To Dine with Vipers

[Lady Carissa de Vere]

A faint smile touched her lips, hearing him speak of pride, knowing it was the besetting sin of most of the Demerian noble houses, including the de Vere. "I've instructed the House guard that he is never to be admitted to the estate and if he is caught attempting to breach the walls, he's to be taken into custody. As regards your children, I agree. Bring them to Triadon." The sooner they began to counteract Elise's influence on them, the better. "If Hannah is fostered to Princess Fiona and turns out half so well as Marisa, we will have a viable marriage prospect to offer one of the Houses. Lancaster, perhaps." Carissa had been examining the family trees of late, looking for prospects that were both respectable and worth pursuing for the good of Shaleforth.

The blue eyes fastened onto his face shrewdly, wondering if there was more than he said. "Do you have a plan for circumventing the nigh-insurmountable pride of the de Lacs?"

[Lord Rupert de Vere]

A nod thanked Carissa for considering his other children. "Not as of yet, no. I imagine that we'll have to grab the bull by the horns, so to speak. Blunt language to get to necessary ends. If we're frankly honest with them it may be enough to get through their heads." A hand came up to rub at his chin thoughtfully, "Though, I imagine it will also behoove us to find out if they want anything. Though, I think they only came to Triadon to escape the woman that puts shrews to shame."

A sip of his wine was taken. "So, to answer your question... I don't have a definitive plan, no. I believe we'll have to make one up as we go along. Unless either of you have a suggestion?"

[Lady Carissa de Vere]

"That woman... I am amazed no one has strangled her yet. Not that they could be blamed." Her few interactions with the Countess de Lac had not been pleasurable. Referring to Veronica de Lac as a shrew was putting it mildly, to say the very least. "I can only be thankful she has not followed them to Triadon, not that she would last long if she did. I suspect she knows this and that is why she remains where she can delude herself about her power and influence." Rolling her eyes, she shook her head, but frowned. It really was time to put an end to the foolish feud.

"I need to think about it. The fact is, Uncle, we should have dealt with it long ago. That we have waited so long is likely to work against us, so we will have to be at our most porsuasive and charismatic when approaching the de Lacs. I would not go so far as to propose a second attempt at marriage, however."

[Lord Rupert de Vere]

"Now that I think about it, the lady would no doubt sooner cut her own throat than marry me," he shrugged somewhat disenchanted shrug. Rupert couldn't really blame her, he supposed. His son did practically ruin her life. Just thinking of it made him more ashamed than he ever cared to admit. It meant that he had failed in some way... and he hated it. He even hated himself for it.

"Maybe you should go over their heads. You should speak with Lady Rose. Perhaps the two of you could work out a way to end this feud. I hope they at least take their liege lord seriously. If they do not, then I am not all that certain how successful we will be."

[Lady Marisa de Vere]

"I can speak with my Lady regarding cousin Hannah," Marisa finally spoke, glancing between uncle and cousin. "With the possibilities of marriages for her daughter and myself, she might welcome a new challenge." She did not speak of her betrothal to Daven St. Claire as a foregone conclusion, aware that Carissa and Rupert both had plenty to discuss regarding the matter, but instead continued lightly, "As far as the deLacs are concerned, I can also speak with His Grace. As their uncle, he may offer some pertinent insight into how to best proceed."

[Lady Carissa de Vere]

A knock indicated the meal was arriving to be served, bringing with it a welcome chance to change the subject. Carissa straightened in her chair, looking between the two as she sighed. The desire to rub her eyes was strong, but she resisted. "Alright. I will think about all of this and let both of you know. In the meantime, let's put it aside until I've had a chance to come to some conclusions or I have more questions. For tonight, I'd just like to enjoy the evening in the company of my family."

The family that counted, that is.