A Good Day for Adventure, {open}

[Caroline Sinclair]

"It's hopeless!" Caroline Sinclair claimed as she flopped on her back on her cousins bed. "There is simply no gentleman in the ton worth considering- not at present anyway. Mother is determined to have me wed this year if it kills her and I'm afraid it might kill me if I'm forced to settle even one inch with a person I am not interested in."
"There hasn't been anyone remotely interesting for the last few years. Well, not gentlemen interested in taking a wife anyway. Renee d'Anton stretched beside Caroline and stared up at the canopy. "We've searched and searched. Turned every stone and the only ones even vaguely interesting are, well not interested."
Caroline groaned. "Its ludicrous and disgusting." Both sighed in despair at the same time and the room felt heavy with their gloom.

Like most young ladies their age it seemed as if their world was centered around marriage. It wasn't necessarily important to Caroline at the moment but it was important to her mother and father that she find a good match and quickly too. She was already in her second season and though there had been offers none had suited any of them. Caroline turned her head toward her cousin and wondered what else they might do to solve this current problem.

It wasn't as if they were not attractive enough, alike in both feature and figure, blessed with blond ringlets, cornflower blue eyes and porcelain complexions, the two could easily have passed as twins so it was not their appearance. Caroline would like to think it was not their personalities either for both girls were quick whited, bright and both could find pleasure in the smallest of things. She would be honest with herself and say that perhaps their flaw's were liking adventure and mystery too much but surely that wouldn't keep them from being wanted?

Caroline watched her cousin's expression and knew her own looked disgusted while Renee's was mutinous as she stated. "I refuse to settle or lower my standards." Caroline smirked and turned her head back to gaze upwards once more. "Perhaps we will find the right company in Middleton? After all it is rather had to find proper husbands in Newmarket. Most available men here have a mind only for horses and look at us as babes or sisters."

Renee sniffed unladylike. "Perhaps, but I doubt it. I think we might end up as old spinsters yet!" she cried out dramatically which caused Caroline to laugh and shake her head causing golden ringlets to dance across her cheek and neck. Renee was the more dramatic one, due to her french lines no doubt and it was always amusing for Caroline to have her around.

They had been planning this shopping trip for weeks now and both had been so eager to acquire new clothing but now both seemed content to wallow in their misery. There was a sharp knock on the door which caused both girls to rise up on their elbows and stare at it. "Should we ignore it?" Renee asked in a whisper.
"I don't think mother will be so easily ignored." Caroline laughed as she rose then reached out and dragged her cousin up to follow. Both girls were forced into lighter moods as they joined mother and aunt and were cossetted inside the warm carriage. With laughter and excitement building they watched the neighborhoods pass by and soon they were in what Middleton called 'the mile'.

As the four ladies went into the warm shops Caroline noticed a book store around across the street and with a pretty flash of smile begged to be released to go. Renee chose to stay behind of course but that was fine with Caro.Given permission she made her way out of the dress shop and across the street to enter the small little bookshop. Caroline immediately inhaled deeply of the smell of old and new books and with a genuinely happy smile she began to slowly move down the aisle's giving her complete attention to the books. "Hmm, today's a good day for adventure." she mumbled quietly to herself.

[Jasper Fox]

Jasper was not the sort to hang around bookstores, in general. He was less of a reader, more of a doer, you see. Why read about exciting happenings when you could go out and make some yourself? Seemed a bit of a waste to him. Still, novels were all right for rainy day entertainment, and there was one that his cousin Helena declared that he must, must read or she would disown him forever.

While he did not think she would actually disown him (at seventeen, Miss Fox was rather dramatic), he supposed he might as well at least look at the thing. So on his next free afternoon rather than getting up to know good with his partner in crime, Thomas Hartwell, or pestering Briony for a while, he headed into town and towards the bookshop.

And how lucky was it that he had? For he had not been in the shop above two minutes when a rather attractive young lady entered. She was not of his acquaintance, but he hoped that she very soon would be! It was his opinion, you see, that he should be acquainted with all attractive young ladies.

And so he proceeded to spy on her. All right, perhaps it wasn't quite what his aunt and uncle would wish for him to do, but that had never really stopped Jasper before, so he didn't see why it should now. And it wasn't as if he was causing any real harm! He wasn't going to rob her or anything. He just wanted to see if he could find out anything more about her. So when she took off down an aisle, he stood inconspicuously watching from around the corner. Well, she liked books, if the pleased expression on her face was anything to go by. And what was that? Had she just said adventure?

Jasper leaned forward, trying to hear more, and this was his undoing. His balance was upset by the move and he ended up stumbling forward, tripping over his own feet, and landing sprawled out on the book shop floor. Well - so much for being subtle.

[Caroline Sinclair]

Caroline of course was so concentrated on the books on the shelves she was completely unaware of being watched though, to be honest she did feel a slight rising of hair on the back of her neck but simply ignored it. There were quite a few people in the book store and she simply shrugged it off as one of them. She bit on her bottom lip as she tried to find a good book that might hold her interest for awhile. She wanted some excitement afraid she might find none in this small town.

Not that Newmarket was very much bigger but at least she had her group of friends to get into mischief with. Now it was just here and Renee and so far there had been no real hints to any sort of merriment making. She was just about to pull a book from the shelves when suddenly there was a large and loud commotion behind her. Turning swiftly she witnessed a young man sprawled upon the floor and with a look of such frustration she couldn't help but laugh softly as she made her way over.

Her cornflower blue eyes twinkled with merriment as she knelt down beside him, golden blond ringlets dancing against her cheeks and throat with the movement. "Are you alright Sir?" she asked with laughter and concern mixed together. She hoped that he wasn't injured or upset with her laughter but she simply couldn't help it, he looked so ... well silly lying there.

[Jasper Fox]

Here he was hoping to find out a little about a pretty girl so that he could impress her later, and what did he do? Impress her with his good looks and charm? No, not Jasper! Instead he falls flat on his face. Brilliant. And of course she was laughing at him. Sigh. Well, at least he could strike 'publicly humiliate self' off of his list of things to do for the day.

"I'm fine, thank you," he mumbled, sitting up and dusting himself off a little. He swept his blond hair out of his eyes and looked down at himself, surveying the damage. He generally didn't pay much attention to what he was wearing after he put it on in the morning, but after a spill like that something could be torn. Fortunately it all seemed to be in order. Well, his cravat was all askew, but he could live with that. He smoothed it down before looking back up at the laughing girl.

"The sight of such a charming young lady must have swept me clean off of my feet," he told her, grinning, resilient as always. He bent to pick up his hat and wipe a bit of dust off of his boots before standing and giving her his most elegant bow. "Mister Jasper Fox, at your service, ma'am!"

[Caroline Sinclair]

Caroline felt just awful for laughing at the poor young man but she just hadn't been able to help it. And it wasn't as if she were a mean spirited nymph quiet the opposite really so she prayed he wouldn't take too much of an offense. When he mumbled that he was fine she bit into her plump bottom lip.

Watching him sit up and dust himself off she took the time and actually looked at him. He was a handsome one, when he wasn't face down on the floor that is. When finally he looked as if he was satisfied with his appearance he looked back up at her and she felt slightly dazed by his smile. Handsome indeed, he was definitely one she was going to keep her looks out for.

Her blue eyes sparkled and a soft blush caressed her cheeks. A sweep of thick dark lashes would hide her eyes in a shy gesture. "I am sure you couldn't possibly find me charming at all sir when I have laughed so at your spill. Pray forgive me I just couldn't seem to help myself. Wicked thing that I am." she'd smile that brilliant smile of hers and flash a quick peak at a hidden dimple.

At his introduction she would dip into a graceful curtsy herself sending golden ringlets to bobbing. "Lady Caroline Sinclair, sir a pleasure."

[Jasper Fox]

What a dainty little piece she was! Jasper was growing more and more confident that falling was the right thing to have done. Because of course by now he had decided to swear he'd done so on purpose, if he felt the need to retell the story at any point. Which, the way things were going, he probably would, at least to Thomas. And in his retelling, him falling would be a conscious decision in an effort to attract her attention, not the clumsy moment it had actually been.

One had to maintain some semblance of dignity, after all.

"Wicked?" A blond eyebrow rose. "Nonsense! No one with such an angelic face could possibly be wicked. And I don't blame you for laughing," he added, grinning good naturedly. "Would've done so myself, if I'd seen it." Which was perfectly true.

Lady Caroline Sinclair - that, clearly, was a name to remember. After all, it wasn't often he ran into someone with so charming a smile, or such adorable dimples. This was definitely an acquaintance he was going to have to cultivate. "The pleasure," he told her quite honestly, "is all mine. Are you new to Middleton?" Jasper inquired. "I cannot remember having seen you before - and I would certainly remember seeing such a charming young lady!"