Thread: Secrets and Lies (Sync & Mali)

Reginald Hawthorne Reggie, to his friends and family, unless he was in trouble would have been content to remain largely alone this night. The party was fine and all, buthe really wasnt in the mood, not any more. But walking out would have been poor form, and would have only added to his troubles. When he turned twenty, hed announced his desire to travel and see some of the world. He had a good family name, lots of money, many family friends, a few contacts and associates. A small trunk was all he took with him, packed with a few essential items of clothing hed need he knew he could buy anything else when he stopped. Hed travelled broadly around his home region of New England first, going to the main cities in Vermont and New Hampshire and Maine the he travelled further to New York and New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Hed stopped, met with friends and associates, engaged in business talk, made a few deals to help his familys fortune, and was somewhat successful. His troubles, however, stemmed more from his behaviour at gatherings and parties. He was by no means an alcoholic, but he did like his drink at such gatherings. As such, when he was invited to parties, he tended to become more inebriated than was proper in polite company. His manners declined, his volume increased, and he was given to showing more attention to the young ladies that was seemly. He didnt dally with them, nor did he lie with them. But he was known to get a little too close with both hands and lips, and that did not aid his cause. Typically, after two or three parties, he found himself no longer invited, and he moved on. His business arrangements remained unaffected, at least, for it was only in social circles that he slipped. He travelled from city to city, state to state, and at least word of his manners at society gatherings did not move ahead of him as he moved further from New England. In polite company outside of parties he was a proper gentleman, dressed well, well-spoken, financially very comfortable. He was not an unattractive man, standing at just under 6 feet tall, with a thick crop of short dark hair, deep-set brown eyes, and a slightly-European look to him. His voice, when he spoke, was soft and rich, set in the deep pitch of a smooth baritone. His frame was solid, stocky, not lean or slim he was muscular, but not bulky, from his years of boxing. That was ten years ago. Now, at age thirty, Reggie knew he had to consider settling down. As the oldest son of the family, he knew his father would look to him for an heir to the family estate. While hed met many eligible ladies during his travels, it was difficult to consider settling with any of them due to the transient nature of his activities both his desire to move and see the land, and his poor behaviour at social gatherings. Several young ladies, some arriving for their debut into society, might have been viewed favourably by his father, but for the reputation hed garnished upon himself, causing said young ladies to reconsider their options. So he returned home, with a view to settling and looking after the family estateand he discovered that word of his exploits had reached home before him. He might be the eldest son, but he was not favoured any more. He might have done well for the familys fortune, but he was known to be an inappropriate boor at parties and gatherings. He was, for all his efforts, facing being disowned for the slight hed brought to his family name. However, his father and mother had conceded, if he did settle down, with the right girl, and forswore alcoholthey might reconsider their position. It wasnt an instruction to marry, but it was close. The partyhe knew the issuing of his invitation had been reluctant. Word of his behaviour at gatherings had reached the ears of several senior members of families in the area, and few wanted to associate with him, it seemed. That was going to make the complying of his fathers wishesdifficult. Hed dressed in gentlemans outfit , a proper suit, and although the winter was coming hed removed his coat the hosts house was warm enough. Still, having spent a lot of the gathering either on his own or being politely shunned when he tried to join conversations, he was contemplating leaving. There was little here for him. He had a glass of water in his hand as he stood on the balcony, deep in the shadows, looking out at the dark landscape of the estate. The swishing of clothing told him he wasnt alone as he might have wanted to be. A quick glance told him it was a young woman whod joined him, but he didnt know who she was not from his position, and she wasnt facing him for him to see her, anyway. He sighed softly and spoke up, wondering if it was the right thing to do. Shed probably shun him as well. He might consider moving to England. Are you enjoying the party, Miss? he asked politely, his voice quiet but just loud enough to be heard over the sounds of the party behind them.