Melbourne, on the other hand, hasn't given much thought to this young lady yet. She seems friendly enough in his eyes, and if his sister has decided she's worth her time, that's all that matters. There has actually been a fairly long time since Melbourne has met anyone completely new; he's a solitary man and lives a quiet life. Oh, there's been the occasional new spouse for his nephew and niece but even they have not been strangers but instead children of people he's already acquainted with. Upper class circles aren't that big anymore.
Ever since retiring from politics a few years ago, he has more or less spent his days at Brocket Hall, a manor house approximately 25 miles north of the capital. He can be seen in London during winter months, and now it's still early spring so he's in town. The big parties his sister Emily likes to throw aren't his scene but being amongst family is. This generation of Melbournes are close-knit, and considering his younger brother George died earlier this year, it's become more important than ever to be with loved ones.
But Melbournes are also somewhat notorious, or if one prefers to put it in kinder words, controversial. Therefore having someone new in their daily lives now creates a delicate balance. Sylvie doesn't know all the gossip that lingers in town but is likely to become privy to it if she stays long enough.
It had certainly been unexpected to have this French girl suddenly standing at the Cowper family door - even if Emily had made an invitation while visiting Paris and meeting Sylvie and her brother some months ago - but she was nonethelss willing to offer her a place to stay. Earl Cowper rather thinks it's because Emily is starting to feel the empty nest syndrome. Ouf of their five childern, there's only Frances living at home full-time. Though Sylvie is hardly a child anymore, she is still someone who seems to need help, and as such, maybe Emily found Sylvie to fulfil her own need to be useful.
"I like to think so, miss. She has a big heart, I know firsthand," is Melbourne's reply as Sylvie approaches to talk to him. His signiture smile is small, often with just one corner of his mouth tugging upward.
"And you are settling well in London, I trust? I hear you've made fine progress with your painting."
[ooc: The term 'empty nest syndrome' wasn't really used until 1970s but I couldn't think another phrase for it. Also let's assume she's not painting in this parlour, because there's bound to be several rooms in the house. So somewhere else where she can spead out her stuff.]
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Ever since retiring from politics a few years ago, he has more or less spent his days at Brocket Hall, a manor house approximately 25 miles north of the capital. He can be seen in London during winter months, and now it's still early spring so he's in town. The big parties his sister Emily likes to throw aren't his scene but being amongst family is. This generation of Melbournes are close-knit, and considering his younger brother George died earlier this year, it's become more important than ever to be with loved ones.
But Melbournes are also somewhat notorious, or if one prefers to put it in kinder words, controversial. Therefore having someone new in their daily lives now creates a delicate balance. Sylvie doesn't know all the gossip that lingers in town but is likely to become privy to it if she stays long enough.
It had certainly been unexpected to have this French girl suddenly standing at the Cowper family door - even if Emily had made an invitation while visiting Paris and meeting Sylvie and her brother some months ago - but she was nonethelss willing to offer her a place to stay. Earl Cowper rather thinks it's because Emily is starting to feel the empty nest syndrome. Ouf of their five childern, there's only Frances living at home full-time. Though Sylvie is hardly a child anymore, she is still someone who seems to need help, and as such, maybe Emily found Sylvie to fulfil her own need to be useful.
"I like to think so, miss. She has a big heart, I know firsthand," is Melbourne's reply as Sylvie approaches to talk to him. His signiture smile is small, often with just one corner of his mouth tugging upward.
"And you are settling well in London, I trust? I hear you've made fine progress with your painting."
[ooc: The term 'empty nest syndrome' wasn't really used until 1970s but I couldn't think another phrase for it. Also let's assume she's not painting in this parlour, because there's bound to be several rooms in the house. So somewhere else where she can spead out her stuff.]