15: Noble Lady

Beta'd by SnowyEgrett

Walking in front of the next painting, Lin FenXiang tilted his head to the side as he observed the piece of art. Thankfully Tristan had been called away by their boyfriend and now there was no one else to bear witness to his weirdness.

He sighed as he looked at the painting, the space between his eyebrows creased.

This painting was named Noble Lady.

It was some sort of idyllic art he'd made as a gift to his friend.

Eleni Yaxley. Adrastus' cousin, his dear friend and later Martin's wife.

The painting was of her in her late teens, probably just when she was eighteen. Come to think of it, Drystan had met her when she was eighteen and he himself was perhaps twenty-two?

He couldn't quite remember.

But he'd made this painting when she'd started pestering him non-stop from the moment she realised that he was the painter, when her father had invited him to paint a family portrait.

Then out of utter exasperation, he did end up making one for her and tastefully named it 'Noble Lady'.

When she was alive, she loved his gift very much and took it with her when she got married to Martin Huxley.

Lin FenXiang frowned looking at the beautiful painting depicting the scene of English autumn. A beautiful young lady sitting elegantly on a swing as the gentle breeze blew her hair whilst she held a book in one hand and the swing's rope in the other.

Her simple and suave pastel pink dress fluttering along the movement of the swing and the wind accompanying it.

Her head was turned to the side as she faced the painter, quiet mischief in her eyes as she smiled teasingly at him.

Her youthful beauty immortalised in his painting.

.

It had been a long time since Drystan had set foot anywhere near Yorkshire or the like. After he'd graduated from Oxford, his entire focus had been given to managing his fief in Wales and devoting himself to art.

Although he was a Marquess, he preferred to live like a normal artist and tended to take commission for art from people and the church, even if most of the time he did things like twisting the meaning of the church and making… ahem. In short, he enjoyed messing around with the church people.

Drystan would have been a downright menace if he wasn't a really good pretender.

Right now, he was on his way to the Yaxley Duchy's estate. For whatever reasons he had been asked to paint their family's painting for a handsome amount and he wasn't someone to decline an inflow of money.

As his carriage travelled leisurely through the narrow road, it lurched to a stop, making him frown in displeasure.

Coldly, he said to the coach man, “What is going on?" The coach man's quiet voice sounded from the front.

"Sir, it seems that the carriage in front of us has some problem. It might take some time, I'm afraid."

His frown deepened as he signalled his butler to go and check if the issue could be resolved sooner.

Drystan could hardly afford the delay, not with the eccentricity of nobles. He sighed when the butler came back, looking troubled.

He parted the curtain on the window and looked down at the servant, nodding for him to speak.

The man pursed his lips together and answered. "The wheel of the carriage ahead is broken. It is likely that it will take some time to repair. But sir…"

Drystan tilted his head giving the butler a go ahead.

"Sir, the person riding the carriage is," his voice dropped to a whisper. "Eleni Yaxley, daughter of Count Yaxley and Duke Yaxley's niece."

Upon hearing the mention of Duke Yaxley, something in Drystan's eyes hardened as he nodded slowly.

"Go," he commanded faintly. "And see if Lady Eleni has the same destination as us. If so, then offer her our assistance." The butler nodded and walked back to the carriage.

Drystan observed the development outside through his peripheral vision and saw the butler talking to someone inside the carriage.

After some time, he saw the hem of a dress coming out of the carriage as a lady and her two maids got out of the vehicle.

He quietly withdrew his gaze and waited for them to announce their presence.

Soon enough the lady accompanied by her two maids entered the carriage with the butler's assistance.

The lady — Lady Eleni — was wearing a beautiful emerald green dress with a wide brimmed hat. She looked at him through her half-lidded eyes and offered him a polite nod as her two maids sat on her sides.

Drystan reciprocated her gesture with a nod of his own and occupied himself in his thoughts.

The entire ride to the Yaxley Duchy's estate was a quiet one. None of the occupants spoke a word.

For Drystan himself was less than interested in conversing with a noble lady and the lady herself seemed to prefer the quiet whereas neither of the two's servants were in the position to start something akin to a conversation.

So the ride was a quiet one and Drystan would very much prefer to believe that the silence was comfortable if not for the occasional glances shot his way by the maids.

After at least an hour or so, the carriage came to a slow stop as Drystan's coach man informed him of their arrival at the estate.

Feeling slightly grateful at the timely stop, Drystan swiftly but elegantly exited the carriage and went to Lady Eleni's side.

Calmly opening the door for her, he extended a polite, gloved hand for her to take.

She looked at him as though considering his offer and then finally decided to take it. Delicately taking his hand, the beautiful noble lady got out of the carriage with a nod and her lips held something close to a smile.

Determining that she was finally on her feet, Drystan stepped to the side and made a telltale sweep of his hand, gesturing for her to move first.

With her head held high, Lady Eleni Yaxley walked with grace through the cobblestoned road leading to the estate, Drystan at her heels in some distance.

Her pace was unhurried and elegant as she stopped in front of someone.

Although from where he was, Drystan couldn't get a good view of the person but judging by the stature it seemed to be a man.

His speed slowed down considerably since he was in no hurry to interrupt whatever was going on between them.

By the time Drystan neared the gates, he could clearly see the man Lady Eleni was speaking to.

The man was slightly shorter than him, his figure more leaning towards slender than robust, had a head of impressive platinum blond hair and an extremely captivating face, he gave off an aloof and noble air.

Dressed in rigorous suit — which gave quite the evidence of his good sense of style — the man Drystan was looking at was none other than —

— Adrastus Esmeray, the Duke of Yorkshire.

Drystan didn't behave presumptuously. Giving a polite and rather distant nod, he discreetly observed the man without showing it.

He also did not rush to introduce himself.

If the said Duke had anything on his mind regarding what was happening, the man masterfully did not show it.

Approaching Drystan, the man faintly opened.

"Marquess of Wales, Sir Drystan Meyer?"

Drystan nodded gently. "Indeed. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Duke of Yorkshire." He finally reached out a hand for the man to shake.

"Likewise, Marquess." Duke Esmeray took his hand and shook it politely before letting it drop.

Drystan nodded once more, then it struck him. Tilting his head to the side, he asked. "Were you perhaps waiting for someone?"

Duke Esmeray gave a shallow smile. "You."

Drystan froze.

"Uncle asked me to lead you in once you've arrived," he continued, "to my surprise, you weren't alone and even had my cousin with you."

"Perhaps it's fate," Drystan answered blandly as he followed Duke Esmeray and Lady Eleni into the estate.

Somehow, he had fallen to the Duke's side. Whether it was his own fault or Adrastus Esmeray had considerately matched his pace, he didn't know.

Glancing at the shorter man's side profile briefly, he quickly tore his eyes away from the man.

Soon enough, the butler welcomed them and Drystan was busily ushered by him to the master of the estate.

Drystan entered the study and came a few hours later after having a rather lengthy discussion about the painting he was to paint.

Much later, he was met with the inquisitive eyes of Lady Eleni — "Call me Eleni." — who immediately started pestering him to make a painting of her.

Which, at that time, he'd done gladly and never been happier about that decision.

.

Lin FenXiang crossed his arms against his chest as he dove in and out of retrospection.

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Author has something to say:

Xiao Xiang (in his mind): Pretty, pretty, pretty.

Author (nodding): Pretty prickly.

Adrastus (smiling slightly): Finally I got some screen time.

My finals result will be announced tomorrow in case I die, my legacy will be continued by my beta and if I don't, I will continue to update safe and sound!