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Her candle flickered as she moved down the hallway.  The rich wine carpet
turned the last corner as she reached the door, a deep cherry wood barrier,
much easier to overcome then some of the others she was to face tonight.

Tamie synched up her robe to accent her waist and tighten the front, he
would be powerless against her.  She had been here four days and all he had
said to her was four words.  She did not travel forty miles for four words,
she had come for a husband, and that was what she was going to get.

She tried the doorknob, it was not locked, and the room was lit with a fire.
He sat next to the fire with a bottle of wine.  She smiled, he was shrewd,
he had played hard to get, and was waiting for her.  She slipped in,
shutting the door behind her.  "Hawthorn?"  her voice was deep and sultry.

The mop of hair turned and looked at her.  He smiled at her.  "Oh, is there
something I can do for you?"  He did not stand up but remained half covered
by a blanket.

"What do you think you can do for a woman who slips into your room in just
her night clothes?"  She stepped forward and kneeled next to him, stroking
the neck of the bottle slowly.

Hawthorn paused, the gears in his head spun quickly.  "I don't think I quite
follow?"  He watched her stroking the bottle.  "Does it have something to do
with my wine?"  He pointed down at her hand.

"It could, it you."  her speech was halted by the high pitched scream that
emitted from her.  A reflexive reaction that most females of the human
species have to the unexpected feeling of small clawed feet walking across
theirs is to scream and then flail all limbs about to shake loose the
trespassing creature.  In this case, a small white mouse.  She feel back
onto the large canopies bed.  "Oh my gods."

The small mouse, however, was caught by the observing Hawthorn.  "Oh, I am
sorry.  This is Reginald."  Her pointed the mouse at her.  "He is a bit
drunk.  I have been studying the effects of spirited drinks.  I think that
the drink my actually be a poison, I just have to find what poison it is."
He slipped the mouse back into a cage after recognizing the expression on
her face as disgust.

"That is very. interesting."  She managed as she regained her composure.
"Why don't you sit on the bed and tell me more?"  She patted the bed next to
her.

Hawthorn picked up a stack of papers.  "I can do more then that , I can show
you the results of some of the tests I have been running."  He stat down
next to her and pointed to the first column of numbers, "These are the
results of Marian, the mouse I am not giving any drink to at all.  And these
are the results of Reggie, I test them the day after I get him drunk."

"I think I could use a drink right now."  Tamie half whispered to herself.
Hawthorn stood right up and poured her a glass of wine and sat down next to
her.  He looked at her, eyeing the glass of wine.

"You did ask for a glass didn't you?"  He questioned her.

"Ummm." She looked at the glass again.  "I guess I did."  She sipped some as
Hawthorn started into his lecture again.  She interrupted, "Hawthorn, you do
know why I was invited by your mother to stay here didn't you?"

"You're a relative?"

"Ummm. no."  She scooted closer to him; she could see this was going to be
something she would have to spell out for him.  "Your mother is worried,
about your marital situation, so to say.  I was asked to come and help that
out."  She traced a finger up his chest lightly, she had to admit he kept
good care of his body.

"You are here to help my mother get me married?"  He looked at her.  "I do
not know why, I really don't have time for something as.. as.. um.. how
should I say this. daft as marriage.  It is absurd that two people should
live in misery for just a few moments of fading bliss."  He stood up and
faced her.

She took his hands and pressed them to her body, they were warm hands.  "Let
me show you the other advantages of marriage, and I can guarantee more than
a few moments of bliss."

"You cannot guarantee more than a few moments.  No woman can, I don't see
why you would want it any longer.  Frankly I think the whole thing is over
rated.  There is nothing that marriage can offer me that I cannot get on my
own."  She looked at him, her mouth wide open.  "Now I do not mean to be
rude, but I do have a long trip tomorrow.  Good-night."  With that he showed
her to the door and let her out.

(Morning at the estate)

The room was flooded with the morning light, crisp and golden yellow, making
the lacquer on all the furniture glimmer.  The simple tinking of silver on
china was the only sound the was heard until Hawthorn walked into the room.

"Hawthorn, did you sleep well?"  His mother said from the end of the table.
She was the picture of nobility, her hair held up in a silver braid that
wrapped her head like a crown.  Dressed in a light summer dress that may
have been a bit too formal for breakfast, but not to worry, by lunch she
would have changed.

"Yes I did mother."  Hawthorn sat as food was set before him by an aging
servent.  "Where is the young girl you had as a guest?  Is she not joining
us?"  He looked about the room, as if he might have missed her, which he may
have with the size of the table and room.

"She left early this morning.  Which is something I am meaning to talk to
you about."  She leaned over the table and placed a small hand on his arm.
"What did you say to her to make her so upset?"

"I upset her?"  He stopped and reviewed the conversation in his head.  "I
cannot think of what I may have said to upset her.  I just told her that the
bliss of having a wedding, the rapture of the party and delight of having
your friends and family around were   no reason to marry.  Marriage, for the
most part, is a lot of arguing and upset.  From what I have observed most
married men and women are not happy with their partners, and frequently
cheat."  He paused.  "Well, something like that, and that the happiness she
thinks she can find in marriage I can find in my studies and in my work."
He looked at his mother.  "Do you think this upset her?"

His mother nodded and shook her head.  "It is not good for man to be alone,
son.  I only want your happiness."

"And grandchildren."  He interjected.

"Well, who else am I going to spoil.  You never seemed to want anything more
than your books.  I deserve a child I can spend my money on.  And I know
your father wants one as well."  She patted his arm softly.  "And until I
have one, I will keep trying with you my son."

"Where is father by the way?"  Hawthorn looked around the room again to make
sure he was not there.

"He is out in the fields, you know how he is.  He never missed a sunrise,
and he cannot help but start working.  I guess that is how we got all of
this.  You have his passion, but it is another field, son."  She finished
off her toast and stood up.  "I am sure he is with Marcus getting your
carriage ready.  You will want to get your bags down from your room."

"I will as soon as I finish this breakfast."  He kissed his mothers hand as
she patted his shoulder.  "You will come and visit."

"If I can convince your father."  She smiled and kissed his head.  "You give
me a hint at a grandchild and we will be there with bells on."

"I am there to work mother."  He reminded her.

"Your father met me while we were out working in the fields.  You never know
son."  She winked at him as she left.

(The Warren)

Marcus brought the carriage to a halt.  "We are here sir, I would like to
unpack quickly, I need to make it back before nightfall."  The coachman
hopped down and started to un-strap the luggage from the back of the
carriage.

Hawthorn stepped out and looked around.  It was larger than he had imagined.
"Just leave the luggage here.  I will get it later.  Leave when you are done
Marcus, I have to find the Warren lady."  Hawthorn slipped the letter from
his master under his arm and started to the warren looking for the warren
lady.

(Tag- open)