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Post by liz on Sept 7, 2006 14:26:23 GMT -5
"I do not think--that is..." *Elizabeth blushed.* "I must apologize for what I said in haste. I was angry...and...angry," *she finished lamely, turning to look with great interest at the leaves on the trees above her.*
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Post by Ramsey on Sept 7, 2006 14:41:35 GMT -5
Ramsey was silent for a while. "It is good to speak one's opinions," he replied abruptly. "I dislike people who attempt to tailor their speech to match someone else's interests."
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Post by liz on Sept 7, 2006 14:48:41 GMT -5
"Giving one's opinion is only admirable if that opinion is the result of serious reflection and genuine intellectual study on the subject. My insulting behaviour, born of temper, was hardly such, though you are kind enough to excuse my irrationalities there by assigning them a rather different motive than was originally intended. I thought nothing of giving a cold, scholarly opinion and everything of trying to hurt your pride." *Elizabeth bit her lip and shook her head slowly.* "I am sorry for it."
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Post by Ramsey on Sept 8, 2006 15:40:57 GMT -5
Ramsey continued walking in silence for several minutes. "I accept your apology," he replied, "But I do not think you cold and scholarly."
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Post by liz on Sept 8, 2006 16:00:51 GMT -5
"A pity, that, for it is what I've attempted to be for much of my life. Not cold, perhaps...but..." *She tilted her head to one side.* "I suppose with strangers, I can be a bit...cool."
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Post by Ramsey on Sept 8, 2006 16:28:39 GMT -5
Ramsey's brow furrowed. "Why attempt to be cool and aloof?" he responded, with skepticism in his voice. "Life is too short and too good to ignore certain things you may otherwise have enjoyed."
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Post by liz on Sept 8, 2006 16:44:47 GMT -5
*Elizabeth ventured a grin.* "Alas, that is the way a young, rich gentleman is raised to see the world and approach those in it--we poor country girls have need to conduct ourselves in much stricter fashion."
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Post by Ramsey on Sept 9, 2006 16:08:31 GMT -5
"Oh, you would be surprised!" Ramsey retorted with a laugh. He was notorious for holding grudges, but surprisingly enough he found his anger dissipating.
"You seem to think my life consists of merely fun and games. As the eldest son, I was constantly reminded of my responsibility as heir when I was a child. Keep to your studies, pay attention to your tutors, watch and learn how to run an estate, don't become friendly with the servants... and, as I got older, these reprimands changed. Run with the right circle of people, make connections, invest money wisely and keep an eye of the stocks. Find a suitable wife, a biddable and sweet-tempered girl of good family and fortune. Perhaps having so much of that drilled into me is the reason I try to enjoy life so thoroughly."
((I just have to mention that I have mad loff for this thread.))
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Post by liz on Sept 13, 2006 0:29:07 GMT -5
*Elizabeth grinned at the picture he'd painted of his childhood.* "A more devious child would have known that the eldest son could get away with a great deal simply by virtue of being the eldest and a son--you need not have minded your studies so, nor the reprimands of your family, for their eventual fortune will depend on your goodwill alone and not your upbringing. Although I will say you seemed to have been raised with a stricter hand than most young men, and it appears to have done you some good--I wish all wealthy men who are blessed with power and choice might be given the same direction as you have had, for it would render their company a much more tolerable thing."
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Post by Ramsey on Sept 13, 2006 2:47:44 GMT -5
Ramsey laughed. "Oh, believe me, I was not a perfect child! I simply enjoyed learning, so I listened carefully to the things my father said and rarely missed out on a lesson. I remember once, when I was about ten and quite ill with the measles... our tutor was giving my younger brother a lesson on Egyptology and I actually tried to get up and go to the schoolroom!" His face grew distant, as if remembering.
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Post by liz on Sept 13, 2006 8:53:19 GMT -5
*Elizabeth laughed.* "I am certain your parents would warn you daily that you will someday be given a son just as determined as you, and thus Nature's revenge would be complete."
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Post by Ramsey on Sept 14, 2006 2:00:07 GMT -5
Ramsey sobered slightly. "I believe my parents would not care if the son was like me or not - as long as I married and produced one, preferably two. The heir and the spare."
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Post by liz on Sept 14, 2006 11:30:06 GMT -5
*Elizabeth's face darkened for a moment.* "It is important, however much you may disdain such goals. Despite ideals of equality, one must remember that women more often than not are unable to really secure their own future and happiness in any manner other than marrying well--which is a double-edged sword in its own right; for what good is material comforts if one cannot even respect one's spouse?" *She bit her lip, thinking of her parent's unhappy marriage.* "As the second of five daughters to a father whose estate is entailed away to heirs male, I am in a position to tell you that having an heir and a spare, as you call it, saves everybody a great deal of pain and worry."
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Post by Ramsey on Sept 14, 2006 13:00:18 GMT -5
Ramsey scowled. "But I wish to marry when I actually have a desire to, not when my parents are harassing me as if I were still a boy." His face softened slightly. "But I am sorry to hear that you must lose your estate to another relative. Will he care for it properly?"
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Post by liz on Sept 15, 2006 0:42:16 GMT -5
"One can only hope. He is not..." *She tried to use Jane's kinder terminology.* "...the cleverest of men, but his wife, Charlotte, is a great friend of mine and she has enough wit for both of them." *Elizabeth bit her lip.* "I think you could get away with putting off marriage as long as you choose, for whichever reasons you like. The world will not look down upon a wealthy bachelor unless they are worried about who will inherit and if they stand any chance." *She shook her head, her dark curls bouncing.* "Me, on the other hand..." *A small smile tilted her lips.* "The censure for being a spinster will never cease until I leave this earth--oh, behind my back, always, of course. Which is worse, somehow. If someone is going to speak ill of me, I'd much prefer hearing it from them myself. One can hardly feel courageous battling insidious and vague remarks."
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