"It is something I would quite like to focus more on," she smiled, "Particularly as my children are more grown now. Spending more time with you two; Bella, as well- I know I haven't had much of a chance, at all, to make her acquaintance."

Skyla tilted her head, "I hope you brought a wrench to draw water from that tap."

Sending a rather harsh elbow into her friend's arm, Eilidh shot her a glance, Skyla recoiling, "Ow! I mean, she's a wonderful woman who will open up to anything asked of her and certainly will not shut down into an introverted vow of silence."

"Hmm, well perhaps not with Skyla's- well, more direct nature, I'd imagine," Ariella grinned, "In my few times meeting her, she's seemed more than capable of holding a conversation."

Skyla's face narrowed, as though on the attack, "Do you initiate the conversation?"

Thinking for a moment, Ariella gave a pensive glance toward the ceiling, her lips mumbling in silent recollection, "As a matter of fact, now that you say that, I don't believe so. I believe she-"

"Hello, sir or ma'am, my name is Bella Montgomery. Pleased to make your acquaintance. Tell me about your day, the weather, upcoming events, status of business, hobbies, or otherwise," Skyla recited simply, "That sound like the script she was drawing from?"

Scoffing at the accusation, Ariella gave a wide smirk in disbelief, "Oh, come now, she wouldn't have- for three conversations?! I'd have caught on to the fact that she had-" Suddenly silent, as though her ruminating had only paused before and had only then returned to its full breadth, her eyes widened. "No..."

"You made her acquaintance three times, didn't you?"

Ariella's worried eyes spun toward Eilidh, "How did I-?"

"Okay, I was there; she did not make your acquaintance three times," she explained, frowning toward her nearest friend, "But, yes, she does have a bit of anxiety when it comes to people who don't share similar interests to her. Which extends to books and- Well, books- and research. Mostly books. Knowledge. Reading."

Skyla rolled her eyes, "Keep stringing it along, there, buddy."

"She'll be fine," Eilidh sighed, turning her eyes away, "...assuming she shows up."

"Pardon?!" Ariella cried, more in concern than offense, as though any number of things might happen to the poor woman were she not to show.

Eilidh raised her arms into a shrug, "She's been working on it really hard! I'm sure she'll be here! It's the culmination of a day's worth of research, so it's literally in her wheelhouse; I doubt she'd lose that opportunity."

Resting an open hand atop her chest, Ariella dropped her head, "Gods... I forgot how frightful being around you two can be."

"You're literally killing her," Skyla groaned, turning toward Eilidh with a frown, "And I know Fergus can't take care of himself, so I'll take the seal, you take the man and the two kids."

Eilidh rolled her eyes, grinning in reply, "Oh, that parade thought she was too much? I'm keeping Finn in business, didn't you hear? Fergus wouldn't last an hour."

Sighing to make known her malcontent, Ariella frowned, "I truly wish you two wouldn't-"

"Yes, yes," Eilidh nodded.

Skyla agreed, "No more."

"Thank you."

Ariella took the pause to take a sip of her tea.

Skyla spun her lips to the side, "No more. Does he say that, like, right after a single kiss? or-"

"Skyla!"

Eilidh snorted into a laugh, reaching over to smack her friend's arm.

"I'm just saying, he seems pretty- Oh gods, I hate to say bare bones."

Laughing even harder, Eilidh fell sidelong into Skyla's shoulder, Ariella's forceful demeanor even beginning to crack at the sight before her. She took a deep breath, allowing only the faintest smirk as she took another sip of tea, simply letting the two burn out rather than attempting to control the conflagration in progress.

"Are you done?" she inquired.

Skyla's typically still demeanor suddenly broke into the briefest hint of a chuckle before returning to stone, though Eilidh had already put the pieces together, laughing even harder into Skyla's arm, her voice breaking through as her pained lungs battled for breaths, "D- Does he-?! say that-?! when-?!"

"Yes, dear, we got it," Skyla nodded.

Surrendering her attempts at humor, Eilidh simply succumbed to her laughter once more, finally coming to a gradual halt as she pulled herself upright, reaching up to draw the tears away from her eyes. Now done with her tea, Ariella sat her mug and saucer down, shaking her head in disbelief, though still with a smile that spoke her amusement at her friends' joy.

"Well, now that that's concluded," Ariella nodded simply.

"We're sorry," Eilidh made known the sentiment as she continued rubbing her eyes, "Fergus is great."

Nodding, "Yes, I agree." Ariella's eyes wandered off, her bottom lips growing into a prominent pout, a tell-tale sign that she was fishing for something - a devastating lure of a verbal strike. "So much amusement to be had at his expense, though- It makes me oh so hopeful for the day the both of you end your parades of imbeciles."

"Oh, gross," Skyla's face was of sharp disgust, while Eilidh's turned to terror.

Ariella's smile was devilish, "I thought that might work."

The two were still making puking sounds when the servant from earlier returned, taken aback by the sight before him. He shut his eyes, taking a breath before stepping forward, tea kettle in hand, as he approached the three women, the two guests pausing their exaggerated reaction only as he began to speak.

"Dutch-imported tea, for the esteemed guest," he noted, dutifully, before rising upright once again, "And there's a Lady Montgomery at the door."

"Oh, perfect! You may send her in," Ariella nodded happily, gesturing toward the man in thanks.

He bowed reverently before stepping out - or rather escaping, given his speedy gait - allowing the three women to continue, with Eilidh noting immediately upon his exit, "You've gotten scary good at all that- hoity-toity estate stuff. You know, there was a time where Ariella nee Innes would have downed a pint of ale and a man in a single night without a second thought, and now look at her waving her hands around like she knows what it all means."

"Oh, gods..." she covered her face, "Must we continue to drudge up the past? I'll warn you both that I can play that game just as well- perhaps even better, considering how much more sober I was in our younger years than either of you."

"Offended," Skyla tapped a spot in the air as she frowned.

Rather proud of herself, Arielle sunk deeper into her couch, still allowing herself the dignity of a prim and proper disposition as her hands remained in her lap, "Old habits die hard, I assure you."

Eilidh leaned closer to her cohort, "I think Bella might be too pure for this one, now that I'm thinking about it."

"Too late," the matriarch's lips tugged into a grin as she turned to glance through the doorway and down the hall, the pitter-patter of footfalls calling her attention to the near-rampant pace of an approaching individual.

Politely, Eilidh rose to her feet, stepping toward the door to allow her friends the courtesy of being introduced once more, "Just- don't go old mare or whatever on her."

"Is that what we're calling it?" Arielle laughed behind a muted grin, shaking her head. Her disposition immediately jolted to one of shock as Bella Montgomery stormed into the room, head down, bearing an armful of rolled-up parchment and an easel, brushing past Eilidh without a word, nearly knocking the woman off balance.

"What the-" Eilidh questioned with furtive shock, watching as Bella stomped deeper into the room, standing up the easel where it could be seen by everybody before falling to her knees and dropping the scrolls to be organized. Turning to her friends, both of whom watched with a mixture of worry and confusion, Eilidh slowly approached the mousy woman, clearing her throat to make her presence known.