Freya had thought to cancel this afternoon meeting more than once for a great list of reasons. The foremost of them being the eventual wrath of her husband. She'd hosted others before and regularly had friends over for tea throughout the Season, but she was (purposely) never left alone with a man. Daniel's greatest insecurity was her abandoning him — a fear she still didn't quite understand as the thought had never occurred to her. If he knew she had invited another man over...well, the end result wouldn't be pretty.
Which was why she'd gone to great lengths to ensure he wouldn't. She had carefully listened to his schedule, noting immediately which afternoon would be best. The loyal staff were all instructed to keep their gossip to themselves, as those who weren't loyal would be promptly dismissed. Freya doubted any would speak of it anyway. She had always been generous with their salaries and had little complaints against them. The only questionable variable in their lives was Daniel, and even they knew of his temperament and when to best avoid him.
Today would be fine.
The cook had prepared a neatly arranged tray of biscuits for the boy (and adults) with a tray of tea ready to be made promptly upon arrival. Freya had spent the majority of the past few days hard at work in the garden, wanting to present only the best of her work. The roses were still subpar — a sad result of her extended absence — but everything else was growing in wonderfully. Hopefully, it would delight Lysander at least. Mr. Echelon-Arnost had gone to Hogwarts, too, and as such had the castle's gardens as a comparison. Freya felt her insecurities rise at the thought. Try as she might, her garden would never resemble the majestic nature of Hogwarts.
She followed the butler back in from outside and smiled warmly at her friend. (Acquaintance? Freya still wasn't sure what they were to one another.) "Hello, Mr. Echelon-Arnost." Freya greeted warmly and quirked hello as though she were to peek around his tall form. "Hello Lysander. Did you both have a pleasant trip into London?"
Which was why she'd gone to great lengths to ensure he wouldn't. She had carefully listened to his schedule, noting immediately which afternoon would be best. The loyal staff were all instructed to keep their gossip to themselves, as those who weren't loyal would be promptly dismissed. Freya doubted any would speak of it anyway. She had always been generous with their salaries and had little complaints against them. The only questionable variable in their lives was Daniel, and even they knew of his temperament and when to best avoid him.
Today would be fine.
The cook had prepared a neatly arranged tray of biscuits for the boy (and adults) with a tray of tea ready to be made promptly upon arrival. Freya had spent the majority of the past few days hard at work in the garden, wanting to present only the best of her work. The roses were still subpar — a sad result of her extended absence — but everything else was growing in wonderfully. Hopefully, it would delight Lysander at least. Mr. Echelon-Arnost had gone to Hogwarts, too, and as such had the castle's gardens as a comparison. Freya felt her insecurities rise at the thought. Try as she might, her garden would never resemble the majestic nature of Hogwarts.
She followed the butler back in from outside and smiled warmly at her friend. (Acquaintance? Freya still wasn't sure what they were to one another.) "Hello, Mr. Echelon-Arnost." Freya greeted warmly and quirked hello as though she were to peek around his tall form. "Hello Lysander. Did you both have a pleasant trip into London?"