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Post by Vianne Giry on Mar 10, 2008 17:55:12 GMT -5
*Vianne, closely veiled despite the heat, disembarked the ship that had carried them to Persia and was swiftly taken along with her husband to their residence--a rented villa, which she gasped upon seeing, thinking it more akin to a palace, with several fountains, lush gardens, and coolly shaded halls of white marble. Bathing in scented water and changing into a lighter gown, she moved freely within the walled confines of the garden where water splashed from the fountains, making gentle music, and sun-warm clusters of dates hung heavy in the palms overhead.*
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Post by Sir Percy on Mar 14, 2008 18:12:43 GMT -5
Percy stood behind Vianne as she stood in the garden. He had almost immediately disregarded his English clothing, and opted for the light, baggy pants and shirt of Indian dress.
Feeling much lighter and cooler, he watched as the breeze lifted his wife's hair, so that her heavy, dark tresses waved gently in the wind.
Silently, he took her hand.
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Post by Vianne Giry on Mar 14, 2008 18:15:32 GMT -5
"It's like a dream, Percy," *she said with her usual, quiet smile, squeezing his hand lightly as they walked together through the garden. She wrinkled her nose slightly at the bright sun.*
"I should get my parasol. I'll freckle like a toadstool."
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Post by Sir Percy on Mar 14, 2008 18:18:02 GMT -5
"You will look adorable" Percy promised his wife. He regarded a beautiful statue of Ganesh, looking rather thoughtful.
"Begads! What I shall do with meself now that that Revolution of yours--monstrous intolerable, m'dear--is over, I haven't a clue. Zooks!" he added.
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Post by Vianne Giry on Mar 14, 2008 18:21:29 GMT -5
"Perhaps you could write a book--spend some time reliving the adventures of your youth." *She grinned, slipping an arm about his waist.* "Before you forget."
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Post by Sir Percy on Mar 14, 2008 18:23:59 GMT -5
Percy looked down at her, blue eyes widened in mock shock.
"Odds fish, m'love!" he gasped. "Is my ladyship suggesting that I am...aging?"
He said the word "aging" as one might say "bubonic plague".
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Post by Vianne Giry on Mar 14, 2008 18:28:50 GMT -5
*She chuckled and eyed the streak of gray above one temple.*
"Gaining distinction might be a more diplomatic way of putting it," *she teased.*
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Post by Sir Percy on Mar 14, 2008 18:30:23 GMT -5
He smiled down at her.
"Madame," he said grandly, "if I am gaining distinction, then you are surely growing ever more fair, like the apple tree that blooms year after year, and is bountiful with fruit."
Bending, he kissed her forehead.
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Post by Vianne Giry on Mar 14, 2008 18:34:50 GMT -5
"You've a pretty and poetic way of telling me I've gained something more than distinction," *she said, glancing ruefully at the figure that was no longer quite so girlish as it had been in years gone by. Active as she may be, she was still a mother of four children.*
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Post by Sir Percy on Mar 14, 2008 18:37:48 GMT -5
Percy snorted at her.
"Begad! You are even more beautiful now than the day I met you."
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Post by Vianne Giry on Mar 14, 2008 18:42:46 GMT -5
"Flatterer," *she muttered, shaking her head and poking him in the ribs before moving to sit at the edge of a fountain.*
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Post by Sir Percy on Mar 14, 2008 18:48:21 GMT -5
"Alas, Madame, I speak only the truth," he smiled as he moved to stand beside her.
Lifting her long dark locks, he buried his fingers in her hair.
"What do you think of Persia?" he asked quietly.
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Post by Vianne Giry on Mar 14, 2008 18:49:44 GMT -5
"I love it," *she murmured.* "Just shy of overwhelming my senses...it almost leaves me breathless."
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Post by Sir Percy on Mar 14, 2008 18:53:25 GMT -5
He smiled.
"My dear, I know exactly what you mean."
He paused. "And yet there is a sense of cruelty about this place...I can see how Erik lost part of himself here."
"I would not let the children here. It would break Rebecca's spirit, Andrew's naivety, and Tony's courage."
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Post by Vianne Giry on Mar 14, 2008 19:03:29 GMT -5
"And yet...could we stop any of them, if they took it into their heads to come?" *she said with the sad wistfulness of a mother who has seen her children grown away from needing her so desperately as they did as children.*
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