You could say what you liked about Jonathan Granger, but he always came through for his family. All it had taken was a single dropped hint from his baby sister, and within a day, he had a table booked at the Ristorante Galante for Dru and Josh to enjoy a few days later. He'd even survived the hyperactive squealing thanks said baby sister had bestowed on him when he had told her about it. Of course, Galante was a high class place, specializing in quality and discretion, and that required a little more thought when it came to dressing correctly for the evening. But then, Dru hadn't dressed up properly since coming to Rhy'Din, and despite all her attempts to hide it, she was very much a girl. She'd been working on making herself over for Josh's benefit for most of the day.
When she was done, even she had to admit that perhaps years of being styled and made over had rubbed off a little, steeling herself for Josh's reaction when he came to collect her. As her hands smoothed down over the soft silk of her chosen dress, she had a moment of panic - what if he brought the bike? - before remembering that he knew what he was doing. "Oh, for goodness' sake, Drusilla," she scolded her reflection. "You are engaged to him. This is just a date!"
It was a little strange not being there with Dru while the two of them got ready, but this was a special date, and he had insisted on them getting dressed separately. Besides, he had a few extra things to worry about, like transportation and flowers, while she had to do her hair and nails and whatever other things women did before going on a big date. He had retreated to the little cottage he'd been staying in when he'd first been invited to stay at Maple Grove to get showered and dressed, choosing a navy blue suit over a white shirt and print blue tie that matched the blue of his eyes. His hair was neatly combed to the side and gelled to give it a little lift, and a light scruffy beard covered his cheeks, now that he was able to grow one. He had decided to rent a limousine for the evening, not because he was afraid they might drink too much, but because he wanted to both impress her and enjoy the evening as much as they could without worrying about transportation.
The waiting was the worst part, Dru had decided. Not that she had been waiting long - she was, in fact, still fussing with her hair when she came to that conclusion. Last minute checks on her appearance were easily done - the cream halterneck dress clung and flared in the right places, the delicate bracelet and earrings complimented her ring, the crystal on her heeled sandals sparkled as she walked. Even the hair she was fussing with had managed to behave itself for once, falling in soft waves about her face and shoulders. She was as ready as she was going to get. Now all she needed was her date.
He was nervous, too, but it was a good kind of nervous - the kind of nervous you got when you went on your first date with the girl of your dreams, which was basically what he was doing. He checked his tie for the umpteenth time in the mirror and shoved a hand through his hair, debating whether or not he should have shaved. The scruffy beard was a new thing he had been trying out, but he hadn't decided yet whether or not he wanted to keep it. Here in Rhy'Din, no one cared, but back home, it might start a fuss. The limo arrived right on time, and he got inside, instructing the driver where to pick up his date. It wasn't much of a drive to Willow Manor from where the cottage was located and before long they were pulling up outside the house where Dru's brother and sister had grown up.
The sound of the car pulling up made Dru smile in relief. No more waiting, and she knew that the moment she was in Josh's company, she would relax, anyway. With a last admonishment to her security to sit and stay - which four fully grown, burly men took rather well from a petite teenager - she slipped out through the front door and into the gentle dusk that was beginning to fall.
What awaited her outside was a black limousine, from which a man in a very formal black suit exited to open the passenger door and usher her inside where Josh was waiting.
She was a little surprised to find a limousine waiting for her, laughing with delight at the effort Josh seemed to have gone to for a single evening out. With a smile and a nod to the driver, she climbed into the back seat, biting her lip with a hopeful smile.
Waiting for her in the back of the limousine was a very handsome Josh all dressed up for the evening and clutching a bouquet of red roses. Josh smiled softly, blue eyes lighting up when he saw her. "Evening, Princess. You look..." He looked her over admiringly, his heart swelling with emotion. "You look beautiful," he said, offering her a hand to help her inside.
Taking his hand easily, Dru slid into the backseat alongside him, pausing to take in the sight of him, dressed in a beautifully tailored suit, the shade of blue perfect to bring out the hue of his eyes. She blushed lightly at his compliment, squeezing his hand before releasing him. "And you look very handsome," she returned it with sweet sincerity. Her glance took in the limo curiously. "I didn't realize you'd gone to so much effort."
"You wanted a proper first date, so it's a proper first date." Not like going out for pizza with the rest of the theater company or hanging out with her family. "These are for you," he said, as he handed her the bouquet of flowers, feeling like they were kind of doing things backwards. It wasn't like he needed to impress her, but he wanted the evening to be memorable.
Her smile deepened, surprised and touched by the romantic gesture. She breathed in the fragrance that clung to the roses as she took the bouquet, closing her eyes for a brief moment to savor the scent. "They're beautiful, Josh," she told him softly, leaning close to kiss him. "Thank you."
Not as beautiful as you are, he thought to himself, but said nothing, mostly because she had momentarily silenced him with a kiss. "You deserve the best," he told her, not because she was a princess, but because he loved her. Fortunately, he was in a position where he was able to spoil her a little, though he didn't really flaunt the fact that he was a duke's son and didn't have to worry much about money.
When she was done, even she had to admit that perhaps years of being styled and made over had rubbed off a little, steeling herself for Josh's reaction when he came to collect her. As her hands smoothed down over the soft silk of her chosen dress, she had a moment of panic - what if he brought the bike? - before remembering that he knew what he was doing. "Oh, for goodness' sake, Drusilla," she scolded her reflection. "You are engaged to him. This is just a date!"
It was a little strange not being there with Dru while the two of them got ready, but this was a special date, and he had insisted on them getting dressed separately. Besides, he had a few extra things to worry about, like transportation and flowers, while she had to do her hair and nails and whatever other things women did before going on a big date. He had retreated to the little cottage he'd been staying in when he'd first been invited to stay at Maple Grove to get showered and dressed, choosing a navy blue suit over a white shirt and print blue tie that matched the blue of his eyes. His hair was neatly combed to the side and gelled to give it a little lift, and a light scruffy beard covered his cheeks, now that he was able to grow one. He had decided to rent a limousine for the evening, not because he was afraid they might drink too much, but because he wanted to both impress her and enjoy the evening as much as they could without worrying about transportation.
The waiting was the worst part, Dru had decided. Not that she had been waiting long - she was, in fact, still fussing with her hair when she came to that conclusion. Last minute checks on her appearance were easily done - the cream halterneck dress clung and flared in the right places, the delicate bracelet and earrings complimented her ring, the crystal on her heeled sandals sparkled as she walked. Even the hair she was fussing with had managed to behave itself for once, falling in soft waves about her face and shoulders. She was as ready as she was going to get. Now all she needed was her date.
He was nervous, too, but it was a good kind of nervous - the kind of nervous you got when you went on your first date with the girl of your dreams, which was basically what he was doing. He checked his tie for the umpteenth time in the mirror and shoved a hand through his hair, debating whether or not he should have shaved. The scruffy beard was a new thing he had been trying out, but he hadn't decided yet whether or not he wanted to keep it. Here in Rhy'Din, no one cared, but back home, it might start a fuss. The limo arrived right on time, and he got inside, instructing the driver where to pick up his date. It wasn't much of a drive to Willow Manor from where the cottage was located and before long they were pulling up outside the house where Dru's brother and sister had grown up.
The sound of the car pulling up made Dru smile in relief. No more waiting, and she knew that the moment she was in Josh's company, she would relax, anyway. With a last admonishment to her security to sit and stay - which four fully grown, burly men took rather well from a petite teenager - she slipped out through the front door and into the gentle dusk that was beginning to fall.
What awaited her outside was a black limousine, from which a man in a very formal black suit exited to open the passenger door and usher her inside where Josh was waiting.
She was a little surprised to find a limousine waiting for her, laughing with delight at the effort Josh seemed to have gone to for a single evening out. With a smile and a nod to the driver, she climbed into the back seat, biting her lip with a hopeful smile.
Waiting for her in the back of the limousine was a very handsome Josh all dressed up for the evening and clutching a bouquet of red roses. Josh smiled softly, blue eyes lighting up when he saw her. "Evening, Princess. You look..." He looked her over admiringly, his heart swelling with emotion. "You look beautiful," he said, offering her a hand to help her inside.
Taking his hand easily, Dru slid into the backseat alongside him, pausing to take in the sight of him, dressed in a beautifully tailored suit, the shade of blue perfect to bring out the hue of his eyes. She blushed lightly at his compliment, squeezing his hand before releasing him. "And you look very handsome," she returned it with sweet sincerity. Her glance took in the limo curiously. "I didn't realize you'd gone to so much effort."
"You wanted a proper first date, so it's a proper first date." Not like going out for pizza with the rest of the theater company or hanging out with her family. "These are for you," he said, as he handed her the bouquet of flowers, feeling like they were kind of doing things backwards. It wasn't like he needed to impress her, but he wanted the evening to be memorable.
Her smile deepened, surprised and touched by the romantic gesture. She breathed in the fragrance that clung to the roses as she took the bouquet, closing her eyes for a brief moment to savor the scent. "They're beautiful, Josh," she told him softly, leaning close to kiss him. "Thank you."
Not as beautiful as you are, he thought to himself, but said nothing, mostly because she had momentarily silenced him with a kiss. "You deserve the best," he told her, not because she was a princess, but because he loved her. Fortunately, he was in a position where he was able to spoil her a little, though he didn't really flaunt the fact that he was a duke's son and didn't have to worry much about money.