Enchantress And The Guardian

Courtship Has Begun

The next morning Dev handed his letter to his grandmother, their footman, in order to post it. Dev readied himself to leave for the Blackwood estate. His lessons with Lord Blackwood would continue until he received word back from his grandmother in India. He would also need to admit to Lochlan that he had already asked Quinn to court her. He was unsure how her father was going to react. Dev took a calming breath as he pulled himself onto the back of his horse and pulled on the reigns to get the large beast moving.

It took no time at all to arrive at the front gates of the manor. Dev moved the animal easily enough to the front door where a groom was already waiting to take his horse. Dev dismounted and looked up at the front door. Lord Blackwood was already standing near the door with his arms held behind his back. Dev took one more breath before ascending the stairs.

"Good morning, Lord Blackwood," Dev said cautiously. Lochlan looked at Dev for a moment.

"When I said to give Quinn time to adjust to the season, I did not mean the night of her first ball," Lochlan said. Dev could feel his shoulder slump as he wondered if Lochlan was going to reject his courtship due to his hastiness. Lochlan let out a deep sigh as he released his hands.

"Quinn explained that you received a letter from your grandmother and there is a possibility that you will be returning to India sooner than expected," Lochlan said. Dev could feel his optimism returning. He slowly nodded his head in agreement. "I am sorry to hear that things have escalated in India," Lochlan added.

"You knew?" Dev asked.

"It was an agreement made when you were a child. Since I played a major role in helping you control your powers, I was made aware of the timeline, yes," Lochlan answered.

"But you have not said anything," Dev commented.

"It was not my place to do so," Lochlan explained. Dev nodded in agreement once more. He was right, it would have been out of turn for Lochlan to admit to Dev what his parents and grandparents had agreed to. "Well, since it seems you will be leaving soon, we will need to change course on your training," Lochlan said. He turned on his heel and headed into the foyer. Dev followed quickly behind. He let out a breath now that Lord Blackwood had not rejected Dev's courtship of Quinn.

"We shall be in the gardens today. If you would, please make your way there, I will join you in a moment," Lochlan said. Dev nodded and took off in the direction of their gardens in the rear of the manor. Dev cast one glance up the winding staircase but did not see Quinn as he had hoped. Dev continued through the French doors in the back and took his usual stance in the garden.

Lochlan Blackwood walked back to the small library just off the main staircase where he had left Quinn and his wife Cecilia. Quinn stood up from the wooden chair she had been sitting in. Her brows were pinched together. She had informed her father of the conversation between herself and Dev the previous night at the ball. Quinn wanted her father to know as soon as possible so that everyone could be on the same page.

Lochlan had seemed irritated at first hearing that Dev had asked to court her so soon, but Quinn told him about the letter from his grandmother and hoped that Lochlan would not be too harsh on the young man.

"Dev and I will be starting his training shortly. I will not reject the courtship between the two of you as you seem agreeable to it as well. However, Dev's concentration needs to be on managing his powers before going back over to India. It would not do for him to be distracted," Lochlan said to his daughter. Lochlan did not want that to be on his conscious if something were to happen to the lad while he was so far away.

"I understand, father," Quinn said. She could not help the small smile that played at her lips from breaking through. Her father was going to honor their courtship. She was being courted by Dev Walker, her childhood friend. She could hardly beilieve the turn that her life had taken in such a short amount of time.

Honoring her father's wishes, Quinn decided to watch their lesson from the library door rather than the patio. She did not want to chance Dev being distracted by her presence in the garden. Quinn knew that her father still had alot to teach Dev, and she would not stand in the way of that. Dev's safety could be at risk.

Cecilia had been unusually quiet after finding out that Dev had asked Quinn to court her. Quinn had assumed that her mother would be jumping for joy at the marriage prospect and so soon into her season. Cecilia looked down at her embroidery and sat in thought instead. Quinn glanced over her shoulder at her mother but said nothing. Instead, she turned her gaze back to Dev and her father once more.