Reaching Across Borders

[Lady Samantha Rose]

It took some prodding from her eldest son to set up the meeting with Carissa. Samantha knew it was necessary, but she wasn't in a great hurry to hold it. It was nothing against Carissa, of course, but Samantha was not exactly the most social of Duchesses. Yet, she was acutely aware of a rift between the two lands. The feud between the de Lacs and the de Veres had gone on for too long and it would cause problems in Court if it weren't resolved sooner rather than later. No doubt it was going to make a lovely topic of discussion for the two ladies.

For the meeting, Samantha arranged for a private meeting by the lake. It was more of a picnic than anything else. The Duchess of Honeyvine abhorred formal settings. Informal settings were far more preferable since one did not have to be constantly at edge. A picnic with white meats, fruits, vegetables and lemonade were enjoyable. There was no wine in sight. It was not appropriate for this meeting.

The woman was even dressed relatively simply in a white flowing dress that mostly hid her figure and gave her a sort of ethereal quality. The hair was up in an elegantly braided bun. Her daughter had arranged for her, much to their mutual delight. Samantha was waiting patiently for her fellow duchess to arrive, pouring two glasses in anticipation.

Lady Carissa de Vere

[Lady Carissa de Vere]

The longer she went without a response from Samantha Rose, the more apprehensive Carissa became. Honestly, if the Duchess didn't want to meet her, then she should just say so in Carissa's mind - she wasn't going to be offended, but she schooled herself to patience she didn't normally have. Truth was, Carissa didn't precisely blame Samantha for the delay; the situation on which they were to meet was a sticky one, to put it delicately, and the Duchess of Honeyvine was renowned for her dislike of confrontation and conflict. How else to explain her persistent refusal to come to Triadon?

But the matter between the de Veres and the de Lacs needed to be resolved for all of their sakes, whether the Duchess liked it or not. Hoping to make the resolution as painless as possible, Carissa arrived at the lakeside with a basket bearing some gifts that she intended to smooth her path by giving. Various products of her own lands, but it was meant as a gesture of conciliation and contrition. Wearing a simple gown of blue and white, she approached with a pleasant smile and a graceful incline of her head.

"Lady Rose, good day to you. My thanks for agreeing to meet with me."

[Lady Samantha Rose]

Samantha had been too busy preparing for Carissa's arrival to notice Carissa herself. When she heard the voice, she smiled and gazed up at her. She was relieved to see that she was dressed as simply as she was. It made her look more approachable and innocent. Samantha, fortunately, was not foolish enough to think that she was the latter! Raising to a stand, she nodded to the woman. "And good to you, Lady de Vere. Welcome. I know this meeting has been long overdue."

She extended a hand to join her on the blanket that provided comfort against the grass and its various bugs. "Please join me. I've brought some lemonade, if you would care for some. I also have water." Once the offer was made, she gazed at the woman. "I trust you have been well?"

[Lady Carissa de Vere]

Approaching more closely, Carissa smiled faintly and went to join her would-be hostess on the blanket, smoothing her skirts into modesty as she contemplated her choices. "Lemonade, I think, if you please. And yes, thank you, I've been quite well minus the conflict that has been too long unresolved. On that," she added lightly, "you have my heartfelt apologies. I should have requested this meeting long ago, and will not offer any excuses as to why I have not."

Carissa sighed for a moment, then glanced over the water. "What's done is done. It shouldn't have been done, and that it was is beyond embarrassing to me. I intend to make this right, but if you have some notion of how you would prefer to see it done, please tell me."

[Lady Samantha Rose]

Carissa was offered a glass of cool lemonade before she went into her apology. A good thing since it surprised the Duchess of Honeyvine. A slow sip of her own lemonade was enjoyed as she contemplated her response. "When I found out what happened, I was tending to my vines at home. A blight had infected them. It was promising to be a bad year. I worked very hard to save them, and I manged to save a few of them."

Her eyes shifted toward the woman. "What happened is very similar to that blight. It was painful. It was costly and the infection has gone deep. But my vineyards recovered. So, too, I feel can the relations between our houses. It will just take some pruning and hard work."

[Lady Carissa de Vere]

The silence drew out after she finished speaking, unnerving Carissa until Samantha spoke. Sipping her own tartly sweet lemonade, she gave a grim nod of agreement. Referring to the situation as a blight was a tactful way of saying it was a near-disaster, one barely averted. "I can respect that stance, Lady Rose. I can also assure you that I arrived in Triadon with a good portion of that pruning completed. Your vassals need not be concerned of another meeting with the culprit. He has been cut out of the family vine and exiled from Demeria."

Some might deem that an overly harsh punishment; in Carissa's mind, it wasn't harsh enough for the damage the little bastard wrought not only on their House but the de Vere reputation. "I am not afraid of hard work either. I understand that there is a great deal of tilling to be done to prepare for new seeds to be sown, the better to allow them to flourish."

[Lady Samantha Rose]

Red brows rose upward as Carissa took on to her analogy and then nodded faintly at the fate of Rupert the Younger. Samantha herself would not have done such a thing, but the punishment would have been severe nonetheless. Regardless, it was good to know that he had been handled. "The people of the Lake will be pleased to know that has happened," she reassured Carissa in that regard.

"It is good to show off your hard work, I feel. If I had guests at Honeyvine Castle, one of the first order of business would be a tour of the yards and a small tour of my vintners. I can't reveal all of my secrets. Hard work deserves to be recognized, but not necessarily flaunted. With that in mind, a public apology would go a long way. But not from you. He who held the original seed should reap what his progeny sowed."

[Lady Carissa de Vere]

"And it is already in progress," Carissa assured her. "A written apology has already been tendered to the one most offended, along with a promise of that public apology, I assure you. But moreso, we would like to honor the initial agreement to prove that not all de Veres are cut from the same cloth. Some of us believe in honor, in keeping our promises and in cherishing those who are entrusted to us."

She knew she was taking an enormous risk in putting that on the proverbial table, but life was full of risks and nothing ventured meant nothing was gained. If Samantha refused, so be it. Carissa was prepared for a resounding refusal on that point.

[Lady Samantha Rose]

Finely trimmed eyebrows rose upward at the woman's suggestion. "I see someone's interested in a bold vintage." And then she decided to drop the analogy. It had run its course. The apology, both written and public were strong steps in the right direction, but ... a marriage between de Vere and de Lac? Hm. She took another sip of lemonade. It was clear that she was thinking.

"Who are you thinking would be involved in the match?" Why not find out what the woman had in mind?

[Lady Carissa de Vere]

Glad to see the idea wasn't immediately rejected out of hand, Carissa studied Samantha for a few minutes before she extended her offer, aware that she was still taking a great risk. So far, so good; fortune favored the bold today. She'd need it after she finished her reply, she felt sure, her gaze never leaving the Lady of Honeyvine's face. "I had two possible matches in mind. My uncle Rupert is well connected in Court; he is in need of a wife who would not shy away from life in Triadon and finds the Lady Lisette very lovely. He would be honored to receive her hand in marriage. The other option is to offer one of my cousins, perhaps Joseph, for your daughter, Lady Maria."

[Lady Samantha Rose]

Finally, Samantha's emotions came through but only for a flash. The expression was a disbelieving one. Rupert de Vere wanted Lisette de Lac? Why? He found her lovely? She schooled her face back into a controlled expression. "My goodness. I had no idea the Master of Intelligence would be so forgiving after being slapped in public." She glanced toward Carissa, feeling uncharacteristically assertive. "But then, he did issue an apology."

She frowned, concerned. "I am not certain Lady Lisette would consent to such a match, much less her earl of a brother. But that is why you offer your alternative?"

[Lady Carissa de Vere]

Score one for my side... I do believe I've seen that serene mask slip for just a moment.

If the situation wasn't so serious, Carissa might permit herself a dry chuckle. As it was, she continued to sit with a perfectly calm expression on her face, waiting patiently while Samantha worked through her disbelief and astonishment. "If you know my uncle at all, Your Grace," she quipped dryly, "you know he is not a man of faint heart. He did indeed apologize, and intends to do what he can to foment goodwill between our family and the de Lacs. It is the least he can do."

She glanced back at Samantha with a slight smile. "Let us just say that experience has taught me the wisdom of contingency plans. I may be young, I may be audacious, Lady Rose, but I am also no fool. I do not believe in forcing marriages. I much prefer the bride and groom come to the wedding willingly, especially as I have the future in mind."

[Lady Samantha Rose]

"I shall..." She paused for a moment to consider it. "I shall put it forth to them for consideration. This is not a decision I feel I can make for them. They are more impacted by this I am, admittedly." She gave a light smile and then opted to have something to eat. Food in her stomach was going to help her think further. "But I suspect your uncle's overtures of peace will be an important step forward."

She studied the woman for a moment, "It's not easy, is it?" She observed suddenly. "It's not easy having the fate of an entire land in your hands. You can prepare, you can plan and you can hope, but sometimes, we have to leave certain matters up to fate." She suddenly smiled, laughing in a self-deprecatory manner. "I think I let fate have too much reign over life, though." Which was really why she was here.

[Lady Carissa de Vere]

"Certainly," Carissa was more than willing to concede the point of time and consideration. It was an audacious idea, she knew, one that would likely take time for those involved to recover from the shock of it. Sipping the lemonade, she continued to eschew food in favor of keeping clear of distractions. This conversation was far too crucial to settle for mere food.

Glancing back at Samantha, she unbent to laugh softly. "No, Your Grace, it isn't easy. It's cost me more than a few nights' sleep to know what I decide affects so many lives, and even then there are no guarantees that I've made the right choices. Fate is often capricious, as you yourself know, but sometimes.. you have to wrest the reins of control back from it." She paused, then ventured to speak candidly. "You are an intelligent lady, Samantha, if I may speak so familiarly, and one I think could prove a formidable force in Court if you put yourself forth."

[Lady Samantha Rose]

"Hmm?" Her red brows rose upward at the compliment and then shook his head in a slightly demure manner. "Oh, I have never considered myself a creature of the Court. I'm too much the farmer and vintner to be a considerable force, just... merely looking to secure what is in my best interests." What those interests were, she wasn't quite ready to reveal. "My quiet little Duchy to the northeast can't remain in hiding forever."

She paused, "Instead, I seek to cement relationships with my fellow dukes. I recall your invitation for such a meeting. I trust arrangements are going well? And have the other Dukes answered your invitation? I've yet to meet the young duke of Jardinier." In fact, he was the only one she had yet to encounter. The others had already been met, though the Dragon of St. Claire left a sour note with her. She wasn't all that certain she cared for him.