Jameson leaned back in his chair with his glass in hand once more. His expression had soured slightly
"I meant what I said when I told you I mean to see no harm come to the girl, Deneith. I know she was not treated well under Anduron's command. I was not pleased."
With that he took another quick sip.
"I... I see. And if he is as angry as you have painted him... I doubt he will be very forgiving any time soon."
He leaned forward again, retrieving his utensils and began to eat once more, as if the admission was displeasing to him. She watched his mood change once more.
"I do not think it likely."
"Then a pox on him, I say. He is only one man. A man in command no less, but just one."
"He is of a notable family. To shame him without reason will bring notice of a Royalist family. I would prefer that not to be the case unless there is irrefutable evidence. And this woman seems violent herself. I would tread the waters carefully."
"If you have any idea how I can obtain evidence against him, be sure to let me know. I can only keep this woman from the Blades for so long before a trial is demanded, or the Captain forces me to pass her off to the Blades." She sighed as she pushed her plate towards the outer edge of the table. "Hmm, but here we are discussing work as always. Have we really nothing else to speak of?"
He continued to eat, enjoying a good portion and chasing it with wine once more. He snorted quietly as he set the glass back down.
"Do we? Our work is our life."
"Then we must needs find something else to do on occasion."
His smile returned at this notion as he regarded her from across the table. A blush suddenly washed over her face as she realize what she had just said.
"Well. Perhaps I have just the thing."
"I mean, not that we must do something together of course, I simply meant... oh?"
"If fanciful affair is something that would please you. I hear there is a Ball, next moon. Some Starlight affair in Gridania. Thrown by the priests."
"Is there? I... hadn't heard", she said in an attempt to feign interest.
"I have been asked to attend. A few families attending will need some attention. I would be honored if you would accompany me. I daresay your presence next to me would be quite enchanting."
A smile slowly crept back to her face as well.
"And I gladly accept."
Jameson cocked his head, looking genuinely amused at her willingness.
"Now, do understand... this will be a formal outing. I had not been extending any arm or hand to you in public. I will do so at this Ball. Your friends and allies will likely not be too pleased, if Miss Leanne is any indication."
She cleared her throat softly.
"They will think what they will. Mostly sorrow that they have no one who dresses as sharply."
"And you still accept my invitation?"
"I do. That is, if you would have me on your arm all the same. I am sure your own business contacts may murmur at seeing you with me."
"I look forward to having you on my arm, Lady Crofte. I shall brave the glares and the snide remarks for the honor. As I said, who I consort and find company with should not please nor displease anyone else as long as I do what I do, and well. My employers and those I consider valuable contacts understand this."
They exchanged smiles at this, and he even chuckled at the notion.
"It is settled then."
"I daresay, I cannot wait to see the look on Jenlyn's face!", he said with a laugh.
"Hmm... you might not. I will stay clear though. He knows where my loyalties are."
"He will be most displeased, I am certain."
They sat quietly after this. Coatleque turned her gaze to the view of Thanalan out of the airship dock.
"And what of you then? Have I been sufficient distraction for the day? Or do you require... more?"
He was studying her while she had been looking away. As her attention returned he broke his gaze and finished his wine before setting the glass back down and smiling.
"You have been a delightful distraction indeed, Lady Crofte. Alas my small respite of freedom is coming to an end."
"For the early evening, of course. I was not speaking of right now, however. We both have our business to attend to."
He leaned in towards her, his voice quieting.
"I enjoy these little distractions. I should make an effort to do it more often. Speaking frankly, it is not something I do. At all."
She also leaned towards him, her voice quiet just the same.
"As do I. I shall be... free again tonight, if you desire for me to meet with you. Elsewhere, perhaps?"
His smile curled once more into a type of grin she had only seen once before.
"Perhaps, Lady Crofte. If I can afford another escape, I shall seek you out. As I said, you are my only distraction of late."
She leaned back up straight and turned away, slightly overcome by his admission once more. He waved the server over and placed a small pouch of gil on the table, then rose to leave.
"I look forward to seeing you soon, Lady Crofte."
"As do I, Master Taeros. And if you are busy... have a pleasant evening."
"A pleasure, as always."
Later that evening as she sat in her office attempting to catch up on her now growing pile of papers, a courier arrived with a small and sealed note. Thanking him she opened it and scanned it before quickly tossing it away. Blowing out the lantern she rose and left the office in a hurry, locking the door. It seemed another distraction was required after all.
"I meant what I said when I told you I mean to see no harm come to the girl, Deneith. I know she was not treated well under Anduron's command. I was not pleased."
With that he took another quick sip.
"I... I see. And if he is as angry as you have painted him... I doubt he will be very forgiving any time soon."
He leaned forward again, retrieving his utensils and began to eat once more, as if the admission was displeasing to him. She watched his mood change once more.
"I do not think it likely."
"Then a pox on him, I say. He is only one man. A man in command no less, but just one."
"He is of a notable family. To shame him without reason will bring notice of a Royalist family. I would prefer that not to be the case unless there is irrefutable evidence. And this woman seems violent herself. I would tread the waters carefully."
"If you have any idea how I can obtain evidence against him, be sure to let me know. I can only keep this woman from the Blades for so long before a trial is demanded, or the Captain forces me to pass her off to the Blades." She sighed as she pushed her plate towards the outer edge of the table. "Hmm, but here we are discussing work as always. Have we really nothing else to speak of?"
He continued to eat, enjoying a good portion and chasing it with wine once more. He snorted quietly as he set the glass back down.
"Do we? Our work is our life."
"Then we must needs find something else to do on occasion."
His smile returned at this notion as he regarded her from across the table. A blush suddenly washed over her face as she realize what she had just said.
"Well. Perhaps I have just the thing."
"I mean, not that we must do something together of course, I simply meant... oh?"
"If fanciful affair is something that would please you. I hear there is a Ball, next moon. Some Starlight affair in Gridania. Thrown by the priests."
"Is there? I... hadn't heard", she said in an attempt to feign interest.
"I have been asked to attend. A few families attending will need some attention. I would be honored if you would accompany me. I daresay your presence next to me would be quite enchanting."
A smile slowly crept back to her face as well.
"And I gladly accept."
Jameson cocked his head, looking genuinely amused at her willingness.
"Now, do understand... this will be a formal outing. I had not been extending any arm or hand to you in public. I will do so at this Ball. Your friends and allies will likely not be too pleased, if Miss Leanne is any indication."
She cleared her throat softly.
"They will think what they will. Mostly sorrow that they have no one who dresses as sharply."
"And you still accept my invitation?"
"I do. That is, if you would have me on your arm all the same. I am sure your own business contacts may murmur at seeing you with me."
"I look forward to having you on my arm, Lady Crofte. I shall brave the glares and the snide remarks for the honor. As I said, who I consort and find company with should not please nor displease anyone else as long as I do what I do, and well. My employers and those I consider valuable contacts understand this."
They exchanged smiles at this, and he even chuckled at the notion.
"It is settled then."
"I daresay, I cannot wait to see the look on Jenlyn's face!", he said with a laugh.
"Hmm... you might not. I will stay clear though. He knows where my loyalties are."
"He will be most displeased, I am certain."
They sat quietly after this. Coatleque turned her gaze to the view of Thanalan out of the airship dock.
"And what of you then? Have I been sufficient distraction for the day? Or do you require... more?"
He was studying her while she had been looking away. As her attention returned he broke his gaze and finished his wine before setting the glass back down and smiling.
"You have been a delightful distraction indeed, Lady Crofte. Alas my small respite of freedom is coming to an end."
"For the early evening, of course. I was not speaking of right now, however. We both have our business to attend to."
He leaned in towards her, his voice quieting.
"I enjoy these little distractions. I should make an effort to do it more often. Speaking frankly, it is not something I do. At all."
She also leaned towards him, her voice quiet just the same.
"As do I. I shall be... free again tonight, if you desire for me to meet with you. Elsewhere, perhaps?"
His smile curled once more into a type of grin she had only seen once before.
"Perhaps, Lady Crofte. If I can afford another escape, I shall seek you out. As I said, you are my only distraction of late."
She leaned back up straight and turned away, slightly overcome by his admission once more. He waved the server over and placed a small pouch of gil on the table, then rose to leave.
"I look forward to seeing you soon, Lady Crofte."
"As do I, Master Taeros. And if you are busy... have a pleasant evening."
"A pleasure, as always."
Later that evening as she sat in her office attempting to catch up on her now growing pile of papers, a courier arrived with a small and sealed note. Thanking him she opened it and scanned it before quickly tossing it away. Blowing out the lantern she rose and left the office in a hurry, locking the door. It seemed another distraction was required after all.
