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Tweak says, "The pickle people prefer"

Lord Eward Mountford-Miles (lord_eward) wrote in toujoursliberer,
@ 2008-05-14 11:23:00

Entry tags:

eward_mountford-miles

Subject: An Engagement Party
Who: Eward Mountford-Miles
Where: The Chauceford-Miles home, cousins of the M&M's.
Warnings: None atm.
Open to: Katherine and anyone else who might want to attend it!
Feel free to talk to people other than Eward, btw!

Lisa Chauceford-Miles was getting engaged and she had decided to hold a grand party for anyone she had ever met, including their friends, to help celebrate. So far there were over seventy in attendance at the grand estate, sipping on wine, dancing to music and gossipping amongst themselves. Eward knew his cousin was simply craving the attention but he had stood there for fifteen minutes nevertheless, listening to her babbling about dresses and which church suited her plans. When he was finally able to excuse himself and break away from the mindless conversation he grabbed the nearest glass of alcohol and downed it in one.

These events were never pleasant and he'd be hard pressed to find some enjoyment out of it.

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lord_eward
2008-05-14 11:35 pm UTC (link)

Eward had hoped she would react kindly, at least understand what he was saying but he feared for a moment that she was beyond that; that he had pushed her too far. Yet, when the sensitive hand touched his arm Eward's hopes were answered even though she remained silent. Katherine's eyes said all that needed to be said and he felt relief flood through him, along with something else.

Though he wanted to kiss her, dear God how much he did, he refrained from doing so. Thinking that she had simply accepted his apology he would not press anything on her, lest he just ruined what had happened. Clearing his throat, Eward tried to rid the telling emotion from his voice. "So we..." he started, but could not finish. He had no words to say.

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krochester
2008-05-14 11:40 pm UTC (link)

Katherine's heart was beating out of her chest, her face was flushed, and her stomach was in knots. When had it come to this? Days ago, even after their night together, she hadn't felt this way. She had blocked it from her mind, really, managed to go about her daily life and not worry too much on that she had slept with Eward. But it had, too, pained her to think of it. She was angry at herself more than at him; forgiving him for past indiscretions was not the problem.

She lowered her eyes at last, unable to look at him any longer for fear she'd say something she ought not to, or do something silly or cruel. Instead, Katherine replied, "I...I haven't the slightest idea," her voice quiet, barely more than a whisper.

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lord_eward
2008-05-14 11:44 pm UTC (link)

Eward's body was reacting very much the same as Katherine's, the only difference being his blush was not all that visible. As they continued to avoid each other's eyes Eward still felt good for having confessed to clear the air. She was not shouting at him any more or shooting him cold glares, so that marked progress at least.

With a short exhale, Eward decided to move. "I will say goodbye to Lisa... I have already offered congratulations so she will allow me to leave. You should not have the party ruined on account of me, so please go and enjoy, she would like to see you," he said, the emotion still there in a hint of his words. "I will... well... good evening, Katherine..."

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krochester
2008-05-14 11:54 pm UTC (link)

Katherine watched rather shocked as Eward explained away that he would be leaving. A part of her, one that she could not quite place, wanted him to stay, but she knew not for what reason. Katherine could, too, hear it in his voice that he did not want to leave. And yet he was doing so to spare her grief.

As Eward turned, Katherine, in the moment, reached out and grabbed his arm, holding it just more firmly than she had before, enough to convey her purpose. Closing the widened gap between them, she said softly, "You do not have to leave. I would feel awful if you left to try and spare me having the party ruined when you do not even know if your presence would indeed do just that." It was the boldest, most lengthy thing Katherine had yet said.

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lord_eward
2008-05-15 09:38 am UTC (link)

Eward's insides flipped at her statement and though he was glad that she wanted him to stay he was quite torn of what to do. It would not be fun for him to walk around and simply catch her gaze from opposite sides of the room, he wanted it to be more complete than that.

"The party ended for me the moment I brought you in this hallway," he confessed, a small but rueful smile on his lips. "I could not bear to walk out of here and simply put on my usual facade... it is too difficult for me. Unless you express your wish for me to stay I will leave this moment."

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krochester
2008-05-15 10:34 am UTC (link)

Katherine's eyes dimmed, their usual brightness gone. Perhaps she had not realized it before - or maybe she had - but it did indeed seem that he was incredibly torn and hurt by what had gone on between them. More than she'd anticipated from what he'd told her, and that was quite telling as it was.

"Don't say that," Katherine said, surprising herself at how it did not sound admonishing. "Even if I were to wish you to stay, I worry you've set your mind to leaving. And I cannot stop you from doing that," she explained evenly, her voice very low and quiet, even lackluster. "But for what it is worth, I do not want you to go."

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lord_eward
2008-05-15 10:44 am UTC (link)

That was something he never thought he would ever hear Katherine say. He swallowed down the lump in his throat, eyes sparkling for the first time since he had arrived and his smile became happier.

"I will stay," Eward agreed, nodding his head once and slowly. The knot in his stomach was easing but it did not release the butterflies. "I will do my duty to my cousin, talk for half an hour, and I shall bother you no longer if... that is suitable."

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krochester
2008-05-15 08:15 pm UTC (link)

Katherine looked away, wondering for the first time if her own attitude was turning Eward away. She had not intended for that, at least not to the caliber it seemed it had gone to. Genuinely, she felt guilty for pushing him away, or making him think that that was what she wanted. If anyone ought to leave, it should be her; she had, after all and according to Eward, been the cause of the problems.

She offered a strained but lovely smile, her mouth dry. "No. No, you mustn't cut your evening with your cousin short on my account. If it will make things more pleasant, I shall give her my well-wishes and return home." Perhaps it was a bit too spiteful.

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lord_eward
2008-05-15 10:28 pm UTC (link)

"I do not care about my evening with my cousin, because she is the most insufferable person I have ever met!" Eward snapped suddenly, only out of anger that he could be losing Katherine so soon after reconciling. He calmed himself quickly. "Sorry - but... I would rather spend the evening with you than either of us leaving early. Not that that is going to happen, so we may as well... part ways."

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krochester
2008-05-15 10:32 pm UTC (link)

Katherine grimaced just slightly at Eward's outburst over his cousin, but allowed her face to soften soon after. There was a lump in her throat and her chest felt tight, all resultant of his rather unexpected statement. I would rather spend the evening with you. She wanted to stay. And despite telling herself it was silly, she wanted to stay with him. Swallowing, Katherine said earnestly, "You can never be sure what is or is not going to happen, you know. People may surprise you."

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	lord_eward 2008-05-15 10:36 pm UTC (link)
	Eward glanced to her without moving his head. What was she up to? She was so hard to fathom out, to read and to judge. That was what fascinated him; unlike other women she had managed to hold his interest for years. "And are you a surprising woman?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

krochester
2008-05-15 10:39 pm UTC (link)

Katherine raised her eyes, looking directly into Eward's own. Her heart was racing at her own daring, her unknown motives. She was not entirely sure if it was attraction or fascination with Eward's seeming change of heart. Testing the waters could not hurt. Daringly, and perhaps even challengingly, Katherine replied smoothly, "I should think that you would know the answer to that."

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	lord_eward 2008-05-15 10:45 pm UTC (link)
	Eward was, strangely, satisfied with her answer. He broke into a knowing smile, thinking back to how shocked he was when she had thrown herself on him and then, in a slightly coy and shy manner, he looked down. "Oh - yes I remember..." he said with a slight chuckle to his voice. His eyes met with hers. "You are the most surprising woman I know." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

krochester
2008-05-15 10:51 pm UTC (link)

Katherine blushed, her face darknening with a becoming red flush, for she knew all too well to what he referred. But she played it off rather coyly, offering a flattered smile and cocking her head to the side to look up into Eward's face, his eyes catching hers. "Then it should not surprise you," Katherine started, placing a gloved hand on his upper arm, not daring to touch his chest in the same manner, else it be thought of as too sensual, "that I am staying."

Her hand lingered on his arm, her eyes in their lock with his, for a long moment, before Katherine broke herself away, walking proudly past Eward out to the party. It would certainly look suspect if they came from a dark hallway together, and Katherine wanted nothing more than to not cause a scene. She was at the engagement party; she might as well find the bride-to-be and then enjoy herself.

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lord_eward
2008-05-15 10:57 pm UTC (link)

Eward's smile seemed like it would never fade, even as she walked out of the hallway. They were all right. They were not fighting. For once, Eward felt happy; he knew it could all collapse and fall in on itself as soon as it had been righted. After all, she was a bride to be herself.

After a moment Eward followed Katherine's path, a grin on his face. He spotted her across the room and instead of feeling dread he hopped over to antagonise some of his most annoying cousins and flummoxed them with his cheery nature.

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