Marissa frowned, "Well now that I think on it...Its probably why the young master went off to boarding school as well... But it did a little" He said softly. He had blushed brightly when Angelo touched him and it was starting to fade.
"but it was only because he was such a large and intimidating man...."

“so if the young master had been the one showing the interest?” Could it be that he only needed to know that his love was kind? Angelo could not even let himself think that he had a chance with this one without trying to win him over.

Marissa smiled and blushed a bit, "I wouldn't have rejected it... I did like the young master quite a but... but we were raised like brothers.. I think that it would have been a little strange to break that bond..."

“so had another person shown an interest in you would you have been interested?” Angelo lead the young horse out of her stall then held it for Marissa. “Would you like help getting on?”

Marissa shook his head in regards to the horse. He pulled himself up sitting sidesaddle with a small smile on his face.
"Well yes... But...I'm not a whore...I don't want to sleep with everyone I meet" He said softly, "But because I am as I am... the mistress jumped to this conclusion..." He said quietly as he took the reigns.

Hand up the rains Angelo smiled. “well if you do find someone to love I will respect your wish’s. In my house you will not have to do what you don’t want to do.” Walking into the stall next to the one he had taken Marissa horse from he walked out a midnight black horse. It was quite clear that this one was no ladies horse. He snorted and tossed his head. Climbing onto the horse Angelo sighed. “I will never let someone treat you the way the madam treated you.”

Marissa smiled at Angelo and gave a small polite nodd, "Thank you sir, " He said softly as he spurred his horse out of the stables a little and waited for the Master to follow him.
"I am quite happy here though..." He said with a smile.

“and I intend for you to always be happy here.” Angelo’s horse feeling lifted behind took off and Angelo had to rain him in. looking back he smiled at Marissa. “I will do whatever it takes to make you happy. You are my guest here till you feel ready to leave. Would you like to continue your studies? I can get you a tutor if you want one, or I can get you the books and teach you myself.” Angelo wanted this young man to have whatever he could give him, even if it would take time away from Angelo’s own work he would help Marissa.

Marissa smiled as his horse trotted to keep up with the masters.
He looked down at the back of its neck and the soft mane.
"Thank you so much... I... I don't know what I would want to study though" He said softly, "History has always been fun for me..."

Pulling back on the rains Angelo horse slowed to trot next to Marissa’s. “Would you like a tutor or would you just like me to get you the books and teach you myself?”

"I feel like I've already cost you so much..." He said softly, "I would prefer if you taught me..." He looked down, "I'd feel awful if I cost you so much more than I have... and plus I think I'd rather have someone I've already met...instead of constantly meeting new people."

Smiling Angelo looked out in front of them. “Dear one, I have more money then I know what to do with. What I spent on you is only a drop in the bucket to what I have.” Leading them along the trail they came by an old warn down stone building. There were flowing vines rapping around the stones pulling some of them down.

Marissa shrugged, "Still I would prefer that you teach me... It's a personal issue more than than questioning your ability to pay for me..." he said softly, "I do still have my pride.. "
He glanced over at the building for a moment and smiled a little. "Its all so pretty around here..."

“this is my most resent project. Most of the flowers around in the gardens are night bloomer, but I also try to put in day bloomers for those that I have here that do not fear the sun. When this is done it will look like it has stood here for thousands of years.” Smiling he was proud that his new boy loved what he had done. “Then tonight we will go shopping for what will be needed to get you taught. I will also send a letter to oxford to see if I can get you approved for a degree if you pass your classes.”

Marissa blinked a little and blushed, "oh sir! You needn't go so far as that!" He said quickly, "J-just learning here is enough... I don't have to go off to oxford..."
In all honesty he was terrified of college, they made you where gender based uniforms and such. He didn't like that Idea, plus he'd be around others, more people that might hurt him.

“no that is not what I was thinking. I a few years ago taught at oxford and was thinking that we could do a correspondence course made for you to earn the degree.” Turning his horses head he started the horse back on the path. “shall we move on?”

Marissa nodded a little, "I would definitely prefer that" He said softly, "I would really like to try for something a bit more domestic.. I'm more familiar with servant skills than I am with anything else.."
He pushed his horse to go on once more, trotting quietly behind the master.

“so would you rather learn about history or some domestic studies? I could talk to one of the new women teachers at oxford. I hear that they are now offering classes to woman and they are earning their degrees in woman’s studies.” The horse trotted along the path as they passed a few different building, grottos, and gardens. They each seemed to have a theme.

Marissa sighed, "I don't know..." He said softly, "I'm just...a bit swamped with all of this" He said quietly, "I'm not used to having so many choices" He said as he occasionally glanced to look up at the scenery.

"well then we will wait till you think of what you really want to do. I can wait for as long as you need." as they rode the rest of the way around the property, he sighed. "we still have more shopping to do today. so if you would like to dress up nice you can if not we can head out as soon as your ready."

Marissa nodded a little, "I would like to change before we leave... but...also" He said softly, "Could we just do basic studies...till I figure something out... I don't like to sit around and do nothing..." He said as he gazed back at Angelo.

“if that is what you wish then yes we can.” Turning the horse back from the path at a branch they rode to the stables again. “I usually ride this loop each evening, it’s the only time that I can be out in the sun.” helping Marissa he smiled.

Marissa smiled and nodded, "Do you ever stop to look around?" He asked softly as he followed him in. He waited for Angelo to help him down off his horse.
He was enjoying all this finery, the horse rides. He could not imagine that it could ever get better than it was now.
The fact that they were to go shopping again tonight baffled and excited him all at the same time. What more could there be that they needed to purchase.

“It has been some time since I have stopped off at each of my little gardens, but others go to them each day.” Angelo said as he helped Marissa down from the horse. “if you can’t saddle Snowrunner then you just have to go right over there,” Angelo pointed to a simple door at the end of the stables. “and ask my stable hand to help. You can ride her any time as long as you tell someone where you’re going. I don’t want you getting hurt and no one knowing that you’re out.”

Marissa fell against Angelo a little as he got down, he had pushed himself off a little to quickly and nearly lost his balance.
When he regained his footing at last he looked up at Angelo and smiled, "I can saddle her well enough if I have a step ladder" He said with a small laugh.
He reached up and stroked the mare's neck lightly, watching her close her eyes, "but I'll be sure to always tell some one where I am headed..."