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Lysander Mountford-Miles (lysandermm) wrote in toujoursliberer,
@ 2008-06-02 16:35:00

Entry tags:

katherine_rochester, lysander_mountford-miles, plot

Subject: Lysander goes to call on Katherine.
Where: Katherine's humble abode.
Who: Lysander Mountford-Miles
Warnings: none.
Open to: Katherine Rochester

Lysander had not seen Katherine since she was a wee little thing, and surely news of his reappearance had gotten around to her by now. He had no other reason to visit her at the moment other than just wanting to reintroduce himself and honestly to see how they young, intellegent girl had turned out. He had always protected her against a young Eward picking on her. Whether it was over her flimsy frame or her outspoken mind. Honestly, he thought Eward had always had a crush on Katherine, which was the reason he picked on her so much, but that didn't make it okay.

Surely she would have no reason to hate Lysander, since he was the nice one. Knocking on the door, he removed his hat and smiled at the butler who answered. After apologizing for the late hour he said, "I am Lord Lysander Mountford-Miles," he threw in that Lord, since he soon would be again, "I'm here to call on Miss Rochester."

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lysandermm
2008-06-02 09:06 pm UTC (link)

Lysander walked into the foyer, his hands clasping his hat behind his back. While he awaited his hostess, he looked around at the photos and paintings and mirrors and porcelin sculptures and vases and whatever else had been on display to show the wealth of the family. He was so caught up in admiring everything, he didn't even hear her eager footsteps descend the stairs.

Upon hearing his name barely spoken, he turned to face her, blinking a couple of times at the woman who stood before him. "Katherine," he said in a soft but excited manner. "Katherine Rochester? Little Kitty? Is that you?" he asked, astonished, as he walked towards her. "My word, you have grown into a lovely woman! I always knew you would," he gave her a playful wink and bowed a few feet in front of her.

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krochester
2008-06-02 09:13 pm UTC (link)

Katherine swallowed, still half-shocked to see Lysander, and not his brother, standing mere footsteps away from her. It hit her then that she was not supposed to know he was alive, that Lysander did not know about what had gone on between herself and Eward and that she therefore should not have been told of his survival. Taking a deep, albeit shaky breath, Katherine quickly figured how to go about this. She stayed rooted to the spot on the last step, "It is me, Lysander, I...thank you, but I..."

She hoped that her attempt at surprise seemed genuine; she could be a good actress when she tried. "You're alive," Katherine murmured, almost breathlessly. "Oh God, Lysander, you're alive!" she continued in exclamation, practically stumbling off of the steps and throwing her arms around him, hugging him fiercely. Regardless of what Eward had said, Lysander had indeed been dear to her in her youth, and it seemed that nothing had changed with him but years.

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lysandermm
2008-06-02 09:21 pm UTC (link)

Had she not heard, even by rumor, that he was alive? Odd, considering how into society she must be. But that suspicion disappeared when she threw herself into his arms and hugged him, simply glad to see him. Lysander wrapped his arms around her and, lifting her up, swung her around. When he sat her back down gently on the ground, he smiled down at her, rubbing her arms. "You mean you didn't hear even a rumor about me being back?" He couldn't help but ask.

"Anyway, it doesn't matter. And I'm sorry for the late hour, I've just been making my rounds and I didn't want to wait until tomorrow morning to come to see you," he touched her face. "I cannot believe how well you have turned out! Little Kitty all grown up," he laughed, taking her hands in his and kissed her knuckles lightly.

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krochester
2008-06-02 09:28 pm UTC (link)

Katherine's breath caught; he had assumed she would know? Well, she had been told that he was alive, but it was entirely out of the question to tell Lysander that she'd heard of his being alive from Eward. No, that would not do. Best to act surprised and flustered. "Someone may have mentioned it in passing, but I did not believe it until now that I have seen you with my own eyes!" she exclaimed happily, her heart leaping as it had when he'd played with her as a child. "Oh, Lysander, I can hardly believe it even now."

She smiled up at him, perhaps even blushing. "No, no, please, don't apologize! I only wish that my mother and Miles were here to see you, but they're out most every night and you certainly would not want to wait around for hours for them." Katherine was rambling, she knew, and took a deep breath as he paused to kiss her hands. "And again, thank you. You left and I was barely out of childhood. It's strange."

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lysandermm
2008-06-02 09:34 pm UTC (link)

Bowing his head, he nodded and sighed, "Yes I know. I regret going on that trip. I only went to accompany Father. But that's in the past and I'm ready to move on," he smiled. "You were never one to really believe things until you saw them. You were never one to get fooled very easily. Oh, I certainly saved the best visit for last. I plan to go visit the Wexley's soon. That is surely to be an experience that I am not quite sure I am ready for." Lysander chuckled, thinking of a squealing Daphne and Ella and a scare out of his mind Johnny.

"Now, it is regrettable that your mother and Miles are out and I cannot see them, but perhaps I can speak with your father?"

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krochester
2008-06-02 09:40 pm UTC (link)

Katherine smiled, almost giggling, even. It seemed she had not changed much since he'd last seen her when she was not even sixteen yet. And here she was, mostly unaffected but for her age...and the fact that she had since fallen into a bit of an affair with Lysander's brother. But that he did not need to know. "They will certainly be pleased to see you," Katherine said of Daphne and her siblings. "And please, no regrets. You're here now. That is what matters, is it not?"

Her mouth nearly fell open at his last words, her eyes going wide. He doesn't know. It hit Katherine that Lysander had left mere months before her father's murder; he'd never found out, and it was likely not on the list of things that his siblings had been keen to tell him. Swallowing uncomfortably, Katherine looked away. "Lysander, I...I'm so sorry, I...of course nobody's told you." Her breathing was shallow, her heart racing. "My father was...was killed, a few months after you left." Katherine bit back the tears in her eyes; it had been more than six years. She could be an adult about it.

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lysandermm
2008-06-02 09:51 pm UTC (link)

"You're right. I wish Eward would just accept that too. He's all suspicious over my being home. Perhaps I shouldn't have scared the piss out of him the other night.... but I just wanted to have a little fun," he said in a good naturely way, looking back at Katherine. Her face had fell like something horrible had came to her realization. Lysander quickly looked around for something that he could place her in if she fainted or needed to sit.

"Killed?... My God. What is the world coming to?" Tilting his head to look at her better, he lifted her chin and his face expressed everything he couldn't say to comfort her. "I am so sorry you had to go through that, Kitty. I didn't know.. I.. am sincerely sorry."

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krochester
2008-06-02 10:03 pm UTC (link)

Katherine shifted uncomfortably at mention of Eward's name but tried not to show it, instead offering a smile as if in agreement that whatever Lysander had done was all in good fun. But mention of her father had sent her reeling; it had been some time since she'd sincerely thought about him and his murder. She swallowed uncomfortably, her heart racing.

"Yes, it...it was all politics. The night of my sixteenth birthday," Katherine whispered hoarsely, her voice choked. She felt her eyes burning with tears as Lysander lifted her chin. God, had she needed someone like him around when it had happened. Miles was running about trying to hold the family together, Daphne and her siblings could never have truly understood, and the youngest of the Mountford-Miles were no help at all even though they'd experienced Peter's death shortly before. "No, no, you don't have to be sorry, Lysander. It couldn't have been helped." She bit her lip anxiously, trying to maintain her composure.

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lysandermm
2008-06-02 10:11 pm UTC (link)

Lysander shook his head. This was astonishing. She had been through so much and she was trying to hold it all inside. Now, he felt even more guilty for not being there for her when she would have needed him. Their family was close, as were the Wexley's, but it was obvious the girl had never really been comforted over the whole thing.

"Maybe the events of that night would have been unchangable.. but how you dealt with it could have been different. I'm so sorry I wasn't here, Kitty..." he didn't want to pry, but there was probably never going to be a good time to ask everything that was racing through his mind, and of course he wanted to know incase there was still justice that needed to be served. "Were the suspects caught?"

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krochester
2008-06-02 10:18 pm UTC (link)

Katherine could barely speak, let alone respond to everything Lysander said. She just nodded her head, pressing her lips together to hold back her tears, looking at the ceiling. "No, no, Lysander, do not be sorry. You were gone, and you could not have known." Her voice was cracking and her words fuzzy. Had it really been so long since she'd thought about her father's death? It seemed like eternity. "No. Not to this day," Katherine murmured, "but it doesn't matter now. It could not change anything." She still had her wits about her, and Eward's words about Lysander made her worry that he'd go berserk if she told him that she, the little girl he'd protected in her childhood, prayed for the killers to be found; he'd go after them, and it was pointless.

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lysandermm
2008-06-02 10:25 pm UTC (link)

Lysander's face turned a light shade of red, fury building inside of him. Lord Rochester was murdered and the killers were not caught, or probably still not even identified. Simply, he shook his head, "No, it would change a lot of things, Kitty," he sighed as he tried to explain. He realized then that he was far too tired to truly flip out about this sort of thing and so that would have to wait for another time. Instead he pulled her into a gentle hug and rubbed her back.

"I'm sorry. I know I keep telling you that, but I know how you feel. I really do. And I just wish that someone would have told me they were sorry when my father died," he whispered against her hair. Realizing they were still standing in the foyer after talking about all of this, he released her, smiled as kindly as he could. "Is there somewhere we can go to sit? I promise not to be here much longer."

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krochester
2008-06-02 11:17 pm UTC (link)

Katherine buried her face against Lysander's chest, tears now streaming silently down her cheeks. She had not thought about him much since his death - or, to put it more correctly, disappearance - nearly seven years ago, and had certainly not considered herself excited for his return when Eward had told her, but now, receiving the comfort she had needed from him all these years, Katherine realized just how terribly she had missed him. Had she been able to speak, she would have thanked him tens of times over, sent him her own condolences over his father, but her throat was thick and mouth was dry. Nodding in response to his last request, Katherine took his arm and led him into the parlor and called for the maid.

"Marie, some brandy, if you please," Katherine requested before turning back to Lysander. "No, please, stay as long as you like," she offered, wiping at her eyes with her fingertips.

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lysandermm
2008-06-02 11:29 pm UTC (link)

Walking with her, he looked around the house, memories coming back to him of observing business deals between their fathers, even some that he was involved with. Chasing his siblings around these hallways. Watching her order the brandy and wiping away her tears, his heart went out to her.

Stepping towards her, his brows furrowed, he frowned. "I... didn't mean to make you cry..."

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krochester
2008-06-02 11:34 pm UTC (link)

Katherine offered Lysander a gentle smile, touching his arm. "I know that, Lysander," she said evenly and genuinely before adding (though she did not kwow what possessed her), "that was always your brother's job." But it felt strange inside to say something like that, to openly rail on Eward. Swallowing uncomfortably, Katherine watched as the maid brought the bottle of brandy and two tumblers in, placing them on the table and curtsying, taking leave of the room.

Sinking down into a chair and motioning for Lysander to take another, Katherine opened the bottle and began to pour for them both. When she'd finished, she handed Lysander his, and, taking her own, explained, "I'm afraid it is not the best. Mother hasn't got particularly refined taste in liquors like Father did, but it's far from terrible."

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	lysandermm 2008-06-02 11:40 pm UTC (link)
	Lysander controlled himself. He did not smile at her open slap to Eward, and part of him in that moment wanted to kiss her. Restraining himself, he sat down in the adjacent chair and took the tumbler full of brandy. "Any brandy, is good brandy, Kitty dear," he offered, reaching out so that she could clink her glass against his. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

krochester
2008-06-02 11:43 pm UTC (link)

With a warm smile, Katherine nodded, clinking her glass with his. "Cheers to old friends returned," Katherine suggested, raising her glass a bit further before bringing it to her lips. It seemed she'd taken a liking to it lately, to an evening bit of port or brandy or cognac. It soothed her senses, calmed her for bed. She knew it was not necessarily to her benefit, but there was no harm done.

Taking a deep breath, treading lightly, Katherine asked, "When did you return here to England?"

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lysandermm
2008-06-02 11:56 pm UTC (link)

"To old friends," he agreed and put the glass to his lips, sipping it slowly. He watched her drink that grown up drink and it only pronounced her age now. It was a little unnerving. Coming back from his thoughts by her question, he smiled and licked his lips, tasting the brandy on them. "A couple of weeks ago I arrived in England. I've only been here, however, for a week. I... believe I got here right before the hunt everyone is talking about."

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krochester
2008-06-03 01:23 am UTC (link)

Katherine took another sip from her glass, watching Lysander as he spoke. She raised an eyebrow, leaning forward. "And you did not tell anyone? Not even your brother?" Katherine inquired. "Or did you not wish to sour little Ewie's jaunt?" Her tongue burned, not from the alcohol, but from her own words. Katherine swallowed. Why was it so hard to make ill comments about him, if only in jest? She hoped her face did not portray her discomfort for Lysander to see.

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	lysandermm 2008-06-03 01:29 am UTC (link)
	Luckily for Katherine, Lysander wasn't paying attention to her face. He did chuckle however and downed more of the brandy. Swallowing hard, he smirked and looked at her. "That is exactly right, you smart little girl," he teased and complimented at the same time. "Yes, I figured he could have his fun, since I didn't think that he was going to take this well." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

krochester
2008-06-03 01:35 am UTC (link)

Katherine swallowed another sip of brandy rather uncomfortably. A few select thoughts skittered across her mind, things she might have said only if the situation and company were not what they were. I'm not a little girl. He did have his fun. And it was with me. Breathing deeply, Katherine remarked, casting her eyes to Lysander, "And he hasn't taken it well, you said?" That reminded her perfectly of the park, and her heart fluttered in her chest.

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lysandermm
2008-06-04 12:44 am UTC (link)

"Mmm.." he licked his lips and shook his head. "No, I'm afraid he's not. I didn't really expect him to, but Abby and Edith have welcomed me back with open arms. He did hug me when he finally believed I was there, but then it was like a complete 180 after that. It seems to me that he's worried I'm back to take his title away from him," Lysander discussed, shrugging reaching for the bottle of brandy, "You don't mind if I have more do you? It has been a trying day.." he smiled gently at her and pour himself a nearly full glass.

"Like I was saying, I'm not back to claim my rights to anything... Is it so bad that I missed my family and friends so much that I worked my ass off for 6 years to get right enough to return home just to see them and be with them again?" he asked, almost frustrated.

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krochester
2008-06-04 01:51 am UTC (link)

Katherine, listening intently, pictured Eward with her in the park, and Lysander's words virtually explained the same, only from a different vantage point. She nodded generously when he requested more brandy, finishing her own and placing the empty glass on the table. Swallowing, not keen on making too much of a statement for fear of revealing what she ought not to know, at least as far as Lysander was allowed to be aware of, Katherine responded, "It is to be expected. I daresay he's taken to his role in life quite nicely and is not used to having another man in the house to contend with. Surely it is a matter of honor, in his eyes, and certainly of ego."

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lysandermm
2008-06-04 01:59 am UTC (link)

"Honestly, if it means so much to him, I can split the estate with him. My desires don't lay with superficial matters like land and money," he sighed and looked down at his already half empty glass. "All I want is to marry a woman that I love and have children. I just don't want to exclude the family I already have from that life."

Sighing, he smiled at her and then downed the rest of his brandy. "Now, Kitty, I apologize again for my late visit, and for calling you a little girl several times. I know that you are not, I am just amazed at how much time has passed since I've seen you," his face so kind and true. "Anyway, I should bid you good night before I get too pissed to walk. I think that is your intention," he winked playfully at her as he stood. "I will send a new bottle of the best brandy I know to thank you for your time."

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krochester
2008-06-04 02:07 am UTC (link)

Katherine swallowed uncomfortably at Lysander's suggestions of his ideal life. It certainly sounded a direct contradiction to Eward's roguish tendencies, and Katherine could not place why that disturbed her so. "And I do hope you find that, Lysander," she concluded gently, touching his hand.

Rising along with Lysander, Katherine blushed and rolled her eyes. "Well, sir, you've caught me. It seems I'm not the little girl I was with charm as my weapon. I know now that it is fine liquor that gets jobs done much faster." Pausing, she added softly, "Really, you were no trouble at all. I do appreciate the company, and goodness knows I have missed you." Katherine quieted for a moment before taking him in another embrace, her heart divided on what to think about Lysander and Eward but pleased nonetheless at his survival.

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lysandermm
2008-06-04 02:15 am UTC (link)

Laughing quite wholeheartedly, he kissed her cheek lightly. "Yes, well, I have missed you. You are everything I hoped and thought you would turn out to be, dear Kitty. Beautiful, witty, and still intelligent. You will make someone a lucky man someday," he complimented and sighed as he stepped back. "Good night, love. I will see you soon I hope. You are always welcome at the estate." Bowing very formally, he smiled and made his way out of the door, through the foyer and outside to his waiting horse, hating to use the carriage so much.

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krochester
2008-06-04 02:23 am UTC (link)

Katherine, flattered and shocked at the same time, smiled at Lysander as he left, strange feelings in her chest. He had no idea the weight of his words. She was honored to have such flatteries spoken to her name, but if only Lysander knew about her and Eward...would he say the same? I could make Eward happy. Katherine blinked, almost ready to kill herself for thinking it. No. That was entirely ridiculous. She would make her fiance happy, and remain friends with Lysander while doing it. But Eward? She did love Lysander and was grateful for his return, but somehow he had unknowingly sparked more questions than he had answered.

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