Ian could see the way her pink lips parted, her eyes looking at him bravely which he had always found to be endearing and challenging. There was always the look she had on her face when she looked at him. The face as if it was expressing her love for him that he could tell that Elise hadn't notice it herself. When he saw the expression and the way her cheeks splashed in the color of red, he felt that she was irresistible to his eyes.

There was never a feeling he felt to his heart the way he now feels with her. Though he had long lost his heart and emotions, he could tell how a part of his humane emotions surfaced again.

"Are you frightened by my words?" Elise saw the challenging eyes he had as if he was trying to test whether she would take her steps back.

Her fingers folded to her palm, her eyes were slightly glanced with her nerves that was in shambles in the close proximity they shared. Steeling her nerves, she replied, "I'm not. I don't find you scary, master Ian."

"I could see that. Brave little one." he chuckled, after enjoying a clear look to her face, he finally let go off her chin, his hand that left was slow in motion and tickled her. "If you are still worried about your dress, I will call someone to bring you a new dress. Lady Monica seemed to be fond of buying dress often and I'm sure she would be more than happy to lend you one."

Elise looked at him with a doubting expression at his suggestion. From what she had seen in both the store and the greeting earlier Lady Monica hated her and she wouldn't want to instigate the woman's anger by requesting her to lend her a dress. "No, I am fine with my dress." she replied that had him smiling slowly.

"Good then." his lips that spoke closed and opened very slightly to take a sip of the red wine. Elise saw the way his jaw raised and his throat bobbed when he gulped down the red liquid in a sensual way. Feeling her ears red, her eyes darted around not knowing what she should looked at. "Do you know Lady Monica?" her eyes looking at him surprised, how did he found out? And to her answer, he continued, "When you saw her earlier I could see your surprise."

"I met Lady Monica in a thread shop this afternoon." To hear that in midst of the conversation Ian had placed her attention to her, she felt delighted and her smile she had across her lips wouldn't keep calm.

"Not a good first meeting I assume?" Her blue eyes that gazed at him once again was surprised by his words. How could he also know of that? Ian lips form a grin, looking at the little puppy whose eyes were looking at him with curiosity but he didn't feel to tell her that her heartbeat had been letting all her emotions out.

"What did she do?" asked Ian, his red eyes narrowing down.

Elise parted her red lips, opening to talk when suddenly a voice came behind them.

"Good evening, Milord." a man bowed in front of him, Elise looked toward the man who spoke, looking young with a monocle resting on the bridge of his nose to his right eyes.

"Valhoun." called Ian, with a slight faint smile. "I thought you wouldn't like a party such as this."

Valhoun who had thick curly gray colored hair smile, "Like you, milord I've been ignoring the invitations sent by the people and have no other place to reject them."

"For a man who is famous amongst the lady, I could understand that." replied Ian, Elise heard how he spoke of his favors amongst lady subtly with the man and felt her heart squeezed.

"I wouldn't dare to be compared with you." Valhoun replied receiving a grin filled of mirth from Ian. His eyes then moved to meet Elise and the man returned her bow. He knows not to ask and the line he shouldn't cross, seeing how the Lord had brought the lady despite her dress it would mean the Lord have come to show his favor of the lady and only a fool would raise their hand or voice against her.

"Have you received the new regarding the matter of the lands?" Ian asked his red eyes looking at Elise who stood still on her place keeping herself collected when her eyes were wondering around to stop at the oil paintings hanged on the red wall.

"Yes, I have met with the magistrates who was stationed in the villages and the towns in the land and shockingly I found that all of them claimed that Mr. Vervor was the one responsible for the piece of land."

"Greedy aren't he? He must have think I have lost my touch in beheading someone." commented Ian with a smirk. Elise who heard the word beheading gulped but from what she had heard Mr. Vervor had stolen the land of the Lord which was punishable by death. She knew that Master Ian wouldn't kill people who were not guilty though she still had her own thought of death she knew believe Ian's choice of action had its reason.

"What will you do, milord?" asked Valhoun, fixing his monocle.

"I will sent the invitation to call the people to my castle. A little greeting to also warn them." Valhoun nodded when he suddenly felt a presence of a person behind them.

"Lord Ian." Elise who heard the voice also turned her head behind Valhoun. Wondering who it was, Elise moved her eyes to find the brunette lady, her hand was playing with her hair after she had gathered Ian's attention for a short while.

"I will take my excuse now," Valhoun said, bowing to Ian before leaving the place for Lady Monica to take her time.

Lady Monica smiled to the man, giving a thank you expression for the man's consideration. Once the man had left, she spoke, "I heard of your last expedition to Mashforth was a success, milord, how did it go?"

Ian chuckled, "It seems you are interested in the business the Lord have. It was success as what you had said. But makes me wonder how you know about the expedition."