#earthrunes

And Magnus bows back, and withdraws. Zara knows the Fiona to be a nosey sort, so she makes SURE his footsteps go far...

but finally, he is gone and it's safe.

Earl looks at her "He's gone?" A whisper

"Methinks, aye."

"I swear, he is a secret EIluned..."

"No Eiluned would blab that much" Earl disagrees, then looks at the VERY content Bronte who is lingering in front of Zara's book as if it were the prize in an already impressive hoard

Zara blushes.

"There are some days when I think I'm going to die from an overdose of satisfaction- Salvador Dali" Bronte pipes up

"Aye... Truly, I am glad you are happy, darling. Though I know not if it... it... there is much wrong with that book..."

"Feh" Bronte snorts

"..ah."

Earl smiles "I think she's familiar with that one, Bronte." Then a look at Zara "But the bookwyrm has a point. "

Zara pinks again, and reaches to pet Bronte's head.

Bronte presses into the hand like a cat

"Well, mayhaps I shall write a better one."

Earl has stepped closer to the book

And his large yet slender blue fingers touch the cover

"...Ah. If you wish, aye."

"I do not think it is much your style... it... there's frippery, and romance..."

"It is certainly no Austen."

"I do wish" He smiles, and pulls it over, "It's Bronte approved, so it must needs be good" And he starts to read

A sigh.

"Zara, hundreds of people will be reading this" Earl says "that's what published means. I'm sure the copy editors did a good job"

"Aye, but I do not know them."

And he smiles at the opening paragraph "Well, you know me, and I like the imagery so far"

"They think they are reading Talia Amur, the mysterious and exotic..."

"Talia Amur," His eyes sparkle with delight at some mischievous thought

"Talia has a pet tiger and drinks only champagne. Talia resides in a mansion on a windswept moor. Talia speaks six lang.. well, okay, so do I, but still."

"I was about to say" Another amused look, then he focuses on reading "Pardon.. don't want to miss this"

And he turns his attention to the book, and grows focused.. lost in the world his lover, by any name, has created.

Bronte nuzzles Zara as if to tell her it will be fine

Zara distracts herself as she may, with bookwyrm, and tea, and tatting.

Bronte is happy to quote her own book back at her.. and that might catch Zara off guard

And so.. Earl reads

(End Scene)

***************************************

Usually, when Coradel is found within one of her art galleries, she's admiring or rearranging or adding to displays. But today she's taking some time to look at the view outside the window. Autumn is just beginning to touch the lands around the manor.

A tap at the door.

The kind that says "Don't notice this tap."

She turns part way to look, having indeed noticed. "Adam. Come join me."

And she returns her gaze to the scenery.

After a moment, the boy does so.

She remains silent for a few moments. "Part of me finds this so distasteful. The earth growing hard, the leaves rotting, branches exposed...." She pauses. "But there's something exhilarating about it, as well." A grin.

No response. But politely.

She doesn't seem insulted. A few more moments of silence.

"I understand you were present when Minerva arrived."

A long pause. "No."

"No?"

Another long pause. "Yes, Baroness. I was not there when...." he stops. "I...."