[Open] Lounging in the Library, 3pm 11th October

[James Winchester]

"Certainly." James replied affably, a faint smile lurking in his beard, before he looked up at the shelf before them. Running his finger along the spines arrayed he stopped at a slimmer volume of Shakespeare's sonnets, and carefully pulled it from amongst it's peers. "This should be eminently suitable." He judged, offering the book to Davina.

Book thus selected he aquiesced to Davina's request, and gestured towards Mary and Laurence. "After you, my Lady." The timing proved perfect as Mary glanced over her shoulder to draw them back into the conversation. "It was my pleasure, Mistress Davina." The doctor replied in a murmur as they walked. "And I have found the Countess to be a kind and generous soul." It was his experience that Heather was only as scandelous with people as they wished to be, but that she had a talent for bringing out those wishes.

Laurence seemed a friendly young man, and a new title at court always stirred interest. "No doubt there will be many who will be pleased to make your aquantance, Lord Huntington." James replied evenly. "May I enquire as to whether you have an academic background, or some other field of interest or endeavour?" He asked mildly, wondering which company Laurence might take to most readily.

[Mary Sheffield]

Davina's quiet words' response was momentarily shelved for a moment while her friend spoke to the new Court arrival, then as his attention was diverted for a moment to the good Doctor, she whispered back, "When?" As it was, she knew time was getting a bit dicey and that if she didn't back to her room soon, there wouldn't be enough time to do everything that her costume required. She then waited to hear the young man's response to the doctor's inquiry.

[Lawrence Young]

Lawrence's brown eyes looked towards Davina and the Doctor as they approched, and listened intently as the Doctor inquired about his past.

"I'm looking forward to meeting the good people here, Doctor. As for my past, I have been schooled in both French and law. I taught myself some, but had an instructor for the rest. Currently, my plan is to take my fathers' seat in the House of Lords once we are in London. Beyond that, though, I have given thought to involving myself in industry, although that is a dream for the moment as I have neither the money or the knowledge to do such a thing. God will provide if he means for me to do that, I suppose."

He took a quick glance out the window, then back to the conversation at hand.

"What good are plans though? I will deal with each day when I wake up that morning."

[Davina Wellsley]

She had hardly time to whisper back "I shall send you a note ....." Before turning her attentions back to the Earl as Mary spoke.

Her smile was half there and she appraised him anew. She wondered at his People and his mention of taking his Seat peeked his interest (remember she had promised to improve herself in that department!)

"Are you here alone then? Without Family and Friends to aid you - why, tis a good fortune then that we have met for now you have three that you might be inclined to name as 'friend'!" Her natural instinct to want to help strays - both human and animal - was always present and he, if asked, might see that at a later date. A good try at assimilating him into Court. "My brother is Viscount Baintree and would, I think, welcome an introduction." She told him quietly, mindful of her surroundings. Providing him with another connection seemed the best way and now that he and the Doctor had met there was another direction. Between her and Mary, well, he could be swept up afore he knew what had hit him!

His response to Mary regarding God's Plan pleased her as did his sensible words.

"I am sorry for your loss." She added more for his benefit. "I shall remember him in mine own prayers."

[Lawrence Young]

"Milady," Lawrence said to Davina, "Your prayers are most appreciated. I am sure to mention him in my prayers every night,"

He motioned to the other two, "And I will be sure to include the three of you in my prayers as well. We all must pray we are granted a place in Paradise when our hour comes."

The young man pulled a watch from his pocket and opened it, then quickly closed it.

"I must take my leave, I'm afraid," he said, "I would be pleased to meet your brother. Please send me word once you have an opportunity to speak with him. My quarters are in the south tower. Again, though, it was a pleasure to meet you, Doctor, and ladies. Have a good afternoon."

Making a slight bow, the Earl turned around and made his way out of the library.

[Davina Wellsley]

Yes, it was indeed time to make exits. And so she made some soft comments to Mary adding that "I will see you soon then? But do not worry if it ends up on the morrow!" A kiss exchanged ......

To the Earl she curtsied as she added "It was a pleasure and I shall indeed speak of you to my brother. Perhaps we shall encounter each other again soon - the Masquerade?" Before he then departed.

To Doctor Winchester she thanked him "For aiding me in what I hope will be a successful afternoon!" And to "Please give my regards to your Lady Wife."

She then bid them farewell and took her leave - off to the Countess'.

[James Winchester]

James focused his attention on Laurence as the ladies whispered behind them; choosing the gentlemanly course of pretending that he couldn't hear, and regardless he was interested in the other man's words. "Indeed? Have you met Lord Mountjoy, the Solicitor General? He graduated from Oxford, as did I, though obviously from different schools." The doctor said dryly. "Perhaps you even schooled with him?" He suggested, since a practice of law implied a university education. Such would no doubt stand him in good stead in the House of Lords.

He couldn't quite agree with the notion that plans were unecessary; James was one of those people who liked to have everything neat and planned out. Not that he couldn't move quickly and spontaneously - or at least create plans and act on them very quickly - when needed, as his marriage had proven.

He bowed politely as Laurence and Davina made their farewells. "A pleasure as always Mistress Davina, Mistress Mary, and delighted to have made your aquaintance Lord Huntington."

And with that the little party broke up.

OOC: Fin for me.

[Mary Sheffield]

And so it was that the little group split up, Mary replying to Davina that she wouldn't worry about when they should meet up. She murmured her farewells before abandoning her original plan of searching for Davina's new suitor among the book shelves. It was going to take a while to get herself completely into her outfit, her hair itself requiring the most work. She hoped to meet up with both gentlemen soon, as they seemed the type her fiancee would approve of.