assumed, in all probability was about to bolt from the room. She was somewhat surprised to see him nonchalantly examining his toe, apparently in no hurry to leave or in any objection to the Marquelle's request.
The Duchene met Green's eye. She nodded. "I think that would be an excellent idea." Claudine D'anbere's visit had obviously shaken the older woman. A slight tremor shook her blue-veined hand. Green speculated on whether Anya's distress was due to more than just simple dislike for the brash She-Count.
"Come, Jorlan, show me the wonders you have to offer." Her amber eyes twinkled with double meaning as she held out her hand.
His expression was equally subtle as he took her proffered hand and led her out into the bright sunshine.
The gardens at Reynard House were breathtaking.
The Duchene had always had a fondness for flora and had consistently cultivated rare, exotic plants for the garden. There were even a few extremely rare Origin plants whose stemmings had been carefully grafted on to existing plants on Forus. The resultant plants had been gorgeous hybrids—huge roseyal blooms and fragrant lillacia. They had never been able to figure out why Origin plants wouldn't grow directly in Forus soil. It seemed as if they should—but they wouldn't germinate. Only one plant had ever been able to, and that had been something of an accidental discovery.
Green inhaled deeply of the lovely morning scents.
"Mmm. How lovely! You are fortunate to be able to enjoy this beauty, Jorlan. Although my mother would have been furious with me for admitting to this, your grandmother's gardens are the best in
Capitol
Town
."
Green's mother and Anya had often engaged in friendly rivalry as to who had the better garden. Green had nostalgically continued the bi-play.
Jorlan smiled, the edges of his lips curling up in provocative way. "Your secret will be safe with me." He gazed down at her out of the corner of his eye with a gleam. "That is until we return and I just happen to mention to my grandmother... " He left the implication unsaid.
"You wouldn't do such a thing! Not about the gardens!" This had been a long-standing and well-loved feud.
"Mmm-hmm." He nodded to put more emphasis to the unpardonable deed.
Her lips twitched. "You scoundrel! I can't believe you would—"
He laughed, a rich, alluring sound, which showcased gleaming white teeth and curved dimples. He was a charming scoundrel.
She shook her finger at him. "I'll owe you for that one, be sure."
He arched his brow. "I'm counting on it, Marquelle." The hoarse tone was pure seduction.
Despite her age and experience. Green blushed. Jorlan Marquelle was an engaging package. Every indication she had was that the man was more than even she had surmised. And she rarely underestimated anyone.
He was certainly more playful than she ever would have guessed.
And, for some reason, a reason she could not name, there was the sense that under it all he could be very, very dangerous. How could a man be dangerous? She viewed him askance.
"What?" he mouthed.
"I'm wondering about you."
He stopped and crossed his arms over his chest. "And just what are you wondering?"
"I'm wondering what is going on behind those aqua eyes of yours."
He blinked slowly. Purposefully. "Perhaps nothing."
"I sincerely doubt that."
"Perhaps I am wondering just what it is you think to 'show' me out here."
"I thought you were showing me."
He stared at her expectantly.
"The gardens?"
"So I am. What do you think?" He spread his arms wide, indicating the landscape, but his inquiry was not about plantings.
So she answered in him in kind. "I think it is a beautiful place, rich in detail, and layered with complexity. Vibrant, with subtle tones, and altogether individual in nature."
"You flatter my family," he responded evenly, giving nothing away.
"The Reynards have always been known for their leadership abilities; surely that trait is evident even here in this... garden."
"Yes, they have often paved
The Duchene met Green's eye. She nodded. "I think that would be an excellent idea." Claudine D'anbere's visit had obviously shaken the older woman. A slight tremor shook her blue-veined hand. Green speculated on whether Anya's distress was due to more than just simple dislike for the brash She-Count.
"Come, Jorlan, show me the wonders you have to offer." Her amber eyes twinkled with double meaning as she held out her hand.
His expression was equally subtle as he took her proffered hand and led her out into the bright sunshine.
The gardens at Reynard House were breathtaking.
The Duchene had always had a fondness for flora and had consistently cultivated rare, exotic plants for the garden. There were even a few extremely rare Origin plants whose stemmings had been carefully grafted on to existing plants on Forus. The resultant plants had been gorgeous hybrids—huge roseyal blooms and fragrant lillacia. They had never been able to figure out why Origin plants wouldn't grow directly in Forus soil. It seemed as if they should—but they wouldn't germinate. Only one plant had ever been able to, and that had been something of an accidental discovery.
Green inhaled deeply of the lovely morning scents.
"Mmm. How lovely! You are fortunate to be able to enjoy this beauty, Jorlan. Although my mother would have been furious with me for admitting to this, your grandmother's gardens are the best in
Capitol
Town
."
Green's mother and Anya had often engaged in friendly rivalry as to who had the better garden. Green had nostalgically continued the bi-play.
Jorlan smiled, the edges of his lips curling up in provocative way. "Your secret will be safe with me." He gazed down at her out of the corner of his eye with a gleam. "That is until we return and I just happen to mention to my grandmother... " He left the implication unsaid.
"You wouldn't do such a thing! Not about the gardens!" This had been a long-standing and well-loved feud.
"Mmm-hmm." He nodded to put more emphasis to the unpardonable deed.
Her lips twitched. "You scoundrel! I can't believe you would—"
He laughed, a rich, alluring sound, which showcased gleaming white teeth and curved dimples. He was a charming scoundrel.
She shook her finger at him. "I'll owe you for that one, be sure."
He arched his brow. "I'm counting on it, Marquelle." The hoarse tone was pure seduction.
Despite her age and experience. Green blushed. Jorlan Marquelle was an engaging package. Every indication she had was that the man was more than even she had surmised. And she rarely underestimated anyone.
He was certainly more playful than she ever would have guessed.
And, for some reason, a reason she could not name, there was the sense that under it all he could be very, very dangerous. How could a man be dangerous? She viewed him askance.
"What?" he mouthed.
"I'm wondering about you."
He stopped and crossed his arms over his chest. "And just what are you wondering?"
"I'm wondering what is going on behind those aqua eyes of yours."
He blinked slowly. Purposefully. "Perhaps nothing."
"I sincerely doubt that."
"Perhaps I am wondering just what it is you think to 'show' me out here."
"I thought you were showing me."
He stared at her expectantly.
"The gardens?"
"So I am. What do you think?" He spread his arms wide, indicating the landscape, but his inquiry was not about plantings.
So she answered in him in kind. "I think it is a beautiful place, rich in detail, and layered with complexity. Vibrant, with subtle tones, and altogether individual in nature."
"You flatter my family," he responded evenly, giving nothing away.
"The Reynards have always been known for their leadership abilities; surely that trait is evident even here in this... garden."
"Yes, they have often paved
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