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Isabel was not happy to find some random man in her home but he didn't look dangerous so at least that was something. She was still staring at him, trying to work out what sort of a man he was. He didn't look particularly surprised, or even worried that he had been discovered. "Oh did she?" Isabel would have to find out who that was. She couldn't allow her servants to go around letting whoever they pleased into her home. For all that servant knew he could be a murderer or a thief.

She inclined her head at his words - just because this was not an ordinary meeting did not mean she was going to ignore the important of good manners. "You guess correctly." Before she had time to ask his name he had already given it. A knight, he said, of Camelot? How interested. He didn't look like a knight but the way he spoke made her believe his words to be true. "A knight?" He tone was warmer this time, and there was a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. "Of Camelot? In that case you mus excuse my rudeness." She bent down and picked up the towels, holding them against her chest. "You must know the prince then? Prince Arthur?"

The man was persistant, but persistance did not make up for his lack of coinage and only the sweet, melodious sound of clinking coins was enough to tempt Isabel. She was a simple woman, really, or at least simple in her desires; if a man was rich he had her attention. This man was not and so he was starting to bore her. Unfortunately for Isabel he didn't seem to understand the concept of personal space. She shuffled a few steps away from him. The only thing that made this little encounter slightly better was the fact that he didn't smell quite as bad as the average peasant so she supposed she should be grateful for that.

She certainly wasn't grateful for his "charm". If he thought that was the way to a girl like her then he was seriously mistaken as well as seriously stupid. She was nobility, she had an estate and servants and she dined with royals, what on earth made him think she wanted to waste her time with the likes of him? Oh yes, he was "handsome" and had what was presumably quite a nice smile, if she was interested. She would have probably thought it a very nice smile if it came with a title, but, it did not so she did not care for it.

"Perhaps a mirror?" She suggested, not in the least impressed by his attempts at paying her a compliment. She wondered how many women he managed to win over with comments like that. Well, if they were stupid enough to fall for them, she supposed.

The suggestiveness in his tone was not missed by Isabel and it wasn't appreciated either. Did he not know who was speaking to? Well, he didn't because she hadn't told him, but he must be aware of her standing and therefore aware that his comments and tone of voice were not appropriate at all. "You are quite correct, I am not. Frankly I'm surprised anyone is - do these lines often work for you?"

Hmm, he did raise a very good point but Jane was sure there must be somewhere he wouldn't be seen. The house was rather large and as it was late most people would already be asleep. It was more a question of making sure he left early enough the next morning rather than finding somewhere. She was an optimistic girl, and could hardly go back on her offer now, so she was quite determined to find somewhere. "Everyone will already be asleep so as long as you leave early tomorrow morning no one will know you are here."

She led him towards the stable and watched him with curiosity as he tied up his horse. Although she felt a little awkward now that there was a silence between them she didn't try to strike up another conversation. Instead she just remained watching him and waiting for him to finish so she could take him inside. Luckily, he took the initiative to speak and so saved them for an even longer silence. "Oh not long," she replied, "None of us, it was all very odd, the Lady Isabel replaced all her old servants a few months ago." It did not occur to her that she was telling him too much, he probably didn't care that much anyway and was only making conversation, but perhaps some of the older servants would be more guarded before telling such things to strangers.

Now that he was finished with his horse she walked over to the door, opened it and waited for him to go inside. "There is a store room over here," she told him, "It might not be the most comfortable place to sleep but it will be better than nothing. "I will go and fetch you some blankets. The room is just here," she pointed and then with a smile went off to find him some propper bedding.

Right, it's still POV from Jane, but as soon as Lance is inside, Isabel will discover him

Jane should probably be more weary about talking to a complete stranger, and especially one that was a man, and especially when she was alone in the middle of the night, but she was a young girl who had the fortune to have never found herself in danger, and so it simply did not occur to her. Indeed, she was far too busy being a little in awe of him to think about whether he was dangerous or not. She wasn't used to talk to a man by herself (or at least not a man who wasn't an aged servant and telling her that she hadn't made Lady Isabel's bed properly that morning) and found herself trying not to look quite so awkward and embarrassed. "I am well, thank you, my lord." He probably wasn't a lord by the looks of him and the fact that he was sleeping outside, but she had had enough chastising for not addressing people properly so she wasn't taking any chances.

She found herself smiling at his next words, not many people seemed to appreciate being outside the way she did. "Yes it is," she replied in agreement, her confidence growing somewhat. "I was just out for a walk." The man's question brought a look of surprise onto his face. He thought this was her land? It may be dark, but she was dressed in the clothes fitting her station and hardly carried herself like a lady. "Oh, oh no! You are on the Massard estate, I am only a servant here."

Lancelot, she repeated the name in her head, deciding it was quite a fitting name for him and sounded so much more extravagant than her own. "My name is Jane, but I am no lady." She replied, down casting her eyes and slightly embarrassed about the whole situation. She didn't know what she was supposed to do on finding a strange man in the middle of the night, but she could assume it wasn't standing here being awkward. "You cannot stay out here." She said as firmly as she could, "You must come inside and I will find you somewhere to rest for the night."

POV of Isabel's servant Jane, Isabel will be in the next post

Jane had not been in the employment of Lady Isabel for long. No one had. After the rest of the Massard family had died all the servants had lost their jobs and been replaced by people like Jane. She was new to the life of a servant and was therefore determined to do everything properly. Who knows, within a year or so she may be a handmaid and attending Lady Isabel personally, instead of spending her days buried underneath laundry.

It was rather late and she'd have to be awake early so she probably should not be wandering about the grounds but she'd spent all day inside and needed some fresh air. No one ever came to the house or its ground so she was not expecting any danger. In fact, the only thing she should be concerned about was being tired in the morning. It was a risk that she was willing to take.

As it was so late she couldn't really see where she was going, luckily the Massard estate was rather large so she was still within its grounds. She should probably be heading back now but everything was so quiet and so still unlike the hustle and bustle in the house and it was just so nice to have some time alone to gather her thoughts instead of running around after other people.

And then she saw the man on the ground. He looked asleep, although in the dark she couldn't really tell properly, but he didn't look dangerous or maybe that was just Jane's naivety. She bit her lip and began to approach him slowly so as not to startle him. He looked like he needed the rest and probably hadn't thought much about where to find it. "Hello? Are you alright? What are you doing out here alone?"

Notes: There was nothing wrong with your post! I always find starting a thread the hardest post

Urgh, this post is meh. I do apologise.

Isabel bit her lip, the initial anger was starting to fade away and she remembered that she was in a very public place so she tried to compose herself. She'd already made enough of a scene but there was no need for it to be any more obvious. So far as far as she could tell only a few nobles sat around her had noticed, everyone else to be either completely oblivious or simply didn't care.

The nobleman next to her appeared to have an increasing interest in the situation which really wasn't helping. "The poor girl has apologised, can you not see she is sincere?"

Isabel bit back the temptation to glare at him. She didn't need some stupid man intereferring, although he probably did have a point. Her dress was already ruined so there was nothing that could be done about it now; any remaining anger would be futile. The young wine-stained woman let out a sigh. She needed to remember that she couldn't just lose her temper like this, especially not in front of quite so many people. Usually she was able to control her emotions but being amongst so many nobles she had already been on edge enough. This was just an exception, she told herself firmly. She would not be quite so quick to anger again. "I may have acted harshly and for that I apologise. It is only a dress after all."

Isabel was aware that she was causing a scene, but she didn't care. Her dress was completely ruined, and everyone had seen it. She had been made to look like an idiot in front of the other nobles, and instead of an apology she was given excuses? Did the insolent girl honestly think that would be enough? She'd had to work for this dress, and a lot harder than this singer had ever worked in her life, she daresay. Honestly. Was there no respect for nobility nowadays?

She had nothing to try and dry her dress with, which, although wouldn't make a difference to the stain, would have at least made the situation slightly less uncomfortable. Not only this, but she was going to have to leave - she could hardly stay at the table in this state, now could she? Well, her evening had been well and truly ruined now. This had been her chance to show the world what she was capable of, to show everyone that she was noblity. And what had happened? She'd been humiliated. Well wasn't that just fantastic. "I appreciate your apology." She said curtly. "Or at least I would were it not riddled with excuses. Do you know how much this dress cost? A lot more money than you've ever seen, I daresay. And that is all you've got to say for yourself?"

The situation was not getting any better. What was it with men and thinking that with only a few words a woman would be theirs? It was an insult to her sex. She took a step towards him, looking him up and down. She couldn't deny the fact that he was a handsome man, but he was poor and of little consequence. It was quite obvious that she was not the only woman who had "inspired" him so, she might not even be the first that day. Well, she certainly wasn't going to be charmed by any of it. It took a lot more than a smile and some rehearsed lines to turn Isabel's head. Well, most of the time it just took some money and a title, but even so, this man clearly had neither was therefore a waste of her time.

She had to admire his confidence though. Not many people of his standing would dare to speak to a woman of hers. Perhaps he had ideas above his station. A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. Here she was, thinking how this man shouldn't be speaking to her, thinking about how lowly he was in comparison when only a few months ago she was perhaps even lower. Well, it just proved how much of a time waster the man really was. If she could raise herself to the nobility so could anyone. Remaining poor was just laziness. She stopped her thoughts - now she was just rambling while the man was clearly expecting an answer. All she wanted to do was have a nice, quiet walk, but it seemed the fates were against her. Well then. She supposed it wouldn't be a complete waste of her time to continue to talk to the man, and she had no other plans today (and something told her that he wouldn't be giving up that easily. Men). "Would it make any difference if I said no?"