Taking Tea (Invite Only)

[Bronwyn93]

Angelina blinked at the laugh, hesitated, also unsure how to take that response. However as she continued to speak she relaxed, and flushed slightly at the comment about thread, her fingers absently coming up to her cheek at the memory. She nodded. "Yes, knowledge and understanding is definitely not a bad thing, you are right."

At the change of subject to the shopping trip, she smiled. "It really was a lovely evening. I found a very splended hair pin that I treated myself to." She agreed. "And the ribbons Meredith purchased truly suited her." She smiled at her friend with a nod.

[Valentina Audley]

Ooooh pink and blue ribbons! Valentina puts certain interesting thoughts that have started to form to one side to concentrate better on the most exciting details of any shopping trip.

"Perhaps a new shawl? Or an Irish lace collar? They are very fashionable right now and sone can have ribbons threaded through them..." She smiles consideringly at Meredith. "Or a new cape, to keep the chill of these spring evenings off?"

She looks to Angelina smilingly. "What sort of hair pin? And do you intend to wear it for any particular occasion?"

[Meredith Llewelyn]

Meredith beams at Valentina clearly relieved that she isn't in further trouble, "I shall leave it up to you Valentina, if anyone can make me appear beautiful that would be you."

[Bronwyn93]

"Oh, the lace collar would definitely suite you" Angelina agreed and nodded. "The pin was only simple, not for anything grand, just a little gift to myself. I have yet to decide where to wear it to. But I am sure I will get good use of it." She smiled happily. "It had a flower design to it, so it seemed apt." She chuckled. "I know it must be seen as cliche, but I do love wearing flowers, especially roses." She explained softly with a small shrug, picking up her fork to break up her cake a little, and pour a little tea, sniffing it with a pleased hum.

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina smiles and relaxes a little from a tension she hadn't realised she was holding within. Her hand caresses the two white roses, which are, as ever these days, tucked into her waistband.

"I think a love of roses is a common affliction of our family and one we all enjoy! Francis favoured white roses..." Her voice falters a little as she spoke the last, but she rallies herself and carries on. "For myself, I think I like the blush pink ones best. What about you both?"

And she smiles softly, lifting her cup and pretending to take a sip. Continuining the tableau of lovely ladies out for a genteel treat.

[Meredith Llewelyn]

Taking the small delicate silver fork Meredith slices up her jam tart, "My favourite colour on roses has to be yellow. I remember our Manor House used to have a garden full of them, and every spring they would flourish with such beauty. My mother never allowed me to touch the roses as she didn't like the dirt being brought inside the house. But to me they were little rays of sunshine."

Pausing Meredith pushes the jam slices around her plate and thinks back to a memory, "When I was first courting Danny, he would ask to meet me outside by those bushes. They had the perfect height and curve so that our meetings could remain in secret. One spring evening, he asked what I most desired in the world and I answered a yellow rose for he knew I couldn't pluck one and take it inside. The next night we met again by the yellow rose bush, he made me close my eyes and when I opened them again, he presented me with the most beautiful object. It was a paper rose made from yellow patterned paper. It was so beautiful and I kept it with me always until I no longer could."

Meredith stops moving her food about and looks out the window for a moment, "Roses signify love but the yellow remembrance. So whenever I see one I remember my Danny, in the same way you will forever remember Francis."

She pauses.

"Yours Angelina? Perhaps the red rose meaning true love?"

[Bronwyn93]

Angelina looked at Valentina with a sympathetic smile at the crack in her tone. "He was truly a credit to our family. I wish I had been able to know him better, but he has protected me a couple of times, and I respected him greatly." Angelina commented softly.

At the question of hers, she hummed. "Well, if some of the members of our court are to be believed, I should claim briar roses, as apparently I am always wearing them around my head..." She said with some amusement, though the smile didn't quite reach her eyes as she toyed with the cake on her plate.

"And truly I think we all suite the peach roses." She commented. "But I think, if I were to choose one, I would choose a thornless tea rose." She smiled. "though, of course that would be purely wishful thinking." She chuckled. "Too much stock in those fairytales."

((OOC:If you want the meanings behind the different roses mentioned highlight below
Briar rose/dog rose: Pain and pleasure
peach rose: Immortality/modesty
Thornless: Love at first sight
Tea rose: I'll remember always ))

[Valentina Audley]

"He never could resist a chance to be a gentleman... Not even when the damsel in question was Miss Clyntahn" She shakes her head in mock despair.

"And do not do down fairytales too much Miss Fontaine. I am led to understand they hold the grains of truth within, much as oysters encase a gain of sand in a pearl." She smiles at Angelina gently.

"Which leads me onto another fanciful question. Tell me, which jewel do you both favour? And then please, one of you ask a question, or better yet, tell me some morsel of gossip or two as we enjoy our cake." And her eyes sparkle with mischievious amusement at the idea of them actually consuming the cake.

"I think I like diamonds best... There's something wonderful in thier sparkle and of course, they go with everything!"

[Meredith Llewelyn]

"And what delicious cakes they are, aren't we lucky to have a place like this on our door step!" Meredith smirks squishing the jam tart on her plate.

"Diamonds, Ruby, Jade, Emerald and of course the sapphire... You know I think I like them all." She laughs. "But they must be of the highest quality and the cut must be precise, that is what makes me really love a jewel. If it doesn't sparkle when I look at it and I cannot see my reflection then it is probably not worth my gaze. Maybe I've been a bit spoilt with my love of gems but then don't we deserve the best."

She looks at the other two her eyes sparkling slightly entranced with the ideas of gems.

"Ooh very well then, if you don't mind Valentina I shall ask you a question." Meredith grins leaning across the table, eagerness and excitement quivering in her body. "Since you held the cup at the Lupercali then you must know who is courting who. Do tell us the most intriguing of the couples? I've been wondering about it these past dates."

[Bronwyn93]

Angelina smiled at the thought of gems, and listened with interest to the other two's choices. All very beautiful stones. She continued to fiddle with her cake as she thought on her answer a moment. "I know mine may be a little off, with all the superstitions around them, though of course if worn properly it should be quite fine... I am very fond of Opals." She smiled.

"They hold so much interest in their past, but also, the fires inside. I love the way the light catches and it makes almost rainbows within the stone." She smiled at the thought. "I would be cautious to own one though of course. It would most likely not shine as I would like it to." She hummed.

Her hand fell still at the mention of the Lupercallia cup, and she glanced between the two women at the table, but didn't comment.