|
|
Post by eskimoRock on Aug 29, 2012 15:39:18 GMT -5
Joshua grinned at Amelia, noticing the obvious relief on her face.
"We were planning on going down to the lake. I heard that Amelia was a good swimmer, and as my father wishes for me to learn to swim, I decided to ask her." he decided to add onto the end, lying slightly so that Victoria would approve.
|
|
|
|
Post by G. Novella on Aug 29, 2012 15:47:51 GMT -5
Victoria nodded, looking like she'd been told she was getting married again. "Swimming! How wonderful! Oh do you remember when we were younger, Amy, and I used to come by the farm with your aunt? Do you remember the snake?"
Amelia blushed a bright red, "Vicky! I was seven!"
"It was so cute," argued Victoria, "And I was seventeen and being courted by Kent, but you didn't seem to care!"
|
|
|
|
Post by eskimoRock on Aug 29, 2012 16:20:37 GMT -5
"What happened?" Joshua said curiously. He knew that Victoria wouldn't disappoint when it came to stories...
|
|
|
|
Post by G. Novella on Aug 30, 2012 16:59:22 GMT -5
"Oh it was so cute! Kent took me to the lake, to court me in privscy you know, when Amelia and Robert came by. Amy was 7 at the time, and extremely upset at losing her first brother. So she and Robert were swimming nearby, and saw us. When Kent leaned in to kiss me, a jealous and angry Amelia threw a snake at him. It was so startled, that it squeezed Kent around the arm. To this day,none of us know how she managed to grab it and throw so fast when she's such a clutz. She claimed for the longest time she hadn't done it, but according to Robby, she was apparantly the one who pointed it out, and snakes don't just fly, you know," said Victoria gaily.
Amelia covered her face, flushing. That had been one of her last bouts of accidental magic, and she could still remember how the snake had suddenky flown. She still did accidental magic when shocked, due to her lack of complete training, but now she was more controlled.
|
|
|
|
Post by eskimoRock on Aug 30, 2012 17:08:44 GMT -5
Joshua began to laugh, quietly at first but louder once he saw the embarrassed look on Amelia's face.
"That sounds hilarious! I'll have to watch out if you do take me anywhere near that lake, won't I? The worst I have is the time I accidentally set the kitchens on fire, I'm afraid.'
|
|
|
|
Post by G. Novella on Aug 31, 2012 1:02:56 GMT -5
"Amelia's done that twice already this year," said Victoria dryly, "She never did get the hand of cooking."
"So, how did you do that?" asked Amelia, ignoring Victoria's attempts to embarrass her. It wasn't her fault if she tripped, or if the twins knocked into her. Just because Victoria was graceful, didn't mean she was a good cook!
|
|
|
|
Post by eskimoRock on Aug 31, 2012 4:30:01 GMT -5
"Well, I decided that I was hungry and the cook had gone into the town, so I decided to make myself something to eat. long story short, I was looking for an ingredient, turned around and the food exploded, setting the kitchen on fire." Joshua grinned. "The cook didnt like me very much after that."
|
|
|
|
Post by G. Novella on Aug 31, 2012 7:11:01 GMT -5
"At least you have the excuse of not looking," joked Victoria, "Amy can't even add that to her credibility."
"Poor cook," said Amela, determinedly trying to ignore Vicky's jibes, though her cheeks were red, "So, can you cook now?"
|
|
|
|
Post by eskimoRock on Aug 31, 2012 8:55:23 GMT -5
"A little." Joshua shrugged. "When the new cook came she taught me a few things, but I'm still liable to burn anything I try, unless she supervises me. I can make salads!"
|
|
|
|
Post by G. Novella on Aug 31, 2012 9:42:12 GMT -5
Amelia grinned, "I can make fruit, fresly picked. I'm not allowed near knives anymore. Apparently almost chopping my finger off bans me from anything resembling weaponry,"
Victoria eyed the two's banter quietly, before finally saying, "Why don't you kids head out to the pond? Enjoy your swim, Amelia, remember to takeap spare swim clothes. Or at least a spare petticoat. I'll clean up."
|
|
|
|
Post by eskimoRock on Aug 31, 2012 9:57:37 GMT -5
Joshua nodded and stood up. "Thank you very much for the meal, Victoria. It was lovely. Amelia, I'll meet you outside." He smiled, before crossing the room and reaching the door. He figured he should give Amelia her privacy whilst she got changed.
|
|
|
|
Post by G. Novella on Sept 1, 2012 17:10:13 GMT -5
Amelia glared at Victoria's smirk, and traipsed to her room. She removed a light swimming petticoat. It was dark blue in color, and was like a thin dress. It had two straps, but was otherwise sleeveless. It fell just above half-way down her leg, past her knees. She blushed as she put it on, realizing this was the first time she'd be wearing something so revealing in front of a man. With her hair tied back, she moved to the door, and exited outside to wear Joshua stood waiting. She pulled over her petticoat a warm brown shawl, which covered her exposure.
"I'm ready to go! So, were you being serious when you said you've never swam?" asked Amelia.
|
|
|
|
Post by eskimoRock on Sept 2, 2012 4:01:46 GMT -5
"Yes, I really was." Joshua said. "We don't really have anywhere for me to do so." he glanced quickly down at Amelia, looking embarrassed in her swimsuit, before grinning and looking away.
|
|
|
|
Post by G. Novella on Sept 2, 2012 8:05:07 GMT -5
"Well," said Amelia, as she pulled she shawl around her arms, "I can't wait to teach you! It's quite simple once you get the hang of it."
As she said this, the two began walking towards the pool. Amelia couldn't help but wonder when things had become so easy to talk to a noble.
|
|
|
|
Post by eskimoRock on Sept 2, 2012 10:49:45 GMT -5
"You know..." Joshua said, grinning. "Being the son of a lord has plenty of advantages. You should hear some of the gossip! The maids are the worst, I've heard some awful things from them. Apparantly, Duke Byron is a vile person to be around, especially to women, would you believe it?"
|
|
|
|
Post by G. Novella on Sept 2, 2012 11:13:49 GMT -5
"Duke Byron?" asked Amelia in surprise, "Isn't he the one who runs the soldiers for the King? Vicky says he's the most eligible bachelor on the market at the moment! Why would he hate women? Better yet, why would the King hire someone like that?"
|
|
|
|
Post by eskimoRock on Sept 2, 2012 11:52:11 GMT -5
"The very same. I'm not quite sure why, but I've heard a lot of bad things about that man. I guess either the King doesn't know about it, or he doesn't care. I like to think its the latter."
|
|
|
|
Post by G. Novella on Sept 2, 2012 13:28:43 GMT -5
"Is the King a horrible person then?" asked Amelia, surprised. Most people said King James was a rather fair king. Was a fair king a horrible man? "I heard Lord Byron is supposedly gifted with swords. Have you ever met either of them?"
As she said this, the two reached the water's edge. Amelia dipped her foot into the water, and marveled again at it's icy coldness.
|
|
|
|
Post by eskimoRock on Sept 2, 2012 15:18:45 GMT -5
"I have never met him personally, but I hear he's rather fair, if not a little misguided sometimes. I prefer to think that he knows about Lord Byron, because surely if he doesn't, what else doesn't he know about? It's quite a worrying thought, don't you think? I met Lord Byron though, a few times. He gets on fairly well with my father, funnily enough. He was okay, but seemed to think that most people were below him, and that annoyed me."
Joshua imitated Amelia by placing a foot in the water, shivering.
"I thought you were exaggerating about the coldness!"
|
|
|
|
Post by G. Novella on Sept 2, 2012 15:37:26 GMT -5
"Does he? Have you ever seen him use a sword?" asked Amelia, impressed at the noble's claim. Again she felt a sense of a barrier between them. He'd meet people she could only hear about, and someday vaguely see in a crowd. If she survived though.
She laughed at his expression, and tossed off her brown shawl.
"It's summer! I warned you! Ready to dive in?" she asked, as she began wading in. The cold water rushed along her legs, as she soon got in, the water up to her knees. "Come on in!"
|
|
|
|
Post by eskimoRock on Sept 3, 2012 10:27:16 GMT -5
"Ive seen him, yes. He's very good, but I think he underestimates his opponents a little."
Joshua hesitated at the side of the water.
"Are you kidding me? It's freezing, why would I get in?"
|
|
|
|
Post by G. Novella on Sept 3, 2012 11:28:20 GMT -5
"Don't you want to swim?" asked Amelia teasingly, as she held out a hand. "Come on! It's fun! Trust me!"
She splashed a little water at him with another hand, laughing at his expression as she did so.
|
|
|
|
Post by eskimoRock on Sept 3, 2012 11:41:15 GMT -5
Joshua let out a long sigh and seized Amelias hand. "If I get an illness from this, Amelia, I blame you. And don't splash me! Its cold enough already."
|
|
|
|
Post by G. Novella on Sept 3, 2012 11:45:28 GMT -5
Amelia laughed as she tugged Joshua into the water, moving further in herself. "It's your own fault. At least take your shirt off so you won't have to return back with wet clothes!" She moved further into the water, splashing Joshua as she did, "What are you going to do about it, anyways?" It was amazing how swimming with Joshua was just as comfortable as going with her brothers,
|
|
|
|
Post by eskimoRock on Sept 3, 2012 12:03:16 GMT -5
Joshua shivered as his head went under water, and resurfaced choking and gasping. "Now I wouldn't want to unclothed in front of a lady now, would I?" he teased. "Imagine what your brothers would say!"
The water splashed into his face and he blinked it out of his eyes as he tried to swim.
"I guess that's true. There's not much I can do about it, unless you own a sword... I could always do this!" Joshua steadied himself and splashed, laughing as a wave of water rose up and over Amelia.
|
|
|
|
Post by G. Novella on Sept 3, 2012 12:14:36 GMT -5
Amelia blushed, realizing that his shirt off would be revealing. Before she could respond however, Joshua began wading, and suddenly splashed her! Shocked, she dripped in water now, and stared at Joshua. Then she laughed and splashed him back, shaking out her wet hair.
"Not a fan of swords," said Amelia wryly, as she splashed Joshua back, "But if you want to get me, you'll have to catch me!"
She began swimming away, not too quickly so that Joshua still had a fair chance. She grinned, turning around and waiting for him to catch her as she waded a few feet away.
|
|
|
|
Post by eskimoRock on Sept 3, 2012 12:17:47 GMT -5
"Well that's a shame, I'm sure you'd be a worth opponent." Joshua teased, before trying to swim towards her and failing miserably.
"I told you I couldn't swim! I think I might be drowning slightly here. You win this time, but never fear, I will get revenge!"
|
|
|
|
Post by G. Novella on Sept 3, 2012 12:28:01 GMT -5
Amelia swimmed back to Joshua and laughed slightly. She took both his hands, and smiled. "Well then, it's time you learned to swim. Just kick your legs, while I pull you forward, alright?"
|
|
|
|
Post by eskimoRock on Sept 3, 2012 12:33:03 GMT -5
"I'm really not sure about this, you know." Joshua said, but obeyed. He had the fleeting impression that she would make him regret if if he didn't.
|
|
|
|
Post by G. Novella on Sept 3, 2012 12:36:24 GMT -5
Amelia gently pulled Joshua along the shallow end of the lake, as he kicked. "Now, when I saw so, move your arms to paddle. Push the water back with your arms, and kick at the same time. It'll feel funny at first, but I'll correct you. Remember to turn your head to the side to breathe!"
She gently began waving his arms in small circular motions, imitating how he'd have to paddle, and then let go.
"Now!" she said.
|
|
