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Post by Mason Marlowe on Oct 16, 2016 21:06:20 GMT -5
Mason nodded, sometimes it was difficult to imagine that Samantha was still in school, then again he recalled his own maturity at that age was advanced.
"And now you work at the magazine." he concluded, "Are you enjoying your work there?" he asked politely.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Oct 16, 2016 23:44:56 GMT -5
If Lyra was at all concerned that Mason thought she may have acquired her position at Enchanted through nepotism, she didn't show it. "Oh yes, it's rather wonderful. I've always adored fashion so being able to help work on the magazine is a real treat." She leaned in close, as if to tell a secret. "I'd do it for free really, but don't tell Sam that." She laughed and moved back from him again.
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Post by Mason Marlowe on Oct 16, 2016 23:49:44 GMT -5
"You must be good at it." he mentioned casually knowing Samantha well enough, "That magazine is Sam's baby ever since her mother passed away. She'd never let it fall into less than worthy hands I'm sure."
Mason spotted something over Lyra's shoulder that made him stiffen, "Would you like to dance?" he asked her in response.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Oct 17, 2016 0:22:42 GMT -5
She blushed and looked down briefly. When he asked her to dance, she of course accepted. "I'd love to."  ((Lyra knows how to dance better than Baby - but also don't put Lyra in a corner.)) |
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Post by Mason Marlowe on Oct 17, 2016 0:32:56 GMT -5
Of all the matchmaking mamas and desperate daughters, Marianne Fletcher was the worst. Common courtesy dictated that Mason behave in an honorable and gentleman-like way with her, but it was difficult when all he wanted to do was put a sock in her mouth and run the other direction.
Lyra provided a suitable escape, although as he took her to the dance floor and held her in his arms, he rethought his reasons for dancing with her.
She was dainty in comparison to him, but she still fit perfectly as he held her and she moved with an innate sensuality that was not lost on Mason.
"You're very graceful Miss Newbury." he commented.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Oct 17, 2016 1:08:00 GMT -5
Mason was large and muscular, but he danced with an ease about him. He must have learned at an early age. Lyra felt comfortable with him and paid no mind to the other couples as moved around the dance floor. She did notice Samantha's old schoolmate Marianne scowling at them from the edge of the room. Lyra laughed and allowed Mason to spin her.
At his compliment her cheeks flushed. "You're not so bad yourself, Mr Marlowe." Lyra was having a wonderful time, she would have to thank Samantha later.
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Post by Mason Marlowe on Oct 17, 2016 1:16:34 GMT -5
He was quickly beginning to enjoy himself as well as his dancing partner. He was less and less frustrated by not finding his original target this evening.
When the song was approaching an end, he saw Marianne approaching and stalled again, glancing at Lyra and Sam who was still talking to the baroness.
"Please, call me Mason." he said easily, he looked at her speculatively, " I wonder if your generosity matches that of our mutual friend..." he smiled and did his best to look charming while his words were a contradiction, "Would you be willing to spare me a most unpleasant encounter and accompany me for a walk after this dance?"
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Oct 17, 2016 1:33:14 GMT -5
Lyra followed Mason's gaze and saw that Marianne was heading for them, obviously intent on having the next dance. Lyra looked back to Mason with a serious but still light expression. "Oh yes, I've had more than enough of that one for both of us tonight."
As the song ended she allowed Mason to whisk her from the ballroom, much to Marianne's chagrin, and out into the night air. As the sounds of the ballroom died away, Lyra's asked, "I take it you've made the mistake of asking Marianne a polite question and getting a mind-numbing novel in return."
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Post by Mason Marlowe on Oct 17, 2016 1:40:10 GMT -5
"Worse." he replied completely serious, "I asked her to dance once." Mason gave Lyra a look, "before the end of the week, her father had asked me what my intentions toward her were."
It was a horrifying experience for Mason, since then he had only asked family, or women he knew particularly well to dance with him, well until Lyra that is.
He gave her a mock speculative look.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Oct 17, 2016 1:58:53 GMT -5
"Oh no!" she exclaimed, laughing. "Sorry, I'm not laughing at you. Honestly," she said, still laughing. From the outside looking in, it was a rather humorous scenario he described. But Lyra could see where one would not find it funny if they had been in Mason's position. "How did you get out of that one?" She stopped suddenly and placed her hand on his shoulder in a mockingly serious manner. "Is that why you were in America for a year?" she teased with a smile.
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Post by Mason Marlowe on Oct 17, 2016 2:09:45 GMT -5
He laughed at her teasing, "Actually," he grinned recalling the memory, "Someone else asked her to dance at the next event and I was off the hook." he revealed, "Don't get me wrong, if it came down to it I don't think America would have been far away enough."
He smiled leading her outside on the terrace, conjuring flutes of champagne for both of them and handing her one.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Oct 17, 2016 2:27:12 GMT -5
Lyra laughed, her eyes twinkling in the moonlight. She took the glass he offered her and thanked him. She looked out over the dark property, the dark blue sky scattered with twinkling stars. It was a beautiful scene. She turned her back to the landscape and leaned against the ornate terrace railing, looking at Mason. He was illuminated by the lights from the building behind him. She smiled softly.
"You know what I do," she said politely. "But what is it you do, when you're not running away to distant countries and asking women to dance?"
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Post by Mason Marlowe on Oct 17, 2016 2:35:44 GMT -5
He sighed leaning over the railing, "The life of a useless noble." he answered taking a sip of his champagne.
"There are of course the estates to tend to, business investments that require minimal surveillance." while he prattled on about the obligations a noble had there was a hint of cynicism in his words. Mason had never been put in the position Lyra had, if so he may not have had the same edge to his words, but he longed for a purpose of some sort. Samantha had the magazine and various business investments. Julian had his art. Mason was good at just about everything, and passionate about nothing.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Oct 17, 2016 2:47:15 GMT -5
Lyra's brow furrowed. She had pleaded with her father to let her come home, and prayed to no one in particular that she be rescued from the nightmare of having no money and more bills than one knew what to do with. Mason had the exact opposite problem. But still neither seemed to be happy, at least Lyra wasn't until Julian has saved her. Mason needed a Julian, but what support could anyone offer when the man's problem was having things handed to him?
"That doesn't sound terribly pleasant," she commented. The way he spoke of it made Lyra believe her words. But she still longed to be part of this world, especially when the alternative was starving in her dirty flat, begging for food from her disgusting neighbor.
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Post by Mason Marlowe on Oct 17, 2016 2:52:47 GMT -5
He smiled looking back at her, "Thank you." he said with sincerity and an evaluating look.
"It's foolish and perhaps ungrateful to complain about my circumstances. I know many less fortunate than I, and to be honest I'm not sure how I would fare were I given a different hand to play." he confessed to her, "But thank you for not believing ill of me, most people do not have your compassion."
They saw Mason as a prize, part of the elite. He was a man with a target on his back. It was difficult to maintain true relationships when so many people wanted something from you.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Oct 17, 2016 3:05:03 GMT -5
Lyra shrugged. "Most people are muppets," she offered in consolation. "And for the record, I think you would have fared just fine given any other hand. And you can trust that because I have known you for all of twenty minutes, and am therefore an expert on the topic of Mason Marlowe." She smirked at him and then took a sip of her champagne.
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Post by Mason Marlowe on Oct 17, 2016 3:08:51 GMT -5
Mason was stricken by the woman in front of him. He had been home for all of twenty minutes and it had been spent with this charming, beautiful girl. He had also divulged much of his private self to a virtual stranger, and strangely he felt fine about it.
"You're positively charming Lyra Newbury." he announced candidly.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Oct 17, 2016 3:22:43 GMT -5
Her smirk became more of a confident grin and she gave him a knowing look, her cheeks pink. She looked back at the tall, bright windows as she wrapped her arms around herself to ward off the cool breeze that had just started.
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Post by Mason Marlowe on Oct 17, 2016 3:39:50 GMT -5
Like something out of a fairy tale, where men like Mason hailed from, he removed his jacket and placed it around her shoulders.
He smiled back at her and enjoyed the silence as well as the view she presented in the moonlight.
"There you two are!" Sam said emerging from the ballroom, "I've been looking all over for you."
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Oct 17, 2016 4:14:05 GMT -5
Lyra tugged the jacket closer to her. It was warm and smelled of him. She stared off at nothing for a while before Samantha found them. She smiled at her friend. "Sorry, next time I'll wear a bell," she teased.
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