It was over her morning coffee that she sorted the stack of invitations that had awaited their arrival. Stacks made with "Accept", "Potential", and "Decline" was laid out upon the dinning table as she paused occasionally to take a sip of the rich coffee, the maid Laura had made for her. Glancing up only when her brother Kar swaggered in and set about piling food from the side bar onto a place. "Ye be looking rather chipper this morn, Kar."
"I am. I will be off shortly to spend a few days with Cie and her family." He replied as he folded his tall form down into the seat beside her. Waving a fork then at the colorful array of elegant envelops. "Is that what I think it is?" The note in his voice was suddenly cautious. Having an idea of just what horrors they might contain.
"Aye, it be that time of year again." Kitian held out two cream colored cards towards him then. "Can ye bring this along and pass it into the hands of Lady Myri or Lady Fiona please" Tis our RSVP, as I be sure those will be at least two celebrations ye will be attending willingly."
He took them and after a glance he snorted. "Poor Daniel. He will be fresh meat to those match making mama's."
"Nae so much with Kaelyn on his arm to be sure." A soft laugh falling as she pushed the rejects over onto a silver platter and let the maid carry it off quietly.
"Ah, but his father follows the old ways Kit." A smirk touched Kar's tanned face for a moment before he continued. "Meaning they might be able to marry off some lesser daughter to play second wife after all."
"His father is nae him Kar and few seek to marry any child as second best. Nae only that, but Lord DeAuster nae strikes me as one willing to wed any offspring off for title or money. He has plenty of both so there be little need for it." Kit gave a faint sniff, and then leveled her penetrating gaze upon him.
"This time around Little Brother, I will need ye on occasion to attend some of this functions." A hand lifting to stall his instant protest, as she turned and regarded him with narrowed sapphire eyes and sighed, seeing the scowl darkening his handsome features. "We nae have a choice. Aunt Carmillia has already sent word regarding our duty to ensure Ilyona's debute. If I could escape this torture ye know I would, but as I nae can, I have decided I will nae do it alone." She watched his eyes start to glitter with a bit of temper and a brow arched upwards.
"Both ye and Morguian will be expected to aid me. Tis sure Ily will nae be agreeable, thus making this a far more difficult task then I be liking. Besides that, I be tired of always getting such things dropped into my lap. If Molly could manage such affairs, this would be for her to do such as she is the elder sister, but as she's scattered as autumn leaves, it falls to the rest of us, and it is only fair that my other saner siblings stand and take the heat along with me. Meaning ye and Morg will have to occasionally play escort." She knew this would start up the conflicts with the two, but as long as one or the other took the role required she didn't care.
"Now, the first DeAuster Gathering be in a few weeks. Planned just before the actual season kicks off. From what I understand that will be a casual gathering and nae likely to send Ily into a tantrum. This week while we are here, I shall arrange to take her for dress fittings. Cost be damned, Morg will just have to suck it up. Ye also will need some garments for these events." A small card was pushed towards him. "This Tailor will likely suite ye. He be one that nae dresses the dandies or the fops but does seem to have a decent cliental. Men less inclined to lace and bright pastel colors. Morg has used him so there should be an account already set up. I expect this done during our week off from the Kuru, Kar. We all may loath it, but tis expected for us to attend some of the more notable functions in our parents stead and I would prefer both my brothers to at least dress properly."
Her words carried more of an order then a request there, meaning if he didn't handle this, she would likely drag him by an ear down there and oversee it personally. Kit rather hoped Kar would rather not suffer that form of indignity.
If anything his scowl become more a dark glower of annoyance but he took up the card and shoved it roughly into a pocket. "Fine. I will do it before I head to Gharnholme today then. Get it out of the way."
A small hand gave his arm a light pat and she smiled serenely at him. "I know ye would see reason Kar. Now, I will need to brave our fierce little sister, that be already dreading this. Nae only that, but I have to pry a promise out of that greedy elder brother of ours not to marry her off to the highest bidder." There was a light of battle growing in her eyes as she remembered him trying that with her. Claiming it an accident in some drunken card game, but as she knew Morg seldom lost at games of chance, he had ended up facing her at sword point.
She believed he had thought it in her best interest, but their family was wealthy enough, held more then their share of prestige that arranged marriages were not needed and in the case of the rest of her siblings, he wouldn't get another chance to try it again. There was no law of their land that required wedded bliss (or misery, as that was what most of such situations usually ended up as) that they could pick a mate in their own jolly good time.
"Ye have a lovely time visiting the DeAuster's Kar." She remarked as she rose up, taking the two stacks with her and sailed off towards her own office. Her day already planned, as were the next few after. "Oh Laura dear" When Ily comes down, can ye send her to speak with me after she eats" Thank ye." Calling out melodically and she was out of sight seconds later with the slam of her study door.
"I am. I will be off shortly to spend a few days with Cie and her family." He replied as he folded his tall form down into the seat beside her. Waving a fork then at the colorful array of elegant envelops. "Is that what I think it is?" The note in his voice was suddenly cautious. Having an idea of just what horrors they might contain.
"Aye, it be that time of year again." Kitian held out two cream colored cards towards him then. "Can ye bring this along and pass it into the hands of Lady Myri or Lady Fiona please" Tis our RSVP, as I be sure those will be at least two celebrations ye will be attending willingly."
He took them and after a glance he snorted. "Poor Daniel. He will be fresh meat to those match making mama's."
"Nae so much with Kaelyn on his arm to be sure." A soft laugh falling as she pushed the rejects over onto a silver platter and let the maid carry it off quietly.
"Ah, but his father follows the old ways Kit." A smirk touched Kar's tanned face for a moment before he continued. "Meaning they might be able to marry off some lesser daughter to play second wife after all."
"His father is nae him Kar and few seek to marry any child as second best. Nae only that, but Lord DeAuster nae strikes me as one willing to wed any offspring off for title or money. He has plenty of both so there be little need for it." Kit gave a faint sniff, and then leveled her penetrating gaze upon him.
"This time around Little Brother, I will need ye on occasion to attend some of this functions." A hand lifting to stall his instant protest, as she turned and regarded him with narrowed sapphire eyes and sighed, seeing the scowl darkening his handsome features. "We nae have a choice. Aunt Carmillia has already sent word regarding our duty to ensure Ilyona's debute. If I could escape this torture ye know I would, but as I nae can, I have decided I will nae do it alone." She watched his eyes start to glitter with a bit of temper and a brow arched upwards.
"Both ye and Morguian will be expected to aid me. Tis sure Ily will nae be agreeable, thus making this a far more difficult task then I be liking. Besides that, I be tired of always getting such things dropped into my lap. If Molly could manage such affairs, this would be for her to do such as she is the elder sister, but as she's scattered as autumn leaves, it falls to the rest of us, and it is only fair that my other saner siblings stand and take the heat along with me. Meaning ye and Morg will have to occasionally play escort." She knew this would start up the conflicts with the two, but as long as one or the other took the role required she didn't care.
"Now, the first DeAuster Gathering be in a few weeks. Planned just before the actual season kicks off. From what I understand that will be a casual gathering and nae likely to send Ily into a tantrum. This week while we are here, I shall arrange to take her for dress fittings. Cost be damned, Morg will just have to suck it up. Ye also will need some garments for these events." A small card was pushed towards him. "This Tailor will likely suite ye. He be one that nae dresses the dandies or the fops but does seem to have a decent cliental. Men less inclined to lace and bright pastel colors. Morg has used him so there should be an account already set up. I expect this done during our week off from the Kuru, Kar. We all may loath it, but tis expected for us to attend some of the more notable functions in our parents stead and I would prefer both my brothers to at least dress properly."
Her words carried more of an order then a request there, meaning if he didn't handle this, she would likely drag him by an ear down there and oversee it personally. Kit rather hoped Kar would rather not suffer that form of indignity.
If anything his scowl become more a dark glower of annoyance but he took up the card and shoved it roughly into a pocket. "Fine. I will do it before I head to Gharnholme today then. Get it out of the way."
A small hand gave his arm a light pat and she smiled serenely at him. "I know ye would see reason Kar. Now, I will need to brave our fierce little sister, that be already dreading this. Nae only that, but I have to pry a promise out of that greedy elder brother of ours not to marry her off to the highest bidder." There was a light of battle growing in her eyes as she remembered him trying that with her. Claiming it an accident in some drunken card game, but as she knew Morg seldom lost at games of chance, he had ended up facing her at sword point.
She believed he had thought it in her best interest, but their family was wealthy enough, held more then their share of prestige that arranged marriages were not needed and in the case of the rest of her siblings, he wouldn't get another chance to try it again. There was no law of their land that required wedded bliss (or misery, as that was what most of such situations usually ended up as) that they could pick a mate in their own jolly good time.
"Ye have a lovely time visiting the DeAuster's Kar." She remarked as she rose up, taking the two stacks with her and sailed off towards her own office. Her day already planned, as were the next few after. "Oh Laura dear" When Ily comes down, can ye send her to speak with me after she eats" Thank ye." Calling out melodically and she was out of sight seconds later with the slam of her study door.