The coach carrying the Countess Redmane and the Lord Explorer Thomas arrives while the sun is still hovering above the horizon, giving everything a slight sepia look. The trip through the vineyards alone was almost as long as that out from the Countess' ranch, and the travelers are grateful when it pulls up to the wide porch of the manor.
"I promise I will not do anything to embarrass myself," Thomas claims as he steps down from the coach, then lingers by the door to hold it open for Redmane. "You can trust me."
Redmane takes a moment to sort out her layered, rose-petal-fashioned skirt, and then steps down from the open coach. "This place is huge," she whispers to Thomas, and adjusts her 'crown' of white roses. "I hope I don't start shedding flower petals all over the place. I feel like I should be watering this gown."
"It wouldn't be proper to hold a wet dress contest, Redmane," Thomas whispers.
"Ugh, this thing is velvet, it's already heavy enough," the Countess remarks, probably missing the Explorer's innuendo completely.
"Try not to think about chafing," Thomas suggests as he finally allows the couch door to close. His reaction to the estate is far more subdued than Redmane's. If one were to guess what his expression meant, well ... it would be 'eh'.
It is at this time that a flower-man with a greenish tinge to his petal-like skin opens one of the double doors that leads into the house. He is dressed in a butler's frock coat, white shirt, and breeches. He approaches the Lord Explorer and the Countess Redmane and bows to them. "Welcome to the Castle Estate, honored guests," he says in a posh voice. "If you would please follow me?"
Redmane gives Thomas a wide-eyed look, and then turns to follow the butler.
The Lord Explorer's dead dips in a short nod. "It is us who are honored to be here. I do hope that the Countess requesting that I accompany her will not be an issue with your Master and Mistress?" Thomas asks, suddenly sounding rather formal as he moves to follow.
As the flower-man leads them inside and closes the door, he gives Thomas a polite smile. "It is not an issue at all, Lord Explorer. The Castles are pleased to make your acquaintence, as well." Then he gestures for the two to accompany him into the front parlor to meet their hosts.
"I wonder if he has enough stamen-a to clean this place by himself?" Thomas asks Redmane in whisper as they walk. "And ... at least their servants recognized me. Yours ... bah."
"Well, better you than Ahearn," Redmane notes to Thomas. "He slurps his soup too loudly. And my staff... hmm, I have no idea where they came from, to be honest. They may not be up on all the gossip since the end of Winter."
"I thought you liked Ahearn better than me, though, and overlooked that," Thomas comments quietly.
The parlor they are led into is an airy room with a lofty ceiling and plenty of windows lining the eastern and western walls. The lady of the house must have decorated it herself, for it is filled with feminine touches: delicate, hand-painted porcelain vases, curtains with flowers embroidered into them, and cunningly-woven rugs on the light-colored, hardwood floors.
"I like the decorations," Redmane whispers, smiling. "Try not to burst into flame from it all, Thomas."
"If I've survived being around you, I think I can manage the decor," Thomas quips.
There is even a set of furniture near the eastern wall with flowered upholstery. A lovely fae woman sits on the sofa, with own red hair done up in a twist of ringlets. Behind her stands an extremely tall man, with short brown hair and a neatly-trimmed beard. When the woman sees them enter, she rises and gives them a winning smile. The butler announces them: "The Countess Redmane and her escort, the Lord Explorer, madam."
Redmane starts to bow, until the bottom edge of her corset bites into her stomach. She recovers and turns it into a curtsy. "A pleasure to meet you, Lady Gwynneth and Lord Nolan," she says.
"Thank you, Armand," the woman replies, by way of dismissal to her butler. He bows again and exits. The fae woman holds out her hands, clearly inviting them to come closer. "Welcome to our home," she says. "Please, come in and sit down."
Thomas, for his part, bows only slightly in greeting. "Good evening," he says, as he now approaches the pair. "I do hope that my accompanying the Countess does not put undue stress on your evening plans. My visit to her estate was unplanned and we did not have time to send word that she would bring a guest."
From his place behind Gwynneth, the fae man chuckles to Thomas. "What trouble is there in placing one more plate and glass upon the table, my Lord? Our father's cook always prepares enough food to serve an army! Please, do not be concerned about that." He returns Thomas' slight bow, then holds out his own hand to him.
Thomas takes the offered hand and shakes it. "Oh, no need to call me Lord. I'm just Thomas. Titles are ... well, only necessary when there is a need to impress," he says, "And thank you for understanding. Now, if I may ask, the Countess explained to me earlier that you are Vintners? Forgive me for not knowing for certain. There was a time I could recite the names of all important families and their business ... but, well, I am sure you have heard the stories, so I shan't bore you with them."
"Your home is lovely," Redmane tells Gwynneth. "My own is still being restored, I'm afraid."
Gwynneth returns to the sofa and gestures for Redmane to sit beside her. Nolan seems to prefer standing, but after shaking Thomas' hand, he gestures to one of the flowered, wing-backed chairs nearby. "I shall pass along your comment to my parents, then. The designs are theirs. Nolan and I have merely had the privilege of growing up in it all these years."
"I'm a bit new to being a Countess, if you hadn't heard," Redmane tells Gwynneth as she sits down - and struggles with her dress a bit in the process so that the 'petals' don't fold up uncomfortably. "Are there many social events that I'll be required to attend, do you know?"
Thomas momentarily eyes the chair as if it intends to leap out and infect him with girliness. Eventually, though, he settles down into it. "I imagine there was quite a buzz around these lands when it was announced the local legend was returning?" he asks as he waves his right hand towards Redmane.
To Thomas, Nolan says, "As you wish, Thomas. In answer to your question, our family has grown grapes for wine on these hillsides for several generations. The trade has been passed along to one descendant of the Castle family after another." Then his brown eyes light with amusement. "And when it was announced that the famous Knight Redmane would return to reclaim her ranch, well, it did cause quite a sensation."
"She excels at causing a commotion," Thomas agrees, a bemused smile curling on his lips.
From the couch, Redmane manages to shoot a glare towards Thomas.. and then wishes she had a fan or something to hide it behind.
Gwynneth thinks on this for a moment. "Well, my mother and father host a ball here at the Estate every year around the first of our month," she replies. "That's a very large social occasion - even the court of House May sends a representative. One year, Lord May himself decided to attend! That caused quite a sensation, too," she smiles, glancing at her brother.
"Oh, I'll make sure to mark it on my calendar then," Redmane promises. Then thinks to ask, "I suppose it's a formal affair?"
Gwynneth rests her hand lightly on Redmane's own for a moment. "Yes, I'm afraid it is," she says sympathetically. "On the bright side, since there is always dancing at our events, you can get by with wearing a lighter dress with less embellishments. It's what I do!"
"The beginning of May, do you say?" Thomas comments, brow furrowed in thought. "I believe I will be busy then. So, alas, I will miss the ball."
Nolan sighs and looks wistful. "I often have other, er, business to attend to around that time, as well, but I am always obliged to cancel it. Family obligations, you know."
"Oh, thank goodness," Redmane says with relief. "I'm used to armor, but these heavy gowns.. and the corsets.." she mutters. "Hmm, sounds like your brother is not too keen on the dancing though."
"I'm certain he would spare a dance for you, though. To claim to have danced with the legendary Redmane would be quite the story," Thomas comments, looking rather pleased with himself.
"Nolan!" his sister cries, looking as if she doesn't know whether to laugh or to scold him. In return, Nolan says mildly, "You know how awkward I am at the dance, Gwynn. It's like watching an elephant do the waltz. Or so my partners tell me."
The Countess arches an eyebrow at that. "Perhaps I should wear my armored boots then," she comments.
"Women don't wear boots to balls," Thomas comments. He starts to say something else about boots and balls, but then politely refrains.
"Armored slippers then," the Countess.. counters.
"That would be advisable, Countess," Nolan replies and actually winks at her. "Or find a better partner."
"My concern is more towards taller partners," Redmane notes.