Main Site |
* Catreenia twines her fingers somewhat nervously into Bastian's as the carriage rumbles through Eastgate and past Arabel's northern bazaar, heading for the rich shops clustered near the city palace. "I'm so nervous... is my hair all right?" She pats her hair, the single braid divided into many smaller braids and coiffed on top of her head for the occasion of the visit. <Bastian> ::looking at her critically:: You look very nice, my lady. ::he sounds as if he's said this at least eighteen times in the last twenty minutes, which he probably has:: * Catreenia bites her lip, glancing out the window again as the carriage turns into a side street. "With luck, the visit will be a total surprise... after all, they expect me to be in school... oh, gods, Bastian, I should have gone to them first. What if someone told them I left?" <Catreenia> ::gives him a worried and half-apologetic glance:: Throwing myself under carriage wheels is starting to look good, now... <Bastian> ::looking out the window, he snickers:: I daresay your parents wouldn't want to have seen you as you were three weeks prior. And I wish you would not think such things, my lady. I just had the carriage painted, you know. * Catreenia sticks her tongue out at him, glancing out the window as they roll past a wine shop and slow. "Well, if you want to flee, now's your last chance. We're here." <Bastian> ::raises an eyebrow at her:: Don't tempt me, my lady. Your hair looks too pristine right now for me to muss it all up. * Catreenia turns pink. "Oh, you! I never knew rudeness could so excite a man!" <Bastian> ::shrugging slightly:: I don't know. Maybe it's just the hairstyle, my lady. * Catreenia presses her cooler hands to her cheeks and takes several deep breaths as the coach pulls to a stop in front of a spacious two-story shop. The sign out front is understated, reading only "Suchart's" in flowing gold script on a black gilt-edged oval. * Bastian steps out of the coach, offering Cat his hand. "My lady?" * Catreenia refrains from touching her hair again, instead simply taking his hand and stepping down from the coach, smoothing the fall of her simple, sapphire-blue velveteen gown. <Bastian> :clasping her arm under his, he brushes non-existent lint from his black longcoat:: Come along, my lady. * Catreenia allows herself to be led, lifting her chin a little and straightening her spine as they approach the building. With another deep breath, she puts her hand on the latch and pushes open the stout, brass-bound door to the shop. A swinging ball on a string moves as the door opens, striking a soft chord on a three-stringed harp attached to the back of the door. * Bastian ushers her inside, casting a quick look over his shoulder as he does so. <Wynne> ::an attractive woman in her early forties, dark brown hair graced by no more silver than the artfully-worked pin she wears in it, looks up with a welcoming smile at the door chime. The family resemblance to Cat is immediate and obvious:: Welcome, my lord and-- ::she freezes, eyes widening as she sees Cat, and her voice pales to a whisper:: Catreenia? * Bastian bows gracefully, tucking his hat under his arm. "Your servant, Madam Suchart." * Bastian straightens, his quick dark eyes scanning the shop with casual observation. <Wynne> ::looks from Bastian to Cat again, her eyes doubtful as steps out from behind the counter to peer into the girl's eyes with her own brown ones:: * Catreenia smiles nervously. "It's me, Mama." She steps forward, almost taking a step back again as the older woman rushes forward and wraps her arms around her in a tight embrace. The apprentice also manning the counter takes one look at the two women and ducks quickly through a back door. * Bastian turns aside to allow the two some semblance of privacy, admiring the jewelry in display cases. <Wynne> Cat, thank the gods, we were so *worried*! When we got the headmaster's letter, and you didn't come home, and didn't come home... ::holding her at arm's length, tears making her eyes bright:: Girl, where have you *been*? * Bastian tucks his hands behind his back, flipping his hat absently as he looks at the cases, watching Cat out of the corner of his eye. <Catreenia> ::taking a shaky breath:: Mama, please don't cry, I'm safe now. I... I took a month off from school, I had to, I... ::dropping her head:: I hurt a friend badly, and in hurting him, I hurt myself. And nearly worse... ::swallowing as she trails off for a moment and musters up her voice again:: I... I went to find Great-grandmama Celidwen, Mama. * Bastian raises an eyebrow, as if surprised, then covers it, looking more closely at a selection of emerald pieces. <Wynne> ::her eyes go wide, and she clutches her daughter to her again:: Then... your eyes... oh, my child, my foolish child... ::stroking Cat's hair with one hand:: <Bastian> :snorts, muttering something under his breath:: <Reynard> ::an older, squarish man in a wine-red doublet, his light brown hair greying at the temples, catches the jamb of the back door as he runs through it:: Wynne! Robin said-- Catreenia! * Bastian looks up at the older man, whom he has seen before. * Reynard raises his eyebrows slightly, clearing his throat and straightening his doublet as he looks from his wife and daughter to Bastian, recognizing him. He glances around as Robin enters again behind him. "My dear, perhaps we should take this inside... if milord will forgive a family's distraction?" * Bastian smiles, bowing gracefully. "Not at all, my dear sir." * Catreenia extricates herself from her mother's grasp, wiping her eyes and shrinking a little under her father's stern look. "No... Mama, Papa..." She swallows hard again, half-turning as she waves a hand towards Bastian. "Lord Bastian Hooke, may I present to you my parents, Wynne and Reynard Suchart." She turns back to her parents. "Without Lord Hooke, I doubt I would be here today... I met him quite by accident in Marsember, and he insisted on acting as my escort to Arabel." She looks back at him again. "He saved my life." * Bastian bows again, this time to Madam Suchart. "It is certainly my privilege to be the means of reuniting you with your daughter, madam." <Catreenia> ::Master Suchart blinks for a moment in stunned surprise before sweeping into a graceful bow to Bastian. Madam Suchart looks from her daughter to Bastian, hurrying forward and curtseying to him deeply before holding out her hand to him.:: My Lord Hooke... I thank you. You have our deepest gratitude, for keeping her from harm. <Bastian> ::taking her hand, he presses his mouth briefly to the back of her hand near her wrist:: Madam, it is I who am grateful, to be able to be of service. I pray, think on it no more. <Reynard> ::straightening:: Aye, my lord. Although I'm certain it's little enough we offer you-- anything you ask of us, if it's within our power, it's yours. * Catreenia bites her lip, looking from Bastian to her parents, twining her fingers together. <Bastian> ::raising an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth turning up in his half-smile:: Ah, tis a fine offer you make, Master Suchart. I fear I shall soon lay claim to it, then. <Reynard> ::gives Bastian a faintly puzzled look, glancing towards his daughter with a small frown as she fidgets. Suddenly, he stills, staring at her entwined hands with a somewhat strangled gasp:: Cat... Catreenia Wyn Suchart, what is that on your hand? * Bastian takes Catreenia's hand, twining his fingers around hers possessively. "As I said, Master Suchart. I should want... I should very much *like* to take Miss Suchart as my bride and Lady." * Catreenia pales and then flushes, looking at her shoes before gathering the courage to look up at her parents again. Her mother looks back at her wide-eyed, looking back and forth between her husband, her daughter, and Lord Hooke, her hand still half-extended uncertainly. Her father looks somewhat aghast, his face ashy. <Reynard> ::licking his lips, straightening his doublet again as he attempts to regain his composure:: Your pardon, milord... I... did you just ask me for my *daughter*? <Bastian> ::nodding slightly:: Yes, Master Suchart. As my wife. <Reynard> ::puts a hand behind him as he staggers backwards a little, sagging against one of the display cases:: * Bastian looks down at Cat, a little concerned. <Wynne> ::breaks out of her shock to puts a hand on her husband's arm, looking worried, and looking at Bastian and Cat:: Milord... if I might have a word with... ::looking at Cat, concerned:: Cat, dear... I'm not quite certain what you've been through, but I'm sure it's been very trying... trying for us all. ::looking with concern at her husband again:: Can this be... do *you* want this? * Catreenia chews her lip, looking worriedly at her father as he slips a small silver case from his pocket, removing a small something from it and putting it in his mouth, under his tongue. "Papa?" Her voice sounds very young. "Oh Mama... yes, it is... I know, it must seem so fast, but... I love him, I do." <Bastian> ::his eyebrows go even higher, nearly disappearing into his hairline:: Tis not such a horrible fate, Master Suchart? <Reynard> ::closing his eyes briefly, panting as he sits heavily on a stool:: It is... forgive us, milord, it is only that... we did not expect to find her, only to lose her again so quickly. ::his voice is faint, his polite smile a bit ghastly. After another pause of several breaths, he looks up again to appraise Bastian from under lowered brows:: <Reynard> Well, I cannot fault your bargaining position, milord... did you know of this when you came for the ring on her finger? ::nodding to Cat's hand, and waving to indicate the shop:: You knew where she was, two weeks gone? <Bastian> ::nodding:: I have been with her, these past three weeks. I was not, however, aware that she was... missing. I had believed her to have taken care of those things, before we went forth from Marsember. <Bastian> ::a little softer:: It is... regrettable, perhaps, that you were overly worried for her, but, I assure you, I would not allow her to be in jeopardy. * Catreenia lowers her head again under her father's sharp glace. "I'm very sorry, Papa. I..." She pauses, laughing shakily. "I didn't think. I did a lot of not-thinking, that week. I didn't mean to make you worry-- I didn't mean to hurt *anyone.*" * Reynard looks musingly from Bastian to his daughter and back as his wife bites her lip in a very Cat-like gesture. With a shake of his head, he murmurs, "No match for the stars in her eyes..." <Bastian> ::looking at Cat fondly:: Are they not fine? <Reynard> Aye, though when last I saw them, I believe they were *brown.* ::gives Cat a stern look:: Well, my Lord Hooke, I did say anything, and I can hardly be forsworn for this. ::studying his daughter with a small smile:: Although you may reconsider that "horrible fate" remark once you come to know her. <Catreenia> ::hugs Bastian's arm tightly, awaiting her father's word:: PApa! <Bastian> ::laughs:: Ah, I've seen some of that... ::glances down at Cat:: <Reynard> ::stands slowly, but with more of his normal color as he hooks his wife's arm into his and pats her hand:: In that case, milord... you have my blessing, and my daughter's hand, if she'll have you. ::smiling a little:: Best of luck to you, I'm certain you'll need it. ::smiling at his wife:: We've spoiled her horribly. <Reynard> ::eyeing Cat:: However... I do have one condition. Before or after the wedding, I care not, but... she *must* finish her schooling. <Wynne> ::clearing her throat a little hesitantly:: Cat... we received a letter from your headmaster two and a half weeks agone. Master Bluestar expects you back on the 4th. <Bastian> ::murmurs:: Bluestar again... ::he laughs slightly:: But, I agree, Master Suchart. <Reynard> Very well. Then, while I still have a father's authority to do so... Cat, you *will* be back at school on the 4th, do we understand each other? * Catreenia nods, hugging Bastian's arm. "Yes, Papa." She adds a little defensively. "I *did* intend to go back, if I... if I could." She swallows. * Wynne pales a little, but nods. <Reynard> Well. Well... ::shooting a sharp glance to the rather stunned-looking, wooden-faced apprentice standing against the wall behind the counter:: Robin, mind the shop. ::gesturing to the open door behind him:: My lord, if you would... be welcome in our house. Let me offer you a glass of something, and we can discuss her dowry... * Bastian looks at the apprentice, a very small twinkle of something like sympathy lingers there a moment, before he turns to Cat's father. "I'd be happy to." <Wynne> ::regaining a bit of her composure:: And I, for one, would like to know what has kept my daughter so occupied for the last three weeks that she couldn't come visit sooner.... |
|
|