How Dare He?

[Lady Fiona Lancaster]

After the discussion with the Grand Duke, she left the meeting with a pleasant expression. As she moved farther away, however, her expression turned increasingly sour and unpleasant. That bastard. He spoke to the Duke before speaking with her? This was her daughter! She was under her care! Sedrick should have given her the courtesy of speaking to her first. Yes, they had discussed about giving Serah wings to fly, but that didn't mean she had to be shoved across the wretched ocean!

The woman's gait became increasingly agitated as she moved away from the Lake and back toward the pavilions. She was not aware of it, but she was venturing toward the Lancaster encampment. They had been out by the lake so long that she was subconsciously aware of the layout. In fact, she was briefly startled when she saw the banner of Lancaster fluttering above her in the breeze. When had she come here? She flushed with chagrin and hastily looked around. No one of importance had seen her.

She quietly approached the flap of Spencer's pavilion and quietly asked the guards if he were present.

Lord Spencer Lancaster

[Lord Spencer Lancaster]

The days leading to the Joust were proving busier than anticipated for the Duke of Indigane. His daughter's betrothal to the Crown Prince was shortly to be announced, the negotiations for her dowry and role were under way and he still had the issue of the damned smugglers to contend with before returning to Triadon. Aware that once the Joust was past, a cadre of would-be eradicators led by the Crown Prince intended to descend on his duchy, Spencer had numerous plans and preparations to make in anticipation of a successful entrapment and capture.

The Iron Princess surprised him at his desk when the guard ushered her in; Spencer left instructions that Fiona was to be admitted as needed and desired to his presence. He was quietly flattered that she sought him out on matters of concern, though one look at her features told him this would not prove a pleasant discussion. The subtle signs of rigidly controlled anger and outrage were there if one knew where to look. Rising to his feet, he bowed politely to her and gestured the guard out of the tent with a look that urged him to ensure no further interruptions were welcomed.

"My lady, good day." He approached her quietly and held a hand for hers. "May I offer you a comfortable chair and a glass of wine?" Spencer felt she might need the brief respite before the revelation of her righteous indignation, uncertain what its cause might be.

Lady Fiona Lancaster

[Lady Fiona Lancaster]

Fiona almost launched into her angered tirade but his sheer urbanity prevented that from happening. Damn him. Fiona loved and damned Spencer in equal measure. How could she start screaming and flailing her arms in the face of such civility? In a way, though, it was a good thing ... since it forced to Fiona to stop and think. "Yes, please," she stated, unable to keep the tightness out of her voice. Nonetheless, she took his hand and allowed him to seat her.

Once she settled down, she couldn't keep herself contained any longer. "Sedrick has put his foot forward with Lord Von Arles regarding a possible match to your niece." She tightened her mouth for a moment, "And you'd think I'd hear first from Sedrick about the matter, but no. I just came from a talk with the Treniatan in which he put the idea forth." She probably wasn't making much sense at the moment.

Lord Spencer Lancaster

[Lord Spencer Lancaster]

He could feel the anger radiating from her, but knew if she overflowed with it as a volcano did with its molten lava, she would come to regret such a display. His urbanity often annoyed her, yet Spencer did it as much for her as for himself. Self-control was a notorious trait amongst the Lancaster for a reason. Moving to pour her a generous glass of Rose wine, he glanced back as she settled into the chair, the outpouring of words begun. It took him a few minutes to sort out what Fiona was saying and whom it concerned - he had numerous nieces - but sense filtered in, allowing him a more precise picture.

Spencer returned, offering her the glass as he eased into the chair beside Fiona's, contemplating the response to make. "And rather than confront Sedrick in your present state, you came here," he nodded with approval and understanding. "I am sure it came as a shock to your system, but consider this, Fiona - the King has been acting somewhat on impulse lately, and striking when he feels the iron is hot. It may not have been an intentional slight to you, but an opportunity that arose unexpectedly. Still," Spencer added swiftly, "that he was even considering offering her hand should have been discussed with both of us. True, she has Carlisle blood, but her name is Lancaster and as such, you are both my wards."

He sipped the wine, the better to decide whether he was offended or not. Certainly he had cause to be, though he understood some of the King's mindset. Fiona was angry enough for both of them, but a formal objection was merited. "Do you wish to accompany me to protest the action?"

Lady Fiona Lancaster

[Lady Fiona Lancaster]

"I have worked hard to improve the relationship with my nephew," she decided to speak lowly of the king for just a moment's satisfaction, "And I have no wish to dash it all to pieces because I am angry right now." She sniffed and took a good sip from the wine. She sighed, "Yes, I know. I know his illness has not been good for his mind and I have to keep that in consideration... but it is difficult to do so when it comes to my own precious blood." A hand came up to rub at her forehead.

"Lord Von Arles was polite and courteous during our exchange. He gave him reassurances that Serah would sit beside him as a Grand Duchess and that she would have plenty of duties to fulfill, not the least of which is running his estate. He seems genuinely interested her, as well. He wishes to take her with him as he goes about traveling to various countries, serving as his country's ambassador... and Serah did express an interest in traveling."

She looked at him and frowned in thought, "I don't know. I don't know... how I should feel about all of this, Spencer."

Lord Spencer Lancaster

[Lord Spencer Lancaster]

He listened, as he always did, with patience and neutrality, the better to piece together the puzzle of what roused her ire and sent her into a fury. Fortunately, Fiona responded instinctively to the quiet and calm air Spencer strove to set, the better to elicit a coherent response from her, her explanation rendering understanding easy for him. Sedrick had arranged a marriage for Serah with the Treniatan Grand Duke without so much as a by-your-leave from Fiona or himself, was the general gist of it.

Waiting until the flow of words was stemmed, he did not immediately reply but considered the situation. As marriages went, Spencer could admit to himself that it was a better match than he himself had considered for Serah despite her royal blood. It was also rather generous of Sedrick to put his cousin's wants and needs over those of his own daughter, though he doubted Fiona would see it from that perspective. She was thinking as a mother in danger of losing her child, not as a Princess or a Carlisle.

"I imagine your feelings run the gamut, and legitimately so," was his reply. "On the one hand, you are a mother and Serah is your child. You would have appreciated the courtesy of consultation before the King acted in her interest, but on the other hand, you are also a sensible woman who is trying to look past her emotion to see the benefits for Serah in this match." Spencer could be annoyingly reasonable, and he hoped it would not fuel her fire. "But let me ask you this, Fiona. Aside from a mother's natural concerns, do you have any objections to the pairing?"


Lady Fiona Lancaster

[Lady Fiona Lancaster]

The question was a fair one and she knew it. The woman appeared to take on a brooding mien, thinking it over. It wasn't a bad match. After all, it was better than what she hoped for Serah. She would one day be an Archduchess with the promise from Frederick that she would be treated as such. Fiona could not think of a better match for her at present. Thus, she finally sighed and shook her head, "No, I don't suppose that I do."

She leveled him with a look, "But I still have a desire to chastise Sedrick for his thoughtlessness in this matter. He should have consulted the both of us first, even if it is a mere courtesy. She is more our blood than she is his." She sniffed again, unwilling to let that particular matter drop. "And I am speaking as both a mother and a princess. You know how matters should be handled in this Court better than anyone." Fiona was rarely allowed moments of displaying ruffled feathers, and she was going to take this one, darn it!

Lord Spencer Lancaster

[Lord Spencer Lancaster]

Much as it frustrated her to have him play the cool voice of logic, Spencer also knew that Fiona disliked the loss of self-control and allowing anyone to see that she had been adversely affected. Calming her was one of the aspects of their friendship that endured beyond the passage of years, but he also acknowledged the brief spurt of irritation at the King's high-handed behavior as well.

"By all means, deliver chastisement to him in the manner that is uniquely yours. Good intentions do not excuse the lack of courtesy he has displayed," on that point, the Duke agreed with her, his tone deceptively mild. "I am no more pleased than you are that I was not so much as given the hint of notice that he was considering it. It was inappropriate, and should either of us have conducted ourselves in this manner, you can rest assured we would answer for it." True, Sedrick was the King, yet even Kings were accountable to their nobles. "I shall be only too pleased to render what assistance you may desire, though I know you don't require myself." He added a wry smile, all too well aware that Fiona did not need his help.

Lady Fiona Lancaster

[Lady Fiona Lancaster]

"I shall!" She stated after he gave her leave to do so and immediately flushed with chagrin. She really was working to calm herself. She took another sip of the drink he had offered her. Hmph. "Oh, I would like to have you with me but I don't want to make feel like a cornered cat. I'll talk to him to myself, but thank you for the offer." She studied him, then.

"I hear tell that Belinda has made an appearance. I haven't taken the time to greet her. I trust she is doing well?"

Lord Spencer Lancaster

[Lord Spencer Lancaster]

Spencer chuckled softly, her fervor noted and appreciated for how her cheeks flushed and her eyes took on a martial gleam. Was it any wonder that he continued to harbor the warmest of feelings for her decades later? Fiona was no less beautiful now than she had been when they were half their respective ages. "Then I'll wait here and when you've finished, I hope to receive a full report, hm?" She was raring to go; it was not in him to deny her the confrontation she merited.

His smile twisted wryly with the mention of their niece. "Indeed, she has arrived in grand style. And well she is, though she hasn't changed a great deal. I don't suppose you'd like a new protégée?"

Lady Fiona Lancaster

[Lady Fiona Lancaster]

The chuckle made her flush deepen in hue, though she was not angry at him for doing so. She deserved the gentle laughter. Besides, it was nice to hear. Never had she heard Spencer laugh in derision or mockery. Spencer had a special power over her: no one could make her feel more humble... or cared for. She glanced up at him, seeing that he was, indeed, encouraging her to go speak to Sedrick. "Oh, you'll receive a full report. You can be sure of that." She finished off her wine before getting up.

She paused at his question, making her eyebrows rise. "She's expressed interest, has she? Hmm." Fiona considered it for a few moments. "Certainly."

Lord Spencer Lancaster

[Lord Spencer Lancaster]

He saw the flush and smiled, amused but not necessarily mocking. Spencer understood Fiona as much as any human could, though she remained a strongly private woman. Meeting her eyes, he let her see his approval of her spirit. Iron was, after all, tempered by fire, and there lurked a bright flame in her. "I look forward to it." Giving way to impulse, he added quietly, "Perhaps I might prevail upon you to join me for dinner this evening? Selena will be dining with the Prince, of course, and the girls have other plans to the best of my understanding." If she declined, Spencer understood, but her company would be more than welcome to him.

In response to her question, he shrugged slightly. "Not precisely, but I know her mindset when it comes to Court. She is an ambitious girl, but I believe she could use a little... refinement if she is to accomplish her goals. Who better to instruct her than the paramount Lady of the Court?" From another, such words might have been deemed complimentary; in Spencer's mind, they were simply truth.

Lady Fiona Lancaster

[Lady Fiona Lancaster]

The invitation was most certainly a welcome one, a smile blooming on her face. "That would be lovely, yes. I think I will need some more of this wine after my talk with Sedrick," she tapped the wine glass. "And we've trip ahead of us. Will you be going to Twinport or are you planning to stop in Indigane first?" She would understand if he did, though she quietly disliked it when he was away for long periods of time.

"We all have to start somewhere. Lady Marisa, for example, was a very ambitious young woman. Well, she still is, but it lacked refinement. She had all of the slyness you'd expect from a de Vere, but not quite the finesse necessary to be successful in Court. Her uncle is subject to his temper and I could tell Marisa would be the same way. I saw myself in her, in a way... " She laughed quietly, "Though, I don't think I was ever quite that daring." She recalled quite vividly Marisa's outfit during the Spring Masque.

Lord Spencer Lancaster

[Lord Spencer Lancaster]

Musing over the question, he knew he could benefit from a stop in Indigane. There were matters that required his particular attention, yet Theo was capable. It was time to consider testing his son's capabilities and resourcefulness. His place was here for the foreseeable future, tending to the matters of the Court and assisting as he could in making the transition of power from the King to his Regent smooth. "I think Theo can handle what would need my attention in Indigane. He is good about communicating with me, so he can prepare from there while we are in Twinport. Once the Court returns to Triadon, I'll see about rooting out these fiends once and for all." Spencer's face was set grimly. Daven had not failed, but he had been hampered in no small fashion by the arrival of the Lintenese. He was not so hindered.

Returning to the topic of his niece, he smiled faintly. Spencer had his opinions on the notorious Lady Marisa, though he conceded to himself that the girl had lacked a measure of maturity that she seemed to be acquiring. Setting her cap for Daven was a shrewd move indeed, yet he wondered truly if she could maintain the role. Twinport was no easy region. "You were daring in other, more subtle ways. In some regards, I am relieved that Belinda is not so much like Lady Marisa, but she too has her flaws that require tempering. I believe under your influence, she may find her place." If Fiona could help his niece contain her vanity, that was, on which point the Lancaster duke was far from confident. "I will arrange a meeting, if you are amenable?"

Lady Fiona Lancaster

[Lady Fiona Lancaster]

Fiona was secretly relieved, taking great care not to reveal such. "Your son has come a long way. It's been too long since I've seen him last. I trust he is doing well?" She knew Spencer had been putting him through the rigors of leadership lately. It was not that Spencer was looking to step down, but rather to see his son ready and able. As for the fiends, she sighed quietly, "I have to wonder if the court has been secretly hoping that they would go away. I think it's more accurate to say that they are likely just in hiding and waiting for the perfect moment to strike." She snorted, then, "Perhaps we should toss Prince Nikolai to them. I'm sure he'd be welcomed."

She considered a moment before nodding, "Please do. I'd like to see and test her for myself." A smile of reassurance was given to him, "But worry not. I'll ease off on my grip of iron. I think I've managed to temper myself a little in the past few months, and I believe I have your daughter to thank me for that."

Lord Spencer Lancaster