In which correspondence is returned...
Directly on the heels of this scene (last two poses included for context), Sefton writes back to Jarvais, in response to this letter.
Thank you, Jarvais! Perhaps this earns me another?
Sefton's smile turns gentle, and he leans down to brush her hair back from her face, when she bows her head, and press his cheek to hers. "I promise," he whispers, before he straightens up. "I have letters I must write. Stay here a little longer, and then we will go to eat together." He's rising, and looking down at the hides he dumped on his desk. The remnants of the sandwich are retrieved, and passed down. "That will keep you alive until I am done. I want to write to Lord Bardo's heir before my thoughts escape me. Look over your gifts again, and then I will be done."
Penny gives a quiet sniff as he pulls away again. Her look as she accepts the sandwich suggests perhaps that she will never be hungry again, with such gifts to sustain her, but she takes it anyway, tilting her face up to watch him as he stands. "Sef--" She speaks to forestall him, though she doesn't seem to know what to say past his name. Her mouth opens, but she stops, and just looks, helplessly, until her eyes drop and she glances round at her presents. Finally she's forced to acknowledge her own speechlessness, and her mouth twists to a rueful smile even as her eyes seek his. "I think the phrase I'm looking for is 'Thank you, Sefton.'"
He watched as she knelt down on the rug beside the couch once more, gathering her presents in so she could begin her inspection anew, from first to last. His mouth twisted to a faint smile as she reached up to finger the necklace that still hung around her neck, adjusting a ruby carefully, and then he turned his attention to his desk, turning away in his chair. He needed to clear aside the hides he had stacked there before he had room, and the discovery of a fresh sheet necessitated a brief search. Then he was ready to dip his pen, and compose his words.
My dear Jarvais,
It was with pleasure that I received your recent letter, and I hope you will forgive the lateness of my reply. I will start by saying that though your requests are eloquently phrased, I must add my assurance to your uncle’s and say that they are quite unnecessary; you are most welcome to rejoin us at your convenience.
He reached up with one hand to rake his curls back from his eyes, and dipped his pen once more, glancing across to where Penny was carefully unfolding the scarf his brother had sent her. His smile was gentler, observing that.
I am afraid I have no especial news of your particular friends to convey; I did not have an opportunity during your time with us to learn their identities, and so I am doomed to be disobliging. When you return to High Reaches, you must present yourself promptly to share a drink with me, and we will remedy my lack of knowledge.
“Come here,” he murmured, without looking up, setting his pen down before he turned his attention entirely to Penny. “I’ll unfasten it for you, you’re just getting it wrapped in your hair.” She smiled at him wordlessly, and he kissed her neck as he unfastened her necklace. “Just a minute more,” he promised, reaching for his pen once more. “Warm up my seal, and I will be ready for it by the time you have finished.”
For now, I must do my duty as best I can by saying to you that we are, on the whole, in good health and good spirits at present. All of the Caucus shared with High Reaches their sadness at the loss of their former Weyrleader, and our much admired ethics instructor. He will be most difficult to replace.
She was breathing on his neck, deliberately. It made it very hard to concentrate.
If there is any particular material you wish to see before you rejoin us, please do not hesitate to send word, and I shall have it sent to you. In the meantime, I shall look forward to the resumption of your studies, and the chance of a future conversation.
Yours,
Sefton
“You are very trying,” he informed her dryly, waving the letter back and forth gently to allow it to dry, and then folding it into thirds, a little too early perhaps to keep the ink from printing onto the hide that was pushed against it. “Put down your seal, and we will go and eat.”
Pleased at her success, she did so, and leaving the letter in his tray for collection, they did as he proposed.
Thank you, Jarvais! Perhaps this earns me another?
Sefton's smile turns gentle, and he leans down to brush her hair back from her face, when she bows her head, and press his cheek to hers. "I promise," he whispers, before he straightens up. "I have letters I must write. Stay here a little longer, and then we will go to eat together." He's rising, and looking down at the hides he dumped on his desk. The remnants of the sandwich are retrieved, and passed down. "That will keep you alive until I am done. I want to write to Lord Bardo's heir before my thoughts escape me. Look over your gifts again, and then I will be done."
Penny gives a quiet sniff as he pulls away again. Her look as she accepts the sandwich suggests perhaps that she will never be hungry again, with such gifts to sustain her, but she takes it anyway, tilting her face up to watch him as he stands. "Sef--" She speaks to forestall him, though she doesn't seem to know what to say past his name. Her mouth opens, but she stops, and just looks, helplessly, until her eyes drop and she glances round at her presents. Finally she's forced to acknowledge her own speechlessness, and her mouth twists to a rueful smile even as her eyes seek his. "I think the phrase I'm looking for is 'Thank you, Sefton.'"
He watched as she knelt down on the rug beside the couch once more, gathering her presents in so she could begin her inspection anew, from first to last. His mouth twisted to a faint smile as she reached up to finger the necklace that still hung around her neck, adjusting a ruby carefully, and then he turned his attention to his desk, turning away in his chair. He needed to clear aside the hides he had stacked there before he had room, and the discovery of a fresh sheet necessitated a brief search. Then he was ready to dip his pen, and compose his words.
My dear Jarvais,
It was with pleasure that I received your recent letter, and I hope you will forgive the lateness of my reply. I will start by saying that though your requests are eloquently phrased, I must add my assurance to your uncle’s and say that they are quite unnecessary; you are most welcome to rejoin us at your convenience.
He reached up with one hand to rake his curls back from his eyes, and dipped his pen once more, glancing across to where Penny was carefully unfolding the scarf his brother had sent her. His smile was gentler, observing that.
I am afraid I have no especial news of your particular friends to convey; I did not have an opportunity during your time with us to learn their identities, and so I am doomed to be disobliging. When you return to High Reaches, you must present yourself promptly to share a drink with me, and we will remedy my lack of knowledge.
“Come here,” he murmured, without looking up, setting his pen down before he turned his attention entirely to Penny. “I’ll unfasten it for you, you’re just getting it wrapped in your hair.” She smiled at him wordlessly, and he kissed her neck as he unfastened her necklace. “Just a minute more,” he promised, reaching for his pen once more. “Warm up my seal, and I will be ready for it by the time you have finished.”
For now, I must do my duty as best I can by saying to you that we are, on the whole, in good health and good spirits at present. All of the Caucus shared with High Reaches their sadness at the loss of their former Weyrleader, and our much admired ethics instructor. He will be most difficult to replace.
She was breathing on his neck, deliberately. It made it very hard to concentrate.
If there is any particular material you wish to see before you rejoin us, please do not hesitate to send word, and I shall have it sent to you. In the meantime, I shall look forward to the resumption of your studies, and the chance of a future conversation.
Yours,
Sefton
“You are very trying,” he informed her dryly, waving the letter back and forth gently to allow it to dry, and then folding it into thirds, a little too early perhaps to keep the ink from printing onto the hide that was pushed against it. “Put down your seal, and we will go and eat.”
Pleased at her success, she did so, and leaving the letter in his tray for collection, they did as he proposed.