675-08-09 - A Lady's Essence
A Lady's Essence | |||||||
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Summary: Young Lady Avaline Brais gets to meet (and to be attentively studied by) Duchess Ortensia Istivean. | |||||||
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A whiff of wind enters through the open window and brings a feathery dance into the draperies on the walls, summer swallows dive through the azure of the sky, their twittering merry and sharp and oh-so-indifferent to all the plagues those on the ground had to face.
Another time the birds seem to have caught Lady Ortensia to take at least her gaze with them, as she stands at the window. On the table nearby a humble collection of food is presented, a flask full of apple wine, a bowl of fruit and half of a loaf of bread a gesture rather granted to courtesy than nutrition, but a gesture that speaks of an ostentation these halls have been lacking for a long time now.
A noise from the hallway and the Duchess turns with dignified expetancy.
It seems that noise is the guard that prceeds the young niece of King Brais as Lady Avaline is soon stepping into the solar. The young blonde gracefully executing a curtesy befitting the Duchess as her pale blue eyes have found the woman to be present. "Good day, Duchess Ortensia. Your message said you had wish to speak with me? "
"Yes, yes mylady, I've been hoping to meet you for quite a while now." Ortensia answers with a bow of her head. Her own hair is neatly twisted into a golden knot, only a few carefully chosen curls left to frame her face. The eyes of the Duchess are a bit older, a bit darker than those of the comely maiden who has entered the room and make sure to lay all their experience, all their knowledge into this first, thoroughly studying of her face and appearance. "I thought you might be just as interested in the things I have to say as I am in the things you may have to offer. And then there is this marry match that shall bind our families soon."
Young woman she might be, but there was some measure of wisdom and life expereince that touched her eyes for she was a Brais, and as with most of Two Rivers her life had not gone untouched by the plague. Most of her own family lost. There is a bearing to her posture that belays such things. giving a simple incline of her head, Avaline notes,"I was surprised to not see you amongst his family at the tournament. And we did not seem to cross paths truly upon the trip to the Isles." Though Avaline had certainly heard much from other family members of the Duke's during her stay in Woriscant. And the one cousin, my oh my was he a clingy one. "Aye, the match, my uncle and Lord Ralph are quite pleased with the arrangement." A light turn of a smile,"And of course, I should be interested in what you may have to say, Your Grace."
"I'm glad to hear that. Let us sit, then." Ortensia suggests, offering the young Brais lady a chair at the table. A quick flicker of a smile is returned, "When it comes to that flock of my sisters, I prefer burning my complexion in the summer sun instead of roasting on their words in the shadow of the stands. It is, of course, different for my brother. He always has been very dear to me. You have had a few meetings with him, I've been told... one of them coming to a rather aprupt ending. So you already got acquainted to the more volatile aspects of his nature."
Avaline gives a small incline of her head at the offered to sit before taking up the seat so offered, a hand absently smoothing the skirts of her simplistic gown in the process. Seeming to prefer to leave the wearing of the overly gawdy and showy gowns to her cousins. "Aye, I have had a fair few meetings with him. I traveled with him to Woriscant after my Uncle's announcement of the betrothal. And have only recently returned home from there. It gave us some time to spend together. " Least when he wasn't avoiding her. Avaline gives just a brief nod,"It was not the first meeting to end unwell, though perhaps it was the most...public one. So, aye, I would say I am becoming quite aquainted with the volatile aspects of his nature. But such was glimsped as well upon the trip to the Isles. Are there other aspects of his nature that you would wish to warn me of?"
The curling of Ortensia's lips now is knowing, mellow and not without warmth. "Don't think of anything you hear about your future husband as a warning, my dear. Just as a little nudge on your plans on handling him. He is a delicate young man, but I can promise you he will treat you well if you offer him an amount of gentleness, patience and emphasis ...in the right composition." Having sat down she pours herself a cup of the apple wine and adds an few driplets of water. "But before we are speaking about my brothers little quirks anymore, tell me of yours. You have been brought up well, I've been told, even if you, like all of us, had to suffer a lot in the last years."
There is just a mild rise of an eyebrow when there is talk about /her/ plans on handling Alajos. Avaline nods and does note,"And perhaps timing is a thing to be noted as well when considering what is the right or wrong composition of those qualities." Certainly not about to point out to the man's sister of all people, that he is not exactly young and is many years Avaline's senior.
Seeing in time to pouring her own glass of wine, no outward sign showing on just what she might think of Alajos's character flaws being termed little quirks. "I shuold like to think my parents raised me well, prior to their deaths and my coming to be under my uncles care. I do not believe there are any within Two Rivers who has not suffered in these past years, thouhg some seem bent upon quibbling over if they have suffered more than others. I am not sure there is otherwise a great deal to tell of myself, for I have not seen a great many years and have simply sought to serve my Uncle as he needs of me. "
"Isn't that a proper and well-behaved answer," the Duchess muses "They have taught you well how to move your pretty little lips in the ways of humble, vague and boring conversation. I must grant you that's a talent I haven't gained in the few years you have had, but there has to be more about you than meekly serving his Majesty when needed. I am very sorry about your loss, I know how hard it is to bear seing your loved ones waste away right under your eyes..." For a tiny moment she closes hers to drown the most painful memories that have been evocated, a little stumbling in her speech that soon finds back to its pace. "...But serving his Majesty - that's what every noble in the Kingdom does, even if they don't share his blood or are granted his personal attention. How are you spending your hours? Needlework, horses, scrolls? Say, whom do you love, whom have you chosen as a foe? I want to get to know you properly, I've had my share of polite nods and empty words."
"And would you expect otherwise from me all considering? I barely know you and you are sister to my betrothed. While I would doubt it a thought in his mind to have you speak with me, you no doubt are wishing some measure of the woman they have designed to match to the brother you speak of caring much for. " A small sip of wine is taken by Avaline, certainly giving that moment needed to deal with memories that the talk of lose brings up. Having to deal with a few of her own perhaps with how her eyes shift to find somewhere else to look for several moments. "Aye, though I do not serve him simply as my King, but also as my guardian and Head of House. " After all, not everyone had to be used as a pawn to marry the Bastard Duke and help bolster the bloodlines there. "I have some measure of ability with needlepoint, but I should say it is barely passable, but it will do when those hours are required to spend in the gossipy company of ladies over tea. Given time of my own, I have a preference to spending it to painting. And I admit, I have preference to painting the world outside, rather then having someone sit endleslly and stiffly from some drull portraint. Though those of course do so oft seem be something people wish for. An expectation that they exist. "There is a faint turn of her hand,"There are few whom I love that live yet, and these times have not been very open to the culturing. And foes, such things are best not spoken aloud with one only truly met." Simply being rather forthright about the matter. "Though I cannot say I am one to name hate so quickly, but then the same would go for love, it is a thing not so quickly given in a fanciful fashion. Though I dare to say that does seem the fashion these days. "
Again Ortensia's gaze meets that of the younger woman, studying her face with a hint of satisfaction. "So it is caution, that reigns your posture, a wise way to go. And, ah, didn't a wise man say, back in the days, that the way to happiness lies neither in the consumptive flames of love, nor in the chills of hatred but in the cosy spot of serenity in between? But if you want to have a very personal piece of advice: Don't let caution reign your heart. Even some wise old men have been mistaken, back in the days."
Plucking a few grapes from the bow of fruits she leans back. "Painting, ah! The poetry that is seen, not read. So your quest for beauty lets you look at nature rather than faces? I cannot blame you for that looking at all those grief-stricken lines that stain our mouths and eyes and foreheads, but I must admit a young artist, just like you, once rendered me a great favor by enduring all those hours I barely neatly sat in front of him, waiting for my portrait to come into existence." And of course I try to get a few insights into the woman my dear, delicate Alajos is going to marry. I may find a valuable ally in you and you in me, if you decide I'm worth your while. Tell me about your skills in administration and politics. They taught you well?"
A small nod comes,"Caution is often prudent, though perhaps not aslways so as you do advise. It is the trick that must be learned, on when it is best used and when it is best put aside. Certainly a thing, I have many years ahead of me to master." Avaline gives a touch of a smile,"Wise men are always mistaken, it is learning from those mistakes that help to make them wise. " Drawing another sip of her wine before she nods,"Aye, painting. Though it seems Duke Alajos does have a preference for the Lady Livessa's talents in this area. " Not a thing that quite seems to truly bother Avaline. "I see face every day at Court, nature is not something that time always allows for. It is perhaps that which draws me there, some sense of peace and serenity, even if falsely so at times. Given my station, it is for me more a hobby then something of a livelyhood. Perhaps eve more so given the match that has been made for me." Oh yes, she already knows well enough that Alajos is going to dump most matters upon her shoulders. He already has tried that....and they're just betrothed!
"One is always worht the while, until they prove otherwise, Your Grace. Plitics, I have been taught as well as one might hope. My Uncle would not have sent me to the isle if I was lacky, " there is a mild sigh," there again he did yet send my cousin." Avaline shakes her head a touch. "Adminstration, I have much in the way of the basics, but as with many, my path in life was to be otherwise then what it will become. So they are lacking for the task I find myself thrown to, but I have already taken to spending some time with Lord Ralph to beginning polstering them as they shall need to be." Oh yes, she knows who really runs the Duchy.
"Ralph has indeed picked a fine young lady to be matched with my brother. Make sure to find some time to tend to your passion of art, when the burden begins to tire you, it can help. We all know Alajos tends to his own hobby horses well enough. Ralph is a good mentor, I can assure you, but if you still might find yourself in need of help, be it concerning the keep, the lands, the family, I'll do my best to offer you mine." Tilting her head her look mildens as she adds "Or be it concerning the nature of the more... womanly things," the child is mother- and sisterless after all. "Remember that, will you? For now, forgive me, but I have to return to my chambers. It has been a pleasure meeting you."