It had been a month and a half since the coming of age ball and Markisean was less than secretive about his daughters lack of offers for marriage. Not a letter was written asking for her favor, not a suitor had visited to court her. Of course Soliel was ecstatic about this news and frolicked freely about the library. She’d spent the last few days exchanging notes with Lord Boudreaux. He’d written her a thank you note for the book with a rather witty remark and so of course she simply had to reply. Unfortunately then Tyrian received a note with an even wittier remark and so he couldn’t just ignore it. They continued on this way all the way until the Sunday after when her father announced she would be joining him that afternoon for tea and her chambermaid was waiting to have her dressed. It wasn’t an unusual event, her father often requested she be well dressed for tea with him. She sometimes wondered if he wasn’t administering a pop quiz of her etiquette. So much like any other tea with her father she returned to her chambers to be dressed in a silk and tulle gown much too tight for her liking. Today the dress was yellow and forest green. As per usual she had never seen it before and as usual it fit. Her chambermaid fixed her hair and tied her bodice for her. She descended the stairs, headed for the library where she often had tea with her father but halted her stride in surprise.
“Lord Boudreaux?” She put her hand on the banister to steady herself. He reached out his own hand to help guide her down the rest of the stairs. “Dost thou have business with my father today?” She asked, confused.
“You look well.” He said casually. “ Your father sent me a letter a few days ago inviting me to tea. Were you not informed?” He asked, eyeing her dress.
“Would you believe I’ve been ambushed?” She said apologizing for her own confusion.
“I would.” he laughed. “I’ve been in similar situations with the Countess.”
“I doubt it.” She whispered only loud enough for him to hear as they reached the library. Soliel would have thought it impossible to surprise her further but when she entered the library she was stricken with shock again. Lord Deveaux and Lord Caper stood talking with her father and mother. They all looked up as she entered the room.
“What is going on?” Tyrian whispered to her.
“I don’t know.” She said through gritted teeth, forcing a smile.
“Soliel,” Duke Markisean said proudly “honey we have guests joining us for tea isn’t that grand?”
“It’s wonderful papa…” she said, her heart beating faster, she wasn’t sure what to do. Tyrian stepped in to save her.
“Markisean, how wonderful to see you again sir. Duchess Bellarose, a privilege as always.”
“It’s good to see you’ve both found your way, please come join us, tea is being served at any moment.” Everyone made their way to a table that had been set up inside the library. Soliel sat at the end of the table opposite her father, her mother was seated to his left. To her left was Tyrian and to her right Lord Deveaux and Lord Caper respectively. The board was set and the game had started. Her father was testing her. Looking at her pieces things began to fall into place. She remembered her father taught her chess when she was just a girl. He’d taken the advantage with the first rule he’d ever told her. Always be one step ahead of your opponent. She’d been a fool to come to tea unprepared and he knew what he had done. He knew she wouldn’t have questioned a surprise tea and when she didn’t she played directly into his hand. She surveyed the room to find Nan missing. He’d taken away her allies. She was alone in this war. She looked to her left for only a moment at Tyrian, not completely. She hid her smile.
“Papa, please tell us why tea so soon after ball?” She asked, buying time.
“Can’t a father have tea with his daughter?”
“And our other guests?”
“It’s been such a long time since you’ve seen your friends, over a month now, and Lord Boudreaux is new to town. I thought it would be nice to include him.” She bit down a scoff. Lord Caper and Lord Deveaux were hardly her friends. They were once tutored together before she went off to France. That was before she could reach the top of the kitchen counters. Her father wasn’t giving anything away on purpose but she slowly began to see what he was up to.
“How delightful.” She said, through grit teeth. Actually Lord Deveaux was just telling me Papa, at the ball you know, how interested in trades he’s become of late.” She said, looking to him to speak. That would show her father, Lord Deveaux could talk endlessly and it brought her some time to think. Her father’s eyes tightened as he listened politely to Lord Deveaux pitch his ideas for a modern trade system. Soliel giggled as she could see him fighting not to roll his eyes. She felt a tap on her left knee. She looked sneakily at Tyrian, raised her eyebrows slightly to prove she was paying attention, and looked away. He smirked and whispered.
“Would he not prefer to share his ideals out in the stables?” Soliel almost spat her tea.
“Something funny Soliel?” Her father had noticed her faux pas. She swallowed hard.
“Not at all Papa. I burned my tongue.” She fanned her face with her hand hiding a smile.
“Be more careful my dear.” He said, looking to Lord Boudreaux. “What about you Tyrian? Interested in trades?”
“I am to inherit a rather large trades business sir.” Tyrian nodded.
“Ah yes, how is your father?”
“He’s well, he and the Countess send their best.”
“Please return the favor for me.” Tyrian nodded and Markisean turned to Lord Capers, who looked rather uncomfortable. “Lucas, your mother, is she well?” Lord Capers nodded.
“She’s quite well, yes. Depends on me quite a bit since father passed last spring. I am afraid I shan’t stay away too long.”
“Inheriting such a vast merchant's estate at such a young age.” Markisean shook his head. “You must be a very capable young man and in need of an heir.” Ah so that’s his game. Soliel reassessed her surroundings. He hasn't received an offer and so he thought he’d make up a few. Stir the pot. He was pretending Soliel was in high demand by putting the gentleman most likely to bid for her hand in a pissing match.
“Yes, my mother is quite worried that I won’t find a match.” Lord Capers glanced nervously back at Soliel. Lord Deveaux spoke up then.
“The Baroness also wishes to remind you, Duchess, that you are to meet for tea next Tuesday afternoon. My mother is anxious to continue your conversation from the ball.” He said pointedly. It’s working, Soliel thought horrified. They’re getting nervous. Her father smiled. He’d taken her pawns before the match had started and pressed hard with his rooks and bishops. She was surrounded.
“Enough talk of heirs and business, this is a social call, is it not? Perhaps we should take a turn about the room?” Tyrian spoke from beside Soliel. She still had a knight to defend her.
“Of course.” Her father spoke for her. “How rude of me, please Soliel stretch your legs.” She stood shakily and took Tyrian's arm. They began to slowly walk about the library aware that eyes were still on them. When they were out of earshot Tyrian spoke up.
“Would you care to explain to me why your father is making you sweat.” She opened her hand fan and lazily waved it.
“He’s trying to start a bidding war.”
“What?”
“A war Lord Boudreaux. He’s upset the party has ended and no one has asked for my hand, so he’s pushing the most likely to fall like dominos. He’s going to force a proposal out of someone by making me seem more desirable.”
“He’s going to do that with this awkward tea?”
“Don’t you see, it’s already working. Whether they’ve shown interest or not every potential suitor here is under pressure for an heir and thus must marry soon. I of course being one of few girls of age in town at the moment and of the highest status should be in high demand.”
“But?”
“But rumors follow the unknown Lord Boudreaux and the people of town haven’t met me. I hid myself away for most of the party if you recall. In short— they’re all chicken.” She giggled. “It was a flawless plan of mine but now all my hard work is coming undone. You might as well lay me out in the stables.” Tyrian grimaced. “He’s said it himself he aims to see me wed before I turn twenty in the next spring. The next spring! That’s hardly a few months. I have but the winter to stall him any further, what am I to do?” Tyrian looked at her with remorse. He hadn’t advice for such a problem.
“Straighten your posture. Breathe even.” He told her and she did. They were almost back at the table. “I’m sure you will be fine.” He offered as last words of encouragement but she knew it was a simple nicety.
The afternoon droned on forever. In the end it seemed an impasse would continue for at least a few more days. No one made any sudden offers and no one asked to speak with her father alone. He did make her take turns about the room with each guest in turn after Lord Boudreaux. She didn’t hesitate to accept as to not show favoritism. She accompanied her guests out to the foyer and before she could make her way to her chambers she found her hand encompassed by that of another. She turned to find Tyrian guiding her a bit away. “I have something for you.” He whispered.
“What?”
“I was going to send it, but then I received an invitation to visit you and thought I'd bring it myself.” He pulled a small wrapped package out of his coat pocket.
“What is it?”
“Open it and find out.” He smirked. She felt silly. She unwrapped the small package to find a pair of beautiful leather gloves. The inside lined with fur beneath the brown.
“They’re beautiful.” She breathed. “Where did you ever find them.”
“I made them myself.” She blinked up at him. “I dabble in leatherworks in my spare time and I found myself making these and thought they would be perfect for you.” She stared at him in awe. “As a thank you for the book.” He finished.
“Yes of course. For the book.”
“I quite enjoyed your notes in the margins. Your thoughts on Socrates are, as always, a pleasure to entertain.
“I thought you might,” she said sliding a glove onto her right hand “it’s perfect, thank you.” They stood for a moment in the foyer looking at each other with admiration in their eyes. Soliel took a step on the stair to bridge the gap in their heights and lost her balance. Tyrian caught her. His hands at her waist, strong arms easily supporting her weight. “Thank you.” She said, frozen in his arms.
“Are you hurt?”
“No, mostly embarrassed. I apologize, I should be more graceful. It’s these shoes.” She said, lifting her dress slightly to show him her heels.
“I’d been meaning to say something about your dancing barefoot but the mystery has been solved. The Lady cannot walk in shoes.” He jested. Soliel turned red.
“I’ll have you know, shoes or not, I could best you any day.”
“Is that a challenge Lady Soliel?” He was still holding her steady and she felt his eyes turn more intense.
“It most certainly is, name the activity.” Tyrian’s eyes darkened. She suddenly felt small.
“It is still summer, would you take me up on a race down at the lake?”
“The lake?” he nodded his head. “You mean to swim?” He turned his head to look upon her sideways. “I don’t know…”
“Oh where did your bravado go Lady Markisean?” She made a face.
“I can’t swim.” She admitted.
“Can’t swim?” Tyrian said, baffled. She pursed her lips.
“I never learned.”
“Accompany me to the lake this weeks end. I will teach you.”
“You’ll drown me!” she exclaimed.
“Bring a chaperone of your choosing, but I promise, I will not allow you to drown.”
“You promise?” She asked very seriously.
“Did I let you fall yet?” He asked and she realized he was still holding her very close. She cleared her throat. He let go of her waist, taking a step away. “I should head out before it gets too late.” He said, turning to take his leave.
“Yes, you wouldn’t want to be caught out in the dark. You’ll catch a chill.”
“Until next time.” He smiled over his shoulder.
“This weeks end, the lake,”She said, agreeing to the date.
“The lake.” he nodded and disappeared out the door. When the door closed she leaned against the banister and released a heavy sigh.
Back in her chambers she took off the single glove and placed the pair together on her vanity. A card fell to the hem of her dress from the wrapping that she hadn’t seen before. She knelt to pick it up and flip it over.
Soul,
I couldn’t help but think of you when I had finished this pair. They seemed to be a fitting thank you to a friend who holds such powerful intellect on the philosophies of the times. I hope they serve you well this winter.
~Tyrian
She smiled wide placing the card inside her drawer. Tyrian. Could she call him by his first name now? Careful Tyrian someone may assume a familiarity between us. She teased him in her head before throwing herself down onto her bed.
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