#anywhere

"Zara?" He tries again, and finds his lady, snoozing after an all nighter with her sister "Vashti is a bad influence"

"Mmmmph."

"Good morning" He kisses her lightly briefly "Swamp muck or whatever it is?"

She smells something..dusty?

"Mm-hmm." She uncoils, stretching her toes.

He watches her toes, delighted with the way they wiggle. He is not, as a rule into feet, but his lady's toes are rather expressive. Like a cat's tail

"We have our..inheirtance from Agnes"

"Oh..."

"Who I strongly suspect is not dead" he adds "But it still is ours. Bad time to bring it up?"

Zara looks VERY innocent.

Ostentatiously so.

"It's a good thing you're so adorable" He says affectionately, "Fear not love. I know how to keep a happy trueheart. Your secrets are yours, and my secrets are yours too" Indulgently "Besides, Clem maybe fooling others but I know her well. She awas like a sister to me, still is"

"Aye. And we did what we must."

"Uh huh" His eyes are still on her, as she's still laying down. "Should I let you nap another hour?"

"Nay." She sits up, reaching for him.

He bends down and wraps his arms about her, pulling her up into a kiss before setting her gently on her feet

She nuzzles his neck.

"I love you," he tells her with a happy sigh.

"Aye. And I, thou, mine Hunter."

"Your birthday is soon, I know you love surprises, but is there anything in particular you'd like as a gift?" He asks

"Oh, a surprise is a good gift."

"All right" He smiles eyes dancing over her "Vashti had a suggestion. I think I'll go with that"

An eyebrow.

"You can't ask for a surprise for your birthday, then want it spoiled with an eye brow the next breath" Earl points out

"I knooooow"

He can't help it, a deep rolling chuckle slips out of him

"It'll be soon" he strokes her hair

"Nay - over a month! Tis a lifetime!"

"If the moon can be patient, so can you" Earl suggests

"Thou delightest in mine torment." She seems to protest, but Earl knows her better than that.

"Thy womanly lamentations stir some dark fire in my blood, it is true" His eyes dance a bit despite the straight delivery

"Mmm." Zara slides her arms around him. "Good."

He bends down a bit further to make it easier for her to seize her, and grips her back, then he remembers "Ah, well, I suppose news of the inheritance can wait?"

"Oh!"

"up to you, love" he says "I.. think we may have trouble getting room for one but it's in a storage room thanks to Delores"

"...just what is it?"

"Better that I show you" He says "It's more than one thing, but one is.. a bit large"

A quizzical tilt of her head.

"Well now I must see it."

He takes her hand and when she is prepared, guides her to the storage area. Delores waits there "Oh, she's here to see it. Well, I confess I've never seen the like, only heard about them."

There's a boggan blocking the door, however well she means it

"Heard about what?"

"About the .." She starts to say

"Steward, you'll ruin the surprise" Earl fusses

"Oh very well, Sir Earl. My word you trolls take protection too far." She looks at Zara "Alas, he's a knight and out ranks you so I'll just get out of your way and let you see for yourself" She steps aside

"I am still a bit surprised to have received an inheritance, to be frank."

"Well, Earl's a beloved nephew... of course you being his trueheart you're in" Delores points out "The DeBukes seem an odd mix of old fashioned and devious. Begging your pardon, Sir Earl"

"no, that.. pretty much summons up our elders" He admits and puts a hand on the door knob to the storage room "Ready, my heart?" He asks Zara

"Aye!"

He swings it open