Fortune flowers

❝ There was no sin he would not commit for the right price ❞

Only a few more days now. Only a few more days before he left for Dawnmire. He had been tending to the garden every evening when he got home from business matters, but those things were mostly to keep track of the flowers he wanted to pick for his visit. He noticed that some of his purple colored hydrangea were starting to wilt as it was the end of their blooming season. As his hands went over the last of the good looking flowers, he carefully picked up some garden scizors, snipping the blooming plants a bit lower under the beautiful display, leaving some room for the stem so that it could be properly held and eventually also be placed in a vase. He put some of the flowers aside, went through his knees once more and carefully continued, tending to the plants one by one. Cutting out both the beautiful, blooming flowers as well as some of the wilting ones. He separated them, eventually discarding of the bad parts, before returning to fetch his freshly cut hydrangea bouquet. Now he knew someone who could use some good fortune that was brought with these flowers.

As his hands went over the flowers once more, he carefully stepped further down the hall. His hazel eyes quickly shot towards one of the maidens who seemed to be carrying something. Not that he cared what it was. "Hallo dear, I have a question. Would you perhaps know where my niece, miss Alison, might be?" The maid stopped right in her tracks, turning her head towards the towering man and nodded carefully. "Yes of course my lord, she is in her room," The man put on one of his charming smile, nodding towards the young lady. "Thank you so much dear," His eyes went over the cloths she was carrying around. Laundry, perhaps. "If you aren't too busy, dear, would you be able to fetch me a vase as well? These are for the young lady and I'm sure she wants to put them on display," He smiled at her once more. "If it's not.... Too much to ask of course," Not that she had a choice, if she refused he would make sure her treatment next time wouldn't be so careful. Or perhaps he would fire her on the spot. But the lady smiled at him shyly, nodding at him once more. "Of course my lord, I'll get it right away," And with those words, she went on her way.

Matthew regained his more serious posture, but he knew it wouldn't take long before he would go loose once more. Just dropping of the flowers and he would be on his way. He still had plenty to do. Well... No real urgent matters when it came to business matters. But even entertainment was mandatory if you asked him. As his eyes went over the door which led to Alisons room he carefully lifted his free hand, knocking carefully before taking a step back. Awaiting patiently. She was a young woman after all. And all men knew that you had to respect a womans privacy. That was lesson number one of being a gentleman.

❝ There was no sin he would not commit for the right price ❞

He could hear her voice from inside the room and a smile curled on his lips. His natural resting face, as some might say. It was just how he responded to most thing, especially when it came to family. Keeping up a smile was the best way to keep people tricked into thinking everything was alright. But Matthew had many years under his belt when it came to being social. He knew all too well what charming looks and a matching personality could do to the world. And what had been an act at first, had slowly become part of him. Now he couldn't live without. It was as breathing air for him, almost a necessity. It had become part of him, iconic almost. Not that he cared much for all that. In the end it just meant he could get certain business done faster. It was all part of the job. A job he had made just for himself.

The door was swiftly opened and Matthew showed his niece a kind smile. She was blushing, had he disturbed her in some way? He was sure that she didn't have company over... So... Hm. He decided not to take note of it as she greeted him. He nodded at her before answering the question that followed. "It's good to see you too, my dear," He said as he reached out the flowers towards her. "I was tending to the garden and these purple hydrangea's reminded me of you so..." He chuckled. "I thought, why not surprise her with a bouquet? They are freshly picked and organized by myself," He had learned how to make beautiful bouquets from his late wife. Cecilia loved to arrange flowers and make beautiful decorations with them. When she had passed, he had kept up with the hobby. Not only to honour her, but to also keep her in his mind. He could still feel her soft fingers carefully guiding him as they had made their first bouquet together. A stunning memory that he would forever treasure. Those were better days. "I have already asked a maid for a vase, they should be here shortly," If not, he would made sure they did.