The benefits of privacy Date: Wednesday, 24 September 2001 Location: Yaxley Residence Time: Late Afternoon Characters: Kastra Yaxley and Artemis Laidlaw
Occasions that inclined her to wear trousers were few but riding was one of them. She'd never had the tolerance for the sidesaddle nonsense her mother had so esteemed, finding much more satisfaction in the same fashion as her father. These days such trappings seemed to a bit antiquated, but it still inspired a charming sort of contentment. Truth be told, much of the clothing Kastra Yaxley favored seemed to echo a sort of old world arisoticracy. It was comfortable in its familiarity to her, and she figured such tastes could likely be excused under living abroad.
It was pure aesthetic that drove her selection of horses, apart from their pedigree, of course. Of the six horses Elias had conceded, three were perfectly, beautifully black and three were stunningly white. Kastra had chosen a white male, Cratus, out of concern that decked in all black atop little less than a war horse might come across as a bit unapproachable. Boots covered her legs up to her knee, where snug black trousers rose to meet her tailored black riding jacket. Peaking out was the collar of her white silk chemise and cravat, the eggplant and emerald brocade corset underneath completely hidden. Black leather gloves kept away the chill of the coming fall.
Crisp, cool air blew through the trees as they made their winding path through the woods near Kastra's home, lifting the stray locks of her messy bun. Keeping their pace leisurely, it had been easy to work through the initial required chit-chat until matters of actual interest could be discussed.
"What I don't understand is that while, yes, there are galas and that sort, but doesn't anyone throw more... private parties?" she inquired. With a wolfish sort of smile she added, "I understand the necessary pandering, but honestly, what's happened to proper pureblood society? It can't have simply evaporated."