Hey guys! Just to clear out all the confusion, the reason me and demented sorceress of darkness have similar names and write the same types of stories is because we are cousins (sadly) Anyway, on with the story!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen titans or any of the other characters in this story, infact most of this story is from Suzanne Enoch's 'London's Perfect Scroundrel'
"Langley, have you seen my brother?" Kori whispered as she accepted the shawl from her butler
"He's in the morning room, miss, finishing the newspaper." the servant answered in an equally hushed voice "I judge you have another five minutes"
"Splendid, I'll be at Aunt Huton's" The butler pulled open the door, escorting her outside to help her into the Anders family coach.
"Very good, miss Anders" The butler closed the door softly behind her, but Kori didn't let out her breath until the coach had safely trundeled downthe short front drive. Thank goodness. It was bad enough listening to Ryan complain that she had missed a chance to charm Lord and Lady whoever-they-are, she was trying not to listen and forgot their names, if he sent her out to make another attempt, or tried to instruct her about whom she should or shouldn't chat with at their aunt's, Kori was going to flee London and join the circus.
Fifteen minutes later the Coachman turned up Great Titchfeild road for his usual shortcut and Kori sat forward. The Heart Of Hope Orpahnage, once an old troop barrage for King George II loomed tall, long and gray along the left side of the street. Most of her peers closed their curtains to it, as well, preferring to pretend that it simply ceased to exist. For Kori though, it had lately become more than an eyesore. A building that gloomy would, under different circumstances, make her shudder and look away. Somewhere between the shivering and eye closing, however, she glimpsed children from withing the windows,looking out at the street. Looking at her.
And, so, a week ago, toting a satchel of candy and a hefty helping of good intentions, she had finally asked Philip to stop the coach and had walked up to the heavy wooden doors to knock. The children had been excessively glad to see her (or rather see the sweets she had handed out), and the whole experience had been...enlightening. She had immediately volunteered to make another visit, but the head house keeper had only shooed her out, eyeing her skeptically and informing her that all volunteers had to be approved by the board of trustees. Kori leaned out the coach windows
"Philip, stop here if you please" The coach veered to one side of the street and rattled to a halt. It just so happened that the board of trustees were meeting today,at this hour in fact. Kori stood as Philip pulled open the carriage door.
"Please wait for me here," she said over her shoulder, her attention on crossing the busy street to the tall, omnious building beyond. Here, at last seemed a place, a cause where she could concerntrate on something meaningful. The dour face hosekeeper donned a surprised look as she opened the heavy door
"Yes miss?"
"You said the board will be meeting today, did you not?"
"Yes, but-"
"I should like to discuss a matter with them" When the housekeeper continued to stare at her in disbelief, Kori borrowed one of her brothers haughty and effective gestures and lifted her eyebrow. With a nearly audible hesitation the woman turned to lead the way toward the winding staircase. Behind her, Kori stifled as best as he could a growing mix of anxiety and anticipation. She hated public speaking, it always left her stammereing like a goose. On the other hand, the idea of sitting on her bottom or attending Ryan's endless parade of oh-so-proper soirees until he married someone more suitable for the task left her shuddering. This, she could do for herself, and for the children abandoned inside the large gray barracks rooms.
"Wait here," the housekeeper said. With a last backward glance, as though to make certain that Kori hadn't changed her mind and fled, she knocked on one of the heavy oak doors. At an answering murmur of male voices, the woman pushed open the door and vanished into the room beyond. Kori glanced at the morning clock. Her aunt was not expecting her this morning, and if she didn't arrive soon, someone would send word to Ryan that she was missing the West Sussex Ladies Political Tea, an absurdly self-important name for women who did nothing but embroider and gossip about current events. The door opened again
"This way, miss" Clasping her hands to minimise their trembling, Kori stepped past the housekeeper into a large plush drawing room. She'd seen great splendor in the homes of mayfair, and the most striking aspect was how greatly it differed from the plain halls and the gloomy rooms beyond. As soon as she stepped through the doorway, half a dozen men rose, waving at the air as though motion would dispose of the oudor of expensive cigars. Kori's nervousness ebbed almost immediately, she knew all of them thank goodness.
"Good morning, Miss Anders" Sir Edward Willsley said, his thick eyebrows arched in surprise "Whatever brings you here on this fine day?" Kori curtisied, though technically she outranked more that half the men present. Politeness and flattery always garnered more results than strict formality
"The Heart Of Hope Orphanage brings me here this morning, Sir Edward. I was informed earlier this week that if I wanted to contribute my time...and other assets to the establishment, I needed the approval of the board of trustees" She smiled "And that would be you, would it not?"
"Why yes it would, my young miss" Lord Tailirand smiled back at her with the patronizing look one gave to a half witted invalid. Kori knew she appeared somewhat angelic, for lack of beter word, and that for some reason gantleman, especially those who were marrige minded, comcluded that since she appeared pretty and innocent, she must also be an idiot. It had used to be amusing, lately, though, she had to fight the impulse to make drooling faces at the perpetrators
"Then I ask for your approval" she said, favouring Timothy Rutledge, the only unmarried member of the group with a flutter of eyelashes. Being thought stupid occasionally had its benifits. Men were so easy sometimes.
"Are you certain you wouldn't rather spend your time in a more pleasant environment, Miss Anders? Some of the orphans, I believe are quite uncivilised."
"All the more reasons for me to voulenteer my time," Kori replied "And as I mentioned I do have some funds at my discretion. With your kind permission I would like to organise-"
"A tea party?" A low male voice interrupted from behind her. Kori whipped around. Leaning against the doorframe, a flask in one hand and his gloves in the other, the Marquis of Wayne gazed at her. The expression in his blue eyes stopped the retort she'd been about to make. Kori had seen cynicism before; in her circle its practice so common that it was nearly an affectation. In those light eyes, though, in that lean handsome face with its high cheekbones, angled jaw and the mouth that curved upwards in the remains of a bemused smile, the jaded cyncisim was so real that she could almost taste it. Something else was there as well. Kori swallowed
"My Lord" she said belatedly, her mind dashing in a hundred directions. What in the world was he doing here? She hadn't thought he went anywhere in the daylight hours.
"Or an orphan musical recital?" he continued, as though she hadn't spoken. The other men snickered, Kori felt her cheeks go warm
"That is not-"
"Or a dress up masquerade ball?" Richard Graysonpushed upright and strolled towards her "If you're bored, I can suggest a host of other services to keep you occupied" His tone implied exactly what he was talking about. Lord Tailrand cleared his throat
"There is no reason to be insulting. If anything, we should be grateful that miss Anders is willing to donate her time and money-"
"Money you say, no wonder the lot of you are panting"
"Look here-"
"What's your plan then, Miss Anders" he asked, circling her like a stalking panther
"I...haven't quite-"
"Made up your mind?" he finished "Did you have any idea what you were doing here? Or did you just ride by and think that it would be an adventure to set foot in an orphanage?"
"I set foot in here last week" Kori returned, dismayed that her voice had begun shaking. It always did that when she was angry, blast it all, though in truth he was closer to having her quaking in trepidation.
"I was told that I needed permission from the board of trustees to continue to voulenteer. So if you don't mind I would like to continue my discussion with them" His smile quickened for a heartbeat, then faded again
"I'm the chairman of this happy little board" he told her "And since you don't seem to have an organised proposal of your intentions or any idea how to contribute, I think it would be best if you pranced your pretty little bottom out of here and went on with whatever nonsense that makes up your day" "Mr Grayson, really" Mr Rutlege sputtered. No one had ever spoken to Kori in that way, even Ryan couched his insults in more polite terms. Deciding that if she said another word, it would compromise her reputation as a lady, she turned on her heel and stalked out the open door.
Kori shook herself. She had come here for a reason. Whatever Lord Grayson might say, that reason remained-and to her, at least, it seemed important. It felt important when nothing else in her life seemed the least bit significant.
"Miss?" she started, looking down the hallway beyond the landing. Three young girls not one of them older than twelve, stood by the nearest of the tall narrow windows. They had been playing with dolls, she realised seeing two of the ragged things seated in the windowsill.
"Yes?" she answered, giving a warm smile
"Are you the lady who came with the sweets last week" the tallest of them, a thin girl with short red hair saked
"I am"
"Do you have any more?" Kori hid a frown. She had thought to be talking today then joining her aunts party. Bringing more cany hadn't occured to her.
"I'm sorry but I don't, not today"
"Oh, never mind then" the girls returned to their dolls as if she simply ceased to exist. If all she had to offer was sugar, mabye she did belong elsewhere. Kori waled towards them, careful to keep the friendly smile on her face. For goodness sakes she didn't want to frighten the little ones.
"If you could have any food or treat, would it be candy?" she asked. The redhead faced her again
"I would want bread pudding with apples and cinnamon"
"Pudding. Thats wonderful. How about you?" the youngest of the three frowned
"I don't want to think about it. Are you a cook?"
"Heavens no, I'm Kori. I wanted to come and visit you." the girls continued to stare at her, obliviously unimpressed
"Are you going to bring us pudding?"
"I think I could arrange that"
"When?"
"I'm free for luncheon tomorrow" Kori answered " How does your shedule look?" Rose giggled
"You're coming back tomorrow?" Molly tugged on the youngest girl's hand, pulling her back down the hall
"If you bring bread pudding, you can come whenever you want"
"I may come, you mean"
"No, you may not" For a tall man, Lord Grayson moved very quietly. Taking a deep breath, Kori faced the staircase. Behind her the girls continued their noisy flight down the hall. A moment later a door slammed
"Does anyone like you?" she asked, looking up to meet his eyes
"Not to my knowledge. You were supposed to leave"
"I wasn't ready to go." he tilted his head, breif surprise touching his gaze. Undoubtly nobody stood up to him. If he hadn't been so rude earlier, Kori wasn't certain that she'd be able to do so herself.
"I assume your ready to go now?"he gestured towards the stairs, his expression informing her that she would leave whether she wanted to or not. Best to leave a bit of dignity, if possible, she decided, giving him a wide berth as she returned to the stairs.
"Why don't you want me to voulenteer here" she asked over her shoulder hearing his bootsteps close behind her "It won't cost you anything"
"Until you grow tired of providing puddings and sweets or until the orphanage had to begin paying for the removal of childrens rotten teeth"
"The offer of sweets was only so they would talk to me. I imagne they have little reason to trust adults"
"My heart weeps at your compassion" she faced him, stopping so suddenly that he almost ran into her. Lord Grayson towered over her but she refused to look away from the scroundrel's arrogant, cynical expression.
"I didn't think you had a heart, my lord" he nodded,
"I don't. It was a figure of speech, go home miss Anders"
"No. I want to help"
"First of all I doubt you know the first thing these brats or the building might need"
"How could-"
"And in the second place" he continued in a quieter voice "I can think of a place where you would be much more useful"
"And where might that be?"
"In my bed" for a moment all Kori could do was stare at him. He had ment to shock her, drive her away, that had to be the explanation. All she had to do was keep breathing, she took a deep breath and cleared her throat
"I doubt you even know my first name, my lord"
"Of course I do" he replied quickly, then cleared his throat "not that it means anything, Kori" the deep voice curled around her name with such intimacy that it made her shiver
"Well I'm...surprised, I'll admit"she returned, trying to keep hold of her nerve "but I believe you asked me for a organised proposition and I will provied you with that-and nothing else" he smiled again, the expression delightfully handsome except that it still retained every ounce of cycnical derision he'd had from the beginnign of their conversation
"We'll see. Don't you have an embridery circle to join or something?" she wanted to stick her tounge out at him, but he'd probably consider it some sort of seduction. And what in the world was she ding anyway talking to Lord Grayson in an abandoned hallway?
"Good day, my lord"
"Good bye, Miss Anders" Richard watched her out the front door, then returned upstairs to collect his caot and hat. Her brother doubtless had no idea she was visition, no self respecting female would venture outside Mayfair and go wading with the poor. A voice broke into his thoughts
"My Lord" the housekeeper peeped,lurking in the downstairs doorway "Would there be any more?"
"No. Not that you acctually did anything"
"I...I beg your pardon"
"You might want to focus on keeping track of the uninvited guests"
"Thats why I'm seeing to you my lord" she muttered. Richard pretended not to hear that, he couldn't be bothered to argue with the unpleasant woman. He could hardly blame her for her commentary anyway. The staff undoubtly didn't like having him here. The only person who liked it less was himself. As he waited for his carrige he saw the Ander's family coach turn the corner, she'd hesitated to leave then, even after he'd sent her on her way. Hm. Attractive as she was, suggesting that she join him in bed was only to frighten her away. God knew, she was far too angelic and virginal for his tastes. Still she did have pretty green eyes and they widened so amusingly when he insulted her. No doubt those pretty green eyes would never look in his direction again. And thank Lucifer for that. He had enough on his plate without adding an empty headed angel stumbling across his path.
There you go, I know it's a long one but I needed to fit every persons first impression of another. I hope you like it, Review!