psl; [a marriage of inconvenience]

[hedgemaze]

THE AUBEL ESTATE is located in Derbyshire, England, a stately old home reminiscent of centuries long past. Long ago, it had fallen into disrepair and abandoned until previous generations of the Aubel family purchased the land for themselves, having found their fortunes in matters of real estate. Since that time, the outside has been restored and the inside has been renovated at least three times. Four, if you ask the uncle who remembers the one summer where the chandelier fell from the dining hall, taking a large portion of the ceiling with it. How embarrassing, if such a thing is true.

In its present state, it straddles the line between the old and new. The large, prominent rooms are ostentatious as they are filled to the brim with austere English culture; the smaller quarters, traditionally used by the servants and staff, are far more modest, and over time have allowed the tendrils of modernity to creep in as a result. Regardless, the home is impressive no matter how you look at it, and there are few who do not cast an envious glance at the estate as they pass by Derbyshire on their way to town, or perhaps northwest to Manchester, if they've even farther to go.

PHILIP AND JAMES AUBEL, father and son respectively, are the owners of the home, though only the father remains for any extended period of time. And even then, he only stays perhaps one or two seasons at a time, until he returns to his home in London, spending one or two seasons there, before returning again, living out his life of retirement to the fullest. James visits nearly every week (driving in from Manchester, and back) in the Spring, until the first freeze of Winter, when nothing will grow. Though they have a staff of two dozen -- give or take, depending upon the time of year -- taking care of the estate and its grounds, James is more diligent about keeping up appearances of the house, showing a special interest in maintaining the complex hedge maze on the land directly behind them. Only he keeps access to its center, a literal walled garden of seasonal flora.

AS RECENT DEVELOPMENTS WOULD HAVE IT, James has been drawn into an arranged marriage by his father and an old business acquaintance. She is scheduled for an extended visit soon, and the staff have done a meticulous job of preparing the hall for her arrival -- and the rest of the rooms, as well, if she is expected to make her living here permanent, one day. Today, the weather is clear and the help is eager to aid her in unpacking. The grounds are green and the family dog, an old greyhound with cataracts in one eye, bounds up to her with a slow wagging tail. The father will greet her, of course, with all the usual formalities, and though he doesn't know her all that well at all, she at least seems nice enough. He disappears soon after, leaving her to her own devices as she sees fit. James himself is nowhere to be found.

Somewhere, sooner rather than later, a collision course of first impressions will take place.

----------

D I R E C T O R Y;

➤ shitpost.
➤ first impressions.
➤ diamonds.
➤ text her, texter.
➤ saviour.
➤ flirt.
➤ closer.
➤ cross-examine.
➤ PARTY CRASHERS.
✶ elle + devon
✶ elle + corvus
✶ ian + james + corvus
✶ devon + james
➤ alien abduction.
➤ sleep now.
➤ bathe.
➤ remember.
➤ drink.
➤ welcome home.

Comments

[winterheart]

[She gets in the car, covering her face once she sets her bag down. Not helping at allll.]

As if you don't try hard enough already.

[In a way, James probably wouldn't have to try very hard to get Devon to blush considering the fact that she's been more open at showing her affection, albeit in a warm, gentle manner.]

[hedgemaze]

Can you blame me? It doesn't take much in your case. Or is it just because it's me?

[Isn't he funny. He can't help but tease.]

Shall we hunt for one now? A dress for you.

[He's already starting the engine, though, intent on finding an expensive boutique for her to do a little shopping in.]

[winterheart]

... It's probably just you.

[That's right. After all, her longest relationship was only a year and everything else that followed afterwards was never permanent. No one made her sad, but no one made her happy either. There wasn't a challenge, there wasn't the joy of discovery, her heart simply didn't race until she met James.]

And let's hunt down that dress. Sooner the better if we're gonna go for it.

[hedgemaze]

...Good.

[He grins.]

Off we go then. I know just the place.

[And he takes them there -- it is indeed a fancy little boutique, with all the fashionable dresses on display in the window. Parking the car, he opens her door for her, and motions to the entrance.]

You might find something you like in here.

[winterheart]

[When Devon walks inside, she stops when she sees all the dresses. She takes a deep breath.]

Lord, here we go.

[Is she intimidated? She's intimidated. She isn't unfamiliar with places like this. Christine, despite being firmly entrenched in American middle class life, did have a taste for high fashion and when they went to England, she would point out places to Devon that was known for their pieces. She even went to these places with Lucy and other Flemmings at times.

Still, to have her own dress for something important as an engagement party. Gotta remember to breathe.

Her eyes are drawn first to a midnight blue dress, but there's also an ombre dress that reminds her of an evening sky. ]

Bad news. I like a two of them so far.

[hedgemaze]

[James gives Devon her space, so that she can look without being interrupted by him. Every dress she considers, he cannot help but imagine what she might look like in it -- he keeps this little tidbit to himself, though, as not to fluster her. (This time.)

When she mentions she's torn between two dresses, his answer is simple enough.]

Why is that bad news? Try them both on. Or buy both of them, and save one for another special occasion.

[winterheart]

[(Meanwhile, outside there is a black car that's parked nearby, not too close, but not too far...)

She's about to protest the notion of buying both due to her middle class sensibilities kicking in, but she stops once she sees a shimmering moon colored dress with a low cut that was sitting quietly further back.

This is the one Devon can actually imagine herself wearing. There's a pull to it and she finds herself naturally gravitating towards this gown. ]

I'll try this one on.

[hedgemaze]

[He eyes the gown, finding something particularly enchanting about it. Perhaps it was the design, or perhaps the fabric, but either way, he quietly thinks to himself that this one may suit her very well.

He nods at her.]

I await with bated breath.

[winterheart]

[A shop attendant is there to assist Devon, taking the dress, and leading her to the dressing room in the back. There's a rustling of cloth, a rather hilarious exclamation from Devon ("It's how much--?! Okay, less than I expected, more than I hoped, how's that?")

But she steps out of the room and her hair is even tied up in a ponytail so that every part of the dress can be seen. The attendant looks proud of her work and even excited about the fit.

Devon, looks and radiates nervousness, but also a sort of glow when she goes to let James look. She even turns in a circle so he can see the back and laughs awkwardly.]

Well? I don't think it took me too long to choose.

[hedgemaze]

[James can feel her presence eke with nervousness, and that's exactly how he can tell that she's drawing closer. He looks up from where he's seated, just outside of the dressing rooms (a chair perfectly placed there for him, having seated many men waiting on their girlfriends/wives), and when he catches sight of her, it's more than what he expected.

Quite frankly, she looks stunning. The cut of the dress suits her, as does its shimmering design. It accentuates her figure in all the right ways, and for a second it feels like James is struggling for the right words. The attendant nearby has to keep herself from giggling; she's seen this reaction time and time again.]

...It's perfect. [He finally manages, getting ahold of himself.] You look perfect. You'll be the envy of all the other women in the room.

[winterheart]

[Well, there's the blushing again and it seems to spread to her shoulders. The attendant raises her brows.]

"He's a bit much, isn't he dear?"

[Devon glances to the side, covering her face with one hand.]

You have no idea.

[hedgemaze]

[He shakes his head, standing. There's that blush again. How cute of her.]

No, I'm not "a bit much", I'm only being frank. I might as well tell her what I observe. Look at her, though, she can barely stand the compliment.

[He looks at the attendant, grinning in that wry way of his.] We'll take it. [He obviously isn't terribly concerned about price.]

[winterheart]

[Man, her heart cannot take this. The day out with James is turning out way better than she ever expected and Devon feels like there's nothing that can bring her mood down after today.

❋ ❋ ❋

Later, Devon decided to buy one more dress (the midnight blue one) and then proceeded to buy her "practical" clothes, some casual, some for business affairs, some comfortable, some that she can even afford to ruin while painting. All of this is done promptly and quickly without having to try them on because in her words, "I know me. It'll fit or I'll make them." (She's got a sewing machine after all.)

The things are put away in the car because there's one more thing she wants to do with James.]

Cafe. We gotta go rest in one. The coffee and drinks the cooks make at home are great, but I miss the atmosphere of sitting inside or outside of one, you know?

[Funny. The Aubel Estate is "home" now. She walks down the street looking back and forth for a nice place for them to sit and enjoy themselves (and behind them, there are two men that had stepped out of the black car parked nearby James's, both walking down the same street, silently, inconspicuously...)]

[hedgemaze]

Has anyone ever told you that Americans are obsessed with coffee? [He prods the little joke at her, but beyond that, he's amicable to the idea. A place to sit and relax after all the shopping doesn't sound like a terrible idea, he must admit. He catches that she calls his house "home" now, and he smiles, but keeps it to himself. He's glad that she's finally becoming comfortable enough in the estate to consider calling it as such. He's sure his father would approve, too.

When they reach the street leading to the cafe, he follows her, as he had been doing throughout the day. He keeps pace a few steps behind her, when he realizes that something feels... off. As if there's been a lingering presence with them the entire day, and he's only noticing it now-

He digs in his pocket, and pretends to drop a coin. Bending down to pick it up, he turns his body at a slight angle; out of his peripheral, he can spot two men that seem oddly familiar to him for some reason. Had he seen them before?

Frowning and putting the coin back in his pocket, he continues to follow Devon. He won't say anything right now, just in case he's being paranoid, but suddenly he's walking beside her, and holding her hand -- just in case.]

[winterheart]

More than once! I actually can get along without too much just fine, but man does my dad need his cup in the morning. Kind of funny if you think about it, for a dentist.

[She looks down at their hands being held together and smiles and there's no cause of worry for her because she hadn't noticed anything off, probably because she was in such high spirits.

The two men keep their distance, one of them even stopping to take a newspaper from a stand outside of another shop. But they always seem just to be there even when Devon finally finds a cafe that suits her and takes James inside, nodding in her approval.]

Alright James. Is this the part where I find out you have an incredible aversion to anything sweet?

[hedgemaze]

[James tries not to look too distracted, as if suddenly aware of the two men that he catches in his peripheral from time to time. They always seem at a distance, admittedly, but they're always there.]

Ah... no, actually. I don't mind sweets. I actually like them quite a bit.

[winterheart]

And another thing to add to the list of things I know about you and that I'm pleasantly surprised about.

[Devon makes a note to herself to bake some cookies one week. Maybe she'll just bake up a storm the week before her family arrives at the estate so that there's something everyone can have as a treat.

She gets into the line and orders her drink which is served right away (a cold brew coffee sweetened with cream, all the rage these days you know) and then she grabs them a table near the window, one where they can just watch people pass by.]

[hedgemaze]

Surprised? That I would like sweets? [He grins, though arches a brow.] A lot of people like them, you know. It shouldn't be surprising to you that I do as well.

[He follows, sitting across from her after they get their order -- James has settled for a chai tea latte, because. Well. Tea.

Plus, sitting by the window is preferable, given that he feels he can keep a better eye on his surroundings that way.]

Though I realize there's still plenty we don't know about each other.

[winterheart]

We can start a back and forth now if you'd like!

[One of the two men has waved the other off and the remaining one is sitting outside, far on the opposite end. Still in sight, still in mind.]

Although, if it's more fun, I can text you during the week, but face to face time is precious in this case.

[hedgemaze]

[James is definitely thinking something is up, now; he makes a mental note to track their presences in the back of his mind, so he always can tell where they are in proximity to themselves.]

Well, I do have a question for you, actually. [He looks at Devon, lowering his voice just a tad.] Are you followed often?

[winterheart]

[There's a questioning look on her face and her lips purse. Her eyes are glancing to the side, but she has the good sense not to turn her head around.]

... How long?

[How long have they been followed, she's asking?]

[hedgemaze]

[The fact that she asks "how long?" instead of "what are you talking about it?" is telling. He frowns.]

Since we went to find you your dress, I think. Who are they?

[winterheart]

Good question. [She takes a sip of her drink. In the meanwhile, the man outside feigns looking at his phone and stands up walking away. It seems he knows that he's been noticed.]

I don't know. It's never the same person.

[hedgemaze]

[Well, that doesn't bode well.]

How long has this been happening to you? And what could they possibly want?

[Did this have something to do with her... abilities? James eyes him as the man walks off, but makes a mental note to keep cognizant of where they may be wandering to.]

[winterheart]

... Whenever I went out to crowded places and it wasn't with friends, I had Ian with me.

[Another sip of her drink is taken before she continues looking tense.]

He could always tell if I was being followed or not. And if I was approached by a stranger, he had a way of figuring out whether they wanted something from me.

Is the person gone by the way?