Full Speed Ahead

[Elsbeth Lupin]

Leo's first birthday was only a few months away. Whilst Elsbeth looked forward to the landmark that meant that her offspring had survived his first year without death or maiming, it also marked the day that she counted from regarding her seduction of her husband - or failure of, rather, as it was proving to be.

She'd been subtle here and a bit more obvious there, but despite all of her attempts, she could not convince him of it. It was confusing, frustrating and arousing all at once. She would have simply gone off and found someone to have an affair with, only she was afraid that if she happened to conceive around then, that he would dismiss her entirely for lack of a child that truly possessed his bloodline.

Now that her nephew Will's fiancé was staying with them, she couldn't bare it any longer. To think that such a woman lived under her roof, and perhaps even pined after by Leon was too much to handle. Several cups of liquid bravery downed (she'd graduated to wine recently, as a classy lady did not drink firewhiskey) and clad in her nightgown, she crossed the hall and forced her way into his bedchamber - purposely ignoring that etiquette required a knock or announcement of some kind.

@Leon Lupin

  

[Leon Lupin]

For some unknown reason, Leon now had a house guest he wasn't entirely sure about, but couldn't argue with letting her stay there. So far she'd been perfectly lovely and Leon rather enjoyed conversing with her in French while Elsbeth tried to play catch up. Still, he was very much a man of his own home -when he was there- and tended to avoid sharing it if he could.

Then again, the live-in annoyance of his wife was something he was already used to, so who knew how long it would take for the new addition to settle in. So far the only one he didn't mind sharing the house with was Leo and that was probably because he preferred his son's company to his wife's. Leo couldn't talk back yet, other than baby babbles and therefore he rather enjoyed making the tyke laugh.

At the moment though, he'd just gotten back that afternoon from a trip to Aberdeen and after seeing Leo and a quick dinner, he'd retired to his room to do a little catching up on his books for the shop. He sat on his bed, comfortably ready to fall asleep should the urge strike him, as he went over this month's sales. His new manager was quite adept at her book keeping and that was something Leon highly valued.

Content for now he was about to move onto another piece of work for the shipping company when Elsbeth came bursting into the room. Putting down his books, he sighed, "Yes, Dear?"

  

[Elsbeth Lupin]

She hadn't caught him in a state of undress. How disappointing. Apparently, she had not waited not long for him to settle in. Though they did not spend much time together even when he was in town, she had lived with him for over a year. She wasn't oblivious to all of his habits. The one where he preferred to sleep in the nude she had noticed rather early on. It wasn't something that was easily missed.

"Oh," She blinked in surprise as she caught sight of the book - was he doing more entrepreneurial stuff? Did he ever take a break? She supposed he did, just not when he was at home. She suspected that Tessa and her harlots saw him far more than he let on. For once, she felt rather self-conscious standing there in her night gown. Clearly, she had not consumed enough wine.

Elsbeth stood there for a good long moment, not sure whether she ought to just spin back around and leave or if she should buckle down and confront him once and for all. Nervously, she ran her fingers through the end of the mussed up braid that had fallen over her shoulder. No, she would not run. He would simply laugh at her, and she could not bear to have to deal with the humiliation again. Though... she could always blame it on having been far too drunk and claim to have no recollection of it again in the morning...

The floor creaked nearby — a signal that a staff member was nearby. The decision was made for her. She couldn't very well be seen running from her husband's room in only a night gown! In one fluid motion, she pushed the door shut, crossed the room (barefoot, of all things!) and for the first time ever — climbed into bed with her husband. As she tucked the covers about her as if it was the most natural thing in the world, she asked innocently, "What are you reading?"

  

[Leon Lupin]

Once upon a time there had been a time where seeing Elsbeth in her nightgown might have given him ideas, hell he'd basically offered as much at one point, but she hadn't taken the bait. After learning she was probably more promiscuous than he was, things cooled on that front.

He waited her out, standing there with the door half open behind her, as if she were debating her presence here in his room. Leon would have never anticipated her next move though- a lecture about the staff sure; a demand of some sort, absolutely; but he would have never assumed she would crawl into bed next to him. His bed. It was weird. Not once in their marriage (so far) had they ever shared a bed in any capacity, so why was she starting now. Leon didn't share. He liked his space and now there was another body in his space and he wasn't sure why.

"Business, I was reviewing revenue from the shop in Irvingly." He answered truthfully because he had no reason not to. It wasn't exactly exciting, but with his absence from Irvingly lately, he just wanted to make sure everything was matching up. The shipping company was another matter entirely. One of his cousins, Garrett's kids, was trying to get out altogether and Leon was trying to manage the movement of shares. It was a bit messy, dealing with family and money, but he doubted Elsbeth even cared. "Was there something you needed?" He questioned, eyebrow raised, because frankly, he was curious.

  

[Elsbeth Lupin]

After the first few words of his response, she tuned it out. Not that she wasn't interested — well, she really wasn't, but she would have liked to at least attempt to be — but the topic was far too boring for her to even be able to fully concentrate on it. Something about business something something Irvingly. It probably didn't matter much anyway.

His question did not come as a surprise, but it wasn't exactly a get out right now. She planned to take full advantage of his politeness. Instead of addressing the elephant in the room (her) she leaned back against the pillows. Why were his softer than the ones in her own bed? She might just have to steal it.

"No," She smiled innocently. Though she'd nearly lost her gumption and had run away, circumstances had forced her to steam on ahead with the plan. Now that there wasn't a threat to force the reason of her visit out of her, she was quite content simply lying in the bed that she was quite positive was far superior to her own. She'd have to have the mattress switched out when he left again. Maybe the covers too, for good measure.

  

[Leon Lupin]

This time he furrowed his brows. She was less than helpful and getting increasingly more annoying to him the longer she sat there. She didn't just wander in here for no reason and quite frankly while he enjoyed aggravating her, he was too damn tired for witty banter tonight.

"Just felt like gracing me with your presence then? How thoughtful." Leon's words dripped with sarcasm as he side-eyed her. Setting his ledger aside, tucked into his nightstand, Leon stretched his hands above his head, paying little attention to his covers as he moved about. If she had come in here, she should have know better than to think he was dressed for company.

Blowing out a slow sigh, Leon was already growing tired of her presence in his room. Had he invited her, i would have been a different story, though Leon was pretty sure he would also have a reason for her to be there, rather than just a random visit. "Well if there's nothing I can do for you...?" He prompted, hoping she'd either spit it out or get the hell out of his room.

  

[Elsbeth Lupin]

Her mouth twisted at his sarcasm. She couldn't understand why it was that he could resist her hot bod charm. In the past, she'd had no trouble whatsoever getting a man to sleep with her. She would never have expected that the one man in the entire world that didn't want her would be her husband. At first she hadn't been interested in him - at all - but now that the months had passed and she'd gone (mostly) back to her pre-pregnancy shape, she saw no reason for it. In fact, deep down, the most likely reason that she wanted him at all was because he did not want her.

Stubbornly, she remained under the covers, "I am very thoughtful, Leon. Here I am, trying to be a good wife and perform my wifely duties, being thoughtful of your needs and yet you don't even seem the least bit happy to see me. You've been gone for ages. What's wrong with you? If you have the clap, just tell me. There are doctors that can fix that you know."

  

[Leon Lupin]

Leon couldn't help it- he laughed, loud and heartily when Elsbeth finally conceded her reason for being in his room. He turned the words over in his mind and laughed again for a good long moment. Attempting to catch his breath, Leon turned toward his wife with a bemused smirk on his face.

"Aye, I'm gone and I am not alone while I am." Leon was nothing if not resourceful. If he was staying in Aberdeen or Irvingly for that matter and he was in the mood for company of the overnight variety, he knew exactly where to find what he was looking for. Far too amused by the offer to even mind the comment about the clap, Leon sighed, still amused and quirked another eyebrow at Elsbeth wondering if she wouldn't just slap him and be on her way.

  

[Elsbeth Lupin]

Elsbeth scowled. How dare he laugh at her! If this was what she got for trying to get laid be a good wife, well - she... she didn't quite know what she would do but she certainly wouldn't do it again! She ripped the covers off, wrapped her nightgown tightly about herself and leapt out of his bed.

Her face was red and her eyes were wild as she stopped to look at him for a moment. She needed to say something. Anything. Yet, she was just stuck sputtering because what man in his right mind admitted to having women when he was away? He sure as hell wasn't having any in the house, she would see to that!

"You... you... go to hell!" She wrapped the blanket in tight fists and spun about with all her might. Pulling with all of her weight to try to capture it as her own. If it came loose from his weight, she planned to fling his door open and run as fast as she could to her own locked bedroom. He didn't deserve to have such a nice blanket!

  

[Leon Lupin]

With about as much self-control as Leon personally could maintain, he bit his lip to keep from laughing even more. The pure outrage on Elsbeth's face was utterly classic as she scrambled from the bed, attempting to take his duvet with her.

Oh hell no.

Leon leisurely reached for his wand (the magical one, come on now people!) "Oh Darlin', I'm already there." He assured her with a wide smirk. "Leave the blankets Dear, you have your own." He said as he casually pointed his wand at her. He was well aware of just how much she loathed having magic waved in her face or threatened with it.

  

[Elsbeth Lupin]

She could have gone on about how his blankets were far better than her own, and how it was unfair since he hardly spent time in his own bed, and how it was quite clear that the servants favored him because of it and they gave her terrible bedding because they hated her and they had no right to do that --- but his wand was pointed at her, and not the kind that she had been hoping for.

Elsbeth visibly blanched, abruptly releasing her hold. Darkly, she hissed, "I will kill you in your sleep." Even though he would now be expecting it and would most likely see to it that he locked his door against her. Still, uttering the threat made her feel a tad better. Cheeks flaming hot and thoroughly humiliated, she spun back around and marched right out into the hallway and back into her room - slamming the door loudly behind her. It set the baby off crying, but the nursemaid would see to that.

  

[Leon Lupin]

There was a little residual smirk of satisfaction on his lips, despite her halfhearted threat, as Elsbeth dropped the blankets and slammed the door. Leon chuckled to himself until he heard Leo wail. Frowning at the door he had to wonder how the hell he was the better parent in this fucked up situation; the kid wasn't even his. He could hear the nanny soothing the babe however, so he quickly flicked his wrist to lock his door and settled back under his covers. The plan had been to actually stick around for a little bit, but maybe he would head out again sooner than he thought.

Still, he wanted to make sure Miss Romilly was comfortable and that his staff was aware of their new responsibilities concerning their guest before he set off again. Really having her around was not as much of an inconvenience for them as it would be for her, the poor innocent transplant. She'd learn quickly enough, or so he hoped. If not his staff was there to keep an extra eye on things. He paid them well enough after all.

With his book closed and his covers back in order, Leon turned out the light and passed out without a second thought.