, <strong>"Well since this is the first major event that Lady Dearne since her return to good old England, I thought I would start tonight off since nobody seems to be using the dance floor. I thought I would start tonight off with a traditional Italian dance, before moving on to the better English ones"</strong> There was a chuckle at him making fun of the Italians, though not much of one. He held his hand out for her as music started to play, she recognized it. <br><br>It was a common melody, one famous in the south among couples, and was considered to be vulgar to the more civilized city-folk of the north. In fact one of the popes had said the dance satanic though she didn't remember which one. All of the eyes in the room were on her, there was no gossip now just the sound of music playing.<br><br>Darien couldn't help but think, <em>'I am going to love this.'</em>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Flight of Fancy [crystaltears &amp; Iressi &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Caeli</strong> on <strong>18-04-2009, 03:43:56</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				She watched him out of the corner of her eye, warily. So maybe this man wasn't so stuffy as she'd originally thought - clearly, the reason that he was ostracized from society was... for his own activities, and not some social misunderstanding.<br><br>When the music started, Adrianna narrowed her eyes at him. So he thought he would make a fool of her, hmm? Well, she wasn't going to let him win, not at this. She was determined to make a success of herself in the ton, of not for herself, then for her parents' memories. If she danced with Lord Darien Kamor, he would gain control of the encounter.<br><br>Adrianna smiled first to him, almost too brightly, then to the crowd of others. <strong>"I don't need a partner for this dance, Lord Darien."</strong> She coolly ignored his hand, striding confidently to the middle of the dance floor... and then began dancing.<br><br>She wasn't reserved in the slightest, using her own passion for music to color her movements. She'd never learned this dance, specifically, and she never once did anything improper or scandalous as she whirled and spun around the dance floor - but without the dozens of petticoats that most of the other young misses wore, her skirts clung to her legs as she arched her back and danced, alone, captivatingly in her own world.<br><br>When the song ended, she straightened, panting softly, and carefully rearranged her hair into a semblance of order. Only her flushed cheeks told of her recent activity - and the sparkle of challenge in her eyes, as she walked back to Damien's side, completely composed, as if she hadn't just shocked and awed the entire crowd in the ballroom.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Flight of Fancy [crystaltears &amp; Iressi &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cosmic Latte</strong> on <strong>18-04-2009, 04:38:56</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Darien watched with some amusement as she strode her way to the dance floor, though his amusement faded the moment she started to dance. His eyes, like the eye of everyone else in the room were transfixed onto her. There was a slight shock in his eye, he had registered her words, but really didn't think that she was going to do the dance by herself. Lustful thoughts filled his mind once again as she danced across the floor, and as it ended the musicians stopped playing music as they joined in the gawking. <br><br>The conductor quickly took back control, and started to play waltz music again, giving Darien a evil stare. As if they were trying to forget what happened the men, and women on the ballroom floor started to dance again. A peace entered back into the ballroom though the gossip about the two of them grew once again among those that weren't dancing now.<br><br>He thought to myself, <em>'My God, I have to have her.'</em><br><br>He smiled at her, <strong>"That was very good, I didn't know they taught you such dances where you lived in Italy."</strong> He chuckled a little moving his hand to fix her hair if she let him, <strong>"Well proper edict says I still have two dances with you if I want to take them. What do you say? Want to join the waltz lines?"</strong> He didn't seem to be offended at her brushing him off, in fact he seemed to be more intrigued by it. <br><br>He offered his hand out to her with a soft smile, his breathing was faster, though it was very hard to tell. In his mind he wondered what he would need to do to claim her as his own.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Flight of Fancy [crystaltears &amp; Iressi &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Caeli</strong> on <strong>18-04-2009, 05:22:24</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Adrianna tried not to be smug, or to smirk at him. <strong>"My aunt is a very... unusual woman. She is quite a feminist - a passionate believer in the powerful, strong woman. My uncle has described her as ahead of her time, but..."</strong> Adrianna smiled innocently up at her escort. <strong>"I have to thank her, though - she's give me opportunities to experience and do some very unusual things, at least for a noble-born lady."</strong><br><br>When he moved his hand up to fix her hair, she smoothly intercepted it, fixing it herself with relative ease. It was a good thing she didn't enjoy complicated coiffures. <strong>"If you'd still like to waltz with the Italian heathen that the others in the ton are surely calling me, then of course,"</strong> she answered easily, taking his hand and walking with him to the middle of the dance floor.<br><br>Without missing a beat, both of them whirled into the pattern dance. Adrianna's easy movements and ability to converse while she danced spoke of a familiarity with the dance; her ease and grace were reflected clearly in her movements, elegance in her every movement where unbound passion had been only moments before. She ignored the interested stares and whispers now directed her way; she was sure that she had thrown the entire crowd into an unexpected fervor by her dance.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Flight of Fancy [crystaltears &amp; Iressi &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cosmic Latte</strong> on <strong>19-04-2009, 00:20:43</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Darien chuckled softly as he watched her, <strong>"My mother is not unusual, well that's not true. She is about the most overbearing woman I have ever seen before, I think she would have given Queen Elizabeth a run for her money."</strong> He smirked softly nodding, <strong>"I see, I have experienced a number of very unusual things as well, I should show you some time."</strong> He winked at her with a knowing smile on his boyish face. <br><br>He seemed slightly annoyed at her stopping his hand from helping her fix her hair, but said nothing of it recovering with another smile, <strong>"Yes I would love to dance with the Italian heathen, should I call you Aphrodite? On Athena would be a better fit I think...then again those are the Greek names, I suppose you are <em>Minerva</em> since your a Italian heathen."</strong> He joined her back onto the dance floor, not sure wether to be annoyed at her, or infatuated even more.<br><br>He was a wonderful dancer himself, his moments were graceful even more so than the older men on the floor that have been going to balls for years. Though in the times he moved closer to her during the dance she felt his hands rub up against her sides, or brush against her arms. Nothing too inappropriate since the eyes of the room were on them, but she felt his subtle touch. He smiled whispering into her ear once they were close again, <strong>"Well looks like you brought life back into the room."</strong>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Flight of Fancy [crystaltears &amp; Iressi &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Caeli</strong> on <strong>02-05-2009, 07:39:02</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				She tried to ignore his hands, which were touching her in places that they shouldn't be during the waltz. At least she did so with remarkable aplomb; a person standing more than a few feet away wouldn't see that flare of ire in her eyes, or the wary glare that she shot up at him, covered and disguised by a sparkling smile.<br><br><strong>"My name is <em>Adrianna</em> Torrington, Lord Kamor,"</strong> Adrianna emphasized, still smiling - though this time all teeth, not at all happily. <strong>"And it is <em>Miss</em> Torrington to you. I've not yet given you leave to call me by my given name,"</strong> she sniffed. Still, she could not fault his grace or his elegance; he swung her about the ballroom about as easily as her dancing master in Italy had, and that man was easily over twenty years older than Darien Kamor. Grudgingly, she had to admit that no matter what he had been doing in the past several years to earn him his fearsome reputation, at least he'd kept his dancing skills polished.<br><br>When the dance finished, Adrianna gracefully stopped and curtsied, as was custom. <strong>"Thank you for the dance. Lord Kamor."</strong> Bland words; but her politeness wouldn't let her flounce away so impolitely. <strong>"You are a better dancer than I credited you for. Thank you for accompanying me during the waltz,"</strong> she added, with a hesitant smile.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Flight of Fancy [crystaltears &amp; Iressi &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cosmic Latte</strong> on <strong>03-05-2009, 05:15:09</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He did his best to ignore her ignoring his hands, there was a strange smirk on his lips as he moved them up her sides slightly, and then down them again. Though he still did nothing too scandalous. She had already done that for herself with the dance before.<br><br>He smiled at her jab back at him with her name, <strong>"Well excuse me Lady Adrianna Torrington."</strong> He bowed his head like they had been both just introduced. He was skilled though the things his hands were more skilled out wouldn't be allowed on the ball room, or in open society for that matter. As he finished he let his hands graze just above her soft bottom, where the edge of her corset was, he smirked at her as they backed away as the dance finished.<br><br>He bowed in response to the curtsy, <strong>"Your not half bad yourself, for a Italian heathen."</strong> He winked to her smiling a little more, <strong>"Well would you like for me to dance with you again? Or is there something else you would like to do my little Minerva?"</strong> He looked into her eyes, with that silly amused boyish smile. She couldn't tell if there was any sort of naughty implications to his words.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Flight of Fancy [crystaltears &amp; Iressi &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Caeli</strong> on <strong>20-06-2009, 11:42:48</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>"I am <em>hardly</em> a heathen, Lord Kamor,"</strong> she sniffed, pretending not to see the wink, as well as the double <em>entendre</em> behind his last question. Even if he sounded perfectly innocent, Adrianna quite doubted that he was innocent. The farthest thing from it! In fact, at that very moment, he was probably wondering which lovely dame in the room he wished to bend over in a dark, locked room at that very moment.<br><br>Swishing her skirts around, Adrianna turned and headed towards the refreshment table. <strong>"I'm not interested in another dance, thank you. I believe I would rather take my chances with the wolves."</strong> If he hadn't noticed, she nodded towards the young men eyeing her from several places in the room. Some of them were young men, about her age or younger than her; there were a few about Lord Kamor's age, or thereabouts, and one or two who were between there.<br><br>Oddly, it was those who looked to have a lot of experience, and looked to have the sharpest teeth, that interested her the most. Now <em>they</em> were sure to have a wealth of conversation at the tips of their tongues.<br><br><strong>"You need not accompany for the rest of the night. When I become bored, I will go find Lady Kamor."</strong>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Flight of Fancy [crystaltears &amp; Iressi &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cosmic Latte</strong> on <strong>05-08-2009, 18:33:02</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He looked at her with some shock, and very little amusement. <em>She</em> was rejecting him? The nerve! He chuckled softly, <strong>"Heathen I suppose is somewhat of a harsh one, but you know I didn't mean it."</strong> His eyes grew darker as he moved closer to her, <strong>"A wolf would just eat you, and be done with you. I am going to accompany you for the rest of the night. Even though I might be little better than those domesticated dogs, I gave my word."</strong> His hand moved onto her shoulder gently holding it there almost like he was trying to stop her from running away. <br><br>He started to whisper into her ear so nobody else could hear, <strong>"I promised that I would look after you, and if that requires me to be civil then I will be. Now we don't have to dance, but I'm not going to..."</strong> He had a very serious tone in his voice, he wasn't going to let this go down quietly she could tell that much. He sighed a little shaking his head,<strong> "Please, lets just try to start again. In a way you are my last chance."</strong> He didn't start to explain why, nor did he seem to be in the mood to elaborate what he meant. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Flight of Fancy [crystaltears &amp; Iressi &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Caeli</strong> on <strong>19-12-2009, 10:58:06</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				She glared, trying to think of an excuse - a valid one - that would allow her to part company with him. But every time she thought of something, Adrianna's thoughts returned to Lady Kamor, and her hospitality and eagerness to take her around London... at her undisguised affection for this girl who she was not even a blood relation, who was the child of an old friend.<br><br>Adrianna could live with rejecting and insulting Lord Kamor; she was not alright with dashing away Lady Kamor's hopes of enjoying this Season, and presenting her to London. Of refusing her generosity and fun.<br><br>"I'm not doing this for you," she said abruptly, but she didn't move away. "We can stroll along the edges of this ballroom, or in the garden. But after that stunt you just pulled, I <em>refuse</em> to dance with you."
			</dd>
		</dl>
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