Well, Well, What Do We Have Here? [Caitrin]

[Philip de Calmot]

Philip de Calmot wasn't usually one who had an itch that needed scratching, but even he couldn't ignore every temptation. He was still a man, still had to succumb to certain urges, but even then it was always on his own terms. Just like everything he did, there would always be a reason - especially when someone else was involved; even the most basic of instincts had their uses. He should probably be more impressed with himself - how many people manage to find so many positive outcomes from indulging in a little sin? Only those who knew how to play the game properly. Philip was a man who liked to hold all the cards. Yes, he was going to enjoy his visit to Caitrin de Archer, and yes, this was going to further...whatever his intentions were. At the moment he was rather without a solid plan, he just found her amusing, especially when she thought she was the key player. It would have been endearing, if he cared about such things.

As he drew closer he dismounted, continuing to walk the last five minutes or so whilst leading the horse behind him. He wasn't a particular fan of riding, but the de Archer estate was too far away for him to wish to walk the entire way, and taking the carriage was simply not going to happen. Besides, if he hadn't dismounted he would have been in no position to stop suddenly on seeing what looked like a familiar face, and find some shelter behind a few trees. Philip was not in the habit of spying, well, not often anyway, but there was something about that man...the dark, messy hair, the way he carried himself, the Glouchedonian lilt...but surely this was far too much of a coincidence.

Tethering the horse to one of the trees, Philip inched forward, determined to prove himself wrong. He was definitely not looking at an Aubert...then again, he had heard that they were here...the sons, one ran away and the other kicked out. Philip had been briefly acquainted with the oldest, Lucan, when they were younger but he couldn't tell whether that was him or the other one...what had his name been? Something beginning with G. It must have been him, Philip decided, he looked too young to be Lucan. A rather amused, and slightly surprised expression spread across his features as he watched the boy walking away. How absurdly coincidental...and convinient. His mind was already telling him just how important this new information could be, how he could take advantage of the situation, especially if the boy knew Caitrin...the little wench. Well, it seemed he had quite a lot of work to do.


Tagged: Caitrin de Archer
Timeline: Series 2-3 gap

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin de Archer didn’t feel like herself. Griff had only just left her, having spent most of the day yesterday and last night by her side. Usually, she couldn’t wait to get shot of a man after she’d satisfied her own needs, but this was different. She already wanted Griff to come back; last night had been sensational, and she wouldn’t be forgetting it anytime soon. There was another part of her though that was warning her to not go head over heels over this man. Caitrin was used to men speaking pretty words to her, and telling her she was loved and how no woman could ever compare to her. However, all those men always disappeared, and found other women to satisfy their needs. The years had hardened her heart somewhat, and though she did want to place all her trust, and affections with Griff, it was proving a harder task than she had first thought. Standing up, she brushed down her low cut scarlet gown and checked over her hair in the mirror again. She wasn’t expecting any visitors today, but she always loved to look her best.

Smiling to herself she ran a hand through her hair, as she stubbornly told herself she wasn’t falling in love. She was Caitrin de Archer, and she defiantly wasn’t in love. Biting her lip, the memories of last night came flooding back to her, one by one; the way he had held her, and teased her as he’d claimed her for his own. Caitrin shuddered a little but grinned all the same. I am not in love She told herself again before finally leaving the room. Griff hadn’t wanted to go, but he had muttered something about his brother. Caitrin didn’t really have a high opinion of Lucan so she’d waved Griff off, but she wouldn’t go with him. Lucan had said enough to her for her to care about him.

Really Caitrin had little to do with her day, and sighed softly to herself as she descended the stairs. She didn’t really want to go to Camelot; if Griff and his brother were there then it might make her look like she was stalking him a little, rather than the other way around. How ironic. In actual fact, Caitrin was saved the trouble of worrying about what her day was going to consist of, because as she got to the bottom of the stairs, Pip was coming in the front door. He usually let himself in when it was just her on her own, and she preferred that. She didn’t like the servants to know every detail of her life. Caitrin knew exactly why Pip was here; for the same reason he always called upon her. His visits were infrequent, but that was what she liked; he always surprised her. She gave a low curtsey, “Good morning my Lord.” She rose again, she loved to play out the little formalities, it just made what they were going to do more adventurous in a way. “To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?” A small smirk came onto her lips as she stepped up to Pip so they were mere inches apart. Griff was still in the back of her mind, but if she allowed herself to falter and think on him then she wouldn’t be able to do this, and she always aimed to please Pip. It was always like that.

[Philip de Calmot]

Philip had let himself in as usual, but was rather surprised to see Caitrin was only just coming down the stairs. Hadn't she bothered to see the Aubert boy off? Speaking of, he would have to find out exactly what he'd been doing here. Philip would hate to think there were unsavoury goings on in the de Archer household in his absence - especially if Aubert was involved.

He shuddered at the thought, or at least he would if he wasn't already seeing this as an oppurtunity. Almost everything was seen as an oppurtunity to Philip - that was what happened when you had hardly a penny to you name, but plenty of unresolved issues. It was the principle of the thing - not that Philip really knew all that much about principles. The Auberts had ruined his family, so of course he was going to return the favour. And now, by some happy coincidence, it seemed Caitrin de Archer of all people could be of use. He knew there was a reason he bothered with her.

Caitrin was no less eager than she usually was. A more territorial man might be offended. She'd only just left the company of one man, and now she was sizing up another. Perhaps it was purely because of who the other man was that Philip was an Aubert and he could twist this to his own advantage. Unfortunately, this meant putting up with what she probably thought was some endearing wit of hers - hence that annoying smirk. Well, he was in no mood to play these games. Normally he would at least put up with them - Caitrin was someone who liked to think she was in control, even though she never was - but he wanted to know what exactly the Aubert boy was doing here.

"I think you know what," he returned the suggestion heavy in his voice. He paused, a small smirk forming on his lips, head tilted slightly. He bit his lip, looking her up and down but a second later he'd stepped away from her and raised his eyebrows. "But it seems I'm a little late for that."

[Caitrin de Archer]

It was worrying how quickly Caitrin felt herself moulding back into the role that she always played around Pip. Aside from Griff, he was the only man that she had made any advances with recently. Other men seem to have lost their appeal, and so she usually had been saving herself for the few occasions that Pip decided to visit her on. After all, he never failed to disappoint. However, then Griff had come along, and though she’d told him to leave her be, he had pursued her, and now everything felt different.

She couldn’t stand here thinking of Griff though now, not when Pip was here. That wouldn’t help anything, and she didn’t want to give Pip a reason to refuse her advances. His embraces and the time they spent together was something she craved. It was hard to get her head round it in a way. When she had been with Griff her thoughts had been on nothing but him, but now he was almost intruding on her time with Pip, and she wasn’t quite sure why. They both gave her very different things. Pip always gave her what she needed, and took what he needed as well. Griff on the other hand had made her feel wanted; it hadn’t been about giving or taking. It had just been natural.

Caitrin took a few seconds to compose herself as she matched Pip’s smirk; trying to squash the memories of last night. Pip was all she had to concentrate on now. Griff was just some other man, she had long come to accept that every man she let into her bed usually got shot of her as soon as they could. Pip hadn’t just yet, so she had to focus on that. “Do I?” She asked him, the suggestion as heavy in her tone as it had been in his. It didn’t put her off as he drew back; she was well used to his games.

Caitrin didn’t really understand Pip’s words; unless of course he had seen Griff leaving. Even then, she couldn’t really understand his behaviour, unless he was jealous. That was completely fathomable of course, but she wasn’t about to jump to conclusions. She’d learnt that Pip was never as straight forwards as that. Instead she smirked, and made up the difference between them with ease; one of her fingers started out at his stomach and rose until it caressed the exposed flesh of his neck. Caitrin knew what Pip wanted, and whether he was jealous no doubt he would still take it. Men were all the same in some respects. “I beg to differ my Lord.” She raised her lips so they were now just one movement away from being pressed to his, “We have all day.”