AJS Roleplaying
Returning veteran
- Joined
- May 24, 2025
- Location
- The Emerald Isle
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The Quiet Flame
A Roleplay Brought to You By: |
AJ Stanton written by AJS Roleplaying |
Evelyn Rhodes written by Yraelin |
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The Quiet Flame (AJS Roleplaying x Yraelin)
- Thread starter AJS Roleplaying
- Start date
OP
OP
AJS Roleplaying
Returning veteran
- Joined
- May 24, 2025
- Location
- The Emerald Isle
The morning mist still clung to the hedgerows when AJ Stanton stepped out into the gravel path that ran along the southern edge of the Rhodes estate. Dew shimmered faintly on the hedges and the pale light of dawn caught in the windowpanes of the great house behind him. He paused for a moment to take in the stillness before the world woke and the roles resumed. In the hush of early light, the air was absent of expectation, and for that, he was grateful.
At twenty, AJ carried the quiet discipline of a man older than his years. Not just from the duties of service, though those had carved their own patterns into his posture and pace, but from the burden of memory. There had been a time when his world smelled of ink and parchment, not brass polish and beeswax. He remembered the scent of his father's study, the tall ledgers that had once marked the wealth of the Stanton family - before whispers of embezzlement and a failed shipment to the Indies had unraveled it all. He was thirteen when the bailiffs came. Fourteen when his mother fell ill from the shame. Fifteen when he was alone.
The Rhodes family had taken him in shortly after, at the insistence of Lady Rhodes' brother, who had once been a client of his father's. He'd started in the stables, worked his way to footman, and now served primarily as valet to Mr. Rhodes, the heir of the house. It was quiet, dignified work, and in return, he had shelter, meals, and a place to exist. For a man born to more, it was humbling. But it had also been a haven.
And then there was Evelyn.
AJ's gaze drifted, almost involuntarily, to the high windows of the east wing, where her rooms were. The curtains remained drawn, but he imagined the soft rustle of her movements within—perhaps brushing her hair, perhaps still dreaming. It didn't matter. He would carry the memory of her presence through the day like a prayer pressed close to his heart.
He hadn't meant to fall in love with her.
It had begun with conversations shared in passing, in those moments when boundaries blurred - when she asked after the health of the stable dog, or laughed at a jest he'd not meant for her ears. She never looked at him the way the other daughters of the gentry looked at the staff - with detached politeness or distant disdain. She looked at him like he mattered.
That had been dangerous. And it had been wonderful.
Over the years, those fleeting exchanges became anchors in his day. She had a brightness about her, a curiosity that dared to cross class lines even when everything in society told her not to. Her laughter was a melody he sometimes heard even when she wasn't near. She asked questions about books, about the world, about what lay beyond the walls of the estate. And each answer he gave her made him feel like more than a servant - like a man again.
But now…
AJ's boots crunched softly as he turned back toward the house, his heart heavy with the knowledge that Evelyn's debut had come and gone. Suitors had begun to arrive. Letters of inquiry had doubled. He'd helped carry bouquets to her room, messages to her father, whispered gifts of courtship that Evelyn accepted with polite grace and nothing more. But one day soon, one of those letters would bear the right name, the right title, the right fortune - and she would be wed.
Not to him. Never to him.
He had been a fool to let it go on this long. A fool to think he could exist so near to her and not want more. But his heart had never obeyed rules, no matter how strictly he tried to enforce them. He would watch her marry, and smile when he was meant to, and serve at the wedding. And then he would return to his duties while the future he'd imagined in dreams dissolved like mist beneath the sun.
AJ slipped into the kitchen corridor, exchanging nods with the cook and the scullery maid, his expression composed. Polished. No trace of turmoil visible. He could play his part, as he always had.
Yet something inside him had begun to stir. Something restless. The thought that perhaps he didn't have to spend the rest of his life polishing boots and folding neckcloths while the woman he loved was given away to another. He wasn't born to this role. He had lived a different life once - a life of books and trade and education. His father had fallen, but AJ had survived. That must count for something.
He returned to the small room tucked beside the pantry where he kept his few belongings. The space was neat, sparsely decorated - just a few books, an old journal, a dull silver locket from his mother. He sat on the edge of the cot, elbows on knees, and let the silence wrap around him. How many men had made something of themselves after ruin? How many had clawed their way back from the edge? He had no illusions about the difficulty of such a path. But if he stayed - if he remained nothing more than a servant in this house, he would lose her. Entirely. Irrevocably.
His fingers curled around the spine of one of his father's ledgers, salvaged from the wreckage of their estate years ago. The columns of numbers and tidy handwriting stared back at him. It wasn't just a book. It was a blueprint. A memory of what had been, and perhaps, what could be again.
At twenty, AJ carried the quiet discipline of a man older than his years. Not just from the duties of service, though those had carved their own patterns into his posture and pace, but from the burden of memory. There had been a time when his world smelled of ink and parchment, not brass polish and beeswax. He remembered the scent of his father's study, the tall ledgers that had once marked the wealth of the Stanton family - before whispers of embezzlement and a failed shipment to the Indies had unraveled it all. He was thirteen when the bailiffs came. Fourteen when his mother fell ill from the shame. Fifteen when he was alone.
The Rhodes family had taken him in shortly after, at the insistence of Lady Rhodes' brother, who had once been a client of his father's. He'd started in the stables, worked his way to footman, and now served primarily as valet to Mr. Rhodes, the heir of the house. It was quiet, dignified work, and in return, he had shelter, meals, and a place to exist. For a man born to more, it was humbling. But it had also been a haven.
And then there was Evelyn.
AJ's gaze drifted, almost involuntarily, to the high windows of the east wing, where her rooms were. The curtains remained drawn, but he imagined the soft rustle of her movements within—perhaps brushing her hair, perhaps still dreaming. It didn't matter. He would carry the memory of her presence through the day like a prayer pressed close to his heart.
He hadn't meant to fall in love with her.
It had begun with conversations shared in passing, in those moments when boundaries blurred - when she asked after the health of the stable dog, or laughed at a jest he'd not meant for her ears. She never looked at him the way the other daughters of the gentry looked at the staff - with detached politeness or distant disdain. She looked at him like he mattered.
That had been dangerous. And it had been wonderful.
Over the years, those fleeting exchanges became anchors in his day. She had a brightness about her, a curiosity that dared to cross class lines even when everything in society told her not to. Her laughter was a melody he sometimes heard even when she wasn't near. She asked questions about books, about the world, about what lay beyond the walls of the estate. And each answer he gave her made him feel like more than a servant - like a man again.
But now…
AJ's boots crunched softly as he turned back toward the house, his heart heavy with the knowledge that Evelyn's debut had come and gone. Suitors had begun to arrive. Letters of inquiry had doubled. He'd helped carry bouquets to her room, messages to her father, whispered gifts of courtship that Evelyn accepted with polite grace and nothing more. But one day soon, one of those letters would bear the right name, the right title, the right fortune - and she would be wed.
Not to him. Never to him.
He had been a fool to let it go on this long. A fool to think he could exist so near to her and not want more. But his heart had never obeyed rules, no matter how strictly he tried to enforce them. He would watch her marry, and smile when he was meant to, and serve at the wedding. And then he would return to his duties while the future he'd imagined in dreams dissolved like mist beneath the sun.
AJ slipped into the kitchen corridor, exchanging nods with the cook and the scullery maid, his expression composed. Polished. No trace of turmoil visible. He could play his part, as he always had.
Yet something inside him had begun to stir. Something restless. The thought that perhaps he didn't have to spend the rest of his life polishing boots and folding neckcloths while the woman he loved was given away to another. He wasn't born to this role. He had lived a different life once - a life of books and trade and education. His father had fallen, but AJ had survived. That must count for something.
He returned to the small room tucked beside the pantry where he kept his few belongings. The space was neat, sparsely decorated - just a few books, an old journal, a dull silver locket from his mother. He sat on the edge of the cot, elbows on knees, and let the silence wrap around him. How many men had made something of themselves after ruin? How many had clawed their way back from the edge? He had no illusions about the difficulty of such a path. But if he stayed - if he remained nothing more than a servant in this house, he would lose her. Entirely. Irrevocably.
His fingers curled around the spine of one of his father's ledgers, salvaged from the wreckage of their estate years ago. The columns of numbers and tidy handwriting stared back at him. It wasn't just a book. It was a blueprint. A memory of what had been, and perhaps, what could be again.
Yraelin
ヾ(๑❛ ▿ ◠๑ )
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2020
The days seemed endless now with gifts and letters. At first she had thought that there would be an end. That they would send her flowers and a letter and if she didn't respond or only gave a polite response of gratitude, they would stop. That they would wait patiently and let her think things over.
Oh how naive and wrong she had been!
The moment replies were received from her there would be a flood back. Offers of courtship and various outings. Her brother, Daniel, had laughed more than he had meant to when he had seen her face at the stack of letters she had received. It had been a brief slip of exhaustion and irritation at how persistent they were! Thankfully he was at least on her side with all of this, casually making little comments as he looked over her shoulder on men she needed to avoid at all costs.
Now if only her mother would listen on that front. No matter how much Daniel had been pushing for some of these men to just be outright denied by their father, their mother wouldn't listen to it. She would rather Evelyn have a few outings with them to see what she thought before just refusing outright.
She was absolutely dreading today. Polite indifference could only go so far through letters and Daniel had told her last night that her mother had invited one of her suitors over for breakfast. It was intended to be sprung on her this morning so she couldn't make some excuse. Evelyn sighed heavily as she stared in the mirror of her vanity, idly toying with the hairbrush. Should she meet this man? She didn't want to but perhaps if she did it would at least create a pause before her mother brought another.
It wouldn't, but she was optimistic.
A knock on the door caught her attention. "Come in," she called out, sitting the hairbrush down in front of her. A young woman only a few years older than her opened the door and slipped in, her blond hair tied up and a smile on her face. Marie. She had been by her side since Evelyn was ten and she was fifteen. Despite the fact she was Evelyn's personal maid, they had a tight bond. Marie was one of her closest friends and confidant within the house.
"You're up early, miss," MArie spoke as she closed the door behind herself. "Master Daniel saw me out and asked me to give this to you." The paper was handed out to her. It was just a torn scrap of paper. It looked as though the words had been quickly scribbled on it. She read it once, then twice. A smile immediately broke out across her face. Oh, she owed Daniel for this.
"Marie, could you help me get ready? I'm going out today," Evelyn hummed out as she tore the paper up into small bits and tossed it away.
Morning had officially come as the house had started to buzz with life. Her mother still hadn't made an appearance yet. Nor had her suitor. Both of which were perfectly fine for Evelyn. Marie had made her presentable for the day. Her hair had been twisted up into a bun with a few strands of hair left down to frame her face. There were even a few fresh flowers tucked along the ribbon. She might as well make some use of the flowers that kept being sent in, right? Her dress was rather simple today. A mix of whites and powder blues. The sleeves were short, and the top, while more fitted to her chest, flared out right under her bosom. No corset. Nothing over the top. She was dressed as though she would be going out on a stroll than meeting a possible suitor.
Which wasn't too far from it.
"Marie, let my brother know we're going. I want to be gone before Mother has a chance to say differently," Evelyn urged as she headed down the stairs. Marie disappeared to alert Daniel while Evelyn arrived downstairs. The staff was already getting started in their daily tasks, greeting her as they saw her. In return she smiled and did the same, gathering the skirt of her dress in her hands so she could move a bit quicker towards the kitchen.
It wasn't the first or last time that Evelyn had come into the kitchen. They were surprised to see her but welcomed her all the same. "Don't let me get in your way! Has anyone seen AJ this morning? I need his assistance." It wasn't the first time that she had requested him. Daniel would often let AJ keep an eye on her if he wasn't needed currently. It was better for her and Marie to have someone around when Daniel couldn't be there.
The chef shooed one do the maids off to go fetch AJ while Evelyn was led to wait by one of the prep tables so she wasn't in range of anything hot. Not that she minded. She was happy as could be watching them, and maybe it did help that the cook had slid her a few sweets that had already been made. That certainly improved her mood as she bit into the little cake.
Oh how naive and wrong she had been!
The moment replies were received from her there would be a flood back. Offers of courtship and various outings. Her brother, Daniel, had laughed more than he had meant to when he had seen her face at the stack of letters she had received. It had been a brief slip of exhaustion and irritation at how persistent they were! Thankfully he was at least on her side with all of this, casually making little comments as he looked over her shoulder on men she needed to avoid at all costs.
Now if only her mother would listen on that front. No matter how much Daniel had been pushing for some of these men to just be outright denied by their father, their mother wouldn't listen to it. She would rather Evelyn have a few outings with them to see what she thought before just refusing outright.
She was absolutely dreading today. Polite indifference could only go so far through letters and Daniel had told her last night that her mother had invited one of her suitors over for breakfast. It was intended to be sprung on her this morning so she couldn't make some excuse. Evelyn sighed heavily as she stared in the mirror of her vanity, idly toying with the hairbrush. Should she meet this man? She didn't want to but perhaps if she did it would at least create a pause before her mother brought another.
It wouldn't, but she was optimistic.
A knock on the door caught her attention. "Come in," she called out, sitting the hairbrush down in front of her. A young woman only a few years older than her opened the door and slipped in, her blond hair tied up and a smile on her face. Marie. She had been by her side since Evelyn was ten and she was fifteen. Despite the fact she was Evelyn's personal maid, they had a tight bond. Marie was one of her closest friends and confidant within the house.
"You're up early, miss," MArie spoke as she closed the door behind herself. "Master Daniel saw me out and asked me to give this to you." The paper was handed out to her. It was just a torn scrap of paper. It looked as though the words had been quickly scribbled on it. She read it once, then twice. A smile immediately broke out across her face. Oh, she owed Daniel for this.
"Marie, could you help me get ready? I'm going out today," Evelyn hummed out as she tore the paper up into small bits and tossed it away.
Morning had officially come as the house had started to buzz with life. Her mother still hadn't made an appearance yet. Nor had her suitor. Both of which were perfectly fine for Evelyn. Marie had made her presentable for the day. Her hair had been twisted up into a bun with a few strands of hair left down to frame her face. There were even a few fresh flowers tucked along the ribbon. She might as well make some use of the flowers that kept being sent in, right? Her dress was rather simple today. A mix of whites and powder blues. The sleeves were short, and the top, while more fitted to her chest, flared out right under her bosom. No corset. Nothing over the top. She was dressed as though she would be going out on a stroll than meeting a possible suitor.
Which wasn't too far from it.
"Marie, let my brother know we're going. I want to be gone before Mother has a chance to say differently," Evelyn urged as she headed down the stairs. Marie disappeared to alert Daniel while Evelyn arrived downstairs. The staff was already getting started in their daily tasks, greeting her as they saw her. In return she smiled and did the same, gathering the skirt of her dress in her hands so she could move a bit quicker towards the kitchen.
It wasn't the first or last time that Evelyn had come into the kitchen. They were surprised to see her but welcomed her all the same. "Don't let me get in your way! Has anyone seen AJ this morning? I need his assistance." It wasn't the first time that she had requested him. Daniel would often let AJ keep an eye on her if he wasn't needed currently. It was better for her and Marie to have someone around when Daniel couldn't be there.
The chef shooed one do the maids off to go fetch AJ while Evelyn was led to wait by one of the prep tables so she wasn't in range of anything hot. Not that she minded. She was happy as could be watching them, and maybe it did help that the cook had slid her a few sweets that had already been made. That certainly improved her mood as she bit into the little cake.
OP
OP
AJS Roleplaying
Returning veteran
- Joined
- May 24, 2025
- Location
- The Emerald Isle
AJ's mornings followed a rhythm as steady as the ticking of the grandfather clock in the hall: rise early, stretch by the servant's quarters window where the morning light slid in just right, then a brisk wash and a quick change into clean clothes - simple, durable, and just formal enough not to draw comment in the manor's halls. Today he wore a dark green linen shirt with the sleeves rolled just above his forearms, well-fitted brown trousers, and his worn leather boots that never failed him.
He didn't mind the monotony. In fact, he preferred it. The quiet predictability kept things orderly - at least on the outside. He moved through the morning chores efficiently, his body operating on muscle memory. The west stables had been checked earlier than usual, and the old stallion, Rembrandt, needed his leg wrapped again after last week's strain. AJ had taken the time to do it himself rather than call the stable boy. The old beast had a temper but trusted him, and sometimes that made all the difference.
By the time the manor began to stir in earnest, AJ was already coming back from the garden, sleeves dusted with soil, breath steady from hauling water to the greenhouse beds. He returned through the kitchen door - his usual shortcut back into the manor proper - just as the scent of baking bread hit him square in the chest. He paused for a beat. For all the chaos this house could hold, the kitchen was sacred. A world of its own.
"Ah, there's our early riser," called one of the older cooks, not looking up from her kneading. "You already been out to the south beds, haven't you?"
"Couldn't let the cucumbers wilt," AJ said with a soft grin. "They get weepy if I'm late."
"Not the only ones who do," came a knowing voice from behind a stack of flour sacks. "You've got a certain fan or two in this house, lad."
He smirked faintly but didn't reply. That sort of talk never led anywhere worth going. Especially not in a house like this.
He grabbed a fresh apple from the counter and was just about to slip out when the scullery maid scurried in from the hallway, cheeks flushed and eyes wide.
"Mr. AJ, sir—Miss Evelyn is asking for you."
AJ blinked mid-bite. "Now?"
The girl nodded, clearly winded. "Said she needed your assistance. She's waiting near the prep tables."
A request from Evelyn usually came with Daniel's approval - sometimes even a note - but the absence of the latter this time was… curious. Still, AJ didn't question it aloud. He finished the apple in two bites, dropped the core in the waste bin, and made his way deeper into the kitchen. The noise of clattering pans and barked orders softened as he approached the far side of the room. The cooks instinctively shifted aside for him, parting like a practiced tide. He was something of a fixture here - neither servant nor noble, but reliable, which often counted for more. He turned the corner and there she was.
Evelyn sat perched delicately on the edge of a prep table, sunlight catching the powdered blue of her dress and the soft shine in her hair. A few blossoms were tucked into the ribbon woven through it - an effortless sort of beauty, like the brushstroke of a master painter who didn't need to try hard to impress. She was eating something - a small cake, maybe - and smiling faintly, more to herself than to anyone else. The entire kitchen seemed to revolve a little around her presence, without her needing to say a word. It struck him how comfortable she looked here, like a piece of art that didn't quite match the gallery it hung in, yet refused to look out of place. AJ cleared his throat quietly as he stepped forward, careful not to interrupt her moment.
"Miss Evelyn," he said in his even, gravel-warmed voice, dipping his head slightly in greeting. "You asked for me?"
He studied her face - not with the boldness of a man seeking favour, but with the steadiness of someone trying to read intent. She had that glint in her eye. The kind that meant mischief was afoot. Or maybe escape. Both were familiar enough to him by now. He glanced toward the doorway where Marie had disappeared only minutes before, then back at Evelyn. Whatever she had planned, it wasn't in the morning itinerary. And judging by the way she'd dressed - casual but artful, no corset, no fanfare - it wasn't for show. AJ's jaw shifted slightly, thoughtful.
"Am I to assume this is not a usual outing?" he asked, arching a brow with a hint of dry humour. "Or are we simply fleeing breakfast politics again?"
He didn't expect an answer. Not really. But as he waited, the edges of his thoughts began to buzz with possibilities. What exactly did she have planned?
He didn't mind the monotony. In fact, he preferred it. The quiet predictability kept things orderly - at least on the outside. He moved through the morning chores efficiently, his body operating on muscle memory. The west stables had been checked earlier than usual, and the old stallion, Rembrandt, needed his leg wrapped again after last week's strain. AJ had taken the time to do it himself rather than call the stable boy. The old beast had a temper but trusted him, and sometimes that made all the difference.
By the time the manor began to stir in earnest, AJ was already coming back from the garden, sleeves dusted with soil, breath steady from hauling water to the greenhouse beds. He returned through the kitchen door - his usual shortcut back into the manor proper - just as the scent of baking bread hit him square in the chest. He paused for a beat. For all the chaos this house could hold, the kitchen was sacred. A world of its own.
"Ah, there's our early riser," called one of the older cooks, not looking up from her kneading. "You already been out to the south beds, haven't you?"
"Couldn't let the cucumbers wilt," AJ said with a soft grin. "They get weepy if I'm late."
"Not the only ones who do," came a knowing voice from behind a stack of flour sacks. "You've got a certain fan or two in this house, lad."
He smirked faintly but didn't reply. That sort of talk never led anywhere worth going. Especially not in a house like this.
He grabbed a fresh apple from the counter and was just about to slip out when the scullery maid scurried in from the hallway, cheeks flushed and eyes wide.
"Mr. AJ, sir—Miss Evelyn is asking for you."
AJ blinked mid-bite. "Now?"
The girl nodded, clearly winded. "Said she needed your assistance. She's waiting near the prep tables."
A request from Evelyn usually came with Daniel's approval - sometimes even a note - but the absence of the latter this time was… curious. Still, AJ didn't question it aloud. He finished the apple in two bites, dropped the core in the waste bin, and made his way deeper into the kitchen. The noise of clattering pans and barked orders softened as he approached the far side of the room. The cooks instinctively shifted aside for him, parting like a practiced tide. He was something of a fixture here - neither servant nor noble, but reliable, which often counted for more. He turned the corner and there she was.
Evelyn sat perched delicately on the edge of a prep table, sunlight catching the powdered blue of her dress and the soft shine in her hair. A few blossoms were tucked into the ribbon woven through it - an effortless sort of beauty, like the brushstroke of a master painter who didn't need to try hard to impress. She was eating something - a small cake, maybe - and smiling faintly, more to herself than to anyone else. The entire kitchen seemed to revolve a little around her presence, without her needing to say a word. It struck him how comfortable she looked here, like a piece of art that didn't quite match the gallery it hung in, yet refused to look out of place. AJ cleared his throat quietly as he stepped forward, careful not to interrupt her moment.
"Miss Evelyn," he said in his even, gravel-warmed voice, dipping his head slightly in greeting. "You asked for me?"
He studied her face - not with the boldness of a man seeking favour, but with the steadiness of someone trying to read intent. She had that glint in her eye. The kind that meant mischief was afoot. Or maybe escape. Both were familiar enough to him by now. He glanced toward the doorway where Marie had disappeared only minutes before, then back at Evelyn. Whatever she had planned, it wasn't in the morning itinerary. And judging by the way she'd dressed - casual but artful, no corset, no fanfare - it wasn't for show. AJ's jaw shifted slightly, thoughtful.
"Am I to assume this is not a usual outing?" he asked, arching a brow with a hint of dry humour. "Or are we simply fleeing breakfast politics again?"
He didn't expect an answer. Not really. But as he waited, the edges of his thoughts began to buzz with possibilities. What exactly did she have planned?
Yraelin
ヾ(๑❛ ▿ ◠๑ )
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2020
Evelyn visited the kitchen far more than most women in her position had in their lifetime. Even when she was little she would find her way wandering in there when her nanny looked away for just a moment. She just liked watched them prepare the food. It was almost like watching a dance being performed. They always moved so flawlessly, moving past one another. That and the cooks often gave her little treats without others knowing. Like now, even if she was old enough that they didn't have to give her one, they still. It was amazing how such a small thing could bring her such joy.
Soft little hums left her lips as she bit into the little cake. She took her time, not wanting to rush it. No matter how many times she went out and bought sweets elsewhere, the cooks here just did it better. Or perhaps she was biased? Or perhaps she just had the best cooks around. Mmm, yes, that was it. They were simply the best and no one could say otherwise. Not when she put her mind to something anyway.
Just as AJ cleared his throat, Evelyn pushed the last little piece into her mouth. "Mm!" came the excited hum as she covered her mouth, chewing it and swallowing it down. "AJ!" she managed seconds later, pushing off from the table and turning towards him, her dress flaring slightly as she did a little half spin. She dusted her hands off in front of herself, getting any sugar that might had been on it off. "I hope I didn't pull you away from anything too important." There was a sheepish smile that tugged at her lips as he stared her down. Oh, she knew very well that AJ could tell that she was up to something. It wasn't often that she personally asked for him. Normally her brother was the other to direct it. Not that Daniel minded doing it. He was aware they had become good friends over the years, and he felt like he could trust Daniel to look over her just like he would if he was out with her.
Of course Daniel had no idea about AJ's feelings towards her. If he did, he would have probably been a bit more hesitant about the whole thing.
"Is it that obvious? I thought I was being rather sneaky this morning," Evelyn sighed out, crossing her arms so one of her elbows rested in her upturned palm. A pointer finger idly tapped at her own cheek thoughtfully. "Maybe I'll send Marie next time and just hide outside instead..." she murmured to herself, trying to think of a better plan for the next time this happened. Because she knew it would. "Breakfast politics aren't even the worst of it today!" Her arms uncrossed and she stepped forward towards him, looking around him to see if anyone was paying any mind. Not that they were. This was normal behavior for her, and they generally all supported her in her endeavors of getting out of horrible meetings.
Evelyn leaned in closer, her voice softening so only he could really hear it over the clattering of pans and talking going on behind them. "It would be one thing if she was trying to make me have breakfast with someone for connections. She's not only making me have breakfast with a suitor, but wants me to go on an outing with him as well!" There was such a frustrated sigh that left her lips. "Not only that but Daniel is fully against me even meeting this man... though he really wouldn't tell me why. He even spoke to Mother about it. She's adamant that I still give it a try. Something about me possibly enjoying his company." Yeah, that wasn't happening in the slightest. "So my dear brother sent me a message this morning through Marie. He said he doesn't really need your assistance today and has approved of you escorting me out!"
That was the gist of it anyway.
"Though he did say I had to ask you since he was leaving it up to me if I met my suitor or not." Evelyn reached out, both hands grasping one of AJ's own, her eyes bright and pleading as she looked up at him. "So will you escort me today? Please? We can go into town, or just go out to the stalls with the horses. Just anything to get me away from the house until he's gone! ...Surely he won't stick around for that long, right?" She sounded hopeful, if not just a bit uncertain. They really had been ramping up since her debut. The last one, according to Daniel, had waited around three or so hours just for her brother to finally had to escort him out. Oh her mother had been furious with her that day.
Soft little hums left her lips as she bit into the little cake. She took her time, not wanting to rush it. No matter how many times she went out and bought sweets elsewhere, the cooks here just did it better. Or perhaps she was biased? Or perhaps she just had the best cooks around. Mmm, yes, that was it. They were simply the best and no one could say otherwise. Not when she put her mind to something anyway.
Just as AJ cleared his throat, Evelyn pushed the last little piece into her mouth. "Mm!" came the excited hum as she covered her mouth, chewing it and swallowing it down. "AJ!" she managed seconds later, pushing off from the table and turning towards him, her dress flaring slightly as she did a little half spin. She dusted her hands off in front of herself, getting any sugar that might had been on it off. "I hope I didn't pull you away from anything too important." There was a sheepish smile that tugged at her lips as he stared her down. Oh, she knew very well that AJ could tell that she was up to something. It wasn't often that she personally asked for him. Normally her brother was the other to direct it. Not that Daniel minded doing it. He was aware they had become good friends over the years, and he felt like he could trust Daniel to look over her just like he would if he was out with her.
Of course Daniel had no idea about AJ's feelings towards her. If he did, he would have probably been a bit more hesitant about the whole thing.
"Is it that obvious? I thought I was being rather sneaky this morning," Evelyn sighed out, crossing her arms so one of her elbows rested in her upturned palm. A pointer finger idly tapped at her own cheek thoughtfully. "Maybe I'll send Marie next time and just hide outside instead..." she murmured to herself, trying to think of a better plan for the next time this happened. Because she knew it would. "Breakfast politics aren't even the worst of it today!" Her arms uncrossed and she stepped forward towards him, looking around him to see if anyone was paying any mind. Not that they were. This was normal behavior for her, and they generally all supported her in her endeavors of getting out of horrible meetings.
Evelyn leaned in closer, her voice softening so only he could really hear it over the clattering of pans and talking going on behind them. "It would be one thing if she was trying to make me have breakfast with someone for connections. She's not only making me have breakfast with a suitor, but wants me to go on an outing with him as well!" There was such a frustrated sigh that left her lips. "Not only that but Daniel is fully against me even meeting this man... though he really wouldn't tell me why. He even spoke to Mother about it. She's adamant that I still give it a try. Something about me possibly enjoying his company." Yeah, that wasn't happening in the slightest. "So my dear brother sent me a message this morning through Marie. He said he doesn't really need your assistance today and has approved of you escorting me out!"
That was the gist of it anyway.
"Though he did say I had to ask you since he was leaving it up to me if I met my suitor or not." Evelyn reached out, both hands grasping one of AJ's own, her eyes bright and pleading as she looked up at him. "So will you escort me today? Please? We can go into town, or just go out to the stalls with the horses. Just anything to get me away from the house until he's gone! ...Surely he won't stick around for that long, right?" She sounded hopeful, if not just a bit uncertain. They really had been ramping up since her debut. The last one, according to Daniel, had waited around three or so hours just for her brother to finally had to escort him out. Oh her mother had been furious with her that day.
OP
OP
AJS Roleplaying
Returning veteran
- Joined
- May 24, 2025
- Location
- The Emerald Isle
"I hope I didn't pull you away from anything too important."
He allowed himself the smallest of smiles - just enough to be polite. "Just a delivery, miss. Nothing pressing."
But something was pressing, wasn't it? He listened as she spoke - light, cheerful, conspiratorial, the way she always was when slipping from her responsibilities. She had a habit of making even disobedience seem charming. She leaned closer and he instinctively tilted forward to catch her lowered voice, careful not to let his eyes linger too long on the way her chestnut curls danced near her cheeks or how her lips curled in amusement and frustration in the same breath.
When she spoke of her mother's arrangements - of another suitor - AJ's jaw tightened. He didn't mean it to. It was only a flicker of tension, a small shift in the set of his mouth, but enough that he had to glance away toward the hearth. He busied himself watching a pot bubble over, as if that simple motion could anchor his thoughts.
And then she grasped his hand. His composure faltered. Her touch was soft, familiar, and far too dangerous.
He looked down at their joined hands, at the delicate fingers curled around his rough ones, and then up - into those honey-coloured eyes he'd memorized over years. He should say no. He needed to say no. Every moment he spent with her drew the line between them thinner and harder to keep. But she was looking at him like that - with hope, with trust - and he could no more deny her than deny the air he breathed.
"You know I'll go where you ask," he said at last, his voice low, gentle. "Though I fear Lord Daniel's faith in me will be tested one day."
He meant it as a jest, but there was weight behind the words. Because Daniel trusted him. The family trusted him. And Evelyn? She confided in him like he was something more than a man in livery. Sometimes, he let himself believe he was.
He glanced behind her, ensuring no one was paying too close attention, and then leaned in just slightly. "Town, horses, the hills beyond - wherever you like, miss. I'll see you well away from breakfast politics."
There was a flicker of something unspoken in his gaze. He didn't voice it. Couldn't. Not yet. But as she smiled and squeezed his hand in thanks, his heart ached with the knowledge that one day soon, a suitor might take her hand instead. And AJ would no longer be the man she asked to escape with. He would have to leave before that day came. But not today.
He allowed himself the smallest of smiles - just enough to be polite. "Just a delivery, miss. Nothing pressing."
But something was pressing, wasn't it? He listened as she spoke - light, cheerful, conspiratorial, the way she always was when slipping from her responsibilities. She had a habit of making even disobedience seem charming. She leaned closer and he instinctively tilted forward to catch her lowered voice, careful not to let his eyes linger too long on the way her chestnut curls danced near her cheeks or how her lips curled in amusement and frustration in the same breath.
When she spoke of her mother's arrangements - of another suitor - AJ's jaw tightened. He didn't mean it to. It was only a flicker of tension, a small shift in the set of his mouth, but enough that he had to glance away toward the hearth. He busied himself watching a pot bubble over, as if that simple motion could anchor his thoughts.
And then she grasped his hand. His composure faltered. Her touch was soft, familiar, and far too dangerous.
He looked down at their joined hands, at the delicate fingers curled around his rough ones, and then up - into those honey-coloured eyes he'd memorized over years. He should say no. He needed to say no. Every moment he spent with her drew the line between them thinner and harder to keep. But she was looking at him like that - with hope, with trust - and he could no more deny her than deny the air he breathed.
"You know I'll go where you ask," he said at last, his voice low, gentle. "Though I fear Lord Daniel's faith in me will be tested one day."
He meant it as a jest, but there was weight behind the words. Because Daniel trusted him. The family trusted him. And Evelyn? She confided in him like he was something more than a man in livery. Sometimes, he let himself believe he was.
He glanced behind her, ensuring no one was paying too close attention, and then leaned in just slightly. "Town, horses, the hills beyond - wherever you like, miss. I'll see you well away from breakfast politics."
There was a flicker of something unspoken in his gaze. He didn't voice it. Couldn't. Not yet. But as she smiled and squeezed his hand in thanks, his heart ached with the knowledge that one day soon, a suitor might take her hand instead. And AJ would no longer be the man she asked to escape with. He would have to leave before that day came. But not today.
Yraelin
ヾ(๑❛ ▿ ◠๑ )
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2020
Evelyn's eyes brightened; a look complete and utter joy spreading across her face as AJ agreed to go with her. One of those rare smiles that only her brother and AJ seemed to be able to pull out of her crossed her lips. The one where her eyes would crinkle slightly and she would just radiate happiness.
"Thank you." It was such a genuine expression of gratitude as she squeezed his hand once more, her thumbs rubbing over his knuckles. She lingered for a moment too long before pulling her hands away.
"And don't be silly, AJ. You always keep me safe, why would his faith in you be tested?" It was such an innocent response as she cocked her head, those strands bouncing here and there. "You've never let me get hurt on an outing before." Yes, she did believe that he was merely speaking about keeping her safe and away from the suitors. AJ had always did a wonderful job when escorting her about, and keeping people she would rather not interact with away from her.
It had nothing to do with the fact that she held no feelings for him. She had always lingered a bit too much around him before her debut. Her mother had never liked her running around with the help, but she never cared. AJ was someone she trusted wholeheartedly. He never asked anything of her. He never looked at her for her title or what could be gained. He just saw her and at least seemed to enjoy being around her.
Really, that was all she wanted.
In return she looked to him as though he was the most amazing person for just the simplest of tasks. She knew very well how hard he worked for them. She also knew that one day she wouldn't be able to see him again... or really any of the people here within the manor. Not once she was wed off to whatever man gained her family's approval. The thought of it made her sick to her stomach, so she eagerly grasped at any time she could get with the people she cared about.
"Let's see...." Evelyn looked thoughtful as she pondered what would be best for them today. Perhaps if she was somewhat productive her mother wouldn't be completely upset with her. "Could we go into town? I did need to go to grab a few things before this weekend."
A brief pause, and a soft little 'ah' left her lips quickly.
"But you mentioned a delivery-- we could complete that beforehand if needed. I wouldn't want to get in the way of any of your work and have Daniel or anyone scold you." Not that she would let that happen. But yes, she did say 'we'. Not him just running off to wherever he needed to go. No, no. Evelyn was completely intending to just go along wherever he went, work related or not.
"Thank you." It was such a genuine expression of gratitude as she squeezed his hand once more, her thumbs rubbing over his knuckles. She lingered for a moment too long before pulling her hands away.
"And don't be silly, AJ. You always keep me safe, why would his faith in you be tested?" It was such an innocent response as she cocked her head, those strands bouncing here and there. "You've never let me get hurt on an outing before." Yes, she did believe that he was merely speaking about keeping her safe and away from the suitors. AJ had always did a wonderful job when escorting her about, and keeping people she would rather not interact with away from her.
It had nothing to do with the fact that she held no feelings for him. She had always lingered a bit too much around him before her debut. Her mother had never liked her running around with the help, but she never cared. AJ was someone she trusted wholeheartedly. He never asked anything of her. He never looked at her for her title or what could be gained. He just saw her and at least seemed to enjoy being around her.
Really, that was all she wanted.
In return she looked to him as though he was the most amazing person for just the simplest of tasks. She knew very well how hard he worked for them. She also knew that one day she wouldn't be able to see him again... or really any of the people here within the manor. Not once she was wed off to whatever man gained her family's approval. The thought of it made her sick to her stomach, so she eagerly grasped at any time she could get with the people she cared about.
"Let's see...." Evelyn looked thoughtful as she pondered what would be best for them today. Perhaps if she was somewhat productive her mother wouldn't be completely upset with her. "Could we go into town? I did need to go to grab a few things before this weekend."
A brief pause, and a soft little 'ah' left her lips quickly.
"But you mentioned a delivery-- we could complete that beforehand if needed. I wouldn't want to get in the way of any of your work and have Daniel or anyone scold you." Not that she would let that happen. But yes, she did say 'we'. Not him just running off to wherever he needed to go. No, no. Evelyn was completely intending to just go along wherever he went, work related or not.
OP
OP
AJS Roleplaying
Returning veteran
- Joined
- May 24, 2025
- Location
- The Emerald Isle
AJ wasn't sure what made his heart twist more - the smile she gave him or the way her hands lingered over his own. It was that rare smile, the one that slipped past the careful mask she wore in front of her mother and the world. It was real. Unrestrained. It shone in her eyes and made him feel, just for a moment, like he was more than a man in uniform.
"Thank you," she whispered, and he felt it down to the bones of his fingers where her thumbs brushed his knuckles. He didn't answer her praise aloud. How could he? If he opened his mouth, he feared something truer might slip out - something that would ruin everything. So instead, he bowed his head slightly, allowing the ghost of a smile to touch the corner of his lips. Then, gently, he stepped back to regain some space, some clarity.
When she mentioned the delivery he'd referenced earlier, he shook his head with a slight smile. "It's nothing urgent. Mr. Rhodes will manage it himself. He only sent me because I happened to be nearby. You won't get me scolded, Miss Evelyn. Not today."
But when she said we, his heart faltered again. She always included him in things as though they were equals. As though he hadn't been born to a world of ledger books and disgrace, scraping coin from coin to survive after the collapse of everything his family had once been. Her father, of course, knew the details. Hired him anyway. Took pity, perhaps. Or saw a use in a boy who once studied Latin and arithmetic under private tutors but now folded shirts and polished boots. Evelyn had never once treated him as less. And that was both his greatest gift… and his torment.
"I'll ready the carriage," he said quietly, already moving with practiced ease, posture straightening as he slipped back into the role that life had handed him. He left her standing in the warm bustle of the kitchen and made his way through the manor halls with calm, efficient steps, though inside his thoughts raced. He was painfully aware of the weight her words had carried—not just the kindness in them, but the innocence. You've never let me get hurt on an outing before. She had no idea. No idea how every suitor, every passing week, was another cut to something he couldn't even name aloud.
Once outside, AJ gave quiet instruction to the stable hands and set the horses in place himself, polishing the brass on the harnesses with a cloth even though they already gleamed. It was habit, it was control. He needed something to do with his hands. By the time Evelyn appeared, cloaked and ready, he was composed again. Always composed. He helped her up into the carriage with a steady hand before taking his seat opposite her inside.
The ride into town passed through sun-dappled lanes and quiet meadows, the silence between them never uncomfortable. She spoke now and then - commenting on the early blooms along the roadside, the scent of the rain-washed earth. He answered when needed, his words careful but not cold. She spoke of errands, of needing a few items before the weekend, and he nodded.
"We'll stop at the dressmaker's first," he said, glancing out the window to ensure they'd beat the midday rush. "Then if you'd like, we can walk the market street. It'll be quieter today." When they finally arrived in town, AJ stepped down first and offered her his hand. "Watch the step, miss." He helped her down with a gentleness that belied the strength in his arms, and as her hand slipped from his again, he allowed himself one small look - just one. She was radiant in the morning light, cheeks touched with the slightest bloom from the cool air.
They walked through the square together, her just slightly ahead, speaking cheerfully to merchants and stopping to admire little trinkets. He trailed close behind, always present but never intrusive, responding when needed, shielding her from stray glances or too-curious townsfolk. Always the watchful shadow.
But inside his thoughts turned dark. This couldn't go on much longer. The more time they spent together, the harder it became to keep his emotions locked away. He knew the world would never let them be anything more. And he feared if he stayed, he might someday be forced to watch her walk down the aisle to another man - someone born into wealth and title, someone who would never know the way she crinkled her nose when thinking or how she adored the smell of baking bread over imported perfumes.
That night, AJ would lie awake, the soft sound of her laughter still in his ears. And he would decide.
"Thank you," she whispered, and he felt it down to the bones of his fingers where her thumbs brushed his knuckles. He didn't answer her praise aloud. How could he? If he opened his mouth, he feared something truer might slip out - something that would ruin everything. So instead, he bowed his head slightly, allowing the ghost of a smile to touch the corner of his lips. Then, gently, he stepped back to regain some space, some clarity.
When she mentioned the delivery he'd referenced earlier, he shook his head with a slight smile. "It's nothing urgent. Mr. Rhodes will manage it himself. He only sent me because I happened to be nearby. You won't get me scolded, Miss Evelyn. Not today."
But when she said we, his heart faltered again. She always included him in things as though they were equals. As though he hadn't been born to a world of ledger books and disgrace, scraping coin from coin to survive after the collapse of everything his family had once been. Her father, of course, knew the details. Hired him anyway. Took pity, perhaps. Or saw a use in a boy who once studied Latin and arithmetic under private tutors but now folded shirts and polished boots. Evelyn had never once treated him as less. And that was both his greatest gift… and his torment.
"I'll ready the carriage," he said quietly, already moving with practiced ease, posture straightening as he slipped back into the role that life had handed him. He left her standing in the warm bustle of the kitchen and made his way through the manor halls with calm, efficient steps, though inside his thoughts raced. He was painfully aware of the weight her words had carried—not just the kindness in them, but the innocence. You've never let me get hurt on an outing before. She had no idea. No idea how every suitor, every passing week, was another cut to something he couldn't even name aloud.
Once outside, AJ gave quiet instruction to the stable hands and set the horses in place himself, polishing the brass on the harnesses with a cloth even though they already gleamed. It was habit, it was control. He needed something to do with his hands. By the time Evelyn appeared, cloaked and ready, he was composed again. Always composed. He helped her up into the carriage with a steady hand before taking his seat opposite her inside.
The ride into town passed through sun-dappled lanes and quiet meadows, the silence between them never uncomfortable. She spoke now and then - commenting on the early blooms along the roadside, the scent of the rain-washed earth. He answered when needed, his words careful but not cold. She spoke of errands, of needing a few items before the weekend, and he nodded.
"We'll stop at the dressmaker's first," he said, glancing out the window to ensure they'd beat the midday rush. "Then if you'd like, we can walk the market street. It'll be quieter today." When they finally arrived in town, AJ stepped down first and offered her his hand. "Watch the step, miss." He helped her down with a gentleness that belied the strength in his arms, and as her hand slipped from his again, he allowed himself one small look - just one. She was radiant in the morning light, cheeks touched with the slightest bloom from the cool air.
They walked through the square together, her just slightly ahead, speaking cheerfully to merchants and stopping to admire little trinkets. He trailed close behind, always present but never intrusive, responding when needed, shielding her from stray glances or too-curious townsfolk. Always the watchful shadow.
But inside his thoughts turned dark. This couldn't go on much longer. The more time they spent together, the harder it became to keep his emotions locked away. He knew the world would never let them be anything more. And he feared if he stayed, he might someday be forced to watch her walk down the aisle to another man - someone born into wealth and title, someone who would never know the way she crinkled her nose when thinking or how she adored the smell of baking bread over imported perfumes.
That night, AJ would lie awake, the soft sound of her laughter still in his ears. And he would decide.