"But Daaaaaaaaaad!" Ayowen was in quite the fret over what he father had just said. Stomping her foot and putting her hands on her hips, she shakes her head and pouts.
"You've nothing more to do with that boy. Is that understood?" Her father had stood his ground. It wasn't easy for him. His youngest daughter had the looks and mannerisms of his late wife. He often doted on her, giving in to her little fits and tantrums. But not this time. Not this time. He shook his dark head and scowled, then turned his back on his daughter.
The incident had started out, innocently enough. Ayowen was an avid horsewoman, being raised in the house of one of the largest horse traders in Waterdeep, it came naturally. On horseback since she was old enough to walk, she loved the freedom riding gave her. She often scoffed at the riding habits that her nanny and parents tried to get her to wear. And she even secretly learned to ride with both legs astride the horse. Dainty, not this girl.
Jared was a notorious rake. His reputation preceded him wherever he went. The only saving grace, and the only reason why he was so often invited to the balls, cotillions and parties of the social whirl was because he was a Viscount. He was tall, elegant and his eyes held a dangerous mixture of fire and lust for life. Her father had warned her many times to keep clear when Jared came to visit. And up until recently, she obeyed by keeping to her rooms until the rake was gone.
However, he happened to catch her as she was coming in from riding. Her long, blond hair tangled by the wind that had blown it back from her face. Her cheeks flushed and her eyes danced merrily as she rode the roan gelding into the stable. "That's a good boy." as she patted his neck. Climbing down from him, she felt a pair of hands suddenly on her waist. Her back stiffened and she turned quickly to stare into the eyes of none other than Jared. "Thank you." she said stiffly as he put her down.
Jared chuckled and stepped away. "You are quite welcome." The groom had taken the horse by it's lead and walked it between Jared and Ayowen, causing them both to take a step back. Once the horse was gone, Ayowen's eyes went back to Jared. "Did you find another horse to your suiting?" She questioned.
"Not just a horse, Ayowen." he said quietly and stepped towards her. His eyes held her and she could feel her breath catching in her throat. "Oh, good." she squeaked out.
Suddenly, she felt his strong arms wrap around her and his lips pressed against her own. Totally and completely swept off her feet, if for but a split second. Then she pushes him away, her eyes flashing with anger.
"Just what are you two doing?" Ayowen gasped and turned to see her father quickly approaching. "Jared, leave us." The dark eyes of her father did not travel to look at Jared at all. Just his daughter held his attention.
Jared took a slight bow, chuckled softly and left the barn. That's when Ayowen's father finally exploded. "Ayowen, the man is twice your age and his reputation is not to be trusted!" He put his hands through his dark hair and he started to pace.
"But Dad, it was just a kiss, and really, nothing more than that. I was pushing him away!" Ayowen started to wring her hands. Her father had never been so angry. At least, not in her presence.
"Come with me." her father took her by the elbow and led her into the house. He grumbled under his breath as they walked through the gardens. Under normal circumstances, she enjoyed the walks that she took with her father in these gardens. They were full of vivid colors of every hue, especially in the spring. The air was heavy with the perfume of many flowers.
But there was no time to stop and smell the roses. Not this time. Ayowen's father led her to the house. Into the anteroom just off of the main hallway. "Ayowen, I've been planning this for a while, but it seems that I've got no choice now. I'm sending you on a tour. You'll visit Greenbrier, the Eastgates and your final stop will be in Rhydin. Hopefully that your absence will cool the fires that you've stoked in Sir Jared.
Ayowen stood there, shock registering in her every feature. "But Daaaaaad!" she stomped her foot. "I don't want to!"
"You've nothing more to do with that boy. Is that understood?" Her father had stood his ground. It wasn't easy for him. His youngest daughter had the looks and mannerisms of his late wife. He often doted on her, giving in to her little fits and tantrums. But not this time. Not this time. He shook his dark head and scowled, then turned his back on his daughter.
The incident had started out, innocently enough. Ayowen was an avid horsewoman, being raised in the house of one of the largest horse traders in Waterdeep, it came naturally. On horseback since she was old enough to walk, she loved the freedom riding gave her. She often scoffed at the riding habits that her nanny and parents tried to get her to wear. And she even secretly learned to ride with both legs astride the horse. Dainty, not this girl.
Jared was a notorious rake. His reputation preceded him wherever he went. The only saving grace, and the only reason why he was so often invited to the balls, cotillions and parties of the social whirl was because he was a Viscount. He was tall, elegant and his eyes held a dangerous mixture of fire and lust for life. Her father had warned her many times to keep clear when Jared came to visit. And up until recently, she obeyed by keeping to her rooms until the rake was gone.
However, he happened to catch her as she was coming in from riding. Her long, blond hair tangled by the wind that had blown it back from her face. Her cheeks flushed and her eyes danced merrily as she rode the roan gelding into the stable. "That's a good boy." as she patted his neck. Climbing down from him, she felt a pair of hands suddenly on her waist. Her back stiffened and she turned quickly to stare into the eyes of none other than Jared. "Thank you." she said stiffly as he put her down.
Jared chuckled and stepped away. "You are quite welcome." The groom had taken the horse by it's lead and walked it between Jared and Ayowen, causing them both to take a step back. Once the horse was gone, Ayowen's eyes went back to Jared. "Did you find another horse to your suiting?" She questioned.
"Not just a horse, Ayowen." he said quietly and stepped towards her. His eyes held her and she could feel her breath catching in her throat. "Oh, good." she squeaked out.
Suddenly, she felt his strong arms wrap around her and his lips pressed against her own. Totally and completely swept off her feet, if for but a split second. Then she pushes him away, her eyes flashing with anger.
"Just what are you two doing?" Ayowen gasped and turned to see her father quickly approaching. "Jared, leave us." The dark eyes of her father did not travel to look at Jared at all. Just his daughter held his attention.
Jared took a slight bow, chuckled softly and left the barn. That's when Ayowen's father finally exploded. "Ayowen, the man is twice your age and his reputation is not to be trusted!" He put his hands through his dark hair and he started to pace.
"But Dad, it was just a kiss, and really, nothing more than that. I was pushing him away!" Ayowen started to wring her hands. Her father had never been so angry. At least, not in her presence.
"Come with me." her father took her by the elbow and led her into the house. He grumbled under his breath as they walked through the gardens. Under normal circumstances, she enjoyed the walks that she took with her father in these gardens. They were full of vivid colors of every hue, especially in the spring. The air was heavy with the perfume of many flowers.
But there was no time to stop and smell the roses. Not this time. Ayowen's father led her to the house. Into the anteroom just off of the main hallway. "Ayowen, I've been planning this for a while, but it seems that I've got no choice now. I'm sending you on a tour. You'll visit Greenbrier, the Eastgates and your final stop will be in Rhydin. Hopefully that your absence will cool the fires that you've stoked in Sir Jared.
Ayowen stood there, shock registering in her every feature. "But Daaaaaad!" she stomped her foot. "I don't want to!"