Marcus smiled, he had noticed the slight tone of lies in his host's voice. But did not say any of it. If the man didn't want to tell, he didn't want to, simple.

As the girl seemed to brighten up at the topic, Marcus smiled and allowed her to chat. "I see, well, that makes it a bit awkward, religion-wise that is. I myself am Protestant." the last word, rolling out in German, for he did not know the English word for it. "Lutheraner..." he stated while rubbing his head slightly. It was hard to create a proper conversation when you did not know the right words. "It's kind of, silly, that there are so many people that only believe in one and the same Gott, but have so many differences in how they pray to Him." he tried to talk himself out of it, only to follow it by taking another bite of the lovely dinner that had been served.

"Oh," Diana said simply. She seemed suddenly lost for words. "My mother raised me Catholic..."

Francis decided not to comment. He took a long drink of ale before clearing his throat, wanting desperately to shift the conversation from religion, a topic that for the past twenty-odd years he had skittered away from.

"I hear your brother is in engineering now Diana?" Francis asked.

"Oh yes. Our Benjamin is working on the rails."

Marcus did not object to the shift of topic. He just finished his meal and took a sip of water before he looked at the girl with a sweet smile.
However he decided to stay from the conversation at that point, for he did not know the lad and he was getting on her bad side, something he wished to avoid. So he kept quiet, his eyes wandering around the room for the first time, taking in his surroundings.

As Francis finished his meal Diana hopped up off her seat, almost as if a strong electrical current passed through it. She quickly gathered up Marcus' and his own plate, putting her remarkably full plate on the top, just as she was about to go through to the kitchen Francis stopped her.

"You can't be done?" he said in surprise.

"Sir, please. Just let me go get you two your puddings. I'm full. Honestly I am," she said, and went into the kitchen. Francis sighed inwardly as Diana came back out with two bowls of jam sponge and a jug of custard.

Marcus smiled a little when she jumped up before he just looked at Francis. He too let out a soft puff of air before he just smiled up when he got his pudding. He had no idea how to eat this properly, there was no such thing in Germany or at least, it was too fancy for him.
Questioning he looked at Francis. "Please, do show me how to eat this." he laughed softly.

Francis tipped some custard over the sponge and handed the jug over to Marcus.

"I'm not entirely sure if there is a specific way to eat it. You could use a spoon or fork, if you take custard, I'd suggest spoon. Much cleaner. Other than that, just dig in," he said and chuckled before me mixed the custard in with the sponge a little and took a mouthful.

Diana did not join them for desert.

Marcus chuckled and decided to just mimic his host. "I see." he chuckled before he took a good spoonful and tasted the sweetness. It sure was lovely to eat. Easy to the stomach and not too sweet, the perfect dessert.
"I really should remember to ask the cook for the recipe. I'd love to take this dish home." he smiled as he took another spoonful, allowing the taste to linger in his mouth. "Oh Iris will love this...that's for sure."

"Is Iris your wife?" Francis asked curiously between mouthfuls. Then he chuckled before adding onto the conversation. "Yes, Grace is a wonderful cook. Baking is truly her forte though."

Marcus nearly chocked on his food when the other asked that. "Haha, no, no. Iris is my baby sister. She's the cutest girl I've ever seen." he smiled. "I have a picture of her in my journal, I could get it before the professor arrives." he said. "No, I'm a single man and quite frankly I don't mind it one bit." He finished up before he sat back. "I haven't met any girls who really caught my eye...They all seem so...I can't find the words for it. Plain, perhaps." With that he just looked at Francis and smiled.

Francis laughed. "As you can tell, I myself do not have that problem. That would be nice, I'd like to see a picture of her. I was never blessed with any siblings. Plenty of cousins though. Never really got on with them. Either too young to bond with or too simple to get along with," he said with a smile and finished up his desert.

Marcus chuckled softly. "Ah, but you, my friend, are looking at women in a different way than I do." he pointed out before he nodded. "I shall fetch it in a moment." he promised as he remained seated and drank the last of his water. "Hmn, pity. I grew up with Iris and a few cousins. You could say that I came from a family that you can compare to as rather common." with a shrug and a smirk on his lips he looked at the other. "I'm pleased with it."

"That's nice. I was always very close with my mother, so I suppose in some ways that makes up for not having any siblings. She was a lovely woman."

Francis finished the rest of his ale and slid his empty glass away from him some. He was absolutely stuffed. Glancing over to the clock in the corner he saw that there was still fifteen minutes before Professor Kennedy was due to arrive.

"Mothers are the best things in this world." Marcus had put his elbows on the table and clasped his hands together, thoughtfully he rested his cheek against his hands before he put his hands on the table after Francis had finished and stood. "Shall I meet you in the drawingroom or will you walk with me?" he asked as he stepped away and put his chair in place neatly.

"I'll meet you in the drawing room, I need to catch Margaret and tell her to let Professor Kennedy in and escort him to the drawing room. I won't be but a moment," Francis said cheerily as he too stood up and put his chair back next to the table.

He hummed slightly as he headed into the kitchen, where he knew Margaret would be having her dinner. She always ate before she went home. Francis had learned not to say anything.

"Margaret," he said loudly, which promptly made the woman jump.

"G'evening sir," she said and coughed slightly.

"Evening. Soon a guest shall be arriving, Professor Chad Kennedy. Please welcome him and escort him to the drawing room when he arrives, understood?" Francis said simply.

"Yes sir, I will," she said with a smile as Francis called a word of thanks and turned on his heel to exit.

Marcus smiled and gave a polite bow before he was off to his room. He hadn't quite unpacked anything yet, so he had to rummage through his belongings, putting them in the empty drawers quickly as he did so. If he were to stay there, he'd better get his things organized!
When he got his journal he took the fairly empty book with him. He had just started writing, just for this journey. Smiling he got to the drawing room before Francis did. Once more he made himself comfortable, in the same chair as he had been sitting in the late afternoon.
Until Francis returned, he took his journal and jotted a few things down, he had some time to kill anyway and it was not as if anyone here could read it. Not because his handwriting was terrible, but of course due the language.

Francis made his way back to the drawing room, walking slowly but purposefully. He entered the room to see that once again Marcus had got there before him. He smiled and nodded his head slightly.

"Professor Kennedy will be brought in by Margaret soon," he said with a smile. "A drink while we wait?"

When he heard the other's voice he looked up and smiled. "I'd like that very much." he stated before he opened the book to the very first page, where he had stuck an envelope. Here he kept little things, such as pictures, news paper clippings and what not. Proudly he got out a portrait picture of Iris.
He smiled at the sight of his sister's pure face. She looked happy, a smile on her lips that met her eyes. Just as Marcus she was fair haired and had freckles, though hers more obvious than her brother's. In that picture she was wearing a light summer dress that accented her slight curves.

Francis poured himself and Marcus another scotch, this time adding a little water to lessen the alcohol content so they would still have some business head on them for Chad's visit. He handed over Marcus' glass and saw that he had a picture in his hand.

"Is that your sister? She's very pretty, looks a lot like you," Francis said with a small nod before taking a sip of his drink and taking the seat opposite Marcus.

Marcus thanked him as he got his glass. "Yes, this is my little sister. Thank you." he smiled sweetly at Francis. "I can't believe she'll marry next year... Makes me feel a bit left behind if you get what I mean." he sighed before he put the picture away again and lay the book on the table next to him.
He took a sip before putting the glass down again, his legs crossed once more and he just eased back, feeling more at ease in the stranger's home.

"Oh is she?" Francis asked politely. "I understand what you mean. I was due to be married when I was younger. Due to one reason or another it never went ahead though. So you're not as left behind as me."

Francis chuckled just as there was a small knock on the door.

"Come in," Francis called out.

Margaret entered with Chad. Chad was a rosy skinned American with light brown hair and a few freckles on his face. He had brilliant white teeth and broad shoulders. He wasn't exactly a fat man, but he certainly had some flesh to him.

"Francis!" the man exclaimed in a strong New-York accent.

"Chad, long time no see," Francis said politely as he went forward to shake his hand. "This is my new business partner, Marcus. Marcus, this is an old friend and colleague, Chad Kennedy."

Marcus gave a nod. "Yes. I am not too keen on the man marrying her, but Vati seems fine with him. And you know what they say, the father has the last word." he stated before he smiled. "I'm sorry to hear." he said in all honesty. "But at least, you find no trouble in getting companions. " the German chuckled softly before he looked up at the man that entered.

Marcus sat still for a moment before he smiled and rose from his seat, holding out his hand for a firm shake. "It is a pleasure to meet you." with a bow of his head as he shook hands with the man.

"Pleasure to meet you too, pleasure indeed. Quite the accent you have there. Not a England man eh? Where you from, fellow?" Chad said, speaking quickly. "I've brought the port," he added with a grin, producing the bottle from his coat.

"Let Margaret get your coat for you, and let me take that bottle off your hands," Francis said with a chuckle. "Also, please speak a bit slower for Marcus."

As the other spoke, Marcus was slightly left dumbfounded. "No, I'm from Germany." he managed to answer before the man was on to the subject of alcohol.
Marcus sat back down and smiled. "I'd be grateful if you did, I'm still learning English and I have a hard time following fast speaking people." he admitted after Francis had asked so.

"Oh Germany eh? Nice. Yet to travel there. Worked with a German fellow though. Nice enough chap. He wasn't good with English though, so we didn't actually talk much, but nice chap none the less," Chad said and handed his coat over to Margaret and sat down in the seat Francis had just vacated. "Pour us all a port eh, Francis?"

Francis chuckled and got out three glasses, pouring a hefty measure in each before distributing them out. He still had a scotch from before, but decided to drink Chad's to be polite.

Marcus had listened to the other. "It's typical for Germans to be more reserved as well." he added softly. The man sure was...There. Marcus just bit his bottom lip as he tried to stand the heavy presence of this American guy. The aura Chad carried with him was heavy and Marcus didn't like his arrogance.

When he got his glass he just put it down next to the scotch. He'd drink later or maybe not at all. His blue eyes looked the man up and down. Chad seemed to be an honest man, but the attitude!