WindhavenGirlsDayOutGrandMarketplaceAfter breakfast Ashly fulfilled her promise and took her sisters into the city. First the three of them went to Madame Veronica. There, each of them bought a fabulous evening gown for the Reception Party. Ashly also bought two neck ribbons for Xander, one black and one pink. Next, the girls went to the Grand Marketplace where according to their shopping list they acquired food and supplies for the family. The Grand Marketplace consisted of a large square lined with small shops. As the Windhaven ladies were strolling along the flagway between shops, a smart curricle drawn by perfectly matched chestnuts drew up at the curb in front of a shop advertising art prints. The driver was a slim, dark-haired young man, with a pretty dark-haired young woman beside him. Once he had reined the horses to a stop, a groom wearing Anderon colors sprang down from the back of the vehicle to take the team's heads. After securing the reins, the young man clambered down from the carriage with the help of handgrips built into the sides, then slid out a pair of crutches from the footwell. Swinging down from the carriage in a graceful fashion, a pale blue day gown swirling around her slender body, Elissa walked around the carriage. She stood next to Giulian. Reaching out, she brushed a bit of dust and dirt from his shoulder. She smiled at him and then looked around. The look and smile he gave her in response to that simple touch, as he got his crutches under him, suggested both ease and intimacy. Elissa gave him the same smile back once more. Then, looking around, he spotted the trio of approaching young ladies and nodded an acknowledgement. "Good morning," he addressed them. "The Misses ... Windhaven, isn't it? I believe I saw you at the Fashion Show." Elissa turned to see the newcomers, recognizing them from the Fashion Show as well. Walking with her sister, Gabriella turned and saw the young couple. She smiled and led her sisters towards them. "Good morning, sir," she said with a polite nod. "Yes, we are the Windhaven sisters. Lord Christophe is our father. I suppose we should set up something for an introduction to everyone. I am Gabriella Windhaven and these are my younger twin sisters, Ashly and Victoria." Tori curtseyed deeply, then rose but remained quiet. "Giulian Anderon," the young man introduced himself, "and my companion here is Miss Elissa Chatham. It's a pleasure to meet you." "The pleasure is likewise." Ashly smiled softly. She looked at Giulian and asked after a moment. "Anderon... are you by any chance Renalda's older brother?" Giulian smiled. "That's right. It shows, doesn't it?" "Well, maybe not at first glance, but neverthless it does," Ash agreed with a smile. "You are a bit similar to her." "We both take after our mother," Giulian explained, "Nalda even more than I do." He cocked his head interestedly. "You've been living offworld, then? I believe my father said after Lord Windhaven's death in the foundry fire, his heir had to be sent for offplanet." "Yes," Tori replied in her soft, deep voice. "Gabriella and I are quite new to the planet. Ashly's been here at school and she's showing us around today." "The convent school?" Giulian asked Ashly. "I expect that's how you know Renalda, then." Ashly nodded. "We were in a different classes so I only know her by sight. Though, I heard gossip that she has a very handsome older brother," she added with a smile. Elissa glanced over at Giulian and smiled. "Oh, I definitely agree with you and his sister on that," she said in a teasing tone. "They might have been talking about Jack," Giulian teased back. Elissa glanced back at him, letting him know that she was definitely not talking about Jack. She shifted her body and ran her fingers up the inside of his arm hidden by the crutches. Tori didn't seem to know how to react to this particular change in conversation, so she stayed quiet, a gentle smile curving her lips. "Renalda's and my elder half-brother," Giulian went on to explain. "Mother's son by her first marriage. "You have brothers, too, I believe," he said to the Windhaven sisters. "Yes, we do. Older identical twins, Xander and Xavier, and a younger brother, Trystan," Gabriella said. "That's a big family," Elissa said. Gabriella nodded. "We love it though. Always had a playmate when we were younger. Of course, the identical twins played the usual pranks of guess who the twin was." "I wondered how that one fellow managed to change costumes so fast," quipped Giulian. "So how do you tell them apart? Or is that a family secret?" "Oh, that's easy." Ashly chuckled. "The overprotective one is Xander." "It's hard for a brother not to be protective of a younger sister," admitted Giulian. "Maybe, but unlike Xavier and Trystan, he doesn't know moderation," Ashly replied. "What's worst, it looks like he wants to protect all women, not just us. Mark my words, one day it will get him into trouble." "Xander's trying to get along with you better, dearest," Tori said gently. "Won't you give him a chance?" Then she seemed to realize that they were still in the company of relative strangers, and she colored prettily. Turning to Elissa and Giulian, she smiled. "Please forgive us for burdening you with family matters at our first meeting. Perhaps we might make amends by adjourning to a coffee shop for some refreshment and... light... conversation?" "I wouldn't mind that," said Giulian. "What about you, Elissa?" "No, I would not mind that at all," Elissa said. Gabriella smiled at her younger sisters and shook her head lightly. "I add my forgiveness with them. We must remember we're no longer alone on our farm." "That's all right, I know how it is with siblings," said Giulian. He tilted his head in the direction the Windhaven sisters had been going. "There's a pleasant little cafe a few doors down this way. Shall we?" Ash looked first at her sisters and then at her new friends. "Frankly, I was planning to take Tori and Gabby to the Lower City for a brunch. Perhaps, we could go there together?" she offered. "You wish to go to the Lower City?" Elissa queried and turned to look at Giulian. She was surprised such young ladies would want to venture down there. "I do not think that is such a good idea to venture down there. Not all is as it seems down there." "Well, I've heard few very interesting stories about this place... and I just have to see it on my own eyes," Ash replied with an impish grin. "What can be a better occasion for it then a family reunion?" Giulian could think of a number of better ways to celebrate a family reunion, but after exchanging a significant look with Elissa, he said, "In that case, I think we should certainly offer our escort -- if you don't mind the intrusion of non-family members in the party." "I wouldn't mention this if I had anything against your company," Ashly assured Giulian with a smile. Elissa stared back at Giulian and let out a sigh. "Yes, it would be best if we joined you. We know our way around," she added. "Beginning with how to get there," said Giulian. "Which is not going to be on foot -- it's too long a walk. I assume you came in a carriage of some sort? I can lead the way," he gestured toward his curricle standing at the nearby curb, "but as you can see, I've only got space for one passenger." He smiled at Elissa. "And that seat's taken." "We've got a carriage, sir, that will manage us just fine," Tori agreed, still quietly enough it was almost hard to hear her. "If..." she glanced at her twin, "we're really to go to the Lower City, we shall follow you." She did not seem overly excited about the idea. Seeing Tori's hesitation, Ash promised with a warm smile, "You'll see, Tori, it will be great. The two of us, just like the old days." "With a couple of tagalongs," Gabriella quipped softly towards Elissa and Giulian. "Little sisters..." He gave her a sympathetic grin and then said reassuringly, "We won't let any harm come to you." Tori blushed again at her sister's comment, looking at the ground. Then she bit her lip, steeled herself and said, "Shall we, then?" still not looking at anyone. Gabriella shifted closer to her sister and smiled. She dropped her head slightly to look at her. "Keep your chin up, little sister. You can't be the shy silent one any longer. We all know better," she whispered, encouraging her sister. She moved a hand aound Tori's waist and hugged her close for a second. Tori looked up, but the expression she met her sister's gaze with was one of question. Her eyes were wide, her brow furrowed. "Since it appears that your carriage is further away, how about you return to it and bring it back here. Giulian and I will await your arrival and then lead you around the Lower City," Elissa said, glancing at Giulian for his approval. Giulian nodded. "That seems sensible." "Very well," said Tori, taking Ashly's arm so that the sisters were now all linked by touch. "We'll be back as quickly as possible." Ashly smiled warmly when Tori took her arm. The sisterly love and affection were one of the things she missed the most during her lonely life on Aquila. Together, the Windhaven sisters went for their carriage. Gabriella followed the twins, watching them and then around at their new home. Giulian, meanwhile, moved over to where his curricle stood at the curb, and tossed in his satchel and crutches. He grinned over at Elissa and queried in a low voice, "What do you think? Shall we take them to the 'Thieves Den'?" The newly opened cafe of which Giulian was part owner was technically in the lower city, but in a rapidly gentrifying section of it that should be relatively safe for the Windhaven sisters. "Well, that would be one of the safer places we could take them. We'll have to keep alert though. I don't know how things are down there," Elissa said as she followed him to the curricle. She lifted herself into the seat with ease. "Agreed." Giulian hauled himself into the driver's seat, using the special handgrips built in to his personal carriage. "But either way it's better than letting them wander into the lower city on their own. With Whiteblood still on the loose..." His smile had given way to a grim expression. "There are others out there to be just as wary of. I've encountered others who don't stay hiding in mystery but are right out on the streets," Elissa said, glancing at him. "You do promise that you'll be.... By the way, do you not have a luncheon meeting today? You mentioned it when you arrived." Giulian nodded. "I'm picking Father up at one o'clock. But that should leave enough time for brunch -- I'll probably just have coffee -- and be a good excuse not to linger, as well." Elissa glanced back at him, her eyes widening just slightly. "Your...Father. The Regent? Oh dear... About...us and the Fashion Show?" "Maybe. Maybe not." He smiled a little, ruefully. "I've learned not to try to second-guess Father." His eyes on hers grew intent. "But I'm not giving you up for anyone less than you yourself, Elissa." Elissa blinked and listened to him, staring back at him. Her eyes softened just enough to show him how much the words meant to her. She raised her hand to his cheek, her fingers caressing his lean cheekbone. "Nor will I give you up without a fight. Hopefully, your family will like me for who I am, not what I was." Giulian's hand came up to cover hers, cradling it against his cheek. "They'll just have to accept that I love you for who you are, and what you're trying to become." She stared at him as her other hand came up to cover his cheek. "You did say what I think you said? I didn't just...hear those... words..." She licked her lips. "You love me? Truly?" "Truly. Didn't you know?" "You never said them before. And you chose to say them in the middle of the street where I cannot tug you close and kiss you silly for those words," she said. A mischievous grin tugged at the corners of Giulian's mouth and lit his dark eyes; the notion obviously attracted him. Glancing around at the street and then the young man at the back of the curricle... "Oh... Males..." she muttered, pulling his head close, and planted a kiss on his lips. Giulian returned the kiss briefly but decidedly. He didn't even spare a glance for Danton; if his groom hadn't figured out by now which way the wind was blowing, it was time he woke up, and Giulian trusted Danton's discretion. "I love you, Giulian Anderon. For who you are and what you are now and in the future. I will stand by you no matter what." "No matter what," he echoed. "I hope you know what you're promising, Elissa." She nodded. "I am promising you my heart and hand." She leaned closer once more and gave him another light kiss. "Whatever happens, I will face things with you," she whispered against his lips. He returned her kiss again, then said seriously, "It's not an easy life. It makes you a target, directly or indirectly." "Darling, I've never had an easy life. I made my own enemies in my time. Instead of...criminal things... it's more political ways." She shook her head. "You cannot scare me away that easily." "I know you don't scare easily, love," said Giulian. "But it also means being in the spotlight, having the public interested in your business all the time. Well, you got a taste of that at the fashion show." "Oh... Completely forgot to give you this." She pulled a smaller bag out of her knapsack and opened it. Moving her fingers around, she smiled as she came up with a key on a ring. She took Giulian's hand in hers, placed the key on his palm, and closed his fingers around it. She looked into his dark eyes. "For...whenever you wish to join me." His breath hitched, and she could see his eyes darken briefly as he clasped his hand around the key and slipped it into an inner pocket. "I've already instructed Peterson that you're a welcome guest, any time of the day or night," he revealed in return. "Even if he didn't know, I am a former thief. I know my way around locks..." She smiled and curved her hand around his cheek once more. "Thank you for the trust..." "Likewise." He touched the pocket where he'd secreted the key. "I know it must be at least as hard for you as it is for me... if not more." She shrugged and nodded. "It is. You are one of the first I could trust. Especially with my heart." She glanced around the rather busy street and saw a carriage with the Windhaven crest coming towards them. "Looks like private time is over." "For the moment," agreed Giulian. The expression in his eyes promised more, later. Inside the Windhaven carriage, Tori had been silent, but she was smiling again, enjoying the ride. Her hands were still, folded neatly in her lap. Gabriella glanced at her youngest sister. She reached out and placed her hand over Tori's, giving her silent support. They've been through a lot together, even more so now with this move. Ash, who was sitting on the other side of Tori, didn't notice that, focused on a view from the window. She looked very excited. Tori smiled at Gabriella, a reassuring smile. She was obviously not in the least afraid, at least not yet. It was simply a natural reserve that kept her quiet. Seeing the Windhaven carriage approach, Giulian signaled to the driver, then whipped up his horses and guided the curricle out in front of the larger vehicle. "Keep an eye on the Windhaven carriage for me, will you please, Elissa? I don't want to lose them in traffic." (Continued in Windhaven Girls' Day Out: Thieves Den) |
