The Bird and the Cat

[Lord Laurent de Lac]

Laurent was becoming increasingly troubled by the various events in Triadon. First, there were rumors that Lady Rose was coming to Triadon herself, his uncle still firmly believed that Laurent's mother needed to be brought here and then his sister has an unfortunate encounter with Rupert de Vere. What was next? They had fled to Triadon to get away from the negative pressures in their lives, and yet they continued to build.

No. He was not going to let himself focus on the negative. If he continued to do so, then he only had himself to blame should things ever start to go sour. Laurent was a firm believer that any encounter could have a positive outcome if all parties held that common goal in mind. It was an idealistic and perhaps foolish philosophy, but it was one to which he stubbornly adhered. Said philosophy had yet to steer him wrong! Therefore, something had to be right about it.

Armed with the power of positive thinking, Laurent was smiling as he strolled through the impressive halls of Carlisle Castle. It was, understandably, much larger than than his own home and the waterfalls were nothing less than impressive. Changing direction, suddenly, he ventured toward one of the many terraces and leaned over carefully to admire what he could of the waterfalls.

Nearby was a woman that he did not immediately recognize. She was petite, dark haired and fair skinned. Laurent would even go so far as to say she was rather attractive. But rather than approach her, he continued to give her curious, fleeting sidelong glances. Nevermind that he was dressed well, recently groomed and looked every part the handsome gentleman! It was more that... he wasn't quite the charmer his brother was.

Lady Carissa de Vere

[Lady Carissa de Vere]

Carissa de Vere was a woman with a great deal on her mind lately. Standing on the terrace, her face lifted to the welcome warmth of summer sun, she was engulfed in thoughts not half so bright as the light. There were whispers of an unpleasant confrontation between her uncle and the Lady Lisette de Lac in the marketplace. There was the forthcoming 'test' of suitability for Marisa as the potential duchess of Twinport. The Summer Festival was about to begin and the King was dying, not to mention a host of other issues, including the future meeting of all six Demerian dukes.

At least she'd accomplished a few tasks so far, not the least of which was obtaining a fashionable wardrobe, reconnecting with friends and vassals and enjoying the company of her family. There were positive aspects to her thoughts, not just the negative, but she was concerned more for the negative. They had further reaching effects, long-term effects that would impact her duchy, her family, and her own reputation. Her focus inwards prevented her from realizing at first that she was being watched, though the fine hairs on her nape prickled to alert her that she was neither alone nor unobserved.

Turning slowly, her gaze fell on the gentleman, narrowing slightly in assessment. He had a familiar cast to his features, though she could not be certain of his identity. A polite nod greeted him, along with a fleeting smile if he dared to approach her. She didn't bite... hard.

[Lord Laurent de Lac]

He could do this. After all, Aristide had managed to charm the skirts off of many a lady. Surely he could do the same! ... And then he immediately smacked himself mentally. He wasn't going to charm her skirts off! Well, of course, was rather pretty and he wouldn't mind-

Laurent. Stop.

He was going to have a conversation with her. Laurent was a naturally gregarious person, and thus it stood to reason that conversation would come naturally from him. As he made his approach of her, he gave her a smile, appearing more confident than he actually felt. Yet, he knew from past experience that doing so often made him feel more confident in the long run. "My lady, greetings to you. I see that you've been drawn here by the alluring falls as well." He nodded toward it. "The rainbows it's producing today are quite stunning."

[Lady Carissa de Vere]

Watching him come closer, Carissa put his age around her own but there was a strange sort of uncertainty to him. Intrigued by it, she brightened her smile, the better to draw him in, seeing the subtle change in his stance as he proffered a greeting. Her gaze slid away to the rainbows cast by the reflection of the sun on the spray rising from the falls. "The falls are always a good place to reflect, I've found, and their beauty is unique." She wasn't going to go so far as to call it unmatched, knowing Shaleforth had plenty of beauties of its own that did not compare.

"I do not believe we have met." She extended a hand, intending it be clasped informally. "Carissa de Vere."

[Lord Laurent de Lac]

"I agree. Though, I'll confess, it did take me a few days to get used to the sound of the water falls. They are so unlike the sound of the sea back home. The falls more constant but the sea is more rhythmic. I have to wonder what the falls are like after a heavy rain storm or during the spring after the snows melt." There! He was doing well! He had struck up a conversation as was his wont. Aristide would probably be quite proud of him.

... Unless, of course, he were speaking with a de Vere. Admittedly, it was difficult to hide the surprise off of his face but he reminded himself that this woman was not Rupert or Rupert the Younger. She was merely the duchess over both of them. No. He was going to be diplomatic! Carissa did not offer the slight, Rupert did. The hand was taken in a gentle, but confident shake.

"Laurent de Lac." And now he waited for her reaction.

[Lady Carissa de Vere]

"I find the sound soothing, actually." A good thing too, considering the de Vere rooms were not too far away. The crash of the water below drifted up and helped her restless mind to find sleep lately. "The very constancy is reassuring, a sign that the flow of water is unending and that patience will wear down even the strongest resistance." She smiled over the falls, looking back to see the surprise on his face. Her own smile faded a little but she smoothed her features into a serene mask, the moreso when he divulged his own name. A de Lac. How... ironic.

"Well met, Lord Laurent. If I know my noble families, I believe you are the brother of the Earl?" She maintained a cultured, even urbane tone, not so much as batting a lash at the fact that their families were utterly at odds. "I trust he is doing well? I was sorry to hear of your father's passing as well." Common decency, feud or no feud, required that she offer overdue condolences. It was only polite.

[Lord Laurent de Lac]

"I am," he answered the question regarding Aristide smoothly and then bowed his head for a moment. "Thank you for your condolences. It was a trial to be certain and he is still very much missed. My brother, fortunately, is doing well in his stead." He was tempted to say that Aristide was just as stubborn as their father was, but he refrained from doing so for the time being. A shake of his head followed a quiet laugh.

"It's interesting, isn't it?" He leaned against the nearby railing, "The power of names, that is. Here I was, coming to gaze upon the waterfalls, and happen to see you. Clearly a woman of noble birth. Lovely chestnut hair, pretty dress and graceful countenance. Then I learn your name. Everything that our family has been through is telling me that I should be shunning this conversation, yet ... I am still having a pleasant conversation with a noble woman in a pretty dress with lovely chestnut hair in a pretty dance with a graceful countenance."

A glance was given toward the waterfalls, "It must be the waterfalls allowing cooler heads to prevail. That or I am one of those that is blessed, or cursed depending on your perspective, of giving everyone a fair chance."

[Lady Carissa de Vere]

He was clearly not like the rest of his family, Carissa swiftly surmised. A man given to logic and reason over emotion and blind loyalty, intriguing her to speak with him further. If nothing else, Lord Laurent might unwittingly prove to be the key to resolving the feud between their houses and the method by which she was able to breach the chasm. "I... appreciate your willingness not to shun me on the basis of my name, my lord," she replied quietly. "I know many regrettable things have occurred to create the schism between us. One of the reasons I have come to Triadon is to make peace with your family."

She followed his gaze to the waterfalls, a faint smile lingering. "Perhaps it is both, but I am grateful for whichever it may be. This feud is not good for either of our Houses, Lord Laurent, if I may speak frankly."

[Lord Laurent de Lac]

Fortunately, Carissa was far more approachable than Lord Rupert for she did not possess the man's reputation. After all, it was difficult to like a man of such a nature, especially when his immediately family was that much better. Furthermore, he had left a very poor second impression on his dear sister. However, it was not Carissa that was ultimately responsible for what happened. Her desires for peace between the two families did not go unnoticed. "That will no doubt spark some interesting dinner conversation tonight." He already knew how they would respond to Carissa's words.

"Oh, I agree. Anger is a painful and costly feeling to maintain. It drains energy, can deaden the spirit and make life less beautiful as a whole. However, it is one of the most difficult emotions to overcome." The smile, this time, was a rather sad one. He hated to see his family consumed with anger and worry. It was not just the de Veres, either; his mother had a fair share in the matter, too.

[Lady Carissa de Vere]

Watching his face, she resisted the desire to wince when speaking of broaching the subject of ending the feud. Carissa accepted that it would be a far from easily accomplished task - indeed, an uphill task - but she was a woman of resolve. The feud was costing the de Vere in too many ways to be allowed to stand. "I imagine it will, but then years of strife, conflict and misdeeds are not easily dismissed. House de Vere is hardly in good odor with House de Lac, I know."

She sighed, averting her face with a strong feeling of weariness. Already, Carissa was feeling the weight of being in Triadon, of taking on the active role in court and handling House matters. There was certainly a part of her that understood why Samantha Rose preferred to remain in Honeyvine; unfortunately, she didn't have the luxury of staying in Shaleforth. Her House was neither neutral nor aloof. "Yes, it is. I don't expect your family to forgive easily. I certainly don't expect you to forget, but I would like to make things better. For both of our Houses. As you say, this entire matter is a steady drain on all of us. I cannot imagine what it has done to Lady Lisette."

[Lord Laurent de Lac]

"There is anger on both sides, I imagine. The fact that I have failed to see Lord Rupert the Younger around Triadon speaks a great deal," he gave a small smile while focusing on the waterfall. "Granted, to tell you the truth, I have a strong feeling that my brother of an Earl would attempt to challenge him to a duel. Such a final way to settle matters." The vague look of distaste told Carissa what he honestly thought of that idea.

Shifting, he took her in once again. She seemed to be a woman with a level head. The woman had her diminutive stature and gentle face to help her give off the appearance of such, but Laurent didn't fool himself into thinking she was a sweet and soft woman. The de Veres had their reputation for good reason. "My sister is a strong woman," he found himself saying, but didn't go down that road just yet. "All I want for her is to be happy with her life and find a place for herself. While most men might scoff at this. but I for one, am glad she's the smarter of the lot of us. I have this tendency to drift into sunshine, clouds and, dare I say, happiness."

[Lady Carissa de Vere]

Her face went icy with the mention of Rupert the Younger, her jaw tightening as her eyes chilled visibly. "He has been stripped of his family name and disavowed by the de Vere, cast out to make his own way. He is no longer welcome in my House or my family. However, if he is fool enough to show his face in Triadon, you will not hear a single de Vere protest the duel or its outcome." Carissa almost wished Lisette had finished the job when she plunged her blade into the idiot boy's chest. It would have spared her several years of headache.

Outwardly, the Duchess might appear sweet, soft, approachable, but she was not the Lady of Stone for nothing. Averting her face in an effort to calm herself, she listened quietly as Laurent spoke of Lisette and himself. "From what little I recall of Lady Lisette, she held great promise. It was why I was hopeful of the match, but if there is any possible means whereby I can assist her to find that happiness, that place for herself, you have my word," for what it was worth, "that I will be pleased to make it happen."

[Lord Laurent de Lac]

Laurent studied Carissa's expression closely and nodded thoughtfully. Knowing such was very useful. If Laurent brought up the fact that Rupert the Younger had ostracized from his own family and society, it may go someway to mending the breech. However, he knew more was going to be required. He almost stated that she or Rupert the Elder needed to offer an apology for what transpired, but he wondered if it was really his place to suggest such a thing. "He represents the worst of you, doesn't he?"

The mention of Lisette made him smile once again. "I think she still holds great promise, too. I like to hope she has good prospects before her. She is intelligent and capable. She is also ambitious, but we are still trying to figure out the best place for her. I think she'd make a fine Countess or lady of a castle, if you ask my humble opinion." The next question was a teasing one, "Have a castle you're willing to spare?"

[Lady Carissa de Vere]

It was only a beginning. Carissa did not delude herself that it would be nearly enough, or that it would go all that far to healing a very serious wound. "He is," she agreed too quietly, "and a blight on my House. I am all too pleased to be rid of him, and the bitch who created him to be such a cretin. My uncle..." She paused, searching for the words before she continued, "realized too late that his frequent absences from Shaleforth were a contributing factor. Had he understood sooner, the younger might have been redeemed." She didn't offer it as an excuse, only an explanation.

A glance askance saw the smile return to his face, a rather handsome one. Carissa wondered briefly how different they might be in age; there were days she felt far older than her twenty-four years. A thoughtful nod considered his question before she laughed softly. "If I thought she might accept such an offer, I would extend one. But I will keep my eyes and ears open for excellent prospects. Anyone else in your family for whom I should find a castle?"

[Lord Laurent de Lac]

Laurent tried to view Carissa's words from two points of view. On the one hand, it was unfortunate that the father did not have the proper opportunity to correct his son's poor behavior. On the other, one could argue that Lord Rupert could have realized much earlier that his son was getting out of hand. There was no correct interpretation, it was all based on the eye of the beholder. What a mess. Laurent was also mildly surprised to hear the woman speak so disparagingly of Rupert's wife. Interesting. "We'll never know what might have happened," Laurent finally reasoned. "Who knows. Maybe Rupert the Younger has always been been unmitigated ass, regardless of his upbringing." Hey, if she could curse, so could he!?... right?

"Well, I don't know. I might need a place depending on how my own plans pan out." He had no idea if he was going to end up being the Duke of Twinport or not. It all depended on his uncle and elder cousin. It was a strange sensation to have his life in a state of limbo.