First Test Passed [ 5/5 Rupert, Vivianne ]

[Lady Vivianne Trevelyan]

Armed with the juicy tidbit she'd been assigned to garner, Vivianne sent word to Lord Rupert to meet her in the garden, the better to receive proof of her merit and potential. She dressed almost demurely, looking younger than her years, her dark hair neatly tucked into a net that matched her plain linen dress of cream embroidered with small wine colored flowers by the deft hands of her patient lady's maid. She sat quietly on a bench in the heart of the gardens, strategically placed so that sneaking up on her would be challenging indeed; a privet hedge at her back would reveal anyone trying to move through it while the gravel lining the paths and concealed sticks in the grass would warn her of anyone trying to approach her face on or from the sides.

She thought Lord Rupert might appreciate those little precautions and tricks. He had a great deal he could teach her, of course, but Vivianne Trevelyan was not coming to him as the lowest rank amateur in Demeria.

Pride was a grave sin for anyone, but especially anyone who intended a career in the information gathering business. She did not want to call it espionage; that would get her sister's back up and her father in a froth of panic. As it was, Lord Trevelyan was constantly looking over his shoulder and checking for hidden people in their suite, as if he had something to hide. He did, and his younger daughter knew it, wrestling with her conscience over what to do about it. She needed to speak with Bebhinn about it very soon. Time was running out.

For now, Vivianne looked for all intents and purposes an innocent young noblewoman, enjoying the mid-spring day with a book in the gardens. Only someone watching her very closely might see that the dark eyes were almost constantly in motion, the posture was alert and she was not focused on her book at all.

[Lord Rupert de Vere]

The little woman was, indeed, rather clever and that would only further serve to keep her, well, alive and useful in the future. Before Rupert had actually made his approach, he had taken several minutes to scope out her position and concluded that there was no real way to approach her without being seen. Unless, of course, he were to come from above, but he had no interest in sprained ankles and broken bones. Thus, he conceded victory.

As he made his approach, he saw no point in attempting to hide his steps or any other clandestine actions to get the better of her. "Good afternoon," Rupert stated quietly, and opted to settle down beside her. "I hope that book is satisfyingly riveting." They both knew she had not been reading it, but it was all part of the game. They had to appear as a lord and lady merely conversing as a lord and lady would.

[Lady Vivianne Trevelyan]

Small but mighty, that was Vivianne Trevelyan. And clever when she put her mind to it. Perhaps she ought to thank her father for being the sneaky, sly and occasionally shifty fellow that he was; it moulded her into the perfect little spy to enter service under the Master of Intelligence. Lifting her head as she heard him make his approach, she smiled politely, allowing no hint of pride or exultation to show. Those were the fastest ways to bring about a downfall, she knew. The minute she grew arrogant or cocky, she would make a foolish mistake.

Marking her place, she set the book aside aside and lifted her gaze to him. "It is excessively diverting. It is a pleasure to see you again, Lord Rupert. I hope you are well? And prepared for the upcoming masque?" It was, as they no doubt both knew, a night full of opportunities tailor made to people of their persuasion.

[Lord Rupert de Vere]

Rupert smiled at the mention of the masque. "Indeed, I am quite prepared for the masque. Are you? I think I'll have some pleasure figuring out just which one you are going to be and there is no telling just what kind of trouble all might find ourselves in. After all, you know how people tend to ... let go during such festive times." A playful smirk curved his lips.

He opted to move on to the real meat of the conversation, but was, at least, somewhat subtle about it. "I trust the last few days have been productive for you?" Rupert had been in need of a few more operatives. Marisa was perfectly fine and did her job quite well, but her methods were of the overt nature. Rupert needed a person that could handle the covert with aplomb. Would Vivianne be that woman? He was about to find out.

[Lady Vivianne Trevelyan]

An impish smile decorated elfin features as she nodded. "I am amply prepared, and I wonder if you will indeed be able to figure me out." It wouldn't be that hard, Vivianne knew, yet she hoped it would give him a momentary challenge. She thought the costume entirely too appropriate for herself under the circumstances, the blue gown and matching mask suiting her coloring. "As for trouble, I'm counting on it. Where better than a masque to cause and receive mischief?" The increasingly sly smile reflected in dark eyes then; if she was truly lucky, Bebhinn would not be in attendance and so would have no reason to scold her for improper behavior.

Smoothing her skirts out of his way after he seated himself, Vivianne did not immediately reply, gazing over a bush that looked ready to burst into bloom at any time. Spring in Demeria was a lovely season, full of color and scent. A gentle finger reached to brush over the bud waiting to split, then she looked back at him with a nod. "It has been despite a few minutes of... concern, but all smoothed over. It is good, as you know, to be certain to learn something every day, and I've made sure to do just that." A discreet sweep of the garden confirmed no one was in sight or earshot as she continued softly, "The Prince is not to marry Lady Julia, but is pursuing Lady Selena Lancaster as his potential queen."

Having delivered that tidbit, she watched him from the corner of her eye for reaction to see if the news proved sufficient to the cause she sought.

[Lord Rupert de Vere]

"I'm glad to see that you are so much looking forward to it. The greater fun is figuring out the Royal Family and watching what they do," it would be a prime time to watch the Crown Prince especially to see if he was going to behave for long or not. The Masque would be the time where he could let go without any apparent worry of being caught. Rupert would make certain that was not the case at all. It was not that Rupert viewed Riordan as an enemy or a threat, he simply wished to make certain that he was truly the right man for the job.

Now they were getting to real meat of the conversation, and he was going to listen closely to every word that Vivianne said. What she said both surprised him, and yet ... not. "Really?" He voiced, indicating that she did, indeed, find him something that he had not been able to confirm for himself. The Lady Selena. Just as Marisa and he had suspected! "What a turn of events for the Kingdom, hm? Now I just have to wonder how the irascible dragon of the Kingdom views such a change." After all, it was the Dragon that stood the most to lose in such a change.

[Lady Vivianne Trevelyan]

He made a very good suggestion there, one she intended to follow up on as a self-test. The more she honed her skills, the more valuable she could be, especially in an active royal court such as this one. The time was coming - in fact, was not too far away - when her father might find the disgrace he so eagerly courted. If Vivianne did not have her future secured, she very likely would take a fall with him. That was the last thing she wanted. "I will make a plan to do so, in that case, as you cannot be everywhere at once."

She smiled a little, not proudly or arrogantly, but with a nod of her head. "Yes. I heard him speak so himself to his knight while in his chambers, preparing for the evening yesterday." That would lend more authenticity to her report, she felt sure, not that Rupert showed any sign of disbelief. "I think something was said of Lady Julia's lack of desire to become queen. Surely Lord St. Claire already knows of this? I do not believe the Lady Julia is one to keep secrets," and if anyone would know, surely it was a vassal house of the St. Claires!

[Lord Rupert de Vere]

"That may very explain why he has been such a grump as of late," he then felt the need to add, "More so than usual, that is," the tone was a dry one. "If his eldest daughter doesn't want to be Queen, then perhaps he may push for one of his other lovely little dragons to be Queen, instead. However, if Riordan is interested in Lady Selena..." He trailed off, and chuckled quietly. "Dear me, it seems that the St. Claires are going to have fun something else upon which to rest their laurels."

His gaze turned fully to Vivianne, then. "You've done quite well, in this, especially in getting around that damned watchful knight of his. Did you enjoy it? Would you like to do some more?"

[Lady Vivianne Trevelyan]

"Ah..." Vivianne hated to interrupt his speculations, but she felt the need to offer another insight into the St. Claire situation. "If so, it will be either Lady Rosalie or Lady Cecilia. I believe the Lady Lynesse may be setting her cap for a certain wintry Duke." She delivered it with an vague effort at discretion, but the dark eyes were full of merriment. "So I don't think Lady Selena has much competition from the dragonesses."

Meeting his gaze, she considered it, then confessed sheepishly, "I almost didn't. Sir Darton's a little too observant for my own good, but I did enjoy it. Very much. And I would love to do more." Unable to help herself, she added boldly, "A friend and I managed to slip into the King's bedchamber unobserved a few weeks ago. He might be a good partner in this too."

[Lord Rupert de Vere]

At hearing her tone, he looked at her with an arch of a brow and then it flattened at the mention of the de Winter duke. "Ah, so one of the little dragons is interested in wintering, is she? How very interesting, indeed. And I am sure you have heard that the Dragon himself has his eye set on my niece. Perhaps the St. Claires are finally branching out and not depending entirely on royal favor. A smart move on their part. But what will the Lancasters do with such?"

A slow smile formed at her. "That you got around Sir Darton is impressive in and of itself. You will get better with time," and then she dropped a true bombshell. Rupert's eyebrows raised. "Am I allowed to know who this friend is?" He arched a brow.

[Lady Vivianne Trevelyan]

"Oh, the Lady Selena is encouraging the Crown Prince from what I understand, she may be a better influence on him than any of us expected," Vivianne commented calmly with an air of authority as one who knew what she was talking about. She was not especially close to Selena, but she had eyes and ears. "Already, she occupies a good deal of Prince Riordan's thoughts. So I will continue to watch that, by your leave."

She gave him an imp's smile at the mention of Sir Darton. The knight really was too observant for her peace of mind, but she'd managed to accomplish the task set for her with a measure of success. Lord Rupert was right, she would only improve with time, she would make sure of it! At his question, however, Vivianne grew more sober and nodded, offering the name. "Lord Thomas de Lac." Dark eyes rested on his face in anticipation of his reaction to the name, likely one of the last he was prepared to hear divulged from her.

[Lord Rupert de Vere]

"You have my leave," Marisa was also watching the situation, but it never hurt to have more than one pair of eyes on a situation. "I believe I shall be keeping a very close eye on the two of them. We shall see what develops," and then he shifted to the other topic at hand.

Pleased that she had decided to share the name with him, his eyebrows rose with some interest. The cousin of Darton de Lac? How very interesting, indeed. A chuckle suddenly escaped him. "Thomas de Lac? I thought there was a rumor he wanted to be one of the fine upstanding knights of Demeria. Sneaking all about in the dark? Not very chivalrous." Rupert was, of course, teasing, quite amused by the revelation. "Did he enjoy it?"

[Lady Vivianne Trevelyan]

"That's what makes him so ideal. No one suspects him!" Vivianne gave him a look that suggested he should have thought of that herself. "And yes, he did enjoy it." She didn't know why she was so... firm about this beyond that she liked the man, enjoyed his company and appreciated his sense of adventure. "In fact," she added briskly, "he came up with a very good distraction for the guards. It kept them occupied for quite some time."

[Lord Rupert de Vere]

Once again, she was proving to him that she had no short amount of cheek. Why couldn't his own wife have been this clever or agreeable to such plotting? Ugh, why did he even think of his own wife? That was such an unpleasant topic at all times. Forcing her out of his mind, he focused on her instead. "Did he now?" He was watching her closely on that point. She did seem rather stalwart in defending him. No doubt due to attraction. That was a pity. Rupert rather liked her. "Are you suggesting that we bring him into the fold, or would you rather keep him as a little agent or partner in crime for yourself?"

Whatever she decided, he would not be offended. If anything, it would tell him just what kind of resources he had available for further information gathering.

[Lady Vivianne Trevelyan]

Vivianne gave the matter weighty consideration. A few inarguable items rested heavily - first, that Thomas was honorable by deed, action and intention. The game of information occasionally required one to be less than honorable. Second, he had his own ambitions, she was sure of that. She hadn't asked what they were, but it wouldn't take a genius or a spy to find out. And third? Well... he was a de Lac, and that wasn't a bad thing per se, but the de Lacs and the Trevelyans weren't known as the best of friends.

"I think before we decide that, let me get to know him better. It's hard for me to predict how Lord Thomas would react right now, and I don't want to scare him off if he isn't a good fit for your needs." Caution was not typically in her nature, yet reluctant to ruin what could be a very good friendship, Vivianne opted to err on the side of caution. Thomas was worth the risk... on her part, even if Rupert did not agree.