He had truly come to love these gardens over the past days. To say they seemed designed to attract things that fueled his biggest vice would be an understatement. To the point that he was now making a habit to wear his most flattering clothing just to walk them. He would be glad for an encounter with any he'd already met or someone new. At this point just walking into them felt like a thrill.

The rain was easing up a bit and would likely stop soon, but he still wore his cloak to keep mostly dry. He kept his eyes on the alcoves, the bastions against the rain.

Wandering through the light rain, wearing a large, woolen overponcho over her finery, Margaret de Beaumont is taking a turn in the garden, followed rather closely by her hulking overseer, Hildegarde, a 'companion' from her new husband. She's been closeted all day with Miriam, ostensibly learning and now it's time to stretch her legs.

She stops to examine the strange English flowers she hasn't seen since adolescence. , her eyes catching the man wandering in the gardens. After examining the bud, she walks over towards him, earning the glower of Hildegarde. Of course, everything earns the glower of Hildegarde.

The approach earns a smile from Geoffrey in opposition to the glower. When he speaks it is at a level that would be difficult for the overseer to hear between the rain and distance. "Usually I need to seek the loveliest flowers in the garden. Tonight the trend has been broken."

He offers a proper bow to her, and keeps Margaret between his eyes and Hildegarde's, preventing the overseer from noticing where his eyes linger. But not the lady before him. She saw exactly where his striking eyes wandered.

"I am Baron Geoffrey of Crahen, of the house Tournemine. I would appreciate your accompaniment in the garden this evening."

If she was so bold in front of her overseer, a gentlemanly arm was available, but not so obviously offered, so she might refuse with no fuss.

Margaret is used to looks like this from men and even takes some small pleasure in bringing them to sin. So far, so fine. But she certainly has Bible verses on her lips should the need arise. So fascinating, what you can get a man to do when he’s between guilt and his hard place.

Of course, little of that flows from her now, just a wider smile and a little added je ne seis quoi. She passes on the arm, but enjoys the walk as she watches her watcher seek to follow her.

When she sees his eyes and his smile... she can see there is no guilt in this particular man. No shame at all over the thoughts he has. If god didn't want people to enjoy each other's beauty he shouldn't have made them beautiful.

"May I ask your name?" he says as he begins walking next to her.

Margaret shrugs her elegant shoulders a bit. While the Bible did say it was a sin to look lasciviously on someone else's wife, small sins get but small actions. She doesn't mind. The play, the back and forth, that's what she likes. She arches one perfect eyebrow slightly, the shadow of a smile on her exquisite lips.

"You could, but what, then, if you didn't like what I was called? Does it truly matter? Perhaps I am but a madwoman, escorted by my gaoler because the even a madwoman should get free air once in awhile or she go further mad! You know not of who I am, nor that I tell you true." Her lips part, revealing beautiful teeth below her perfect nose.

"I am Margaret de Beaumont, youngest daughter of Earl Beaumont, recently wed to Saer de Quincy. The walking mountain behind me is called Hildegarde, though if you hear that oaf speaking a language civilized ears can understand, it will be a first. What flower is your favorite here, good sir?”

He looked to Hildegarde, and took what Margaret to say to mean that she likely took a vow of silence. It might be during only certain parts of the day. Some traditions were like that.

"I would have to say Hollyhocks. Somewhat common, I know, but I love it for it's ability to stand between all the other flowers and bring their beauty to the fore. With out them, would I truly be able to enjoy the beauty of all of the other flowers that I find? So it is my favorite even if I do not find it to be the most beautiful."

As they came upon a grouping of them, he looks from Maragaret to the flowers. "Yes... just like that."

If he gave any thought to the fact that she had used the worlds "recently wed" it did not show a bit.

Margaret smiles at the comment. "Yes, there are many that like the look of a common thing, especially en masse. And they ARE quite lovely. They say Geoffrey, Count of Anjou was nicknamed Plantagenet from a bloom of genista. I say it's because his family brings good fortune and wealth wherever they go. But what do I know, after all, I'm merely a woman."

She laughs at her own comment, a sound like heavenly bells ringing.

"I'm sure Hildegarde enjoys the cowslip! Only the good Lord above knows how many shes' stepped in since coming to this land!" She laughs again.

"I owe much to my grandfather," he says with a nod when she references him. "He was a great man and I am fortunate to share many of his features."

"And any man that doesn't respect the opinions of a woman is doomed, I say," something that he unashamedly put into practice earlier with Matilda.

"And which among the flowers does Lady Margaret favor?"

Geoffrey of Tournemine wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 14, 2021 1:16 am

"I owe much to my grandfather," he says with a nod when she references him. "He was a great man and I am fortunate to share many of his features."

As do we all!

Geoffrey of Tournemine wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 14, 2021 1:16 am

"And any man that doesn't respect the opinions of a woman is doomed, I say," something that he unashamedly put into practice earlier with Matilda.

She laughs again. "Well said sir, well said indeed! A wise man, you are."

Geoffrey of Tournemine wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 14, 2021 1:16 am

"And which among the flowers does Lady Margaret favor?"

"Why, the white cinquefoil, of course! How could I not like my Father's own charge the highest? Five white foils has the flower, five fingers the hand. How fortune favors us."

"When did you arrive in cloudy England, good sir? I was in Saint-Alban when the dreadful news arrived. I should think half the ships of Normandy left within the day."

"I departed Brittany within hours of the news, arriving here within record time. I've been in the city since mid August. The death of Uncle Henry was..."

He pauses to give some thought. He loves and supports his cousin, but the circumstances around his uncle's death were sad.

"You hear the stories, but both my father and uncle are said to have died of broken hearts. Romantic in a tale, less so in real life."

He cheers himself up a bit, smiling at lovely Margaret. "But your favorite flower is a beautiful one as well. Though I suspect that you have little in common with the 'barren strawberry' Lady Margaret."

Geoffrey of Tournemine wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 14, 2021 3:08 am

"But your favorite flower is a beautiful one as well. Though I suspect that you have little in common with the 'barren strawberry' Lady Margaret."

Margaret laughs. "Ever the flatterer! So far, I am as I have always been, though I doubt not my lord husband will see to changing that situation shortly. Though I rather doubt that will be anytime soon. I have been on a tour of the cousins's estates in Normandy and even further south, seeing what sort of innovations I may adopt for the fortunes of my family. It's truly a shame the take away from Abelard and Heloise isn't that women are every inch as capable as a man. Have you read of them?"

Margaret de Beaumont wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 14, 2021 4:42 am

Margaret laughs. "Ever the flatterer! So far, I am as I have always been, though I doubt not my lord husband will see to changing that situation shortly. Though I rather doubt that will be anytime soon. I have been on a tour of the cousins's estates in Normandy and even further south, seeing what sort of innovations I may adopt for the fortunes of my family. It's truly a shame the take away from Abelard and Heloise isn't that women are every inch as capable as a man. Have you read of them?"

"Mother insisted, and I enjoyed," he says with a nod, smiling as he thinks on those lessons. "Although I would say I probably have room to grow in following Abelard's example. Which I would very much like to do. I would just need a proper Heloise I think."

Margaret gives Geoffrey a bit of a side-eye.

"While I imagine that the appropriate woman could indeed be found, as many women are more interested than a man of letters than an oaf, I would hope you don't follow Abelard in all his journey. Your Lady Wife would not look kindly upon that, I should think, in any respect!" She giggles slightly.

"Oh, I confess, the grey air of Londontown has made me far too forward. There's something in this English air that simply sucks propriety from us all."

Margaret de Beaumont wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 15, 2021 2:36 am

Margaret gives Geoffrey a bit of a side-eye.

"While I imagine that the appropriate woman could indeed be found, as many women are more interested than a man of letters than an oaf, I would hope you don't follow Abelard in all his journey. Your Lady Wife would not look kindly upon that, I should think, in any respect!" She giggles slightly.

"Oh, I confess, the grey air of Londontown has made me far too forward. There's something in this English air that simply sucks propriety from us all."

"For now, that would be something for the future. With no wife I find myself free of unkind looks when my eyes wander," he replied.

"Well, perhaps not entirely." He said as he peeks to Hildegarde for a moment. "But certainly no unkind eyes that will hurt my feelings or stop me from seeking to bring a smile or more to her lips."

He pauses in his walk to take in a particularly fragrant flower. He leans to it and tickles it with his nose before giving it a small kiss then rising.

Geoffrey of Tournemine wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 15, 2021 7:33 am

"Well, perhaps not entirely." He said as he peeks to Hildegarde for a moment. "But certainly no unkind eyes that will hurt my feelings or stop me from seeking to bring a smile or more to her lips."

"Oh, not married? Well that is surprising news! A man of your stature and energy would needs be married quickly, I should think. Or perhaps you're waiting to see how far your star will ascend? If only they extended such liberty to women, then all of womandkind should be a Queen, properly elevated by her husband as wedding gift before she gives herself to him."

She smiles, watching him kiss the flower.

"Kiss a woman with such passion and you will surely find a willing partner, wife or no! Such a thing can be quite roguish, they say, but will serve you greatly in the battle of love. As will your sword, when her husband finds you." She laughs softly.

"I've yet to meet a husband with blades over spouse," he replied, a cheeky smirk. "Any man not clever enough to care for the woman he is wed to tends not to be clever enough to see the man that does."

"I have simply been in no rush, but perhaps I should have been. If I had known a woman of your qualifications was available for marriage it would likely have changed my stance entirely."

"You flatter, good sir, but surely you would rather be free and have none to call you to heel. After all, yours is the freedom of this world to go wither you will and do as you please, with whom you please, is it not?"

She continues her amble through the garden, enjoying the witty banter, curious how much the always silent Hildegarde is hearing and what her lord husband will think, though she doubt he'll do anything about it.

"You would think, but even just a Baron of a small town has enough responsibility to keep them at home all the time. It is a bit ironic however. I would marry and a wife would be able to help maintain my barony, which would allow me the freedom to travel more... except I would be more tied to home because I would not neglect her. I think I need to find some folks to help me with some of my management, but doing the work invigorates me."

He chuckles at that. "Plus... I have plenty that can call me to heel. My sister for one."

Margaret nods knowingly. "Well I know the scourge of 'sister.' I'm just happy one of mine moved to an abbey. Technically, Father didn't send her to a nunnery, but now she's an Abbess. I'm just pleased her name isn't Abigail. She'd make us call her Abbess Abigail even at family gatherings. Horrible."

She smells a nearby vining flower, moving around the pole to look at Geoffrey again. "Oh, but you would. All men do. It's the irony of the times, the need to march on Jerusalem and soak your sins in some Saracen or other. And yet, never once do you hear of a man returning from Crusade with a vial of the sin-forgiving stuff. Just some odd part off some Saint or other. And while I don't mind that, I have a shin-bone from St. Æthelburh of Kent, I'm no misguided unbeliever, I simply feel that the more appropriate thing to do would be to see to the Saints blood of our own before traipsing off to Jerusalem. But no one asks my opinion, so I'm forced to give it in the gardens, where none but the flowers will recall." She winks at Geoffery, excepting him with the motion.

"Some men feel the call more than others. And there are rare few of us that don't fear the potential for a tongue lashing or lecture that saying so might invite. The cause is righteous, certainly, but one need only look to take care of their own people to find righteousness in the service of God," he says, already apparently having been of a similar mind.

She laughs merrily. “You, sir, seem the sort of man that fears no tongue, lashing or otherwise! And I agree, it’s indeed a rightful cause, but as you justly point out, a righteous ruler looks after their own as well.”

She looks at the sun for a moment, a small pout forming on her lips.

“The sun does move, for God has not chosen to bless the earth as he did Joshua at Aijalon. Apparently you are no Amorite, which seems, on the whole quite accurate. Still, I have enjoyed this co versatile and would happily meet with you again, less by chance and more by design. Perhaps you have some ideas of where one might find good southern food to remind one of sunnier times?”

"I am quite well acquainted with the food on offer in London. There is a place..." he explained the location.

"I do very much look forward to seeing you once more Lady Margaret. I will say you have brightened my day, and I will enjoy thinking on this time spent with you... long and hard." His smirk is highly suggestive.