Post by Lovely on Jul 28, 2010 23:27:01 GMT -5
July 5, Year 1
Ciara moved swiftly down the street, back towards the shop, after dropping a few things off at the dress maker's and collecting payment.
"pretty girl.." His slick voice said quietly as she passed him.
"oh?" She turned regarding him curiously, had he not spoken, Ciara would have passed him by as she normally did. She and Patrick Carlisle did not hold conversations, other than a respectful nod or a polite hello.
"Yes... I can see why he likes you."
"Is that so?"
He laughed. "Of course, you're breathing... that much seems to be what little criteria my brother has for most of his conquests. But not you... you're not like the others."
"Maybe.. because I'm not a conquest." She smiled cooly. "Isn't there something.. one has to do to be considered a conquest.. or is it just conversation, now a days?"
Patrick shook his head. "Not usual conversation, no. I couldn't help but notice your hasty return to town a few mornings ago. Just found it odd that you seemed to be carrying him more than him trying to carry or disrobe you or dismantle anyone on the way in. Your secret's safe, lass... I'm not one to keep tabs, but if I noticed, best hope your brothers didn't"
Looks around, seeing they were mostly alone and unnoticed. "Noticed what.... exactly?" She whispered, leaning in closely. "My brothers aren't your concern... but if you'd rather, next time I'll be sure to leave your brother to rot and he'll have you to thank for it." She smiled sweetly.
"Definitely see why he likes you. I'd be trying to court you myself, a tart remark like that," he puckered, amused by her boldness. "I have my own secrets and don't need to know yours, lass. Merely pointing out how special you are in his world. He is my youngest brother. Wouldn't want him to think his heart wasn't in danger of being broken if it might be."
She tapped his lips with her finger, her smile dripping in forced sweetness. "Be still my heart.... I see nothing in you that would allow me to let you court me, so I suppose it's rather fortunate you see no need to." Her eyebrow raised. "As for your brother, Rest assured.. I see plenty in him.. and if his heart is in offer... I'd keep it well."
"Then mind it and keep it," he nodded, agreeing that it was offered. He saw it clearly though Alex hadn't said a word. That the boy had snuck away nearly every afternoon for a month to visit the shop when he knew she'd be there... drew his attention enough, though he said nothing to anyone else.
Her smile softened, bringing a near glow to her face. "As I would hope, he would mine." She studied Patrick for a moment and then spoke softly. "Now why would you share this conversation with me?"
"To make sure your heart is also not in danger and to offer my services, lass," he grinned. He was known for being a little strange in his alliances and finding his amusement at the expense of others, even his own brothers.
"Is that so? And why would my heart concern you?" She leaned back, tipping her head to the side as she regarded him, mild curiosity playing in her eyes. "What services.. are you speaking of? What is it, that you feel I need you to do for me?"
"Never said it concerned me," he defended darkly. "Only a matter of commerce, let's say. Should my brother decide to break your heart, which we're assuming that he would not, wouldn't you want something wretched to happen to him in return?" He loved his brother dearly, but his manner of sport cast a cold edge on his grin.
Ciara chuckled and nodded. "Thank you, Mr. Carlisle... but I have five older brothers.. who would love to make something wretched happen to him, should he break my heart."
He shrugged, "Can't say I wasn't a gentleman to offer should he decide against better judgment." He looked her over again and nodded, puckering gently before the smile beamed again. "A finely carved Venus you are, lovely... carved quite nicely."
He stepped away and spoke over his shoulder, "However, might'n't you consider... what would happen should your brothers find out too soon about your little soiree at the watering hole... pet.."
She turned and followed him, her hand on his arm lightly. "What are you implying? And do you dislike your brother so much that you would tell mine.. stories to make them cause Alex harm?" Her dark eyes searched his in question and disbelief.
"You certainly must be aware of how they would react to such a story?"
Ciara moved swiftly down the street, back towards the shop, after dropping a few things off at the dress maker's and collecting payment.
"pretty girl.." His slick voice said quietly as she passed him.
"oh?" She turned regarding him curiously, had he not spoken, Ciara would have passed him by as she normally did. She and Patrick Carlisle did not hold conversations, other than a respectful nod or a polite hello.
"Yes... I can see why he likes you."
"Is that so?"
He laughed. "Of course, you're breathing... that much seems to be what little criteria my brother has for most of his conquests. But not you... you're not like the others."
"Maybe.. because I'm not a conquest." She smiled cooly. "Isn't there something.. one has to do to be considered a conquest.. or is it just conversation, now a days?"
Patrick shook his head. "Not usual conversation, no. I couldn't help but notice your hasty return to town a few mornings ago. Just found it odd that you seemed to be carrying him more than him trying to carry or disrobe you or dismantle anyone on the way in. Your secret's safe, lass... I'm not one to keep tabs, but if I noticed, best hope your brothers didn't"
Looks around, seeing they were mostly alone and unnoticed. "Noticed what.... exactly?" She whispered, leaning in closely. "My brothers aren't your concern... but if you'd rather, next time I'll be sure to leave your brother to rot and he'll have you to thank for it." She smiled sweetly.
"Definitely see why he likes you. I'd be trying to court you myself, a tart remark like that," he puckered, amused by her boldness. "I have my own secrets and don't need to know yours, lass. Merely pointing out how special you are in his world. He is my youngest brother. Wouldn't want him to think his heart wasn't in danger of being broken if it might be."
She tapped his lips with her finger, her smile dripping in forced sweetness. "Be still my heart.... I see nothing in you that would allow me to let you court me, so I suppose it's rather fortunate you see no need to." Her eyebrow raised. "As for your brother, Rest assured.. I see plenty in him.. and if his heart is in offer... I'd keep it well."
"Then mind it and keep it," he nodded, agreeing that it was offered. He saw it clearly though Alex hadn't said a word. That the boy had snuck away nearly every afternoon for a month to visit the shop when he knew she'd be there... drew his attention enough, though he said nothing to anyone else.
Her smile softened, bringing a near glow to her face. "As I would hope, he would mine." She studied Patrick for a moment and then spoke softly. "Now why would you share this conversation with me?"
"To make sure your heart is also not in danger and to offer my services, lass," he grinned. He was known for being a little strange in his alliances and finding his amusement at the expense of others, even his own brothers.
"Is that so? And why would my heart concern you?" She leaned back, tipping her head to the side as she regarded him, mild curiosity playing in her eyes. "What services.. are you speaking of? What is it, that you feel I need you to do for me?"
"Never said it concerned me," he defended darkly. "Only a matter of commerce, let's say. Should my brother decide to break your heart, which we're assuming that he would not, wouldn't you want something wretched to happen to him in return?" He loved his brother dearly, but his manner of sport cast a cold edge on his grin.
Ciara chuckled and nodded. "Thank you, Mr. Carlisle... but I have five older brothers.. who would love to make something wretched happen to him, should he break my heart."
He shrugged, "Can't say I wasn't a gentleman to offer should he decide against better judgment." He looked her over again and nodded, puckering gently before the smile beamed again. "A finely carved Venus you are, lovely... carved quite nicely."
He stepped away and spoke over his shoulder, "However, might'n't you consider... what would happen should your brothers find out too soon about your little soiree at the watering hole... pet.."
She turned and followed him, her hand on his arm lightly. "What are you implying? And do you dislike your brother so much that you would tell mine.. stories to make them cause Alex harm?" Her dark eyes searched his in question and disbelief.
"You certainly must be aware of how they would react to such a story?"