Gregory was sitting alone beside the gazebo, the area around him was calm and surprisingly devoid of students considering it was the weekend and many should have been out enjoying their temporary freedom. Violet was here because he did not have to be anywhere else. He was enjoying the solitude and since the few students around were not from his dorm he was left in somewhat complete isolation. The sketchpad was with him of course and he was idly drawing whatever came by his field of vision or suddenly sprang to mind. At the moment he was drawing a nearby tree, but instead of drawing the leaves he drew in hundreds of blood red roses, with petals raining down slowly from an invisible wind. It was quite lovely really and he allowed himself a small smile at his work. He looked up briefly as he heard footsteps approaching the gazebo. It was the girl, Josephine (or Josie as that was Edgar's pet name for her) approaching the tiny building.

He made no movement as she approached and he wondered briefly why she was even there on a Saturday. Then he saw she was carrying a large and heavy looking tray filled with drinks and some kind of cake. He just looked at her as she came closer with her burden. She did not see him as she walked up the gazebo stairs. Gregory heard the sound of the tray being set down and the sounds of the china plates as they rattled a little, followed by a relieved sigh from the girl as she did not have to carry something so heavy anymore. For a minute or two there was silence and he went back to his sketchpad, filling out the roses on his tree, then he looked up again as he heard footsteps come down the gazebo steps. Of course it was Josie, apparently she had gotten tired of waiting in the gazebo for everyone and chose to come and sit on the steps. It would be perhaps another fifteen minutes before the others would even arrive. He assumed she wanted to have things ready before the P4 meeting, which was probably a good idea since none of the other boys appreciated anyone being late to their invitations.

Josie sat on the steps and looked out at the courtyard and he saw a small smile on her face as she watched some of the other and younger boys carousing in the field. They saw her watching and waved at her, and she waved back at them. Even from this distance he could see the smile on the boys faces. Perhaps it was not only the other members of the P4 that were appreciating the presence of a young woman in their midst. Gregory didn't feel that he could care either way. She was just another person that Edgar had decided to play with, in the grand scheme of things his opinions on the girl wouldn't amount to much, unless of course someone wanted to hear them. He realized that he was staring at her rather intently. But then there was nothing else to look at. Maybe he should draw her into his picture, sitting under the tree with its rose leaves. He was turning back to his sketchpad when she suddenly looked over at him. She immediately recognized who he was and stood to give him a small curtsey. "I'm sorry sir; I did not see you sitting there in the shadows." Gregory made no move to acknowledge her but he did stand up, clutching his sketchbook in his hand. "Why are you apologizing? You wouldn't have looked here anyway so there's no need to apologize." She in return gave him an uncertain smile, as if she didn't know how to take his response. He didn't say anything back but climbed the stairs past her and walked into the gazebo. If he simply sat back down he might be seen as rude which he didn't want to seem. The girl hadn't done anything to annoy him yet so there was no reason to ignore her. Besides, it looked as if she had also brought tea and coffee along with the cake. And he realized that he was thirsty. He sat in a cushioned chair that was close to the tea and was about to pour some when Josie saw what he was attempting and rushed to do it for him. "Please sir, let me do it," she said quickly as she poured the tea into a china cup. He sat back and let her do it. There was no point in protesting if she was so determined to do it for him.

He leaned back in the chair with his legs drawn up around him and realized she was actually very close to him, close enough that he could smell a faint perfume lingering on her skin. Gregory could see her profile clearly as she leaned over to prepare the tea. It was a classic profile, not displeasing at all. Perhaps he would draw her sometime if he could catch her standing still long enough. But then again he could just draw her from memory. Josie finished pouring the tea and picked up the small cup filled with sugar cubes. "Any sugar with your tea, sir," she asked demurely. "I would like five sugars please," he answered. He always did have kind of a sweet tooth. She said nothing, as if five sugars in your tea were perfectly normal, and added the cubes before handing it to him. He took the tea and sipped, happily surprised to find it was a pleasant Earl Grey, even though he said nothing and simply went back to his sketchbook. He was concentrating on his work when he heard the rustle of her clothes as she sat down in a chair near him. "If I may ask, how long have you known my cousin Edgar?" Violet looked up and examined her. He had been secretly hoping she wouldn't try and start a conversation, it seemed like he was going to be forced to talk. "I have only known him since I started attending the school," he said slowly. She looked cautious all of a sudden, her eyes were curious though even as she sat calmly in her chair with her hands on her lap. "I've never met any members of my father's family before; they've never tried to contact us as long as I have been alive. Not even after my father died, so I have no idea what any of them are like." Violet slowly turned his head to the side as he thought, how should he describe Edgar to his new cousin? "Edgar is…a very animated and popular individual," and with that he turned back to drawing hoping that would be the end of her questions. She coughed politely to get his attention back and he gave a small imperceptible sigh, drawing in peace seemed to be too much to ask for until she was done asking her questions. "It's just that, since I have no prior experience with my fathers' family, I am unsure what my cousin Edgar would want with me. I didn't come to work here because I wanted to get close to Edgar; I am here because my Aunt on my mother's side is the chef for the school. She is the one who suggested I work here," she stopped speaking and looked a little embarrassed, perhaps she did not mean to say so much to someone she had just met. And who was also a friend to the man she was curious about. He wondered if she was afraid he would tell Edgar what she had said, of course he wouldn't though, but she had no way of knowing that beforehand.

He kept his eyes down as he thought carefully. In honesty he knew Edgar was only interested in the girl because she was something new, an oddity at the school and to him personally as she was a disowned family member. Perhaps Edgar would discard her eventually that might be the best outcome. Or maybe his motives were pure? Either way he could not give a definitive answer so he shook his head slowly. "I honestly do not know what his intentions are for you Ms. Josephine. Perhaps he is only curious about you?" She looked doubtful and turned away, then looked him in the eye again. "My father always said that if I ever had any contact with a Redmond I should be cautious and expect ulterior motives." Violet gave a ghost of a smile. It was actually pretty sound advice that her father had given her, and it probably had more truth than the girl realized.

She continued to look at him and it was becoming uncomfortable, he wanted her to look away. He never did like the intense scrutiny of others very much. She may have sensed that as she averted her eyes and looked down at her hands that were still folded in her lap. He breathed a sigh of relief and took a sip of tea. "Thank you for listening to me," she didn't look up as she said it, her eyes still on her hands. Gregory wished that she was looking at him that moment so he could just nod instead of answer. "You are welcome," he said quietly as he drank his tea. Only another minute passed for them in silence, for the others quickly arrived. He heard the excited voice of Edgar as he spied his cousin sitting on the chair. "Ah! Dear cousin Josie I was so looking forward to seeing you today," he sat down next to her and kissed her cheek in welcome. "Oh, and your beautiful hair is up in a bun again, I told you to let it down when you saw me next!" For the next minute Edgar busied himself with taking down Josie's hair and brushing it out with his fingers. Violet had to admit his behavior was unusual; at most he would treat women as if they were a slight nuisance even if he was polite to their face. There were many women who would probably love to be in Josie's place with Edgars' fingers in their hair, but the girl made no protest as he played with her golden locks. If she enjoyed the attention or disliked it she hid it well.

The others gathered around her as well. It was a fascinating sight actually. He watched as Herman carefully reached out and touched her hair, as if he was touching something delicate or precious. Violet watched his face; it seemed as if the boy had more than a passing interest in Josie. But then why not? She was not terrible to look at, and she might be the first girl he had interacted with in weeks. Perhaps he should warn Josie of Herman as he guessed he could surmise what his intentions might be. He shrugged and went back to his sketch pad, fleshing out the details of the tree. He passed that way in silence for a few minutes as the others talked amongst themselves. Josie was mostly quiet, only answering when spoken, and he sensed that she might be uncomfortable being the center of attention.

"Violet are you even listening to me?" He looked up as he heard his name called. He had not been listening in fact. He could see that Edgar was smiling at him with a smile that didn't reach his eyes at all. He had irritated him apparently, "I'm sorry Edgar I was absorbed in what I was doing. What were you saying?" Edgar took a piece of cake from the tray and leaned back in his chair taking small bites as he glared at him spitefully, he was taking his time with answering. Apparently that was Gregory's punishment for not hanging onto his every word, being forced to wait patiently while Edgar ate his cake.

Violet did not let it upset them in the slightest. He was used to the strange habits of the vain and spoiled Edgar Redmond. He finished his cake and sat the plate down and started talking again as if there had been no interruption. Edgar smiled and leaned forward again, "I was simply saying, dear Gregory, that you should take special care of Josie for me; she is currently the maid in Violet dormitory, surely you have seen her around?" Gregory was actually surprised. Usually the boys in the forms were forced to clean up after themselves as the founders thought it built character. However, there were usually one or two maids around to make certain the place remained spotless and pristine. He had not known that she had been assigned as the maid to his dorm. Edgar clapped his hands with a little too much enthusiasm as he watched the expression Gregory's' face. Violet felt nothing at all approaching enthusiasm. Whatever Redmond had planned for the girl it seemed like he would be dragged into it no matter what he wished.