Their reactions were hilarious, truly as he saw Fran's wide eyed stare not unlike the deer he used to hunt back and Manon's grace, two very different reactions that made him continue his laugh a few moments more. As he allowed his eyes to drift over both women he pushed himself off the railing, smoothing down his pants as if he'd dare allow them to be wrinkled in front of them.
He wasn't going to guess what their worries were exactly, it was bad enough to catch them as they had been let alone in front of one of their husband's to be, so he'd allow his general amusement to carry him through his own thoughts. Just what were they playing at? Besides of course, the obvious, because he had two eyes in his head and could see all of that and yet there was something else, just by the way they acted around one another.
Byron stayed grinning to hide any sort of issue, any sort of annoyance at them as he approached Manon who had approached him in turn, moving to take one of her hands in his and place a kiss on her palm. Fran hadn't gotten that when she arrived, but then again she'd taken to avoiding him for days and he'd hardly been able to get two words said to her before the present. "As always, Princess, a pleasure and an honor," his grin continued as he lifted their joined hands up for another kiss to Manon's knuckles before turning his eyes to Fran, almost as if a challenge.
"It's been a few years, but you've grown into a beautiful young woman," he meant every word of it as well as he moved as if to place himself between the two, only stopping to take the offered bottle from Fran as he gave the other Princess a wink. It was a game, perhaps a bit too daring of him but the alcohol was flowing and he was allowed some fun at Fran's expense.
"And I do apologize for the bore, as while Antiva sends me her finest as a homecoming gift for you, you've yet to show me some of that Antivan fire that's so famed. Perhaps the party below would be more entertaining for us all if we'd broken bread in the last week," which was the only comment he thought to make about her lack of appearance at meals, or anywhere truly. That still stung, for he hadn't thought himself such a beast as to make her avoid him and yet it didn't stop him from, hesitantly in his mind but boldly in action, move to hook an arm around Fran as if to gather her to him like one would their wife to be. "So I am always willing for a show, though for who, maybe that should be discussed."
He wasn't going to guess what their worries were exactly, it was bad enough to catch them as they had been let alone in front of one of their husband's to be, so he'd allow his general amusement to carry him through his own thoughts. Just what were they playing at? Besides of course, the obvious, because he had two eyes in his head and could see all of that and yet there was something else, just by the way they acted around one another.
Byron stayed grinning to hide any sort of issue, any sort of annoyance at them as he approached Manon who had approached him in turn, moving to take one of her hands in his and place a kiss on her palm. Fran hadn't gotten that when she arrived, but then again she'd taken to avoiding him for days and he'd hardly been able to get two words said to her before the present. "As always, Princess, a pleasure and an honor," his grin continued as he lifted their joined hands up for another kiss to Manon's knuckles before turning his eyes to Fran, almost as if a challenge.
"It's been a few years, but you've grown into a beautiful young woman," he meant every word of it as well as he moved as if to place himself between the two, only stopping to take the offered bottle from Fran as he gave the other Princess a wink. It was a game, perhaps a bit too daring of him but the alcohol was flowing and he was allowed some fun at Fran's expense.
"And I do apologize for the bore, as while Antiva sends me her finest as a homecoming gift for you, you've yet to show me some of that Antivan fire that's so famed. Perhaps the party below would be more entertaining for us all if we'd broken bread in the last week," which was the only comment he thought to make about her lack of appearance at meals, or anywhere truly. That still stung, for he hadn't thought himself such a beast as to make her avoid him and yet it didn't stop him from, hesitantly in his mind but boldly in action, move to hook an arm around Fran as if to gather her to him like one would their wife to be. "So I am always willing for a show, though for who, maybe that should be discussed."
07-14-2022, 09:15 PM
