Liadan's French relatives had a nice beach house on a private wizarding beach. They had been begging her to come for a visit, but after the fiasco on her birthday she had originally refused. Eventually, though, she could not keep saying no without offending family- and she knew that Diagon and Hogmseade would be overflowing with children from Spring Break that she did want to weave through to take care of business- so Liadan had agreed to find some time to visit.

It had been a typical visit thus far. Her French relatives had expected her to go out on dates with rich old men- and Liadan had told them she had no interest. That she just wanted to spend the week on the beach and shopping.

That was alright by them. It seemed to Liadan that there were people at the beach who normally would not be there- and after the first two days of her arrival, her traditional bathing suit had mysteriously disappeared. She found herself being stuffed into a more modern suit, one that belonged to a cousin- who had just happened to buy it a few sizes too small. Liadan was angry and frustrated about it all. It showed far more skin than she was accustomed to- but she had to concede that it was flattering.

She set out after lunch on Friday, carrying with her a bag filled with books and the usual beach essentials. She set herself up under an umbrella, lounging in a chair. The shade was welcomed, but she had used a charm to protect her pale, sensitive skin from the sun. In her lap was a dusty old book from her private library about Egyptian rituals.  Liadan was entirely lost in the book, and did not notice when a person stopped quite abruptly in front of her small spot on the beach.

It was nice to take a day or two off before returning home. In the aftermath of March's...unpleasantness, Vedir had been carefully covering his tracks and mending fences - outward cooperation aside, if Kanika had talked, he wanted to make sure any leads would run dry.

And nothing quite kept people quiet and loyal like turning up in person - with his elegantly dressed thugs in tow. But even he had to take a break from pleasantries, and a private day at the beach was right up that alley. After all, why visit France without appreciating the local scenery? And the natural scenery too, of course. The family's home in France sadly only provided the later.

Still, he hadn't expected to see a quite familiar face here - attached to a very cute pair of legs that he actually had not yet had the pleasure of seeing from the knee up.

"Why, Miss Ó Móráin! What a pleasant surprise, to find you here," he said cheerfully, his smile tinged with just a hint of humor.

Her eyes lifted from the book when he spoke- her mind reeling as she realized that it was Vedir Prideaux standing there. And his swim shorts were very... tight. And bulging. Not that she had intended to look but her eyes were just- and she was looking up- and.... Liadán blushed furiously when she realized her gaze had lingered, and was thankful for the sunglasses. She scrambled for some sort of cover up- realizing she was entirely exposed- coughing when the book plopped to the sand in a puff.

"Good- good afternoon, Mr. Prideaux," she finally greeted, pulling a towel from her bag and draping it carefully over her legs, then she fished her book from he sand, shaking it off before putting it back in her lap. Her eyes remained on her lap as she hunted out the page she was on.

"What... are you doing here?" she finally asked. This was a private beach, after all. Only for the most elite of.... oh. Right. He was Vedir Prideaux. No doubt he could buy the entire beach if he so chose. But she was still flustered, and there wasn't enough towel to cover up all she wanted to hide. Liadán was going to kill her cousins for hiding her proper suit from her.

He chuckled - not a nasty laugh, in fact a rather cheerful one. "Good afternoon, my lady," he returned the greeting, giving her a half-bow. He shifted his weight to his right leg, casually moving the white robe he had draped over his arm - letting it drape over one of his legs but not really covering anything.

"Why am I in France, or why am I on the beach?" he asked, head cocked to the side. "I was here on business, and decided to take a day off to relax," he told her truthfully. "Might I assume your story is similar? Or have you been rounded up by your relatives for them to parade suitors at, yet again?" He flashed her a cheeky smile.

She watched as he readjusted his robe- hoping that he would put it on and cover himself up. That ... whatever he was wearing was just incredibly inappropriate. Even though she knew this, Liadan couldn't help but appreciate what good shape he was in for his age, and thinking there were not many men with the confidence to wear such a pair of shorts and also look half decent in them.

If Liadan didn't know any better, she would think he was calling attention to that. But Vedir wasn't that kind of a man... "Really, Mr. Prideaux, you ought to cover yourself up-" she paused, "before the sun gets to you."

Liadan looked down again, readjusting the towel she had so awkwardly draped  across her legs. "Relatives," she conceded with a faint smile. "Though I've managed to avoid most of the suitors they had lined up by spending days reading on the beach and evenings out shopping. I haven't made time for any of their suitors. They seem quite frustrated by it- but I decided that the need of a vacation outweighs the need of a husband." For the time being, at any rate.

"Wouldn't they just love to see you and I chatting?" she crowed. "Oh the field day my cousins would have."

"Should I? A slight tan is good for your health, or so I hear," he told her, smirking. "Though I suppose you're right - unless you'd prefer the robe yourself?" he added jokingly, gesturing as she readjusted the towel over her legs.

He looked out to the sea, pondering the situation for a just a moment before he spoke. "They'd chatter like a bunch of excited chickens, I suppose?" he said, smiling at that mental image - much like his own mother's associates, no doubt.

He consented to her subtle request, shrugging his robe on, tying it off at the waist and hooking his hand into one of the pockets. "If they find us simply speaking so potentially scandalous, imagine their frenzy if you should join me for dinner? One of them could explode, perhaps."

Liadan blushed again when he offered the robe before he pulled it on and cinched it. "I... Well, suffice it to say this was not the swimsuit of my choice- mine has conveniently disappeared in the last couple of days." She sat up straighter, pushing the sunglasses from her face, settling them atop her head. "Though I do appreciate the offer." Whether she appreciated it or not, Liadan would prefer him to wear it. So that she could keep her eyes on his face- where they belonged.

"I should very much love for all of them explode," she confessed. "Though they mean well, they can be quite unbearable..."

"You could have a seat, if you wanted," she finally offered. "It might be a bit more comfortable. It is quite the strain on my neck to look up at you from this position." Besides, if he joined her, then the chances of any suitors her family had sent to the beach to casually bump into her actually stopping to speak would be slim... Which caused Liadan to wonder, just for a moment, if her family had actually sent Vedir her way as well. She would not put it past them if they discovered a man such as he was in France .

"What sort of business brings you to France?" Liadan asked. Anything to change the subject from the fact neither of them was properly dressed and away from her family.

"Inlaws often are, I've found," he said, chuckling again.

"I would appreciate that, I've been walking some distance," he said as he took her offer and sat at the end of her beach chair, brushing sand from his feet. "And I would certainly not wish to bring strain to your delicate features, of course," he added.

He'd taken off his sunglasses, since he was now in the shade of her umbrella, and he grunted as she asked after his business. "Nothing too interesting - a few days away from the bustle of England and, as much as I hate to admit it - a show of force. Some of my associates seem to think a few scratches constitute a grievous drop in my health, you see." His smile was, for a moment, shark-like. "I've been having to assure them I am not, in fact, about to drop dead."

"I pity any associate who would underestimate you, Mr. Prideaux." Underestimating any pureblood witch or wizard was unwise. She was often thought of as weak due to her diminutive stature. "And I would certainly say you are not about to drop dead! You seem to be in excellent physical condition!" If not, he certainly wouldn't have been wearing those shorts. At least, she hoped not. But some people had no idea what they should or should not be wearing.

"Although, if you let them labor under such false pretenses, then surprising them with your vigor could be quite entertaining. I find that when I am thought of as weak, it is very satisfying to give a proper show of force and the least expected moment."

Reaching into her bag, she pulled out a frosted thermos. "Would you care for some lemonade?" she asked, pouring a glass for herself while she waited on the answer. "I find the sun makes me irregularly thirsty. It's not often I spend such an extended period outside. Odd, considering I do own a farm. But- that is what farmhands are for, isn't it?"

He smiled darkly again. "Oh yes, it's quite fun to watch them squirm, isn't it? Especially when they are the especially foolish - those who underestimate you and plan to profit from your perceived weakness." He found crushing those little futile hopes the most fun of all.

"Lemonade would be lovely, if you'd spare some," he said, smiling more genuinely. "And I am indeed fully healed, though my doctor seems convinced I'm made of glass. I'm not even 50 and the woman treats me as if I'm likely to break a hip just by walking up the stairs! Ridiculous."

Not that he was about to fire her; the old woman had been their healer since his childhood and she was extremely loyal. She never asked questions on who she was patching up or why. She knew her place, a rare quality in any human, let alone many wizards.

"Outdoors can be quite healthy for you, my dear; you may want to consider an outdoor hobby. I find them very relaxing - horse riding is a wonderful one. But enough on that! How long do you intend to stay in France?"

Liadan giggled when he mentioned breaking a hip. "Goodness! I certainly hope you wouldn't break a hip from such a simple task as the stairs. Imagine how that would hinder all other aspects of your life." She was glad to be young enough not to worry about such things. "If it is any consolation, I've only just turned twenty-three and I'm considered an old maid. What a pair we make!"

She poured him some of the lemonade and handed it over. "Outdoor hobby? Horseback riding? I suppose that I will have enough of being outdoors when I have children to chase through the gardens. There is no need to drain myself of the urge to have fun outside prematurely."

Then he asked how long she intended to be in France. "I am likely returning to the estate Monday morning. Earlier if I grow tired of the beach and my family. Certainly no later than Tuesday evening. I happen to know my family is planning a large dinner party Wednesday evening. I intend for some business to suddenly draw be away from France and back home before that dinner party."

"It is a convenient excuse to get out of doing things. Were I not in charge of the estate, I'd be at the mercy of everyone else- I simply could not imagine such a fate... And yourself? Do you intend to return home after your day of relaxing at the beach? Or have you more business to attend to? Perhaps I shall have my family invite you to their dinner. I have some very attractive cousins."

"Better an interesting pair than a dull one, my dear," he told her, taking the offered glass. "And nonsense, Miss O Morain. One should try and have fun before children slow you down! You wouldn't have time to ride 'til the young ones are off at school, anyhow. Best to bask in your freedom while you have it, is it not?"

The lemonade was good; he drank it eagerly, aware how thirsty he was after his walk. "I had intended to return on Monday myself, actually. I was planning to take the weekend for myself; I haven't visited France in some time and thought I'd do a little sightseeing. Collect some wines to bring home, and the like."

He smiled. "I'd have to decline; I really must return on Monday, unfortunately, as charming as I'm sure your cousins would make themselves. And you? Don't tell me you plan to spend the next few days alone on the beach! There's much to do here in France."

"Freedom?" she repeated, laughing. "I haven't had any freedom! You try being a young, pureblood witch, Vedir- and then you tell me whether or not you have any freedom! Being a woman is much different from being a man. I'm afraid my freedom won't start until the children are here and gone to school and I'm allowed to be free and have a little fun. All that matters to anyone right now is that I get married, that I have children. You'd think I was actually the last to carry on the family name- I can hardly see why it matters, the proper O Morain line dies with me. I shouldn't be so hurried." But all females were hurried in her world.

When he mentioned sight seeing, she wondered what he wanted to see. "That sounds like a wonderful way to spend the weekend! Especially the wine collecting. There are some wonderful vineyards in France! I've often thought of visiting- but, well," she trailed off, blushing. Liadan had not spoken to Vedir or to anyone else about That Evening since it had happened. It had been embarrassing, and Liadan hated having to admit that she always let the alcohol get to her like that.

"Well, you and I both know that the last thing I need to do is go to wine tastings. I am not exactly well behaved when I have too much." And she knew that you weren't supposed to get drunk at wine tastings- but, well, wine was a weakness. Especially if it was very good wine.

"Actually, I had intended to spend the weekend on the beach and out shopping. There is much to do, but I have done it all by this point. Another unfortunate side effect of having family in France. Do you speak French, Vedir?" she asked. Liadan had yet to realize she had dropped the use of his last name by this point. "For your sake I hope you do, or that you know an appropriate charm to help you. Many French witches and wizards are not so find of outsiders if you go nosing around private vineyards."

"I see. I apologize, my own mother is something of an oddity, and I often consider others to have had her experiences," he said. "Though I cannot say I envy your womanhood, though there are certainly perks that I have to admit I would enjoy," he added with a cheeky smirk.

"I had intended to do some shopping for myself as well, though I'm sure you've not interest in that," he said, and then laughed - her blushing reminding him of her wine troubles. A fun evening indeed.

"Ah, my lady, not to worry - you're not intended to drink much at wine tastings," he explained. "You simply taste the samples and do so slowly - to become drunk is considered a bit rude." As funny as it would be to see her in such a state again, admittedly. "My current residence is in fact in the Bordeaux region, so it is a quite casual daytrip; I've simply not made the time, yet."

He smiled at her in a somewhat chiding manner. "I do indeed; my father grew up here and my family largely comes from the Bordeaux area. It's a good language to be fluent in; both widely spoken and wonderful to hear." He chuckled again. "But really, to spend your last few days here doing the same as you have been? You really much branch out more! Escape your family in other ways!"

Liadan couldn't believe the way he toed the line with his comments, and blushed again, hiding her face behind her hand. "Come now! Such comments are hardly appropriate. I'm exposed enough in my bathing suit without you saying things like that!" Liadan swatted at him playfully, smirking back. "Haven't I given you enough scandal the last few weeks?" she asked.

When he went on about wine tastings, and exclaiming that she certainly could not intend to escape her family simply through the beach, she smiled again. "If that is an invitation, Vedir, I am more than happy to accept. Although, a man such as yourself is hardly the sort to pussyfoot around such a situation. If you desire my company for the weekend in France, all you have to do is ask me properly..."

"Spending the weekend in your company would be far more preferable to spending it with harping cousins... Not that I would ever dream of inviting myself along. I have no doubts you've plenty of pretty women to entertain during your time in France. I should hate to keep you from them."