Unknown Fate (OPEN)

[billie]

Billie continued to sit upon the sofa unmoved as he gazed blankly forward though he was listening to Lenoir. "She mentioned that," he simply stated. Not sure what all he wanted to reveal as Ana only mentioned the strange meeting but none of the details.
Then shifting his gaze to Lenoir, "No. And ya won't either. She definitely is interesting." There was something about Ana that was different. A mystery that always seemed to surround her. Billie did his best to just keep her going even when it seemed her destiny had gone away or shifted.
After a moment's pause, Billie nodded while still looking at Lenoir, "You did. You mentioned a kiss," was all Billie stated as he watched Lenoir carefully. Curious as to this kiss that Ana didn't really mention but Lenoir seemed highly intent upon it. Made Billie very curious.
"And no problem. Glad to have obliged."

Miss Ravenhearst.
The young woman had such a striking name and resemblance to his great great Aunt. Perhaps a relative he didn't know about?
Nodding, "Perhaps," as he seemed to be slightly lost in thought. This was ending up to be quite the mystery... about both women!

[Erik Lenoir]

Billie seemed so fixated on Ana's disappearance that Erik didn't think he could get much out of him as far as information. And he thought he should stop pressing him; Billie obviously thought a lot of Ana.

Billie mentioned the kiss...the fateful kiss... Erik paled at the mention of it. Then he looked over at Billie. "I did mention the kiss? Well, it was a foolish thing that I did. I was seeing her to the stable and her horse knocked us both over. Finding it amusing, I laughed and kissed her. Unfortunately, the woman I was planning to court was watching and she took it as a complete affront. I have not been able to reconcile with her. And then the Vicomte de Chagny came along and invited me to the pub, telling me it would make me feel better if I did some drinking. I foolishly believed him. I shall have a thing or two to say to him when next we meet."

Erik looked about the room and glanced into the hallway through the open door. "I wonder where Miss Ravenhearst has gone. She has been away for quite some time...." He glanced back at Billie. "I am sure she could tell you some things about your ancestor. I would expect that you and she may be related..."

[billie]

Shifting where he sat as he watched Lenoir become rather uncomfortable at the mention of the kiss that was spoken about at the Schooner Steed. Raising his brows slightly while listening and becoming even more intrigued by this strange development with what more Lenoir stated. "Sounds to me you got into quite a mess there," glancing away, then hung his head and shook it. "A spying woman is never a good thing. But to lead on another... is not good idea." Then looking back up at Lenoir. "She was rather quiet about your meeting. Not sayin' much." Then smirked, "Still sounds like a heck of a mess you got into there," contemplating what Lenoir had stated about how the kiss came about as well as the rest of the story. He felt for Lenoir with the fact of the woman he planned to 'court' as he stated, seemed infuriated. Well, that definitely sounded familiar.

Tilting his head slightly as he looked quizzically to Lenoir, "What gives you that idea?" Curious to know how Lenoir was coming up with that conclusion.

[Erik Lenoir]

Erik cleared his throat as if he were embarrassed, which he was. "Yes, it was quite a mess. However, I expect that you're correct about a spying woman, and especially one who will not listen to an explanation. She clearly misunderstood the intent of the kiss. And I am sure Ana knew it was just in fun...." Erik said the last wondering now, if Ana really did take it the way he had assumed...

"Simply a logical conclusion, Monsieur. I mentioned that this Miss Ravenhearst could be related to you considering you said that the other one is an ancestor and this one has her name and indeed her looks..." Erik smiled with the secret knowledge of who this Emma was. He hoped she would tell Billie soon enough. He deserved to know. But not from Erik. He would only hint about it.

[billie]

A wry smirk as Billie glanced away from Lenoir then back at him, "There's nothing clear cut about women." He'd been through Hell with women just as Ana had been through Hell with men. "You can always try but if they won't listen, no point in continuing to try," as he shook his head.
Lifting his eyes back to Lenoir, gazing at him intensely with mild 'you sure' look. "I'm sure you're right." Even though he knew how much Ana was pretty disturbed by meeting Lenoir. Why, he did not know. "That's just something you should talk to her about..." then hangs his head as he remembered, "If she's ever found alive." And he almost sounded like a mix of hopeful yet pessimistic.

After a moment of rubbing his hands and pondering over the missing Ana, Billie nodded his head. "I suppose it's possible." But said nothing more than that nor really dwelt upon it too much. His focus right now was upon Ana whom was a deeper cut to him than it was over the mystery of Emma Ravenhearst.

[Erik Lenoir]

"Where would you suggest that we begin looking, Monsieur Cristofersen? I expect that if she had escaped the fire, she might come here. She knows some of us, but has not contacted me. Perhaps we could question some of the others. If they have met her, or even seen her, it would be unlikely they would forget her considering that she wears very...eh...distinctive clothing."

Erik paused a moment. "I am almost sure there are some residents of the mansion, including Miss Ravenhearst, who would quite quickly be able to put us on the trail of your associate if indeed she is here. You could contact the fire brigade though, and ask if they have found any evidence. If they have found nothing now, it is most likely that she escaped. As to kidnapping, I would ask you why you would think of that. Is there some reason or some person who would do such a thing?" He wondered if Ana had mentioned to Billie, Erik's strange little kidnapping episode, which of course, in Erik's mind was nothing really. It might not be though to Ana. And she seemed to know so much about Erik that she couldn't possibly know. He wondered how much Ana had mentioned to Billie about himself. Probably nothing, Billie seemed quite unaware that Erik was anyone but what he seemed on the surface.

"There is a telephone contraption in the library, if you'd like to make a call. I can take you there. It seems that Miss Ravenhearst has become caught up in some other duty and has been unable to return to us here. At least if you made the call, you could learn what the fire brigade has discovered."

[billie]

Billie was a bit confused looking and yet he was deep in thought over his own questions mixing with that of Lenoir's. Shaking his head. "Best thing to do is just keep an eye out for her. That is if she escaped the fire." Then looked at Lenoir with a hard bewildered look, "Why ever would she come here?" Billie recalled how Ana mentioned that the Manor bothered her, rather wanting to go elsewhere than the Manor on a whim. Perhaps someone brought her here that was a resident. But Billie couldn't let his thoughts run away with him.
Smirking at the idea of what Lenoir meant. Yes, Ana had a distinct taste in attire, not just her equine attire that was so incredibly English riding style, but her normal attire. "The Authorities are doing their best to figure out what happened to her."

Ravenhearst. That name would be his riddle until the day he died. Nodding as Billie stood up, "I better be going then. At least someone knows of Ana's disappearance. I'd be obliged if you could pass along the information. Have everyone keep an eye out for her." He turned slightly and began to slowly walk towards the door of the room, "If the evidence says otherwise, I shall let ya know." Almost sounding grave but hoping that she had survived some how.
"I better head back."