Enchantress And The Guardian

The Modest

Quinn could not help but think about her interaction with Dev among the trees. His abrupt departure confused her. One moment he had been teasing her and the next it was as though his eyes had darkened when she had taken the misstep. She wondered if she had angered him in some way. Quinn was irritated at her own clumsiness.

Quinn found sleep difficult that evening. Her thoughts were plagued by a tall, dark and handsome man that used to be the boy that she had played with not so long ago. Instead, in his place stood a man. Although still boyish in some respects, one could not help but notice the changes that had taken place.

Sleep finally found Quinn and as soon as she had fallen asleep, she found herself being woken by her maid opening the curtains. Quinn groaned and pulled the covers over her head to try and block out the light from the morning sun.

"Did you not sleep well?" Quinn inwardly groaned when she heard her mother's voice from the doorway. Quinn slowly pulled the covers back down to her chin as she looked over at her mother. Her mother, of course, was already ready for the day. Dressed in a beautiful blue dress and her hair wrapped in a coiffer at the nape of her neck.

"I did not," Quinn finally answered as she pushed the covers from her body. She slowly sat up in bed and let her legs hand over the side.

"I did let you sleep a little later than usual. We have an appointment with the modest today. You are in need of ball gowns before the season begins," Cecilia walked over to the foot of the bed and said something to Quinn's maid. The maid quickly took off into Quinn's closest in search of garments to help Quinn dress for the day.

"Ugh, the modest. Mother, won't one of my other gowns suffice?" Quinn despised going to the modest. She was always stuck with pins and any new material was scratchy on her skin. Cecilia ignored her daughter's plea and nodded towards the maid at the gown that she held out.

"I will have breakfast ready for you downstairs. Make haste my dear," with that, Ceclia was gone from the room. Quinn groaned once more and flung herself back down on the mattress. She stared up at the ceiling for a while before her maid cleared her throat.

"I know Anna," Quinn finally said as she sat back up and scooted off the bed until her feet touched the soft carpet that sat under her bed.

Anna had Quinn dressed in record time. Quinn had told her she could slow down at at time, but her comment fell on deaf ears. Quinn walked down the main staircase. Her hand glided along the banister. She could hear talking from the rear of the house. It was in the direction that her father liked to take his morning tea.

Quinn walked towards the back rather than the dining room that held her breakfast. The sight that she was met with had her choking on air that needed to travel to her lungs in order to breath. Dev was in a white tunic that was soaked with perspiration. It left little to be imaged of the muscles that rippled underneath. With each movement the wave that his defined muscles worked had Quinn ready to swoon.

Quinn quickly shook her head. She muttered something unintelligent under her breath. She was not like other girls that swooned easily at the sight of a man. However, she had never seen one like this and so close. Quinn had no idea how long she had been standing there watching her father and Dev practice their magic.

"Quinn, we have run out of time. You will not be able to eat until after your appointment," Cecilia was speaking as she walked over to her. Cecilia's own gaze traveled to where her daughter was being held so intently. It did not go unnoticed that her daughter was watching the young Walker lad. "Come, Quinn," with that her mothers voice had broken through her trance. Quinn shook her head once more and fell in step behind her mother.

They made their way out to the carriage that waited in the gravel that circled the mansion that they lived in. Quinn was surprised that the carriage ride was as quiet as it was. Usually, her mother was talking about what it was they were going to do, or discussing the latest gossip that she had heard. Quinn wondered if her mother had a hard time sitting in silence with her own daughter.

Quinn favored her father more in the sense that she preferred to be outdoors rather than in a stuffy drawing room with people that were equally stuffy. Quinn watched her mother look out the window. "Are you alright?" Quinn finally asked. Cecilia looked over at her daughter in confusion.

"Why would I not be?" Cecilia asked her.

"You are usually never this quiet," Quinn answered. Cecilia almost chuckled at her daughter's bluntness. She had to try and refrain from encouraging the behavior though. It was Cecilia's job to find her daughter a decent match. She needed Quinn to be on her best behavior before the season began so as not to draw unwanted attention or to make tongues wag in their direction.

"I am fine, just thinking about all that there is to do before your season begins," Cecilia answered. In truth, she was stuck on Quinn's distraction this morning. It was not the first time that she had wondered about a match between her daughter and the Walker's son.

Cecilia was one of the few people that knew their family secret though. The truth had been revealed some time ago when she and Lochlan helped their family with a certain witch situation. Cecilia was, of course, the only human in that situation. She could not believe that Lochlan was a witch, but not once had it ever made her love him any less. Cecilia always figured that their children would be gifted with magi as well. However, it was Lochlan who needed to be the one to help them control it.

"Ugh, must I come out this next season? I am not ready," Quinn argued once more.

"Nonsense, you will do great," Cecilia had every faith in her daughter. When Quinn put her mind to something, she could accomplish any task. Even the one of being a lady in a ballroom.

Quinn was quiet for a moment. "I am having issues controlling my magic," she finally whispered. Her mother was still able to catch was she said. Cecilia's gaze softened towards her daughter.

"Your father will help you control it. Do not let the fear stop you from growing in life, my dear," Quinn looked at her mother. It was the most sincere advice that Cecilia had given Quinn in some time. Quinn only nodded her head in response before their carriage stopped in front of the modest's shop. Quinn looked out through the carriage window and groaned. Cecilia chuckled as she opened the door and stepped out.