» A day of Shopping..., open

[Cecily Hurston]

((My first post...I'm bored, have nothing else to do, so here's my contribution, LOL))

Cecily's eyes roamed over the town square. It was cold, snowy, and not exactly hospitable outside, but she couldn't just sit at home all day long, now could she? Yes, she could. Her Aunt had made that fact abundantly clear before she left, but Cecily hadn't listened to her. Auntie was alright...in her place and time. When Cecily wanted to do something, she definitely was not alright.

Cecily shoved a strand of wispy blond hair out of her face. It had worked loose from her bun. Again. A mischievous grin curled over her face. Did she care? Of course not. She glanced down into the basket on her arm. Full of colorful embroidery thread, she was sure Auntie would approve. If she would approve of what was under the thread...well, that would most probably be an entirely different story.

She shrugged, lifted her skirts up so they wouldn't get in the mud, and stepped down into the street to cross. It was rather muddy, the snow and rain having made it's effect abundantly felt in the dirt road, but Cecily didn't care. No, she did. Another grin threatened to crease her face, but Cecily sternly quashed it. Auntie would not approve.

She was almost across the road when she stumbled...and fell, right in a mud puddle. Groaning- a not so nice word rising to mind as she did so- Cecily picked herself up and hurried to the harder walk that ran alongside it. Making a sound of disgust, she stared down at her skirt. It was muddy up to her knee, her gloves were ruined, her cloak was probably equally covered...yes, it was.

She shook as much of the mud off as she could, and sighed. Well, this is what came of not taking the horse like Auntie had suggested. The smile did poke out this time. Cecily could just imagine what Auntie would say...

[Ariana Castello-Roskin]

Ariana was quite in the mood for shopping. The cold snowy weather would often keep her bundled up inside, and she was beginning to grow sick of it. The nasty English weather could keep her in no longer; she would go out and about as she pleased!

The snow would have been drifting rather gently to the ground, if not for the wind which was causing the few flakes to swirl around in a frenzied fashion, chilling a person to the bones. Ariana shivered, she was still trying to adjust herself to these cold English winters. At least to her they felt rather deathly! But one thing she had come to find beautiful was the snow! So very lovely, indeed!

As Miss Roskin crossed the town square she noticed Miss Hurston up ahead. The two had met briefly, though they had never been the greatest of friends (after all, Ariana had only lived in Middleton for a year). Ariana looked on as Miss Hurston tripped into a large puddle of mud, soaking her clothes and gloves. Though it was a bit funny -- Ariana couldn't help but admit that -- it was such a very disagreeable situation for the poor girl! Arria dashed up, hoping to lend a helping hand.

"Miss Hurston!" She called, running after her, and quickly catching up. "Are you alright? I saw you tumble back there -- oh! I do hope your cloak is not ruined!"

{meh, sorry.. not a good post but i wanted to give you something}

[Cecily Hurston]

Cecily looked up as a voice hailed her, inquiring- rather, stating- that whoever it was hoped her cloak wasn't ruined. Coming towards her, Cecily saw Ms. Castello-Roskin, a girl Cecily had met once...twice...a few times.

She looked up as the other approached, the smile still tugging at her lips, her eyes dancing in merriment. Answering the other's concern, she hastily said- "Oh no Ms. Roskin, I am quite well, I assure you. Aunt Anne will most likely be horrified, but Cooky will clean it out, and it'll be good as new."

She bit the inside of her lip, attempting- vainly- to keep the smile off her lips.

((OOC: I hope I referred to Ariana right...Wasn't sure which name to use. ))

[Horatia Lyon]

It can be safely said that purchasing sugar is not the traditional pastime of a gentleman of quality. However, being as it was Henry's first day in Middleton and he was already suffering to combat the impending ennui, he would not hear of Horatia's going into town without him, whatever the errand.

However, it can safely be said that purchasing sugar is not the traditional pastime of a lady of quality, either. However, Horatia was to abandon tradition for the necessity of ensuring her house utilised only products got by free labour. As she wished to make a pudding that evening, the urgency was, to Horatia, undeniable.

She had initially desired Mrs. Marple, one of the domestics, to fetch it for her, yet the good woman's perplexity made Horatia question whether or not anyone but herself should be entrusted with such a mission.

Despite her Aunt Cordelia's grave assurances that purchasing domestic goods was shameful, Horatia had laughed, replying merely that there was no shame in purchasing your own goods. Horatia said primly in response to Aunt Cordelia’s looks of disapproval. “There is only, to society, the shame of needing to buy one’s own goods. As Middleton, as you’ve stated, is aware of everyone’s comings and goings, they will know who I am. And,” she added with a smile, “will know that I do not need to buy my own sugar."

And so it was that Henry and Horatia rode in the chaise into town.

As Horatia approached the general goods store, she frowned. A sign reading "Oroonoko," hung depicting a black man smoking a pipe. Well, they did not do without the luxuries of London: the finest tobacco in the Empire was sold here. She saw no sign noting that their sugar was produced by free labour and so, glancing back to Henry with a shrug, she entered the shop to enquire.

The bell on the door announced her arrival and a kindly looking woman came out from back. Horatia noticed one or two patrons already standing about, and so she waited a moment for them to speak so they might be helped first.

When all was silent, she stepped forward timidly.

"What can I do for you, miss?" the woman asked as she set down some tapers.

"I'm newly arrived in town and needed some few items," she said, smiling sheepishly and handing a short list to the woman over the counter. The woman read it aloud.

"Well, we have the needles and sugar, but the sewing shears will have to wait, I'm afraid. Mrs. Cranfield has purchased our last pair today."

"Mrs. Cranfield!" Horatia gasped in delight. "Oh, and how are her daughters?"

"Very well," the woman said with some perplexity, and Horatia, flushing quickly added, "I am not so very new to town," she added. "I would often visit in the summers with my uncle, Lord Arthur Lyon. . ."

"Miss Lyon! Oh, forgive me! You've quite grown up; I did not recognise you!" the woman exclaimed, stepping around to have a better look. Horatia hadn't recalled her at all and she flushed further still. "Will you be staying long, then?" she asked.

"I'm not certain. My aunt has invited me, along with m'cousin, Mr. Henry Everson," Horatia craned her neck now to look out the window and see if she might spy Henry through the window. . .

He was talking to two young ladies. Horatia frowned slightly and turned back to the woman distractedly.

[Henry Everson]

Horatia had proceeded into the shop about her errands. Henry, on the other hand, was distracted.

Scarcely had he helped Horatia out of the chaise but he spied from across the street a young woman covered in mud. There's a story in that, I shouldn't doubt, he thought to himself as he smirked privately at the sight and, more publically smiling and crossing the street, bowed to the two young ladies.

"It may be impertinent of me, ladies, but I might enquire if you need a ride anywhere as it seems," he said, smiling more broadly as he observed Miss Hurston's skirts, "the roads are rather unkind today."

[Cecily Hurston]

Cecily looked up as yet another voice spoke- this belonging to a man. She looked up, still unable to conceal the mirth dancing in her eyes. "Thank you sir. But I fear I do not have the honor of your acquaintance, and it would be very improper for me to go anywhere with a gentleman I do not know."

She was mentally trying to place him within the environs of Middleton. She was fairly sure she would have noticed such a distinguished-looking gentleman if she had seen him. That meant he must be newly arrived- during her stay home with a cold. Yes, that must be it.

Two weeks could mean so much.

(OOC: I posted it this way, since that's what I got from his app- he's just recently arrived. If not, do say so. ))

[Henry Everson]

Perhaps Henry should have been mortified. Any decent sort of man would crimson upon such reproach, but Henry had been too much in the practise of being improper.

Bowing his head, he rested his hand upon his chest in a very gallant manner. "You are most prudent, young miss, in your response. You do your family credit and I see I must," he said, extending his gaze to the second miss, "make certain that I introduce myself properly to both your families, so that we can renew acquaintance on better terms."

Henry made no offer of his name (for he was not in a habit of doing so) but smiled pleasantly to them both. "If," he said in a tone of increased civility, "you might permit me to know your family names, I may endeavour to gain your good graces."

He took a moment to consider the two young ladies. Both beautiful, to be sure. His aunt had had, he suspected, this in mind when she sent him here. The dark one looked foreign. Spanish or . . . perhaps Italian? He had not yet heard her speak and confessed himself rather anxious to hear her. It would do him good to speak Italian once more.

But the fair one was indeed fair as well. Henry was no great believer in physiognomy, but if he were, he assured himself privately that she would captivate his attention, so peculiar were her features that spoke of a subtle earnestness. He, too, waited for some confirmation of his suspicions.

[Ariana Castello-Roskin]

{yes, it was fine, because Ariana is known as Miss Roskin among the English. so yay to your knowledge skills! hehe}

Ariana could hardly hold in her laughter, and a grin of sheer delight split her face. She knew quite well about parents (or, in Miss Hurston's case, relatives in general) and their many ways of scolding and scouring over utterly useless and trivial items. Though Arria herself did not enjoy the mud at all, it had been a very amusing sight to behold. Just as she was opening her mouth to respond in a very gleeful manner, a certain gentleman interrupted their fresh little conversation -- though Ariana couldn't say that she minded.

In fact, the man seemed rather interesting. She couldn't help but notice his darker appearance, she had gotten quite in the habit of doing so. Foreigners have a way of learning to site other foreigners very quickly, and this man was no exception. The hazel eyes caught her attention immediately. They were so very striking! The gentleman's slight reference to the "unkind roads" brought another smile to her face -- and the need to refrain from more laughter.

It was a help that Miss Roskin's hand had covered her mouth, an assistance to hold back the giggles, allowing Miss Hurston to respond. Ariana was hardly so prudent, or very rarely so, and would have likely gotten them all into an unfortunate situation. And another talk from her father, which came too often for either of their likings.

But on the next question, none were so fortunate. The Spaniard (though she was only a half-Spaniard, if it must be said) was quick to respond. Her voice would not help this fascinating gentleman's curiosity a bit though, for her English was perfect. Unlike her brother Armando, Ariana had always loved English. Therefore, she had succeeded in maintaining a perfect accent, while her brother's was very thick. Anything that may have been partially wrong with her English before, was now very improved, if not completely, by the last year spent in England.

"My father is Captain Roskin, sir. Of the Navy." Ariana curtsied lightly, a cheerful smile gracing her features. "Perhaps you are acquainted with him? He used to travel quite a lot, you know. I must admit I don't recall seeing you in these parts before, though I've only been here a year." Miss Roskin had, as usual, just given away much information about herself, and asked for more from the other person in her own coy way. And given a speech much longer than necessary, one that was probably of little interest to anyone -- though Ariana hardly cared. Instead she only smiled sweetly and hoped some kind of answer would be given to her -- she had become so very curious!

[Cecily Hurston]

Cecily too curtsied. "Hurtson sir. My father is Richard Hurston, but I regret to say he's never traveled further than Paris." she said, in partial response to Ariana's comment of her father.

She too was curious about the gentleman. Where had he come from? He definitely looked like a foreigner- and one that wouldn't tell his name?! Better and better. Cecily had always enjoyed a good puzzle, and this had all the makings of a perfect one.

Of course, it would quickly be cleared up once he paid the promised visit to her family, but Sis let herself entertain her grand dreams, with little practical thoughts to mar them. A mysterious foreigner in their midst? While Aunt Anne might bash his reputation and look him up one side and down the other for any wrong-doing in his past, Cecily woul be perfectly content to simply think of him a mysterious foreigner. Yes, that would do nicely. And let Aunt Anne be scandalized.

Biting back a smile at her thoughts, she turned her attention back to The Mysterious Foreigner.

[Henry Everson]

Well, the girls seemed to be a civil sort, and he hadn't much else to do to pass the time while Horatia did God knows what. Like as not she was explaining her list of causes to the shopkeeper. He'd make it a point to rescue the poor woman in a moment. For now, he wished to stay out of a shop and out of anything domestic.

"Miss Roskin, Miss Hurston," he said, bowing once more. "A pleasure."

He considered Miss Roskin's situation. A year in Middleton. He wondered what might have happened a year ago that might cause the remove in the navy. It wasn't the declaration of peace . . . perhaps a remove from some other locale for health.

Henry caught himself in the assumption that this was indeed a healthy place. Judging from the mud-coated Miss Hurston, the weather could be . . . incommodious.

"Perhaps you are acquainted with him?" the dark girl asked. "He used to travel quite a lot, you know. I must admit I don't recall seeing you in these parts before, though I've only been here a year."

"I do not know everyone in the navy, I'm afraid. Though I hope soon to know at least one more, if you do not object to my calling, Miss Roskin. Though I confess to finding myself not a little disappointed for I," he said with emphasis, "have been here an entire day. Which usually is enough to have spread the word abroad, but I will forgive the oversight," a cryptic smile spread over his face, "being as you are so new to the area. As for your father," he said, turning to Miss Hurston, "You may tell him I send him my deepest apologies." With a smirk, he clarified: "It would have been better for him to stay in England than to have gone to Paris at all."

Henry looked up at the sky at this, contemplating. The clouds hung low and were darkening. He could feel the presence of rain in the air, though he couldn't see, hear, or feel the rain proper. The wind, however, was a biting cold. "I do not know if this is a concern for you, Miss Hurston," his smile turned lopsided, "but I believe it is about to rain, and perhaps we ought to spare Miss Roskin's skirts the same fate as your own."

He looked back to the coachman who had been pretending not to listen the whole time, but Henry could tell from his decided efforts not to look interested that he was far from disinterested. He had to call the man's name twice.

"Luke." He waited, watching the man fiddle with his lapel. The second call brought the man to a swift attention. "Should Miss Lyon emerge," he said in an ironical tone, "you may convey her home. I can walk. I believe I shall walk near these ladies to wherever they may be headed." He looked pointedly at the young women, thinking as he spoke that it was a very good chance that they were going to a shop even less to his liking than the general store-some dress shop, perhaps--but it was with different people, and he wanted to see the town and it's . . . colour.

"I ought to say 'escort,' but as you are proper young ladies, I do not think you would take kindly to the attentions of a stranger." Again, the irony crept into his voice, for he knew well--and knew they know as well--that for all their protestations of propriety, they did not object to his being there. "But I can see nothing wrong in the account, can you? After all, I can see no harm in walking near you ladies in the same general direction. . . it is a busy town, after all." He looked about the deserted street (due no doubt to the impending weather) and nodded significantly.

[Cecily Hurston]

Cecily laughed softly at his remark of the town being busy, her eyes also perusing the street. No one was out. Curtsying, she said- "Thank you sir. Though if one of us got it into our heads to take a trip into the mud, could- or would- you prevent us?" she asked, her smart-aleck streak taking over.

She held onto her bonnet as the wind whipped down the street yet again. Oh, she hated the wind, especially since everytime it blew, it plastered her mud-soaked clothing to her body. Looking at the other two, she added- "I propose we go soon, if we are going. I'd much rather get my scolding over and done with." she said with a quirky, lopsided smile dawning on her face.

[Ariana Castello-Roskin]

"What a shame for you, sir! It's quite an exciting business, I assure you." Ariana commented of the navy. "You must meet my father. I'm sure he will tell you all there is to know about it." She rolled her eyes a bit here, knowing her father would go on about it much more than necessary, if given the chance. "My apologies if a day is much too long," Ariana said with a soft laugh. "I'm afraid I must not know the correct people."

"Is Paris really so bad, sir? I've always thought it must be lovely." If only she could ask his name! Calling him 'sir' all the time was becoming quite irksome. And where was he from? It was another bothersome fact that Ariana was just dying to know. Perhaps she would have a chance to ask him, a bit later on.

Miss Roskin laughed, looking down at her skirts as if to assure everyone they were fine. "They cannot suffer too badly. Though it might be wise to avoid any possibilities." And she did just that, carefully stepping around the mud puddle, while listening to both the strange foreigner, and Miss Cecily's propositions.

"Walking near us is sure to be accepted, in all sense of propriety," Ariana smiled, happy that she might have another chance of finding out more about this curious man. "Miss Hurston, must you go now? It would be so delightful if you would come shopping with me!"

{my apologies for the major scatter-brainedness happening here! but in my defense it is very late and i'm giving you both a post which i've been owing you. haha.}

[Cecily Hurston]

Cecily bit her lip at Ariana's query, and her eyes went down to her skirts. "Well...I'm not sure..." she thought a moment, then looked up at the other. "I know! Longview isn't far- just down the road. If you would walk that far with me, I could avoid my aunt and change. Then we could come back."

She glanced about, then returned her attention to Ms. Roskin...and the Mysterious Gentleman. The mystery surrounding him was certainly beginning to prey on her imagination. If she didn't get answers soon, she was apt to start thinking up all sorts of things, filling in his past her way.

[Henry Everson]

"Ah, but Miss Roskin, it does not follow that one who does not know everyone in the navy does not know any*thing* of the navy," Henry corrected with a smile.

Henry gave no further elaboration on Paris. It was a wretched city with wretched people that provided for wretched conversation. And while Henry might accept this in its place, he was trying so hard to be respectable just now.

As Miss Roskin mentioned shopping and Henry realised his near peril of being the young lady's shop-mate, he, too, looked to Miss Hurston.

To her proposition, Henry smiled. "What Miss Hurston proposes sounds capital. In fact, I suspect that Miss Roskin was just about to call on you there, were you not?" he looked significantly to Miss Roskin.

Afraid they might not catch the suggestion, he added, "Unfortunately, Miss Roskin might find that Miss Hurston had gone to town. Not wishing to be incivil, Miss Roskin will have no choice but to speak a short time with Miss Hurston's dear aunt . . . Such a distraction would keep her occupied with some conversation, allowing Miss Hurston an opportunity to slip around back, change her clothing, and return without detection." The delivery was emotionless--as though Henry were reciting the tired and trite third-act of the most popular Moliere. Henry always thought Moliere very dull (except, of course, when he was very clever).

"You shan't be needing any assistance getting in round back, Miss Hurston?" he offered humbly after some time.

[Cecily Hurston]

Cecily listened to the idea the gentleman outlined. It sounded very like many plots she and her brothers had come up with to avoid such trouble. She smiled in complete agreement with the plot. "Quite inspired sir. I like it. If Miss Roskin is willing to put herself through the ordeal of talking to my Aunt for ten minutes."

Eyes sparkling, she answered his next question with a playful air. "With four brothers who love to get me into scrapes, I've learned the art of sneaking past my Aunt. I shan't have any trouble. Though if you're accompanying us, you will need a water-tight alibi to avoid my Aunt's gossip machine."