Who: Lady Hope and Lord Karl (Feat. Lord Alec) What: They go to a party, Alec is… Alec, but in Lord form When: August 10, Mid-day Where: Carriage + A manor Rating: low
Hope felt at odds with their outing today. They had planned a trip to attend a party today for one of the important people who Karl often did business with and was hoping to do more in the future. Hope knew it was important and yet her mind was still on their daughter left at home. She had silently mourned not being able to nurse her - only commoners were forced to do such a thing. At night when Nita cried it was hard not to rush into her room either. Hope fussed more, having given in to several late night check ins, but she knew this wasn’t the norm. She knew she wasn’t supposed to debase herself doing such things when they had help to do it for her.
As they rode in the carriage, Hope looked out the window. She was in an elegant gown that flattered her skin and hair and she knew she would make Karl look good at this party. It was one of her main roles while attending such a thing. She also knew worrying about their child while at the party would do the opposite.
And still.
She turned to Karl. “Nita was feeling a bit hot when I checked her before we left.”
While Karl wouldn’t admit it out loud, he appreciated how much his wife took to motherhood. He knew not every mother cared, his included. And the lord loved his daughter too. “You worry too much my dearest wife. But, if she feels warm tomorrow we can call the midwife. Might be her teeth have begun.”
His hand squeezed his wife’s. “You look beautiful, my wife.” She always impressed his potential business partners. Karl hadn’t expected a love match, but felt so lucky to have his tiny spitfire of a wife.
She nodded to her husband. Yes, she was worrying too much. A part of her had to wonder if there was something wrong with her. She didn’t voice that concern, though. Instead she smiled at him with his compliment. “Thank you. I know you like this dress.” So she wore it as much as she could while balancing the concern he might get tired of it.
When the carriage slowed, Hope turned back to Karl. “I promise not to worry about Nita while at the party.” Or rather, she promised not to outwardly worry about their daughter. She was already missing their daughter a lot. Why was it that babies couldn’t be brought to these sorts of things?
Karl knew absolutely nothing was wrong with his wife. She cared more deeply than most and he would never fault her for his feelings. “I like you in everything, but this dress is the loveliest.” Would Karl tire of seeing her in it? Probably not.
“You would not be you, my dearest wife, if you didn’t worry. Maybe keep it to yourself until we are alone again, though.” He knew not everyone found a worried mother as endearing as him.
Babies had a tendency to interrupt deals, which explained the lack of their baby with them. Plus his possible business partners might leave if his baby began to cry.
When the carriage came to a stop, Hope allowed the footman to help her out. She walked with her husband and let her husband introduce her to the men who were apparently very important. Once it was deemed time to talk about things women couldn’t understand, Hope moved away to find the other wives and other women to talk to.
After some mingling, she took a seat in the garden of the home with a glass of wine with her. She took a sip as a man moved to sit beside her.
“Your husband is bold to let such a beauty out of his sight.” Alex reached for her hand, lifted it, and kissed her on the back of her hand.
Karl kept an arm around his wife’s waist as they walked inside. Anything to keep her centered on the current situation. Otherwise he worried she’d be too lost in her thoughts about their daughter.
He smiled as his wife went to join the other women and returned his attention to the men speaking. Karl noticed as she took a glass of wine to go sit in the garden. And watched as a man followed Hope outside.
“Excuse me momentarily.” Karl took his leave to go check on his wife.
Hope was not a stranger to men’s attention. She always had to walk a fine line as she never knew which one of the Lords her husband wished to do dealings with and being outright rude was not only unbecoming of any woman, but could jeopardize important agreements. She didn’t recognize the man, but that wasn’t new either.
“I think you’ll find my husband is a keen observer.” She offered the man a polite smile, then decided to gently probe.. “Do you know him?”
Alec conveniently hadn’t let go of her hand just yet. It was soft. He always enjoyed how women had soft hands. The softer a lady’s hands, the more she had to steal, not that he looked like a thief in his very fine clothes. It helped he was Lady Donna’s son.
His thumb brushed lightly over the back of Hope’s hand. A simple, but bold gesture. “Between the two of you, I think that it is you who are far more interesting to know, my Lady.”
Karl did not care at all if he ruined some business prospects in this case. Nobody touched his wife, or followed her out to the garden.
His expression could best be described as wolfish. Karl’s feral smile didn’t lessen as he commented, “I’d let go of my wife’s hand.” He could wait, but Karl found instead a punch to the eye worked wonders, and so punched the young man, with a lot of force. To Hope he asked gently, “Are you alright, my dearest?”
He did hear murmurs, but did not care at all if people saw him punch someone. Karl straightened his clothing.
Despite being privy to some of her husband’s possessive tendencies, she still let out a gasp when Karl punched the man. She didn’t handle violence well even if she knew it was entirely appropriate on some occasions, like this one.
Alec fell backwards off the bench they had been sitting on and his legs went over his body briefly like a failed backwards somersault. When his feet flopped back to the ground, he had his hand to his face. Hope had risen from the bench and somehow managed not to spill the wine which was now on the bench where she had been sitting.
“Yes, I’m alright, my love.”
Alec groaned as he sat up. It was clear his eye would blacken from the punch. “We were only talking, sir.”
Perhaps Hope didn’t care for her husband’s possessive tendencies, but something in Karl always said mine when it came to his wife. His hand, thankfully, didn’t hurt.
He watched as the young man toppled over and Karl held back a laugh at how comical it looked. “As long as you’re alright.” Karl pressed a soft kiss to her wrist.
“Perhaps this will teach you to talk with a little more distance between you and whatever lady you’re trying to charm.” If he’d only been chatting with his wife, as Karl did with the wives of his business partners, the punch wouldn’t happen.
Alec had perhaps learned a lesson… for now. Though really he had wanted the jewels on her hand more than anything else. He inwardly did a sigh. Outwardly he stood, retrieved his hat, and did a half bow as if to silently say ‘my apologies’. “Enjoy your day, sir.” He glanced to Hope and touched his hat. “Madam.” Then he turned to leave and find an easier mark.
Hope turned to Karl. “I will find a place inside to sit.” So that he might continue his work.
Karl nodded, arm around his wife’s waist. “As long as you’re okay, darling.”