thepicketfencecliche | regency au } { of horses and propriety

Derek: [growls, but drops him]

Stiles: [pushing back against the wall, head bowed a bit] I'm sorry, m'lady. I wasn't watching where I was going.

Cora: [smiles softly] It's fine. My dresses can survive a little mud.

Derek: You best watch where you are going from now on though.

Stiles: Yes, m'lord. [still staring at the ground]

Cora: [huffs before kicking her brother (gently) in the shin] Stop scaring him. [to Stiles] Just ignore him - he's all bluster, no bite.

Stiles: [there's a hint of a smile at that a moment before he hides it, because that lord is still carrying a sword]

Derek: We should be going, Cora.

Cora: [sighs, but nods, turning to follow him as she goes] Goodbye. Hopefully next we meet will be less muddy.

Stiles: I look forward to that day, m'lady. [he looks up a bit at her, daring to catch her eye with a small smile]

Cora: [she smiles in return, before turning and following after Derek to wherever they're going. Probably to do boring noble people things that she very much doesn't want to do.]

Derek: [totally boring noble things. Which is what happens when they are from the House ~~Stark~~ of the Hales in the northern territories]

Cora: [yep, and they're visiting the Whittemores and Cora's expected to do lady things which she loathes, personally, and probably spends whatever time she can manage outside, usually sitting on a bench or under a tree. Mostly avoiding Jackson. She doesn't like the implications being made about her and Jackson.]

Stiles: [and he's just going to finish mucking out horse stalls and then brushing down the horse. He then is probably going to saddle one up and take her for a ride to practice his riding.]

Cora: [glances up from her book when she hears the horse in the distance, and she can't help the smile that crosses her face at the sight. As much as she loathes Jackson and everything he is, the Whittemores do have beautiful horses. Horses are not as fond of wolves, as a rule, but Cora's always seemed to have a knack for animals, and she pushes up from the bench as he gets closer, seeing if he will slow or not]

Stiles: [he sees her and stops, bringing the horse to a slower walk and looking around] You may not want to get close, m'lady. It is still pretty muddy and the horse doesn't care about your dress.

Cora: What a coincidence. Neither do I. [she smiles up at him, before reaching a hand towards the muzzle of the horse, to see if it will allow her to pet him] Does he have a name?

Stiles: [slides down, holding the bridle tightly] This one is Thor. He is not as young at the others in the stables, but he does appreciate attention when it's given to him, m'lady. [Thor sniffs at Cora's hand and starts a moment] Thor, behave. The lady only wishes to pet you.

Cora: It's alright. [that's mostly to the horse, and she lowers her voice some as she just lets her hand rest on his muzzle gently] I won't hurt you. I promise.

Stiles: [rubs the horses' neck gently as he reaches into the saddlebag] Perhaps the lady would care to give him a treat for his good behavior?

Cora: She would love to. [and she reaches her free hand forward for whatever Stiles is going to give her]

Stiles: [and he is going to put a carrot in her hand] Be careful through. He slobbers when he is excited.

Cora: [nods as she takes it from him and offers Thor the carrot, and the smile on her face widens as he gobbles it up]

Stiles: [he smiles at her smile, and then focuses back on the horse as his hand pets Thor's neck. Thor is all ON NOM NOM CARROT]

Cora: [laughs as his tongue brushes her palm once the carrot is gone, and her hand resumes a soft pat against the side of his neck] There. I think I've won his favor now.

Stiles: I am sure of it, m'lady. [smiling]

Cora: [grins up at him before turning her eyes back to the horse again] I don't think I ever learned your name.

Stiles: I am called Stiles, m'lady.

Cora: That is a ... unique name.

Stiles: [nods] My parents come from lands beyond here, and the Whittemores are unable to pronounce my true name.

Cora: Not the only fault of the Whittemores, I've found.

Stiles: [he gives a look back at the homestead, taking a deep breath] I cannot speak ill of them, m'lady. [but he knows what you mean]

Cora: I know. And I would not ask you to. [she can speak ill of them all on her own] Still, it is a pleasure, Master Stiles.

Stiles: [smiles a bit more] The pleasure is all mine, m'lady [bows a bit]

Cora: How long are you to be squired to the Whittemores?

Stiles: [bites his lip a moment] I am unsure, m'lady. I have been here with them since I turned eight.

Cora: [that ... is a very long time] How old are you now?

Stiles: I turn seventeen this coming spring, m'lady.

Cora: So nearly ten years now. Have you not seen your family in that time?

Stiles: [he just looks back at the horse a moment, sadness touching his face] No, m'lady. My mother is with God. And I have not seen my father in those years.

Cora: [her face falls as well, and she reaches forward to rest her hand on his arm] I'm sorry.

Stiles: I thank you for your sympathy, m'lady.

Cora: [she nods] You can call me Cora, if you like.

Stiles: As much as I would like, it would not be proper, m'lady.

Cora: [she rolls her eyes] If it's just the two of us, there's no need to worry about propriety. My family name doesn't make me any different from you. [but she wouldn't want to get him into trouble, so if others are around then manners are probably important]

Stiles: [he nods a moment] Your family name does hold a lot more weight than mine, ma... Cora.

Cora: That is a lot of history and money. Both things that have nothing to do with what truly makes a person worthwhile.

Stiles: No, but both do have power to them.

Cora: [she shakes her head] True power is here. [she places her hand over her heart] Not in things that are hopelessly material. [she knows power, she feels it every full moon. It has a way of making the "propriety" of the time seem incredibly ridiculous]

Stiles: You are not like any other woman I have met in a long time.

Cora: [she glances up at him for a moment, before returning her gaze to the horse with a smile] I will choose to take that as a compliment.

Stiles: It is. It reminds me of my mother.

Cora: [her eyes soften a bit as she looks up at him again, and she nods in acknowledgement, before there's a rustle of material and she can see her sister standing in the door] And I'm afraid that I must leave you and Thor to continue his exercise. Thank you for a lovely conversation, Master Stiles.

Stiles: Thank you for the honor, m'lady Cora. [and he will wait for her to go before pulling himself back up on the horse and riding off]

Cora: [and off to her sister she'll go, who escort her back to do lady things again]