#earthrunes

"Oh yes, and it says so much. On the other hand, your suggestions of the stoics seems interesting encouraging calm and reasoned reactions. Thank you"

"You're welcome." He says again. "Did you get a chance to look into the mystics?"

"Not as much as I like, would you suggest one in particular? I have time it seems"

August nods and rises, going to the correct section. "Let's see......"

"Try.... Swedenborg." He pulls a volume and brings it to her.

She takes it "Thank you, Lord. Shall I have the pleasure of discussing it later with you?"

Velvet likely hears Coradel's footsteps in the corridor before August does.

"I would enjoy that. I, ah, might want to brush up a bit on it myself, first."

A toothless smile

And a few moments later, Coradel steps into the library. "Oh," she stops with a smile on seeing the two of them. "My love. Squire."

"Baroness" The Squire gives a curtsy

"Am I interrupting?" A bemused look.

"Nay, in fact you give me leave to with draw to read"

He stands. "Hello." A warm smile, and then a nod to Velvet. "Of course, if you like."

"Thank you for the company."

"Oh, before you go, squire...could you fetch me two or three of the texts on veterinary medicine? Horses, specifically, if we have any like that."

"Of course, Baroness. Is one of the horses ill?" She moves to a section on biology and soon finds one, presenting it to the Baroness

August smiles at this.

"No, no, they're fine, and I'm sure Sergei would have been in here before me if they weren't. No, I'm supposed to be continuing my studies during all this..." she makes a dismissive gesture at the world. "Anatomy has such an annoying assortment of terms to memorize."

She goes to August's side, takes his hand, and gives him a very light kiss. Social distancing be damned.

Well, they -are- in a hold. He returns the kiss.

"Ah," Much relieved, "In that case, this might also be of interest" She gets another book, "The first one is more detailed, but this one is friendlier in the language, between the two you should grasp even more"

She takes the other book, and gives Velvet an amused look. "You don't think I'd understand the first one?"

"The first one is also older, Baroness, the English is 'ye olde' in parts"

"Ahhh. Well, then with the two, I shall muddle through. Thank you, squire."

"Most welcome, Baroness," she bows to both and slips out to leave August And Coradel alone.

August squeezes her hand. "How has your day been?"

"Lovely, so far. I've done a few rounds of that obstacle course. There's a spot where, if you aim just right, it's possible to jump across that great gap and land on a ledge at the far side." She smiles. "Took a bit of practice, and a Heatherbalm or two, but I managed it."

"And yours?"

August manages to control most of his wince.

"Study. Constitutional basics."

She smiles and squeezes his hand. "Very sexy."

A light blush. "Not really."

"Well, you can't help it, really." A wink. "So, what do you plan for this afternoon?"

"Well.... more of the same?" As if there would be anything else.

"Then I suggest..." she slips her arm through his and cuddles close, "that go to that little nook that has the lovely afternoon sunlight, and settle in that sunlight like a couple of cats, and do our studying together with some tea and scones."

A head tilt, and a soft smile graces his lips. "That sounds.... wonderful."

"I thought it might." She winks at him and gives his arm a squeeze.

And together they find someone to ask tea and scones from, and the little nook. August settles in. "So, anatomy?"

"Mm," she nods agreeably as she settles on the window seat in the alcove, slips her feet out of her shoes, and rests them in his lap. "Some of it is just memorization, but also knowing which spots are most likely to get strained with jumping or racing." She looks at him. "Constitutional basics?"

"Well, reading it, for one. I have an annotated version." He lifts the textbook.

"Lucky you," she teases gently, then reaches to pour them both some tea. "Shall we?" she says, opening her own book (the easier of the two).

He catches her for a kiss on her way up from pouring, then nods and opens his own book to find his page.

Oh, she enjoys the kiss, and is almost tempted to put the book aside in favor of other activities, but settles back to read.

He gives her an indulgent look before burying his nose.

A much put-upon sigh, but then she starts reading...and then she opens the older book...and works between the two texts, taking intermittent sips of tea and nibbles of scone.

She feels a hand drift to her instep and pause. Then apply pressure absently. On. And off. Again. As he reads.

She smiles and flexes her foot gently in his hand, but keeps reading.

There is quite a bit of tawny orange hair - no, fur - on some of the cushions in that alcove. Apparently someone likes to snooze in the sunlit spot.

He massages intermittently, pausing to turn pages and sometimes to focus.