( his mouth curves to a slight smile and he huffs out a chuckle. ) Zounds. The foundations of Longbourn must quake from their exuberance when they visit.
( he must confess, he feels some envy at the image of a houseful of life. bottreaux castle, where he spent most of his childhood, was very quiet with nary cheer or chatter. it was not always so, but after his mother's death, the light that once shone on his father vanished. gone were the parties and gathering his mother was so fond of and so excelled at. lord stuart preferred solitary lamentation.
this had the unintended consequence of stimulating atticus in his studies as his tutors were the only socialisation he found. the servants at bottreaux castle had children too old or too young for him to play with so he had to seek companionship and diversion elsewhere, which came mostly from his fencing instructor, with two sons around his age, who would come weekly (sometimes twice a week). but, as the purpose of his visit was instructional, there was very little merriment during lessons. it wasn't until atticus attended trinity college that he discovered the joy of camaraderie. his time in the marines reinforced the feeling. now, he revels in it at his discretion and that's his preference. the sun warms but also burns.
fortunately for his cousin, his aunt, lady isolde, has never had trouble making friends, so he needn't develop the countenance to endure isolation like atticus.
his eyes follow a child peeling off from the group to rest on a bench. ) I hope they are having as much fun as they are. ( he gestures with a tilt of his head to the children still dancing. the group isn't as large as it was a few minutes prior, but it is no less lively. )
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( he must confess, he feels some envy at the image of a houseful of life. bottreaux castle, where he spent most of his childhood, was very quiet with nary cheer or chatter. it was not always so, but after his mother's death, the light that once shone on his father vanished. gone were the parties and gathering his mother was so fond of and so excelled at. lord stuart preferred solitary lamentation.
this had the unintended consequence of stimulating atticus in his studies as his tutors were the only socialisation he found. the servants at bottreaux castle had children too old or too young for him to play with so he had to seek companionship and diversion elsewhere, which came mostly from his fencing instructor, with two sons around his age, who would come weekly (sometimes twice a week). but, as the purpose of his visit was instructional, there was very little merriment during lessons. it wasn't until atticus attended trinity college that he discovered the joy of camaraderie. his time in the marines reinforced the feeling. now, he revels in it at his discretion and that's his preference. the sun warms but also burns.
fortunately for his cousin, his aunt, lady isolde, has never had trouble making friends, so he needn't develop the countenance to endure isolation like atticus.
his eyes follow a child peeling off from the group to rest on a bench. ) I hope they are having as much fun as they are. ( he gestures with a tilt of his head to the children still dancing. the group isn't as large as it was a few minutes prior, but it is no less lively. )