[hr][hr][center][h1][b][i][color=39b54a]William Fraser[/color][/i][/b][/h1][img]https://bookesther.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/john-thornton-smile-gif.gif?w=500[/img][/center][hr][hr][center][color=39b54a][b]Location:[/b][/color] [b]Annan[/b]
[color=39b54a][b]Skills:[/b][/color] [i]N/A[/i] [/center][hr]

	William had half-moved to climb onto the carriage when Lady Kirkpatrick spoke. He stopped, and barely managed to stifle a smile as she chided the two Lords like schoolboys. He'd heard rumours of the woman, her reputation preceding her, and often being talked about in the local inns and taverns, but in person, she was resplendent. Her wit was razor-sharp, and she could clearly still more than handle herself, despite her age, if the corpses of Soulless they had found her standing amongst was anything to go by. He didn't doubt that a truly formidable mind sat behind those piercing blue eyes.

	Rutherford at least seemed to realise that arguing with Lady Kirkpatrick was a fight he wouldn't win. Swallowing his pride, but not quite resisting the urge to grumble, Rutherford climbed up onto the carriage. Egerton seemed to hesitate more, and William found himself silently willing the man to argue, purely so that he could witness the spite that Lady Kirkpatrick seemed primed to unleash. The head of the cane pressing against his chin seemed to be enough of a deterrent, even for Egerton, and the man finally relented, following after Rutherford. William sighed, almost disappointed, but from what little time he had endured in Egerton's company, he didn't doubt that the man would draw Lady Kirkpatrick's ire again before long, and William planned to be in prime position to watch when he did.

	He was glad to see that Lady Kirkpatrick had somewhat taken Millicent under her wing already. For all of William's sense of unease about the wedding Millicent was heading towards, he lacked the power that Lady Kirkpatrick wielded in her wrinkled hands. He only hoped that she really was as intuitive and as shrewd as he thought she was. Realising that it was only himself and the other, fairly rude woman yet to board the carriage, William made a move. Hoping to remedy some of the damage he seemed to have inadvertently caused earlier, he help open the carriage door, and gestured for the woman to go before him, smiling as he did. 

	[color=39b54a][b]"After you, ma'am, I insist."[/b][/color]

	He watched her face as she spoke, all too ready for another rebuke, but curious to see how the woman did react. In that brief moment, he seemed to catch himself. His empathy, his compassion, his humanity, all came rushing back. Maybe he really had been playing his part for too long, that somewhere along the way of perfecting his charm, he'd lost some part of himself. He'd found this woman in the midst of bloody carnage, two of her companions had been slain, and even now were strapped to the carriage roof, and his first act had been to try and win her over? How far had he fallen? His smile fading, he properly looked at Maeve for the first time, bowing his head slightly as he spoke. 

	[color=39b54a][b]"If you wish, that is."[/b][/color]