Her dressing gown belted tightly about her and hair braided down her back Reinette stood in the sitting room that adjoined her own bedchamber to the one Jack used the evening before for several moments determining her course of action.
For all their teasing the previous night there was still something very intimate and exposed about sleep. He had seemed especially vulnerable when she left him the before. And for all her curiosity and questions, she found herself feeling unexpectedly protective towards the man. It was sudden, and somewhat confusing. Reinette was accustomed to being a master of her own emotions.
But if she was not the one to enter, one of her countless staff would soon enough. Lord protect the first scullery maid that presented herself to Jack.
Decision made, Reinette moved to knock on the door briskly before entering his room.
There was no real way Jack could tell who the person the other side of the door would be. There was no guarantee at all that it would be Reinette, but still, he responded to the knock with an utter certainty.
"I was wondering when you'd emerge," he said without looking back to the door. He assumed she'd enter, assumed she'd respond.
The window, though, while it had held his attention for the last while, he knew it didn't hold a candle to Reinette.
"Is it a good morning then," Reinette pressed directly, crossing the room with a sense of ownership. She closed the distance between them with brisk and easy strides. Joining him at the window Reinette smoothed the lines of her robe and met his smile with one of her own.
It was tinged with curiosity.
"You slept well, despite the strangeness of the place?"
Or was he one that needed his own room and his own belongings. It would be yet another think she marked to learn about this man.
"I slept," he said with a nod, agreeing but not agreeing to well. He though it would take quite a deal for him to honestly say he could have slept well.
"And what can I say?" he went on, "Ever the optimist, that's me. Better a good morning than a bad one." He wasn't an optimist, of course. Or at least if he ever had been one he wasn't any more.
"And you," he said as he gestured towards her with a hand. "You know it's probably a crime to look that good first thing in the morning, Jeanne-Antoinette."
Reinette was aware of the words abandoned in their interchange, but said no more of it. After all, who was she to argue over the quality of Jack's sleep. That was for him and him alone to judge. She knew what it was like to have others constantly pressing their opinions upon you about your health
( ... )
"I like it," Jack said with a defiant nod and an agreeing smile. "Life is but what we make of it and we are all just coasting on through." He thought, perhaps, that he might be quoting something, but if he was he wasn't sure of what.
"So we'll make it a good day then," he said, straightening himself a little and crossing his arms across his chest.
"I'm sure Versailles is just waiting for someone like me, wouldn't you agree?" He smirked slightly, a smile that was more for show than anything else. But not entirely false, more an attempt at banter.
Her glance forced his eyes to look himself, just a brief glance up and down, but a noticeable one and punctuated with a half amused smile. "Mm hardly acceptable for court," he echoed as though he were tasting the words, "my favourite."
Reinette caught his glance, and though it brought renewed awareness of her current state of dress there was very little awkwardness that followed. Despite her care and presentation of her person, she knew that ultimately she possessed very little that the man before had not witnessed already.
Many times over.
She had learned at an early age that presence was just as critical. To that point she took another half steps towards Jack and maintained her own.
"I see. So you so not favor my laces and corsety and silk stockings. I shall have to remember that."
But she was smiling, Reinette knew. She was still smiling.
"Versailles is in no way prepared for you, Monsieur Harkness. And I am going to thoroughly enjoy your meeting. Starting with today. I thought perhaps I might take you driving in my curricle."
"Oh now now," he said, holding his hand out as if signalling stop. "Don't go jumping to conclusions. A guy can't like more than one thing? Lets put it this way, I'm sure just however you decide to put yourself together? Whatever the decoration? The package will be perfectly wrapped."
He shot her a brief conspiratorial wink and smiled before ducking his head just a little.
It still seemed to take him off guard, smiling, and he felt the muscles shifting in his face as he did as though they were unfamiliar. It had been far too long.
"Driving with you?" He raised an eyebrow. "Now how could I refuse an offer like that?"
"You, sir," Reinette accused with good nature ,"are a flatterer. And unlike many in this place? You actually excel at it."
Versailles was full of empty people with even emptier words. But there was something in Jack's nature, she thought. That no matter how outrageous his claims, there remained a sincerity about them. She looked at him speculatively. Just how many hearts had he claimed, Reinette wondered.
"The morning suits you as well."
With one more glance outside a sense of action seemed to settle over her.
"A drive it shall be them. I shall go dress and meet you in the sitting room shortly?"
"I'm glad to hear I'm earning my stripes," he grinned, overly pleased with himself for achieving something (were it any achievement at all, given no effort had been expended).
It was exciting though, he had to admit, the thought of an adventure. In a time and a place he'd never before been, it felt fresh. It felt fresh yet strangely comfortable. New yet understandable in many ways. Or was it just her that he understood?
He nodded to her, a nod that with flair became almost a bow.
There was something smug in Jack's expression that Reinette could not help but challenge. It was just as much a part of her nature to do so as she imagine it was in his. She looked him over from tip to toe, gaze lingering where it suited her.
"Odd, then, that I do not see any stripes. You must have hidden them well."
He could do with that what he wished.
And would.
Reinette smiled, moving to turn away.
"The sitting room then, in a half hour. I shall give instruction for them to bring out my curricle."
Reinette dressed carefully in a driving gown cut in delicate rose-hued satin. The care was not particularly taken for Jack's benefit, though she already recognized he would be appreciative. Rather because she simply knew other way. Especially now, with all of court aware of her altered status. She could not afford a single misstep.
What then of Jack?
It was a perfectly honest question of herself. He certainly could do her no favors in court, a stranger. And that made him dangerously close to one of the missteps she claimed to eschew. So what then of Jack, Reinette thought
( ... )
Jack, in the lounge, was not sitting. He was standing there, and in fact had been for a good twenty minutes. It was remarkable really, but a fact she would in no way be aware of; Jack was rarely on time. He usually had excuses. He liked to keep people waiting, not be the one to wait. Call it a side affect of his lifelong waiting.
But there he was, in the lounge, back turned towards Reinette's doorway. He wore his coat and stood tall. His very best hero pose.
He heard her footsteps and waited until they were close before turning.
He smiled at her. He looked at her, up and down, but while his gaze was obvious it wasn't overt. Appreciative.
She took his arm easily, her own resting lightly over his. She was vaguely aware of the warmth beneath, though not in an overt way. But in that he stood in stark contrast to her other visitor.
They were more different than she initially gave him credit for.
"It would be a pleasure."
And she found that she truly meant the words..
Reinette lead Jack through several hallways, down into the gardens and finally to the main stables where her curricle was being readied. It was the very one she had first placed herself squarely in the way of a certain hunting party with. All with the intention of catching the eye of a king. Those that believed that they first met at the Yew Tree Ball would be mistaken.
Jack smiled sideways at Reinette as they walked, a small yet private smile and he didn't care if anyone else should see it.
"And I do aim to please."
He walked with her, observing the corridors in the light of the new day. He felt almost strange to still be here. He hadn't expected to. A quick trip and nothing more, yet here he was arm in arm with a woman who knew his name, new more about him than he'd have ever expected to freely admit, and that more than that, knew the Doctor to.
It was more than surprising.
And what else was surprising was the fact that he liked it. He liked being here, and his heart felt lighter because of it.
"You know," he said overly lightly as they approached the stables, "I could be irreparably damaging the timelines by being here."
For all their teasing the previous night there was still something very intimate and exposed about sleep. He had seemed especially vulnerable when she left him the before. And for all her curiosity and questions, she found herself feeling unexpectedly protective towards the man. It was sudden, and somewhat confusing. Reinette was accustomed to being a master of her own emotions.
But if she was not the one to enter, one of her countless staff would soon enough. Lord protect the first scullery maid that presented herself to Jack.
Decision made, Reinette moved to knock on the door briskly before entering his room.
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"I was wondering when you'd emerge," he said without looking back to the door. He assumed she'd enter, assumed she'd respond.
The window, though, while it had held his attention for the last while, he knew it didn't hold a candle to Reinette.
He turned. And he smiled.
"Good morning."
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It was tinged with curiosity.
"You slept well, despite the strangeness of the place?"
Or was he one that needed his own room and his own belongings. It would be yet another think she marked to learn about this man.
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"And what can I say?" he went on, "Ever the optimist, that's me. Better a good morning than a bad one." He wasn't an optimist, of course. Or at least if he ever had been one he wasn't any more.
"And you," he said as he gestured towards her with a hand. "You know it's probably a crime to look that good first thing in the morning, Jeanne-Antoinette."
And again, he smiled.
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"So we'll make it a good day then," he said, straightening himself a little and crossing his arms across his chest.
"I'm sure Versailles is just waiting for someone like me, wouldn't you agree?" He smirked slightly, a smile that was more for show than anything else. But not entirely false, more an attempt at banter.
Her glance forced his eyes to look himself, just a brief glance up and down, but a noticeable one and punctuated with a half amused smile. "Mm hardly acceptable for court," he echoed as though he were tasting the words, "my favourite."
Reply
Many times over.
She had learned at an early age that presence was just as critical. To that point she took another half steps towards Jack and maintained her own.
"I see. So you so not favor my laces and corsety and silk stockings. I shall have to remember that."
But she was smiling, Reinette knew. She was still smiling.
"Versailles is in no way prepared for you, Monsieur Harkness. And I am going to thoroughly enjoy your meeting. Starting with today. I thought perhaps I might take you driving in my curricle."
Reply
He shot her a brief conspiratorial wink and smiled before ducking his head just a little.
It still seemed to take him off guard, smiling, and he felt the muscles shifting in his face as he did as though they were unfamiliar. It had been far too long.
"Driving with you?" He raised an eyebrow. "Now how could I refuse an offer like that?"
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Versailles was full of empty people with even emptier words. But there was something in Jack's nature, she thought. That no matter how outrageous his claims, there remained a sincerity about them. She looked at him speculatively. Just how many hearts had he claimed, Reinette wondered.
"The morning suits you as well."
With one more glance outside a sense of action seemed to settle over her.
"A drive it shall be them. I shall go dress and meet you in the sitting room shortly?"
Reply
It was exciting though, he had to admit, the thought of an adventure. In a time and a place he'd never before been, it felt fresh. It felt fresh yet strangely comfortable. New yet understandable in many ways. Or was it just her that he understood?
He nodded to her, a nod that with flair became almost a bow.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world."
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"Odd, then, that I do not see any stripes. You must have hidden them well."
He could do with that what he wished.
And would.
Reinette smiled, moving to turn away.
"The sitting room then, in a half hour. I shall give instruction for them to bring out my curricle."
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"Oh you don't?" he said with an air of surprise. "I'll have to work on that then, won't I?"
And he would, of course.
"Thirty minutes exactly," he said with a smile. I'll be there."
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What then of Jack?
It was a perfectly honest question of herself. He certainly could do her no favors in court, a stranger. And that made him dangerously close to one of the missteps she claimed to eschew. So what then of Jack, Reinette thought ( ... )
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But there he was, in the lounge, back turned towards Reinette's doorway. He wore his coat and stood tall. His very best hero pose.
He heard her footsteps and waited until they were close before turning.
He smiled at her. He looked at her, up and down, but while his gaze was obvious it wasn't overt. Appreciative.
Reaching out, he offered her his arm.
"Care to join me, Madame?"
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They were more different than she initially gave him credit for.
"It would be a pleasure."
And she found that she truly meant the words..
Reinette lead Jack through several hallways, down into the gardens and finally to the main stables where her curricle was being readied. It was the very one she had first placed herself squarely in the way of a certain hunting party with. All with the intention of catching the eye of a king. Those that believed that they first met at the Yew Tree Ball would be mistaken.
Reply
"And I do aim to please."
He walked with her, observing the corridors in the light of the new day. He felt almost strange to still be here. He hadn't expected to. A quick trip and nothing more, yet here he was arm in arm with a woman who knew his name, new more about him than he'd have ever expected to freely admit, and that more than that, knew the Doctor to.
It was more than surprising.
And what else was surprising was the fact that he liked it. He liked being here, and his heart felt lighter because of it.
"You know," he said overly lightly as they approached the stables, "I could be irreparably damaging the timelines by being here."
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