"Weren't you to obey my orders anyway?" (original) (raw)

Mark: *I rap lightly on Lady Otto's door, a tea tray balanced in my hands. Not my usual line of work, housemaid, but I suppose one can't stand about looking menacing all the time.*

Miranda: Come in. *I call out when I hear a knock, moving out from the bedroom to the sitting room to greet whoever it is. I did not ask for anything to be sent up and I am not expecting any visitors, but I intend to greet whoever it is the way I would greet someone in my own home. Perhaps it is Dominic with news of when Elijah will be able to talk*

Mark: *I turn the knob and nudge the door open with my shoulder, holding out the tea tray* I was bidden to bring you tea, my lady.

Miranda: You were bidden? *I tease with a smile* And who bid you to bring me tea, pray tell? *I motion for him to set it on a table in front of the chairs* Please, join me. I do not need to drink it all by myself.

Mark: My lord, of course, my lady. *I smile, setting the tray down* Though, no offence meant, I am sure it was intended solely for you and not to give his guard an excuse for dawdling.

Miranda: Sit, Mark. And call me Miranda. *I laugh* I think we have been acquainted long enough for that. I don't need for you to be so formal with me, especially not in private. Have some tea.

Mark: *I smile and incline my head in mock-defeat* As you wish. Though you realise it means that if Dominic wants to know why I'm not back, I shall have to blame you. *Laughing*

Miranda: Of course. *I grin as I take a cranberry scone off the tray* I will be happy to tell him that I asked you to stay. Or ordered if you prefer. *I take a bite and brush the crumbs from my face before continuing* Weren't you to obey my orders anyway?

Mark: *Returning the grin* Indeed, next time you must make it clear that it's an order, and I shall sit down and have tea with you without argument. *I chuckle and help myself to a scone as well*

Miranda: Well, I would rather that you sit down with me because you want to rather than because I have ordered you to. But I suppose if I must order you to... *I chuckle* I shall endeavor to do that in the future.

Mark: Of course I certainly have no objection to tea with a lady of such *beauty? Too impudent, perhaps* esteem. It is simply that I am set in the routine of the soldier, and lacking more gentle manners. *I wink*

Miranda: Well, you can't be a soldier all the time, Mark. There are other things in life. You can't spend all your time soldiering.

Mark: No? *Smiling* It does seem to swallow up a good bit of your time, for something you can't spend all your time doing.

Miranda: Well, perhaps you haven't found other things to devote your time to. There are always other things to do...you simply have to look for them.

Mark: Perhaps. I have discovered that espionage is not the hobby for me. *Grin*

Miranda: Well, yes, but espionage cannot be for everyone. I am sure you have other talents, though.

Mark: Not talents, perhaps, but interests at the least. I suppose I'll keep busy with other things in my old age.

Miranda: Well, what are you interested in then? *I ask as I pour tea into both cups, putting honey in mine.* Would you like honey? *I wait, the jar poised above the teacup, for his answer*

Mark: Yes, thank you. *Thoughtfully* Folk tales and songs, I suppose, interest me. Poetry, ballads, that manner of thing.

Miranda: *I pour the honey into the cup and hand it to him, then take a sip of my own before replying to him. The poetry sounds very interesting.* Singing and reading them? Or composing? I myself enjoy listening to poetry and balads, but I am afraid that I have no talent for writing. *I chuckle depreciatingly* I find the information contained in the balads to be fascinating though. There is so much knowledge there if you know how to interpret it.

Mark: *I nod in agreement* Well. I would not say I have any talent for writing, but I couldn't say it stops me from trying either. One day I am sure I will be the old man in the village pub driving the other patrons mad with my ceaseless reciting of bad poetry. *Chuckling*

Miranda: *I laugh along with you* I am certian that it cannot be that bad. I would love to hear some of your poetry sometime. *I take another sip of my tea* And I am equally certain that Dominic will not leave you to rot in a villiage pub. Unless you wanted to, of course.

Mark: After a few years listening to my poetry, I am certain he would. *I grin* What of you? You seem a lady of many interests.

Miranda: I doubt that. *I nod* Unlike you, I do enjoy espoinage as you call it. Of course, I generally have other people doing my spying for me. *I laugh* I also enjoy reading and listining to stories. And practicing healing, though my talents in that area are meager.

Mark: A well-rounded lady indeed. *Carefully* I can well imagine why Dominic's father hoped to have his son wed to such a one.

Miranda: *I chuckle depreciatingly* I think it is more the lands that comprise my dowry than any talents that Lord Monaghan admires. I have a feeling that if he knew my true sentiments about certain things, he would not like me so much as a potential bride. Still, as long as he does not know the true nature of my relationship with his son, everyone can remain happy.

Mark: *I sip my tea, chastised* Yes, well, if he had any sense that would be the case.

Miranda: You know Dominic's father much better than I do, I am certian. Do you think that he would truly appreciate a woman who has been raised to be as independent as possible in this world?

Mark: Alas not. *Innocently* Next time I shall think a little harder about the accuracy of my compliments before I pay them. *Grin*

Miranda: *He's being so endearing that I can't help but laugh* Well, I appreciate the compliment, then.

Mark: *I finish the tea and set my cup back on the saucer* If you are particularly unlucky, I may even deliver the next one in the form of a poem. *I laugh*

Miranda: I would love to have a poem written about me. I don't think anyone has ever done that before. *I grin at him, lowering my eyelids demurely*

Mark: *I chuckle and wag a finger at her* You say that now. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Miranda: I promise I will immensely enjoy any poem you write. Particularly if you write it about me. *I let out a small giggle* Although, I probably shouldn't admit that, it will sound as if I'm vain.

Mark: *Laughing and winking* We all have our secrets. I won't tell anyone if you don't tell anyone the captain of Dominic's guards is a sappy poet in his spare time.

Miranda: Your secret is safe with me, I promise.

Mark: *Glancing down at my empty cup and saucer* Not to say I am not enjoying the conversation, but I do truly have duties I am sure need attending to. Though I would be glad to be ordered to take tea with you again, if it please you. *Smiles*

Miranda: I would enjoy that. *I tell him honestly. It has been a nice break from the monotony of sitting in this room reading. I must say, today has been the best day I have had since I arrived here at Viggo's estate*

Mark: You have only to say the word. *I stand, collecting the tea things, and sketch a little bow to her before lifting the tray and heading to the door*