He drew her smoothly to the first corridor, knowing that Kenneth would not interfere: he knew when he was beaten. Hopefully Mustrum was engaged in something too important to see this, but the way the old goat doted on her, he probably wouldn't say boo if he caught them up against a wall. This was going to be incredibly easy, or was it? He shot her a covert glance as they passed into the corridor: she was looking at the ornate walls, studying the large paintings that hung there. She looked very beautiful in the candlelight; the gold wallpaper of the corridor causing her skin to glow, showing off little gleams in her brown hair. He could feel himself reacting to her presence, now that they were getting more isolated. He would have to be careful: she was pretty naive, and might get incredibly outraged at his actions. He inwardly winced - he'd heard stories about that, had almost had it happen to himself. He inwardly smirked: Katarina... so beautiful, but a touch hysterical, something he found out a little too late. But it had worked out all right, for him at least, and this one would too.
It was very beautiful, Hiroko thought, the candles carefully arranged around the corridor adding a lovely touch to the painting and occasional statue they passed and there was a sweet smell from the perfume scented candles which only added to the beauty of the place. She glanced over at Lord Guilliame, taking in his clean-cut profile before returning her gaze to the paintings they passed.
"Where do you suggest our tour begins, lord?" She asked nonchalantly, the glass of wine still held carefully in her grasp. "And where do you think it should end? Regrettably I now find myself quite unfamiliar with this building so I'm afraid you shall have to be my guide…"
He brought his lips up to her ear. "It begins here, in this corridor," he whispered, "And ends wherever you wish, my lady..."
She startled just slightly, head turning promptly to come face to face with her companion for the night, eyes dancing as she found herself staring into his.
"Where from here on then?" she enquired a little timidly.
They were alone in the corridor; he had made sure of that when they'd entered, and the doors on either end were large enough to be heard when opened. He let go of her arm and slipped his hand very lightly about her waist, touching his wineglass onto her cheek as he leaned forward, almost touching her lips, not removing his gaze from hers.
Her breath caught slightly, as much a reaction to the coldness of the glass against her cheek as the closeness of the man next to her and her eyes searched his warily.
"Guimel?" she whimpered out gently, if but a little breathlessly.
He softly drew the wineglass down her cheek to her neck, continuing until the cool glass rested against her diamond necklace.
"How adventurous would you like to get, Hiroko?" he whispered, feeling his blood go into a slow pound. If anyone comes in right now I'm fucked, he thought, his hand tightening a little on her waist. What a rush!
She laughed gently, though it was an action more to assure herself than anything, and she pulled back slightly. Her smile remained, though it had lessened slightly, and she found herself feeling a little light headed, her chest heaving ever so slightly under the pressure of her bodice.
"You're too much, Guimel!" she managed chuckle a little breathlessly, still aware of his hand about her waist. It wasn't as if it was an unpleasant thing for him to be doing yet some part of her made the sheer thought of him coming any closer… it just wasn't proper, was it?! No it certainly wasn't.
He immediately let go of her, laughing as well, inwardly sighing impatiently. Well, he should have known it wouldn't be that easy. He held out his arm to her, nodding towards the other corridor door, the one that let out into the entryway.
"Care to go a little farther, my lady?" he asked with a smile, "Or perhaps we should rejoin the party?"
"I see no reason to return, do you?" she replied, her pulse slowly lessening. "Besides, back at the party it is so impersonal. There are so many distractions as we have both already seen first hand. How is one meant to get to know each other better with such interruptions?"
He let his smile grow fond.
"Of course." He waited until she took his arm before continuing down the corridor, opening the door and leading her out to the entryway. They came out alone one side of the great hall, the lofty entrance viewable to their left and the grand entrance to the ballroom to their right. There were a few nobility scattered about: late guests hurrying in, tired parents hurrying out with their sleeping children. And of course the clandestine couples, warily walking along, pretending to admire the various decorations as they searched for an empty room... Guimel hid a smirk. He drained his wineglass then set glass down against the wall, to one side of the doorway.
"Behold," he announced importantly, sweeping his arm in an arc, encompassing the hall. "The entryway!!" And he grinned.
"So it seems," she replied, taking in the people gathered sparingly around the hall, her smile bright and friendly. "So, now where? Is there anywhere you may advise? No doubt you are more than familiar with this place and have the best ideas as to where to go! I'll happily leave it up to you to decide on the best route to take." She glanced down at the glass in her hand, yet to touch the fine wine. She took a moment to sample it then, the sweet taste sending her taste buds tingling. Yet not too much, just a small mouthful; savoring the taste before swallowing and returning her gaze to Guimel.
He gazed about the entryway, stopping for a few moments on each doorway in the wall across from them, ticking them off one by one as possibilities. It was getting late in the evening - most likely they would be in use. He racked his brains, trying to think, fighting off the warm glow of the wine, then he smiled as he spied a door a little down the ways from their own door: it was the entrance to the conservatory. A little chilly this late in the evening and most likely free. He turned to her, lightly taking her hand and pulling her along.
"There is a lovely conservatory down here," he said softly. "We can start there."
"It sounds nice," she mused lightly, eyes watching the other people walking about the entryway and she frowned ever so slightly. One part of her wondered where Naolin was, where he had gallivanted of to, the cur. The other worried over Terris. In all, her thoughts should have been that of anger and hurt from his words and actions. Of all people she found it hard to believe that Terris had spoken to her so curtly. Never in the sixteen rotations they had known each other had they spoken so to each other. He had never, ever treated her as if she were an insignificant woman, without a mind of her own. So what had gotten into him this night?
As she and Guimel walked quietly, her eyes fluttered closed, smiling absentmindedly as she raised the glass to her lips. Zaibachian wine. Now that was something she had missed. Asturia had a nasty habit of watering down all spirits and wines; dulling the taste no end. She would have to be careful; too much would indefinably make her unsteady not only in the legs and the head but also ill in the stomach. Rich food was one thing but rich wine…
She smiled absentmindedly in her thoughts, only slightly aware of Guimel opening the door to the conservatory and escorting her in. The cold was the first thing to hit her. Not extremely cold but in comparison to the corridor it left the hairs on her arms standing. She shivered, her silk wrap drawn around her a little more tightly as she tentatively took small steps into the room. Her eyes wandered over the chamber; along its length to the conservatory at its end. It was empty and the sound of her shoes on the floor made the slightest echo with each step she took while her companion turned back to close the door. At least here they could talk without chance of disturbance.
The conservatory itself reminded her very much so of her own at home. The glass windows made up the main design, each piece used to make up a pretty design allowing one to take in the view on offer, when that was the sun had risen. Now only the moons and the oil lamps decorating the room gave off any light, casting an almost romantic feel over the chamber.
Hiroko sighed gently, coming to a halt in from of one of the main windows, placing her glass onto the near table before pressing her hand against the pane.
"Pretty…" she whispered, eyes glancing out into the darkness and dappled light before scanning back over the room, taking in the light furnishings. Not too extravagant, sparsely placed but from what she could see very tastefully done. What else should she expect? This place practically oozed style and good taste.
She shivered again, arms wrapping around herself in an attempt to gain some warmth. Amazing how chilly such a normally warm place could become without the warmth of the sun.
He stood watching her shiver, debating. How far would she go, tonight? Her responses in the corridor were not very encouraging: if he didn't handle this right the game would truly be lost. She stood: a beautiful, trembling silhouette against the artfully cut window panes, and he felt an uneasiness at the thought of the inevitable emotional pain she would undergo, once he had had her. He blinked and mentally shook himself: what was wrong with him? Why should he care? He took a step back, careful to keep his heel from rapping on the hard floor. He couldn't do this: she was too dangerous, somehow. Then he suddenly thought of Kenneth, the smug bastard. Guimel's face hardened slightly. The prize, he thought determinedly. That look on his face when I describe exactly how she was. He hid a smirk and stepped towards her.
"Are you cold?" he asked softly, reaching out to take her hands. She put them in his and he smiled a little as he brought them together, lightly trapping her within his grasp. "You are cold," he murmured and brought her hands up to his mouth, blowing on the chilled fingers. She looked at him, a blush dark on her moonlit cheeks, and he slowly drew her into his embrace, just holding her to him as he rested his cheek against her hair.
"Very cold," he said quietly, pleasantly surprised that she hadn't stiffened in his arms. He smiled to himself: that boldness coming out, once again. The wine was warming his blood; he could feel the heat on his cheeks. Or was it her body pressed so snugly against his own? She had stopped trembling, secure in his embrace; surely he could continue on… He slowly slid his hand down her back, past her waist…
"What are you doing?" she softly exclaimed, pulling away from him. Guimel let her go, fighting to keep the anger at his own ineptness from showing on his face. Damn wine! he inwardly snarled as he looked at her apologetically, lightly capturing one of her hands.
"Forgive me, my lady," he said earnestly. "I don't know what came over me." She was staring at him, her eyes narrowed slightly in suspicion, and he inwardly cursed again. But at least she hadn't pulled her hand from his grasp.
"I think you should take me back to Lord Terris," she said quietly. "Despite the lack of distractions, I don't think this place is good for conversing!" Guimel smiled gently.
"Of course," he replied and gently pulled her hand through his arm, ready to let go of her the instant she resisted him. She allowed him to do so, lightly folding her fingers about his arm, and he breathed a silent sigh of relief. Perhaps all was not lost. Neither spoke as he escorted her back to the great hall; he immediately started for the ballroom, thinking of his best plan of action. They crossed over the great threshold and descended the wide, shallow staircase to the main room, merging with the well-dressed crowd. He looked about and saw Mustrum about ten meters away, conversing with the host of the party.
"My lady," he began softly and she turned to him, her pretty face serious.
"I asked you to call me Hiroko," she said. He smiled.
"Forgive me, Hiroko," he said, then nodded towards the nobleman. "There's Lord Mustrum." She looked over, a fleeting look of disappointment crossing her features. Guimel decided to seize the moment.
"Hiroko, perhaps we can still get our chance to converse… tomorrow?" he asked. She raised one eyebrow slightly then turned away, looking towards Mustrum. The game is over, he suddenly thought. I can't believe I did that! He could just see Kenneth laughing, relishing in his failure. Then she turned back to him.
"Come to tea tomorrow," she said softly then gently broke free of him and headed towards the nobleman, leaving him staring after her, struggling to keep his jaw from dropping.