Quite the Con Artist [Richard]

[Romily de Braose]

Romily de Braose was making the most of the Carmelide sunshine, for once it wasn't raining and she could freely go out into the gardens and take a walk, without anyone asking of her whereabouts or why she was going. Bonnie was walking with her, having nothing better to do and wanting to be with her mistress again. She had missed her.
"I'll have to speak to cook about the dinner for tomorrow evening, and then I need to see that I have a dress suitable for the Knighting Ceremony next week, oh and I must write to Arthur to tell him of all that is happening..."

"My lady, you must breathe!" Bonnie chuckled, "Everything will be fine, you are doing well as Lady of the Manor."

Romily looked at her, "I know - I just...I haven't been in this position for years and it's a little hard to adjust to this life again, no matter how long I was in Camelot before - I grew so used to being a simple barmaid that I sort of just, well...forgot". Bonnie merely nodded and then looked around, as another set of footsteps were heard on the gravel. "My lady, there is a man at the door asking to speak to you..." she said, bowing her head, "and he seems quite persistant."

Romily's lips turned into a smirk, "Well then, we mustn't keep him waiting - come Bonnie." she instructed, turned and headed back to the house with the maid and servant in tow.

Tagged: Richard de Calys
Setting: Wolfhall Manor, Carmelide
Notes: Quite frankly, this should've been done before!

[Richard de Calys]

Richard de Calys wasn't entirely sure where he was. He'd just jumped on a horse and skedaddled. It didn't particularly matter though. He was in Albion, that much he was certain and that was all he really needed to know. As long as he could find a place to rest his head that night all would be well, and finding somewhere to sleep was something Richard was rather good at. The plan, not that he reall had one at the moment, was just to find some kind of building and see who was there. It wasn't a very complicated plan but it did really on his ability to con anyone he came across. Luckily, he kept two things with him at all times: his hat and a small satchel filled with necklaces that looked like they contained diamonds, rubies and other such precious stones when in actual fact they were little more than coloured glass. To the untrained eye, they were worth up to fifty gold coins - but Richard would take thirty as he needed to get rid of them quick, or so he'd explain to the unsuspecting noble. Of course once they were sold and Richard made his official departure, said necklace would do mysteriously missing.

He couldn't count the amount of nobles who fell for that one - usually vain women, desperate to retain some of the beauty of their youth, or young nobles trying to woo fair maidens, hoping a pretty trinket or two would turn their heads. Whatever their motive, it didn't matter to Richard. He just wanted their money and then to move on to the next place, the next people, the next con. It was a rather good life, he thought, doing what he pleased and not having to care what anyone thought about him. He'd spent the majority of his life trying to live by other people's rules and expectations but now it just him.

He was becoming rather hungry by the time his horse approached a rather large house, or manor rather. It looked like a pleasant enough place, hopefully with equally pleasant residences. The more trusting the person, the easier the con - not that he usually had much trouble. He could be rather persuasive when he wanted to be. When he reached the entrance he dismounted and made his presence known, waiting somewhat impatiently before a young girl appeared.

"I request to see the lady of the house."

"What is your name, my lord?"

"That is not important, go and tell your mistress I need to speak to her and urgently." With a small bow the girl disappeared and Richard started waiting again.

[Romily de Braose]

The servant led Romily to where she had left the man. Romily frowned slightly as they approached him, he looked like he was of nobility - he had a hat. "This is he my lady, unfortunatly he did not leave me with a name to announce him by..." the servant apologised.

"It's quite alright, I shall ask him myself, and what brings him here." Romily told her as they grew closer. She was going to be wary of anyone strange who came to the house - she couldn't trust that many people so to keep her head on her shoulders she needed to read him very carefully. Finally they stopped in front of the visitor. "Good day my lord, I understand you requested to see me - I am Lady Romily."

She looked him up and down, "Now...seeing as you decided not to state your name to my servant, I hope you wouldn't mind doing so to me, and telling me what brings you here" Romily eyed him. There was something about him that she couldn't quite make out yet.

[Richard de Calys]

Richard was not kept long, he did hate having to wait when he could be making money. When the lady of the manor arrived she was not what he had expected. She was young and had a rather odd look across her features. Richard was not a fan of young women at all. To get money out of them a little charm was usually called for. He wasn't the most charming of people anyway, but especially not around young women.

He bowed, smiling and trying to look trustworthy - it was a look he'd often practiced and one that never usually let him down. It always helped to have an appearance of someone you could trust, someone who would never dream of selling you a mere piece of coloured glass for the price of a ruby... "My lady, you must forgive my intrusion but I find myself in rather a spot of trouble."

She still looked unsure about him, and while she was entirely correct in thinking that she should be weary, it was rather annoying for him. He wasn't in the habit of being mistrusted. "I am Richard de Calys of Cantia." He paused and looked around him with put-upon paranoia before stepping forward, possibly a little too close and saying in a quiet voice, "I am in desperate need of your help."

[Romily de Braose]

"My lady, you must forgive my intrusion but I find myself in rather a spot of trouble."
Hmm was he really, but being the ever gracious host that she should be, she listened and nodded. "It is quite alright my lord, what kind of trouble brings you here?" she asked, out of the corner of her eye seeing Bonnie giving the stranger a curious look. Her maid was always protective of her but even more so now that she was back home.

"I am Richard de Calys of Cantia." he introduced himself, now coming a little closer to her and looking quite nervous as he scanned the courtyard. Romily too also looked around as he asked in a rather hushed tone for help. She looked to Bonnie. "Leave us, but tell Ryle to bring some wine to the solar. Myself and my guest shall be in there should anyone wish to speak to me." Her maid nodded, still looking curiously at Richard before returning inside the house.

"Come" Romily gestured for him to follow, "We shall discuss this more inside where we won't be in the presence of prying ears and eyes." With that she turned and led him into the house, finally coming to the solar and allowing him to pass into the room first before she did. Finding that Ryle had already left the wine there, she closed the door and turned to face him. "Please, be seated. Now...what is it that you are in need of?"

[Richard de Calys]

So far, so good. The woman hadn't called for her guards or anything like that, so Richard was going to take this was positive encouragement. Keeping up the air of paranoia, he started clenching and unclenching his fists and then fiddling with them of his shirt. It was details like this which kept the performance so convincing. "It's...well, it's rather important and...well, this is very embarrassing but I'd prefer not to discuss it so openly." That was another trick of the trade Richard had picked up - always try to get into the house, it's much harder to be turned away then.

He followed her inside, rather pleased with himself that everything was going according to plan. Apparantly young noble women weren't as bad as he thought, alternatively he could just be that good, which was a much nicer way of looking at things. It wasn't often that Richard underestimate himself but this could be a rather good example.

Normally he would have insisted she entered the room first - being a gentleman and all - but he was too busy with running over his scheme to bother with such formalities and so just walked in and sat himself down after being invited. The change of scenery did not change his manners though. His leg was twitching and his hands were still fiddling with his shirt, only now they were pulling at his sleeves. "I'm being followed." He said bluntly, "You see...I got into a spot of bother...nothing too serious...I should think, but, well, here we are. But I have a plan, sort of. I just need your help. It's awful of me to impose like this I know, and I wouldn't if I had any other option, but quite simply I don't. You see, you, Lady Romily, are my only hope and I'm terribly sorry."

[Romily de Braose]

He was being followed? Romily frowned at this - she certainly hadn't seen anyone acting suspiciously around the house, but then again there was woodland, and it was easy just to hide behind a tree or a bush. "You see...I got into a spot of bother...nothing too serious...I should think, but, well, here we are. But I have a plan, sort of. I just need your help. It's awful of me to impose like this I know, and I wouldn't if I had any other option, but quite simply I don't. You see, you, Lady Romily, are my only hope and I'm terribly sorry."
He had a plan? That involved her? Oh great, this was all that she needed - for all Romily knew there could be weapons involved and she had never really weilded a sword in her life, well once - but that was only in defence and even then she really couldn't hold it properly. She'd sworn off weapons since then, perferring to use the method of compromise (should there be a chance to take it) and it seemed to work.

"Forgive me if I haven't got this right but...You want me to be part of a plan that I have no clue with pan out - because you are being followed for reasons of a situation that you obviously got into yourself?" she sat back and replied cooly. He looked like the type who was always in trouble. "Let me hear of this plan first - then I shall tell you whether I agree to it." she told him, "I do not know if I can trust you going by what has already been said, but if you do happen to be telling the truth, then I will do all that I can to help you."

Romily shot him a coy smile before reaching over and pouring Richard a goblet of wine and passing it to him. "Now...tell me about this plan."

[Richard de Calys]

Usually people were either far too suspicious or far too naive. Unsurprisingly, Richard preferred it when they were far too naive, his job was made a lot easier. This Lady Romily however was proving rather tricky. It was annoying, and in danger of ruining his plan. He much preferred it when said noble was too busy trying to get rid of him to care about the current whereabouts of their purse. Perhaps he'd have to keep his wits about him at present, well, a little extra caution couldn't. He took a moment or two to study her, to see what he could determine about her. She was the lady of the house, that much was obvious but she did not wear a wedding ring. Interesting. Perhaps a little romance could sway her. Luckily, Richard had a story for every noble.

He looked down at the floor again, playing the part of the nervous and desperate young man. She wanted to hear his plan, that was perfectly reasonable, but first she would hear his story. "There is no easy way for me to say this...but, well, the fact of the matter is...my problem is...that is to say the reason for my current situation is...love. I fell in love with this girl...this...perfect girl. Eloise, her name is." he paused, a small smile tugging at his lips for effect. "Only, well, her parents didn't approve of the match. She is too far above me you see, in every sense of the word. We were undeterred though...until we were found out that is." He paused again, this time for dramatic effect and glanced up at her. "The people following me...her brothers. I'm not exactly sure what they'll do when they find me but well...it shan't be good." A hand reached into his pocket and he produced the necklace. "Eloise gave this to me...she said I should sell it. I-I hate to part with it, but I have no choice." He offered Romily the necklace, a desperate expression across his face. "I don't ask much for it, just enough to buy safe passage."

There, that should do it, he thought. What woman could resist a story like that? And even if she didn't believe him - not that that would be terribly likely - it was a nice necklace, not worth a penny of course, but she didn't know that. No, by the time she realised that he, and her money, would be long gone.