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Post by Lili Walser on Apr 5, 2012 23:02:20 GMT -5
Peonies were so delicate and sweet-smelling... Oh, goodness... she'd have plans to redo the entire garden if she wasn't careful. Ludwig would surely never agree to that, however... But perhaps instead of one flower, she could attempt to talk him into several. She'd have them for next year if they were careful about their planting... at least, she thought that was how it worked.
"J-ja... please, I would love to see..." She smiled softly up at Francis, even as he began to lead them away from the irises. He'd sparked her curiosity describing the place, and now she was busy trying to guess where it was. Any thought she had, she promptly discarded, until she finally had to look up at the nobleman again. "L-Lord Bonnefoy, I must confess I can't even think of a place in this park where they would put peonies..." She left the statement open-ended, hoping that perhaps he'd enlighten her further. Goodness but she did so want to know.
And still Sarah kept her silence. As long as Lady Lili was enjoying herself and the questionable company - and as long as the questionable company did nothing questionable - the chaperone would have no grounds to insist upon parting ways.
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Post by Francis Bonnefoy on Apr 6, 2012 13:47:41 GMT -5
Francis' excitement surfaced as he ambled down the path, quickening his lively pace a little more. With sparkling eyes and a broad grin, he turned to Lili and pointed off the path a distance away.
"Do you know the weeping willow a little ways away from here? The one with the pale green curtains?"
He lowered his voice, playfully conspiratorial. He even glanced around for effect. "If you step into that curtain, you will see a large circle of flowering honeysuckle shrubs surrounding the base. It's quite the romantic spot."
Spotting the willow up ahead, Francis stepped off the path toward it. "Behind the trunk, the honeysuckles are planted in a trail, out the other side of the curtain. They lead to the peonies. The best thing is that the peonies are directly under the sunshine. Oh, they are such a joy to behold!"
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Post by Lili Walser on Apr 6, 2012 15:15:17 GMT -5
"J-ja, I know the willow." She returned. Sarah'd never let her stay there long... even if the willow was just lovely. She supposed she could just sit under the willow at home, if it came to that - and often did.
Sarah, of course, was concerned about the entire reason that Francis was excited and intrigued. It was the perfect place for a romantic tryst... which was nothing Lili needed to know about. Not really. And Herr Beilschmidt would be so disappointed with her if she failed in this. She'd be disappointed in herself.
As they neared the willow, and Francis' pace picked up, Lili couldn't help but smile at his exuberance. "O-oh... it sounds just lovely. However did you find it?" How had he even known to look?
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Post by Francis Bonnefoy on Apr 9, 2012 17:01:16 GMT -5
As they stood before the long, leafy strings of the willow's drapery, Francis reached out to caress it fondly. He laughed lightly and pushed the leaves aside, winking over his shoulder at Lili.
"I have my ways, my dear. I have my ways."
With that, he took Lili's elbow gently and stepped into the dome-like shade the willow provided. He beckoned for Lili's chaperone to join them, trying not to laugh at her sour expression. When all three stood in the shade, Francis led them to the circle of honeysuckle bushes.
"I daresay I have a penchant for finding the most beautiful things. How else would I have run into you two? And these...ah, they are splendid in themselves, are they not?"
He touched the petals of a small bud, then turned to them with the faint air of a qualified conductor. Offering his arm to Lili again, he made a sweeping gesture towards the other side of the circle.
"Shall we, my dears?"
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Post by Lili Walser on Apr 15, 2012 22:06:48 GMT -5
Lili watched curiously as Francis gently caressed the leaves of the willow. When he winked at her, she tilted her head curiously, smiling faintly at him though she wasn't entirely satisfied with his answer. She wanted to know how, that she could find other such treasures of the park on her own.
She allowed Francis to draw her into the green shade, and peered up, attempting to see if there were a birds' nest in the branches. She'd hardly time to examine any before Francis was speaking again, and she had to return her attention to him lest she be considered rude. Immediately upon hearing his compliments, her cheeks flushed a delicate pink. Sarah, of course, frowned. He wasn't going to win her over that easily.
Hoping to hide her blush a bit, Lili leaned forward ever so slightly to examine the flowers more closely. How else would she know exactly how to stitch them later? Well, other than that she was sure she had a book in the library somewhere with a picture. The colors wouldn't be proper, but the outline would be there.
When Francis offered her his arm, she gently took it, resting her hand on his sleeve lightly. "Oh, j-ja, please. I-is it very far from here?"
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Post by Francis Bonnefoy on Apr 16, 2012 14:23:40 GMT -5
As he led the two young women along the honeysuckle path, Francis could feel his mood lift with every step. The flowers really had a wonderful effect. Because how could anyone be grumpy at the sight of bright blooms waving at them in the breeze?
"Why, my lady is not daunted by a little walk, is she?" Francis smiled brightly. "It's not far. But every step counts, doesn't it? Especially when there are such nice things to see."
Once out of the willow's shade, Francis felt the sunlight warm his skin and heighten the flowers' colors. He pointed ahead, where the bushes still appeared to be a small clump from where they were.
"Do you see the hints of pink yet?"
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Post by Lili Walser on Apr 22, 2012 18:22:59 GMT -5
"N-nein, of course not." Lili responded, frowning up at him ever so faintly. A moment later, that expression was gone, replaced by a light smile. "I was just curious... th-that's all." She nodded, agreeing with his next sentiments. "Th-the greatest journey begins with a single step, r-right?" Her smile brightened for a moment, then settled back into her 'polite society' smile.
Sarah was satisfied with that smile. It meant that Lili wasn't paying altogether too much attention to Herr Bonnefoy. Of course, when the blonde girl laughed delightedly as a butterfly fluttered past, and pointed it out to the nobleman as well, Sarah frowned. She knew well enough that it didn't matter if Lili was interested or not... if Herr Bonnefoy was, well, Sarah would have to remove Lili from the situation.
Did she see the hints of pink yet? "I... I-I'm not sure if I do, o-or if I'm just imagining I do, because I wish to so badly." Lili spoke in response to Francis's question, blushing faintly at her admission. She was so looking forward to seeing the peonies... and the fact that Francis was willing to share his discovery with her only made it better.
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Post by Francis Bonnefoy on Apr 24, 2012 15:28:29 GMT -5
Francis quickened his pace by a hair, practically bouncing with each step. Lili's excitement, no matter how subdued, was beginning to infect Francis. Laughing lightly, Francis gave Lili a knowing look.
"Just because you think you're imagining it it does not mean it is all in your head."
He pointed in the distance, where he could already spot faint clusters of pink. They were only a few more paces away. Francis could tell that they had picked the perfect day to view them, because the peonies could only be at their full bloom if they were so easily found.
"See for yourself, my dear." He glanced back at Lili's chaperone, offering her his hand to take. "And of course, I haven't forgotten you, my sweet. You shouldn't be hanging back! You won't be able to see."
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Post by Lili Walser on Apr 29, 2012 20:17:10 GMT -5
As the older man bounced along, Lili picked up her pace a slight bit as well. She didn't want to let him get ahead of her. If he did, she wondered how long he'd linger before they were off to a new adventure; she wanted time to look at the peonies. Really, she'd have to convince Gilbert to bring her here one morning before he had to go to work, just so that she could show him this path. Really, though, it would have to be soon... flowers didn't last forever. It was just... he always worked so hard... she never wanted to bother him...
Francis's pointing caught her attention. "Oh!" She gasped, then smiled, completely delighted. There they were! "Oh, they're just lovely!" Sarah, on the other hand, remained stoic and unconvinced that this was a good idea. She just raised her eyebrow at Francis's hand. "Danke, Herr Bonnefoy, but as long as Lady Lili is pleased, it is well enough for me."
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Post by Francis Bonnefoy on Apr 29, 2012 20:36:30 GMT -5
Francis pouted at the chaperone's reaction, but his attention was seized by Lili's cry of delight. He turned to look at her, and couldn't help but smile. Lili, though reserved, had her own kind of sunshine when she displayed happiness.
"I'm glad you love them," said Francis. "I'm sure these beauties are happy to see you too. Being hidden, I'm sure they're starved of visitors and admirers."
He stepped aside with a grand gesture to let the girl immerse herself in the blooms. "Perhaps you should bring some of these lonely blooms home with you."
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