#david monte

With the introductions complete,Desmond showed the brothers to the dining hall,where the kitchen help was just finishing putting up the plates.A few servants standing by the sides,moved forward to take out the chairs at the table for the ladies and their guests,pushing them in when the person had sat down.David watched, straightening in his chair,as Audrey ushered back the servant-boy who had stepped up to help Jane into her chair,doing the task herself,and smiling at her little sister before refusing the help of her own helper and taking her seat.

“So,” the lord’s voice brought David back to earth,”tell me of my friend.”

David smiled.

“Father is quite well.He caught a flu last winter,but recovered nicely.He sends his love and best wishes for you all.”

“Ah,I miss him!” Lord Desmond let out a heavy sigh,the wrinkles around his eyes creasing even more.”I haven’t seen him in years.Whereas there was a time when we met multiple times a day.”

He paused as servants placed steaming dishes of food on the table.William took this moment to speak up.

“Father has also sent his apologies for not making this trip,”the blonde man said,”but it is ofcourse difficult for him to leave affairs of the estate or not take part in the district’s matters.”

“However,”he said,turning his gaze towards the second eldest Hughes daughter,watching as she struggled with a pea on her plate,”he said he would try and visit as soon as posible,especially since he has been looking forward to meeting your daughter Audrey for a long time.”

The mention of her name caused Audrey to look up,and she glanced between the men,trying to work out who’d been talking about her.

“And why would that be?” Fiona asked surprised,while Audrey’s neck swivelled in confusion from Fiona to William.This action did not help decrease any animosity that David had gathered against her in the short period of time they’d spent together;he wanted to ‘tsk’ aloud.

“Well,the last time he met her,it was at our mothers’ funeral,and he says he found her quite engaging,” William explained.”He thinks she takes after your father alot.”

Everyone smiled at this,and Audrey ducked her head.

“Well,” she looked up, “I do remember talking to him vaguely,”she offered.

William chuckled.”Well,ofcourse.You must have been…what?Nine or ten years old at the time?” He smiled politley,and Audrey returned the favour.

“So tell me about yourselves,boys,”Desmond said after a few moments silence,neatly slicing a bite of his chicken breast.”What are your interests?”

David wiped his mouth with a napkin,and cleared his throat,before speaking.

“Well,I mostly help Father with his affairs now,and William’s just begun,as he only recently turned twenty-one.”

“Honestly,brother,” William grinned playfully.”He’s asking about our interests,not our boring routines.”

A general round of chuckles went around the table,and David settled his brother with a mild glare.William took this as his cue to take a hold of the conversation by the horns.

“My brother,David,”he began,cutting into his food as he spoke,”is a prime example of a gentleman.He is very good at everything,so it is difficult to comprehend what exactly his interests maybe.”

“Perhaps his interest is in being good at everything,” their host provided,and once more everyone at the table laughed.

“I am sure,that is more than likely,”William replied with twinkling eyes.”But he is awfully gifted with horses,” at this,both brothers noticed Fiona and the twins cast a side-glance at Audrey,who stiffened slightly,”and is the best rider in our town of Cesquire,and most of the neighbouring region.”

William’s voice dripped with pride at his brother’s ability,but David’s face remained impassive as ever.

“As far as I am concerned,my loves are literature and theater,”the bright-faced man replied,an almost unintelligible blush appearing on his cheeks as the topic of his own interests arised.

“I have actually asked Father’s permission to pursue a career in the field of drama,but he is yet considering it.”

He said this with such pain and longing,that all the Hughes girls wanted to place their arms around his neck and say comforting words to him.

Desmond,ofcourse,understood his friend’s hesitation to grant his son’s wish,for it had to be taken into account that the profession did not turn out to be unreputable for a lord’s son.So he nodded encouragingly at William,and smiled at him to go on.

William motioned toward his left with his head,at his younger brother.

“Lawrence here,is growing into quite the gentleman.He’s very well-mannered,and responsible.His greatest ambition in life is to become an engineer,but for now he simply pays attention to his training and his hobby;hoarding as many quotations as possible,in a notebook of his.”

William smiled cheekily at his brother,seeing that he had managed to make him look abashed.Audrey smiled widely at the short-haired boy,Prunella and Ivy conveying through their grins that they would love to take a look at his collection.

“And finally,” William’s expression was now one of affection,”our youngest brood,Christopher,is a rather timid one.Which is why he mostly keeps to his books or to his pets.He’s very loving with all sorts of animals.”

Christopher turned bright pink at his mention,avoiding everyone’s gaze.

“Sounds like he’ll be regal company for our Jane,if they can overcome their shyness,”Desmond chuckled deeply,as both younger children cast small glances in each other’s direction,both blushing furiously.”Our Jane loves caring for plants and animals.A little darling she is with them.”

William nodded,with a smile and turned his gaze to the other four sisters.

“So who’s the bookworm of the family?” he asked entusiastically.

“That’ll be me,” Audrey raised two fingers slightly,while Prunella pretended to be disgusted at the notion,and scrunched her nose.

“Ah,” William laughed at their playfulness.”So we will have no problem getting along?” he asked,digging a spoon in his dessert.Audrey replied with a smirk.

“And Ivy and Prunella I am sure will find Lawrence’s companionship quite enjoyable,he can be quite the sportsman when he wants,” William suggested,noting the hint of pleasure that appeared on the twins’ faces at the mention of his brother’s athletic abilities.

“And what of me?” Fiona pouted attractively,bringing their attention to the obvious fact that she’d been left out.

William pretended to be busy with his food,and replied with an air of playful disregard,”Being the eldest siblings that you are,I’m sure you and David wil be able to find yourselves something grown-up and,um,boring,to talk about,won’t you?”