Claire quickly grabbed up her flute and then found some sheet music that seemed reasonable to have wanted to borrow. Now should she come back out Sorin's room or her own? She supposed it likely didn't matter at this point and she should probably stick with the plan.
Getting closer to the front door, she heard voices. A quick peer out the window revealed Palmer speaking animatedly with the head butler. Damn! She wished she knew what he might have said to the man. If he hadn't mentioned waiting her for her inside Sorin's quarters then she could simply slip in and out of her own. If he had then she'd make him appear a little daft by waiting outside the wrong door or it would appear that something was up. Well, something was- indeed- up but best not to announce from the hill tops.
With a deep intake of breath, Claire swung the door open and exited her Sire's quarters. Waving the sheet music, she smiled brightly at Palmer and said.
"Here it is. I found it. Hopefully I can surprise him by getting people together to play it for him on Christmas. It is one of Sorin's favorite pieces and he -so-loves a production."Â?
Giving Rupert a smile, she held up a hand and pointed back towards the door.
"Hello, Rupert, you won't spoil our surprise will you? It is so very hard to get someone a present who has everything already."Â?
Room Service (Private)
Claire stepped out of the car and headed towards the Manor. They should behave as though everything was normal. That involved looking less suspicious by being nonchalant, not in a hurry, talking like friends with all the time in the world...
" It was a lovely dinner, wasn't it?"Â?
She smiled back at Palmer once she reached the door.
"You seemed to have made quite a few friends. Have a good time?"Â?
Heading inside, Claire grabbed a bottle of wine and a couple of glasses from the kitchen. There was a vague sadly not well thought out plan in her head. She hoped Palmer would go along with it and perhaps help fill in any gaps she might inadvertently make.
"I will get my flute from my room. If you care to come along."Â?
Claire
18 years ago
Palmer
18 years ago
Oh. Thank. God.
Palmer was well aware that things were starting to get awkward, though he was of course nowhere near panicking, and it was quite a relief to see Claire. Playing the part no less! Palmer beamed a broad smile at the lady of the hour before turning to Rupert and making an exaggerated show of toeing the ground.
“Ah, yes, we are caught, you have discovered our secret despite my most clever of ruses!”
He wondered if Claire had found anything, though he supposed there was time enough to find that out. For now he would be happy if they avoided having a suspicious butler on their asses. Still laying it on thick, he stepped back from the door with great flourish, shooting Claire a quick ‘I nearly broke a sweat there’ look before slapping a huge grin on his face once more.
Palmer was well aware that things were starting to get awkward, though he was of course nowhere near panicking, and it was quite a relief to see Claire. Playing the part no less! Palmer beamed a broad smile at the lady of the hour before turning to Rupert and making an exaggerated show of toeing the ground.
“Ah, yes, we are caught, you have discovered our secret despite my most clever of ruses!”
He wondered if Claire had found anything, though he supposed there was time enough to find that out. For now he would be happy if they avoided having a suspicious butler on their asses. Still laying it on thick, he stepped back from the door with great flourish, shooting Claire a quick ‘I nearly broke a sweat there’ look before slapping a huge grin on his face once more.
Butler
18 years ago
Ah, so Palmer wasn’t insane. Perhaps a bit of an idiot, but not insane; good to know.
With what he hoped was a kind expression (though he expected their was a trace of amusement behind it) he gave Miss Tremaine a little bow.
“Good evening, Miss Tremaine. I cannot even imagine how I would begin to spoil your surprise; rest assured, your secret is safe with me.”
He knew it would do little good to assert that secrets were –always- safe with him, as those who needed to insist upon such things were the very ones who were most likely to commit an indiscretion, accidental or not.
“If you will excuse me?” He paused in front of the door, which was now clear for him; as much as he wanted to complete his delivery, it would not do to be rude Claire.
With what he hoped was a kind expression (though he expected their was a trace of amusement behind it) he gave Miss Tremaine a little bow.
“Good evening, Miss Tremaine. I cannot even imagine how I would begin to spoil your surprise; rest assured, your secret is safe with me.”
He knew it would do little good to assert that secrets were –always- safe with him, as those who needed to insist upon such things were the very ones who were most likely to commit an indiscretion, accidental or not.
“If you will excuse me?” He paused in front of the door, which was now clear for him; as much as he wanted to complete his delivery, it would not do to be rude Claire.
Claire
18 years ago
She smiled at Palmer as he continued on with the tale and explained, she would guess, any stalling that had been done on his part.
"I do thank you for keeping a watch out, Mr Calhoun; We have so little time to practice before Christmas that I could not afford to pass up the opportunity to get this sheet music."Â?
Claire looked at the pieces of paper in her hand before turning her attention quickly to the butler once more.
"A pleasant evening to you too, Mr Burke."Â?
At his assurance that he would not spoil their surprise, Claire tried to contain most of her relief and let it out in a measured dose of a wide toothy grin for the butler who had no idea how much he was helping their cause.
"Thank you very much, Rupert, I appreciate it."Â?
Looking back at her companion and then at the door behind her, Claire said.
"Shall we retire to the music room and get out of, Mr Burke's way?"Â?
"I do thank you for keeping a watch out, Mr Calhoun; We have so little time to practice before Christmas that I could not afford to pass up the opportunity to get this sheet music."Â?
Claire looked at the pieces of paper in her hand before turning her attention quickly to the butler once more.
"A pleasant evening to you too, Mr Burke."Â?
At his assurance that he would not spoil their surprise, Claire tried to contain most of her relief and let it out in a measured dose of a wide toothy grin for the butler who had no idea how much he was helping their cause.
"Thank you very much, Rupert, I appreciate it."Â?
Looking back at her companion and then at the door behind her, Claire said.
"Shall we retire to the music room and get out of, Mr Burke's way?"Â?
Palmer
18 years ago
Palmer really hoped they would be able to drop this act soon, but it would seem they would have to carry on a little longer. He was tempted to linger to see if Rupert would poke around the quarters and possibly notice something amiss, but there was no way that wouldn’t arouse suspicions compiled with his earlier behavior.
Instead, he grandly offered his arm to Claire, agreeing with only slightly toned down enthusiasm.
“Certainly, certainly! Do have a lovely evening Rupert; I must help make our production a success, you understand, but...” He trailed off by pressing a finger to his lips, and strolled off with Claire, letting her lead the way as he had no earthly idea that the Manor even –had- a music room.
/ooc Everyone out!
Instead, he grandly offered his arm to Claire, agreeing with only slightly toned down enthusiasm.
“Certainly, certainly! Do have a lovely evening Rupert; I must help make our production a success, you understand, but...” He trailed off by pressing a finger to his lips, and strolled off with Claire, letting her lead the way as he had no earthly idea that the Manor even –had- a music room.
/ooc Everyone out!