“Thank you.” Percy gave her a relieved smile as she let the topic of work drop. Of course with the promotion had come an increased pressure from Cat and Lissy to get married, but he had deftly (or not so deftly, depending on his own presence here) maneuvered around it. There was time enough to find a wife. Perhaps one day. He refused to just settled down because he was expected too. He wanted to have real feelings for the girl. Not just a good match as the family expected.

Percy could understand the sentiment precisely. He’d chafed the week he’d been stuck home with his injuries. He could only imagine how much worse it would have been if he had been stuck at home knowing he could have worked but unable to get to work. “As much as I like reading, that hardly seems like a month I’d want to repeat.” Percy gave her a small sympathetic smile. “Did you read anything especially good?”

Percy hadn’t known she was musically inclined, his face showed surprise. “Oh? For the piano?” That was quite an impressive feat. “I didn’t know you played.” He added lamely a sheepish smile on his lips. He suspected there was a lot about Miss Beauregard that he did not know. “I’d love to hear it some time.” He added sincerely, hoping to smooth away some of his own awkwardness.

  

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Pretties from Lady <3

Under any other life circumstances, Elsie would have gladly spent an entire month reading. What more could a librarian want in life? However when there was something she desperately wanted to avoid in her own head, she needed the constant distraction of people and her work to keep her sane. It had been a long, long month indeed. "Nothing noteworthy I don't suppose. I was able to make  decent dent in the pile I'd been meaning to read for a while however." Elsie's list of books to read was long and constantly replenished, so that at least, felt like an accomplishment.

"I don't mention it often," The piano was something else she enjoyed doing by herself, for herself. Playing was soothing, it was cathartic, something to do to ease the body and mind at the same time. Music was magical that way. "But I do enjoy it." As for playing for others well, that wasn't always her favorite, though her mother did enjoy trying to show her off whenever they were entertaining. "Certainly, if the occasion ever arises." That would be a different story, though Elsie hadn't the faintest idea as to when or how that would happen.

Musing that over, Elsie almost let an awkward silence grow, catching herself just in time. "It's probably nothing very good, but composing is a wonderful challenge." She added after a moment.

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MJ always makes her so pretty

“Ah, the notorious pile of books.” Percy chuckled as he nodded knowingly. He also had one of those. He believed every avid reader did. Since meeting Miss Beauregard his own pile had only grown with the suggestions she had provided him.

He wasn’t quite sure why Miss Beauregard’s musical aptitude surprised him, but he found himself looking at her in a slightly different light. Intrigued by what else she might be inclined toward. “Well, I shall look forward to such an opportunity then.” He assured her with a genuine smile.

She was quiet for a few moments and Percy found himself easing into the moment between them. Rather unbothered by any sense of embarrassment that might come from such a silence. “I once heard that you are your own harshest critic. I’m sure that if it is a worthwhile challenge then it is likely a very good composition.”

  

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Pretties from Lady <3

Though Elsie didn't notice if Mr. Adlard was put out by the silence, he certainly didn't let on one way or another, leaving her to hope for the best. He had always been perfectly agreeable in all of their meetings, so she shouldn't doubt him, she supposed. She hadn't the faintest idea when he would hear her play either, but then again, they did manage to run into one another often.

Just about to remark on that, she cast a cursory glance around the room and locked eyes on her mother, who in turn, noticed she was not standing alone and Elsie could just tell she was about to excuse herself and make her way toward her daughter.

Nobody wanted to deal with that right about now and so Elsie had to make a hasty, hopefully semi-polite escape herself.

"If only there was a piano in the library, though I doubt any of the other patrons would be quite so amenable." She jested lightly. "It seems however, that it's time for me to execute my escape plan- my mother is headed this way and I doubt either one of us wants to deal with that at the moment." Hopefully, without Elsie around, Stella would also move past Mr. Adlard without accosting him in her wake. "It was lovely to see you again, I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening." And with that Elsie, with long-perfected skill, melted into the crowd with one last smile over her shoulder to hide on the outskirts of the soiree once again.

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MJ always makes her so pretty