Jan?tte made her way up to the castle, and though the walk had been long, she was barely breathing hard as she firmly struck the knocker against the door. It did surprise her a little how quickly that knock was answered. She had just released the knocker when the door was opened and she was looking up at the gentleman who had answered.
He had the look of what could be presumed the typical butler or valet. His voice was actually quite clear and pleasant as he announced, "Bonsoir. Mademoiselle Devore I would presume. Do come in, the Count is expecting you in his study. I'll show you the way." He then allowed her to enter and took her cloak which she had untied as she thanked him.
The letter she had been given was still in her hand, however. This she would deliver to the Count herself.
He escorted her with the instructions, ?Follow me,? and it was through an area of sensory enticement that he lead her. The scent of wood and roses, and the fell of the carpet mingled with the way the last light of the evening played through the stained glass windows upon the paintings across from them in the hallway was more than enough to draw her deeper.
She couldn?t help imagining the number of women who had crossed his threshold, believing that they would hold some sway over him. Instead it was he who had held sway over them, much as a spider does to a fly, enticing with the beauty at the center of the web.
The study was situated at the end of the long hallway. By the time Charles had rapped once upon the door, her senses were practically tingling. The rattle of the keys on the chain, and the click of the tumblers as they were being struck by the grooves along the key to then open the door, drew her attention, forcing her to focus before she was finally escorted inside.
"You may enter, Mademoiselle Devore," was the last thing he said before he bowed her through the door. She entered what could only be taken as a gentleman?s study. She noted that this room was one to show her host?s own unique style and sense of taste off to perfection. She used the moments that it took for Charles to close and lock the door behind her to draw the last of her concentration back into focus on the task at hand.
She had taken only the few steps into the room that were necessary to allow Charles to move past her once he had the door secured once more. By the time Charles had turned from his task, she once again had her wits collected and was calmly standing, holding the letter and waiting to be invited to move further into the room or taken for a meal, as the Count?s persuasion might fall.
Her attention was drawn to a high-backed leather chair that was situated on the opposite side of a desk and turned away. This she watched slowly turn and couldn?t help remembering how such maneuverings had affected her when she had first been introduced to her employer. Now it would only bring the whisper of an ironic smile to her at the memory.
Upon seeing him in his own environment, she was once more struck by what could only be termed as the allure he held, that strange drawing that would allow him the opportunity to feed. It was actually enhanced by the rich tone of his voice as he spoke, "Ms Devore. What a pleasure it is to have you come for a visit," and his style and grace as he approached, "I'm just curious as to what kind of business would bring you out tonight that I might be honored by your presence."
She had been well trained for such as this task, so it was a most enchanting smile that she offered along with her hand to be taken in his own even as she responded, "Only a business proposition that I believe might be to both your advantage and that of my employer." The hand she had offered was devoid of letter, for that was placed behind her back for the moment as she paid her own tribute to this particular dance.
She noted that her host was one who was also prepared to escort her through this dance as well. It was the barest whisper of a kiss which he placed upon the back of her hand even as his gaze remained upon her eyes. His eyes, she found, were ones into which one could feel themselves drowning, if not careful for even a moment.
Then she was being directed to a chair situated near the fireplace. Charles seemed to be more than well prepared for such maneuvering as he arrived there just moments before she was seated, drinks already set on a tray and offered to them. The speed and elegance with which that one moved gave her enough information to know that an attempt to evade might serve little purpose at the moment. Fortunately, her desire was not for evasion, at that moment.
As she took the seat offered to her, she also set the letter on the table between the two chairs. The glass that was handed to her was also taken and a sip from its contents drained once he had made a simple toast, "To the business possibilities that lie ahead." The aroma and flavor only added to the sense of the gentleman that this room created, of one who was not only in control of himself, but of his environment as well. "Ahh..I do so love a good Port." As he set the glass in his lap, he asked, "Now, what employer is it who would send such a beautiful woman to my castle at night? I can only presume that this employer must have some confidence that what is being offered is something that I'd actually want."
He had the look of what could be presumed the typical butler or valet. His voice was actually quite clear and pleasant as he announced, "Bonsoir. Mademoiselle Devore I would presume. Do come in, the Count is expecting you in his study. I'll show you the way." He then allowed her to enter and took her cloak which she had untied as she thanked him.
The letter she had been given was still in her hand, however. This she would deliver to the Count herself.
He escorted her with the instructions, ?Follow me,? and it was through an area of sensory enticement that he lead her. The scent of wood and roses, and the fell of the carpet mingled with the way the last light of the evening played through the stained glass windows upon the paintings across from them in the hallway was more than enough to draw her deeper.
She couldn?t help imagining the number of women who had crossed his threshold, believing that they would hold some sway over him. Instead it was he who had held sway over them, much as a spider does to a fly, enticing with the beauty at the center of the web.
The study was situated at the end of the long hallway. By the time Charles had rapped once upon the door, her senses were practically tingling. The rattle of the keys on the chain, and the click of the tumblers as they were being struck by the grooves along the key to then open the door, drew her attention, forcing her to focus before she was finally escorted inside.
"You may enter, Mademoiselle Devore," was the last thing he said before he bowed her through the door. She entered what could only be taken as a gentleman?s study. She noted that this room was one to show her host?s own unique style and sense of taste off to perfection. She used the moments that it took for Charles to close and lock the door behind her to draw the last of her concentration back into focus on the task at hand.
She had taken only the few steps into the room that were necessary to allow Charles to move past her once he had the door secured once more. By the time Charles had turned from his task, she once again had her wits collected and was calmly standing, holding the letter and waiting to be invited to move further into the room or taken for a meal, as the Count?s persuasion might fall.
Her attention was drawn to a high-backed leather chair that was situated on the opposite side of a desk and turned away. This she watched slowly turn and couldn?t help remembering how such maneuverings had affected her when she had first been introduced to her employer. Now it would only bring the whisper of an ironic smile to her at the memory.
Upon seeing him in his own environment, she was once more struck by what could only be termed as the allure he held, that strange drawing that would allow him the opportunity to feed. It was actually enhanced by the rich tone of his voice as he spoke, "Ms Devore. What a pleasure it is to have you come for a visit," and his style and grace as he approached, "I'm just curious as to what kind of business would bring you out tonight that I might be honored by your presence."
She had been well trained for such as this task, so it was a most enchanting smile that she offered along with her hand to be taken in his own even as she responded, "Only a business proposition that I believe might be to both your advantage and that of my employer." The hand she had offered was devoid of letter, for that was placed behind her back for the moment as she paid her own tribute to this particular dance.
She noted that her host was one who was also prepared to escort her through this dance as well. It was the barest whisper of a kiss which he placed upon the back of her hand even as his gaze remained upon her eyes. His eyes, she found, were ones into which one could feel themselves drowning, if not careful for even a moment.
Then she was being directed to a chair situated near the fireplace. Charles seemed to be more than well prepared for such maneuvering as he arrived there just moments before she was seated, drinks already set on a tray and offered to them. The speed and elegance with which that one moved gave her enough information to know that an attempt to evade might serve little purpose at the moment. Fortunately, her desire was not for evasion, at that moment.
As she took the seat offered to her, she also set the letter on the table between the two chairs. The glass that was handed to her was also taken and a sip from its contents drained once he had made a simple toast, "To the business possibilities that lie ahead." The aroma and flavor only added to the sense of the gentleman that this room created, of one who was not only in control of himself, but of his environment as well. "Ahh..I do so love a good Port." As he set the glass in his lap, he asked, "Now, what employer is it who would send such a beautiful woman to my castle at night? I can only presume that this employer must have some confidence that what is being offered is something that I'd actually want."