Better The Devil You Know ((Sebby!))

[Lady Liselle]

((Hope it's okay!))

It was often said that idle hands found mischief, so the very fact that Lady Liselle Bassen was bored out of her wits could have nothing good come of it. When such fitful states overcame her she usually sought the Chapel to calm herself, or took up her embroidery but on a day such as today she found that she was simply too diverted. There were too many birds singing for one to sit outside. The castle itself was much too stuffy but the courtyard was too breezy. Alice was, unsurprisingly, nowhere to be seen and if she didn’t know better Liselle might have thought that the other usual suspects were avoiding her. With a steely resolve she snatched up her journal from its usual hiding place in her chambers and escaped to the stables.

For all her fine upbringing, airs and graces the Lady Doncastor did love her horseflesh. There was something stimulating about the clean, wholesome smell of fresh hay and oats, and the tick-tocking of horses tails swooshing from their boxes that comforted her. She knew that it was very unlikely she would be bothered here as the servants all avoided her unless necessary and after she had perched her richly gowned bottom on a hay bale and opened up her journal to continue her latest entry, Liselle finally found herself relaxing. But it was to be short lived.

Her situation was, she decided, most vexing and she was sure that her mother had never dreamed of the hurdles her only daughter might encounter upon being flung into the cesspool society of Nottingham. While she had set her sights firmly on Vaysey himself as her future husband (ambition was a girls’ best friend) and Sir Guy failing him, consistent contingencies would ensure things went off without a hitch. But who should she slot into Plan C? Don Javier was, frankly, a little cloying for her tastes and Lord Merton too dull. Lord Berkshire was promising, then there was also Lord Mannering.

Liselle jumped as a familiar form exerted itself in the doorway, raising one chaste hand to her bosom in surprise and subtle effort.

“Lord Mannering,” she voiced in greeting, echoing her thoughts as she stood and curtsied regally. “I had often wondered in that old wives’ tale that speaks of the Devil appearing to those who think of him. I fear you have proven the theory.” With a teasing smile, Liselle seated herself once more.

[Sebastian Mannering]

If Sebastian was honest he had made this trip to Nottingham castle to see Daine, of course the visit had been veiled under the pretence of consulting the Sheriff on his taxation policy (which as far as he could tell was the more the better). He hadn't seen the Lady of Merton since the incident at the fair, which he found thoroughly disappointing as the game between them was just starting to get interesting, but he had heard that she was recovering well under the overprotective care of her housekeeper Margaret.

Now that the brief meeting with Vaysey was out of the way he was hoping to sneak off unnoticed and ride to Merton to pay her a visit. He could put a certain pressure on Daine's weak brother Lord Merton too, the man would never grow a backbone and Sebastian intended to use this to his advantage. However, it would not do to have people know he was going out of his way to see Lady Daine. Sebastian Mannering was not a kept man and he did not want rumours of that nature circulating about him.

He detested riding, but this trip to the stables was a necessary evil if he wanted to get a horse without prying questions about where he was heading. The smell that seemed to accompany horses no matter how well groomed they were was an unpleasant one, the scent of hay made his nose tickle and the twitchy way the the horses moved unnerved him. No, Sebastian would never experience the close bond that a horse and rider could share. His only care when it came to riding was that the horse was both easy to control and of fitting breeding for a man of his standing to be seen upon.

When he entered the stables he'd expected to see a stable lad, somebody he could easily bully into preparing him a mount and then he'd be on his way in a minimum amount of time. He had not expected to lay eyes upon Lady Liselle of Doncaster, who somehow managed to look both immaculately composed and regal even in the less than savoury surroundings. Sebastian smiled and gave a bow that carried all of his usual flamboyance at her greeting, his irritation that he had been caught out in the final moments of his escape carefully hidden.

"Lady Liselle, I hope you don't think me devilish." He said, smile never faltering as he crossed the stable towards her and leaned casually on the door of one of the horse boxes. He could not make a quick retreat without slighting the lady, which knowing her would cause him no end of trouble. He may as well use the opportunity to discern Liselle's reasons for being in Nottingham. "I did not expect you to see you here," Sebastian's eyes flicked momentarily to the book in Liselle's hand. "I hope I'm not interrupting?"

[Lady Liselle]

Sebastian Mannering was exactly the sort of fellow who made Liselle’s day. He was clever, intelligent and above all not too far up himself to consider playful banter out of reach for his verbal repertoire. From her first moments of meeting him Liselle had decided to get to know him better, whether such information would be useful remained to be seen, although knowing the devious lady of Doncaster she could employ it creditably. She continued to smile at his returned quip, a small lady-like laugh escaping her lips before she silenced it in due course. She was not the kind of woman who giggled incessantly, but was well aware that men enjoyed ladies who would laugh at their comedic attempts.

”I would never,” she replied to his first question with a hint of contradiction. ”Although there are many women who would disagree with me, I’m sure. I have heard you described as ‘devilishly handsome more than once.” She was rather pleased that she had refrained from the term ‘ladies’, as hardly any of the women she had heard singing Sebastian’s praises were of noble birth. Though Liselle had to begrudgingly admit that if his skills as a lover were as truthful as they were plentiful she was half tempted to try him out herself. ”And an interruption in the form of your company is a welcome one I assure you. I have been unable to socialise as much as I might have liked thus far into my stay.”

Body-language was a telling sign of the thoughts people did not voice. Mannering leaned almost carelessly against the door frame of the stable, seemingly incapable of holding his own weight. He was tired, then, Liselle reasoned before also internally terming him impatient. He had not been intending on seeing her, then, and whilst she was marginally disappointed Liselle was determined to make the best of the situation and equally resolved to keep him from his prior engagement. She was more important, after all!

”Perhaps you would be so good as to entertain me, Lord Mannering? You are not nearly so dull as Sir Guy, though he does attempt conversation, the poor fellow. And the Sheriff has more important matters to hand as opposed to keeping up appearances with a poor wretch such as myself.”

[Sebastian Mannering]

Sebastian, while displeased to be kept from making his hasty retreat, couldn't help feeling a little thrill at the opportunity to talk with Liselle once more. He had not had more than the briefest of meetings with her since the fair and he by no means felt that their careful dance had ended, nor did he want it to. The lady's subtle and teasing compliment did wonders for his ego and his eyes sparked with amusement. It was certainly true that flattery went a long way with Sebastian Mannering, he tried not to be taken in by it too much, but a subtly paid compliment did more to grab his attention than he cared to admit.

"Really," He allowed an impish grin to settle on his face and a mix of roguish arrogance in his tone. "I shall have to meet with these women and commend them on their impeccable taste." All thought of making his excuses and hastening away were dwindling, this was far too fun an opportunity to pass up and he had not had the chance to exercise his wits in a while. Liselle was definitely a worthy opponent, or partner, depending on the game."Well then I simply must oblige you," He said with a small bow. "We can't have you tiring of Nottingham."

Liselle's barb at Gisborne brought a smile to Sebastian's lips, anybody who disliked the brooding Noble's surly disposition was worthy company indeed. "Yes," He lowered his voice conspiratorially. "The man is a dreadful bore isn't he." It probably wasn't wise to so openly belittle a man in close favour with the Sheriff, but Guy was a perpetual thorn in his side and Sebastian had never been known to follow all the rules. He hadn't got the reputation as a flamboyant lord by accident.

(OOC: Sorry it's so nonuber, my muse is seriously failing me today T_T.)

[Lady Liselle]

Most men were easily flattered, and (or so Liselle thought), easily won. She had no doubt in her wilful little mind that she could take her pick of the men in Nottingham if she chose to; all that remained now was for her to make her choice. Unbeknownst to Mannering he was, of course, on her hit-list so to speak. Handsome, rich - and he had the Sherrif's ear best of all! Yes indeed, she would not be a wife to object to his wanderings so long as he kept her part and parcel, and if he wanted to seek his thrills elsewhere then so much the better!

She flushed slightly as he unleashed the full extent of his grin. Liselle may have been cunning, but she was human after all. His answering comment was incorrigible, and before she knew it a genuine peal of silvery laughter tinkled forth from her lips. Sebastian Mannering was exactly the sort of man whose attention was worthy of her! She nodded in mock aquiesence when he conceded to entertain her, and Liselle could not help but feel triumphant over whoever it was that she was keeping the Lord from.

"I will be forever in your debt," she replied with a sly smile, before she cleaned her quill on the hay bale (far enough away so that there was no chance of it staining her lavender colored gown) and lay it in her journal. She carefully stoppered her ink bottle and then tucked them all away in a peculiar sort of bag, which she then left behind the hay bale. She rolled her eyes at the further mentioning of Gisborne. "Heavens, yes!" she agreed, though she didn't believe it in the slightest. Liselle thought Sir Guy extremely handsome and alurringly mysterious, but she wasn't about to ruin her chances with anyone. No, better to play them all against each other before she was secure in any one position.

"He was quite curt with me at your fete," she answered cunningly. "Although, we shouldn't be too cruel, should we My Lord? I doubt he's had the opportunity to socialise such as we have. We ought to offer him charity, if not sympathy." Smirking, she stood from her perch (although her claws were not yet fully retracted) and brushed any stray straw from her derriere. "Take this to my Steward, Brock," she commissioned a passing stable boy, giving him the bag. She had no concern of the boy learning her secrets; most of the servants couldn't read. With that out of the way, she was now fully willing and able to enjoy Mannering's company, such as it was.

"Well!" she then excalimed in a breathless, girlish sort of way before she smiled winsomely at the eligible bachelor in her presence. "I am now entirely at your mercy, My Lord Mannering!"

[gissy]

Guy had been heading to the stables, when he’d heard his name and paused. The voices were easily recognisable as Sebastian Mannering’s and Lady Liselle’s, but he couldn’t quite hear what they were saying. From their tone of voice, though, he could tell it was something derisive, and he could practically hear the smirks on their faces. Guy stiffened angrily. The two of them had no right to be talking about him like that, and if he had it his way, head would roll. Unfortunately, both were immune in some way, so he’d have to find a better way of getting his own back.

Starting off again, Guy entered the stables as if nothing was amiss, giving the pair a curt nod when they finally came into view “My Lord, Lady” He said, noting with satisfaction what he liked to think were guilty looks on their faces.

“My is that the time?” Sebastian piped up, looking a mite flustered to Guy, who smirked inwardly “Well I must be going, it was a pleasure talking to you, my lady” Guy felt a little sickened by the flamboyant bow Sebastian gave Liselle, swooping low to kiss her on the hand. “Gisborne” was all the acknowledgement he got before the man turned and left the stable. Good riddance, Guy thought, turning to look for his horse, and a stable boy to saddle it for him. Now all he needed was for Liselle to leave as well, and he could get back on with what he’d been planning to do to start with.

[OOC - sorry it’s so short!]