[LOG] In Which Marriage Is Discussed and Dismissed
Place: Chantris Entry Hall
Dramatis Personae: Isabelle and Cyrus
Cyrus comes down the stairs after being informed that Princess Isabelle has arrived. He smiles and says, "It's good to see you. What's so urgent?"
Isabelle has her dog with her. Her big black 220 pound dog, George. It is perhaps a good thing Parris and his birds are nowhere to be scene or it might be a feathery entrance hall. "Cyrus." She sounds relieved, "I'm glad I found you. My mother is up to something very embarrassing. I had to warn you."
Cyrus furrows his brow. "Embarrassing?" he asks. "To whom?"
Isabelle says, "To you. And to me. She's going to invite you to tea. She has you in mind for a potential husband to me!" Isabelle blushes a little. "That's how Addison Feldane wound up engaged to my sister. All this meddling."
Isabelle says "When meddling isn't wanted."
Cyrus's eyes widen. "Us? Engaged?" Then his eyes widen even more, "Addison? Engaged to Rose? She's WAY out of his league."
Isabelle says, "Yes, I know. I mean I like Addison and all. But it is a good political match and Rose knew it. I don't want to be matched. I'm twenty five."
Cyrus shakes his head. "Me either!" he exclaims. Then he quickly adds, "Nothing personal. I mean I think you're great and...well, um. Oh, hell. You know what I mean."
Isabelle says, "Yes, I know what you mean. I feel the same way. You're a very handsome noble lord and a brave sailor and all. But I'm all about adventure, not all that marriage business. So, we need a plan to put a stop to mother's -- I mean what if she writes to your parents or something?"
Cyrus chuckles, "She'd have to find them first. But I take your meaning." He winks, "Don't worry about this. I've made a career out of being considered unsuitable for marriage."
Isabelle says, "You don't know my mother. I was thinking if we both smelled strongly of fish, it might drive her out of the room."
Cyrus actually ponders that for a few seconds and says, "No. She's probably seen that one before."
Isabelle says, "What do you suggest then?"
Cyrus shrugs, "I could just be myself. That usually works."
Isabelle says, "I don't think that will work. You're somewhat dashing, a sea captain, and the son of a Duke."
Cyrus stands up a bit straighter. "Guilty on all counts. However, I'm not heir to anything, knock wood." He pauses to rap his knuckles on the banister. "Surely, there are better catches than me, out there." He thinks for a moment then says, "Damn. Compared to most of my friends, I AM the best one out there. I wonder if I have time to get involved in an inappropriate affair before tea."
Isabelle says, "Yes, see, you are a pretty good catch, Cyrus." She looks a bit desperate. "See I don't want us to let Mother come between us. I have plans for finding huge resources in shadow and I like going out of the dock with you. You get out of Amber fast, and I like having a ship, versus horses. So this could be a very lucrative partnership for us." She begins to take off her mittens. Her hair, and George who sits beside her, are sugared with snow.
Isabelle says, "Oh could you?" Realizing he offered to have an inappropriate affair.
Cyrus smiles broadly, "Your Highness, not even I can work that fast."
Isabelle smiles encouragingly, "I'm sure you could if you really tried, Cyrus."
Cyrus nods, "Well, I can think of one way to accomplish the task in the time we have left but that might change the nature of our partnership in a way we're currently trying to avoid."
Isabelle thinks about this a moment, as if she's trying to work it out. Isabelle can be a quick-study sometimes, but not when it comes to Noblemen. "Well, I don't know what you're talking about, but don't you have a friend, or someone, who might help out that way?"
Cyrus sighs and apparently gives up that conversational thread. He answers, "No one who won't end up putting me in a worse position. Flora's not the only parent I have to worry about."
Isabelle says, "Covered in fish still seems the best idea so far."
Cyrus replies, "But then we won't be able to get away from the smell."
Isabelle says, "Well, we'd take a bath afterward. If not the fish, then something like it. If we pretend to dislike one another she'll be all over that. She knows I like traveling with you and your crew."
Cyrus nods, "Also, that sort of thing seems to be like blood in the water for some mothers."
Isabelle says, "What's to be done? She hasn't already issued an invitation has she?" Suddenly, the dark blue eyes hold some panic.
Cyrus nods, "It arrived this morning."
Isabelle proposes desperately, "We could leave town."
Cyrus counters, "She can walk shadow, too." He begins to look worried.
Isabelle starts pacing, her heeled boots clipping on the floor. "Come on Cyrus we have to think of something."
Cyrus leans against a wall. "We could elope. No, that'd be playing right into her hands."
Isabelle takes a few more steps pacing, then casts a fabulous smile at Cyrus in her amusment. It is the kind of smile only a daughter of Flora could manage. She laughs. "No that's not what we want."
Cyrus pushes himself off the wall and begins to pace, as well. "We don't have time for anything elaborate. I'll just have to make the worst impression possible. Maybe I'll regale her with tales of disease and dismemberment. I have a lot of those."
Isabelle chuckles. "That might do it. But then she might forbid me from sailing with you too. Not that I will of course. If she's not wanting to marry me off she's thinking I"m too young. However, I'd far rather be sneaking off with you and your crew than trying to battle something she'd arrange with your parents. Augh!"
Cyrus nods and says in all seriousness, "Sea serpents are vastly preferable to my parents."
Isabelle says, "To mine too. Oh Gods, why can't the leave us alone?? One wedding doesn't mean ten more!"
Cyrus shakes his head. "Weddings get people thinking along entirely unnatural lines, Isabelle. I've seen it happen time after time."
Isabelle finally sits down on one of the bottom steps of the grand staircase, her long coltish legs crossed at the ankles. Well I just don't know what to do about it. I suppose you're right though, not enough real time to plan." She lifts the dark blue eyes, "Really? Has this happened before? My last boyfriend was a French Philosopher. Very handsome man, the kind with those dark brooding eyes. She left him alone!"
Cyrus nods, "Well, yeah. I suppose she would." He sits beside Isabelle and shrugs, "We'll just have to get through this together." He offers a hand, "Deal?"
Isabelle puts her hand in Cyrus's. "Deal. At the very least we can help each other out of these kinds of parental jams. When did she invite you to tea?"
Cyrus looks downward, "In a few hours."
Isabelle says, "A few hours! I don't think I knew about it. Maybe she wants to meet you alone."
Cyrus looks worried again. "You have to come with me. We're a team, right?"
Isabelle says, "Yes I suppose we are. We could make each other very rich in time."
Isabelle says, "But she's had years of practice getting the better of me, and none at all with you."
Cyrus grins, "Well, we have that going for us." He looks upstairs, "I'd better get ready. I'm dressed for work instead of combat." He stands, "Meet you at the palace?"
Isabelle rises, "All right. See you there, Cyrus."
Isabelle says to her dog, "Come on George."
Cyrus waves to Isabelle and heads upstairs looking rather nervous.
Dramatis Personae: Isabelle and Cyrus
Cyrus comes down the stairs after being informed that Princess Isabelle has arrived. He smiles and says, "It's good to see you. What's so urgent?"
Isabelle has her dog with her. Her big black 220 pound dog, George. It is perhaps a good thing Parris and his birds are nowhere to be scene or it might be a feathery entrance hall. "Cyrus." She sounds relieved, "I'm glad I found you. My mother is up to something very embarrassing. I had to warn you."
Cyrus furrows his brow. "Embarrassing?" he asks. "To whom?"
Isabelle says, "To you. And to me. She's going to invite you to tea. She has you in mind for a potential husband to me!" Isabelle blushes a little. "That's how Addison Feldane wound up engaged to my sister. All this meddling."
Isabelle says "When meddling isn't wanted."
Cyrus's eyes widen. "Us? Engaged?" Then his eyes widen even more, "Addison? Engaged to Rose? She's WAY out of his league."
Isabelle says, "Yes, I know. I mean I like Addison and all. But it is a good political match and Rose knew it. I don't want to be matched. I'm twenty five."
Cyrus shakes his head. "Me either!" he exclaims. Then he quickly adds, "Nothing personal. I mean I think you're great and...well, um. Oh, hell. You know what I mean."
Isabelle says, "Yes, I know what you mean. I feel the same way. You're a very handsome noble lord and a brave sailor and all. But I'm all about adventure, not all that marriage business. So, we need a plan to put a stop to mother's -- I mean what if she writes to your parents or something?"
Cyrus chuckles, "She'd have to find them first. But I take your meaning." He winks, "Don't worry about this. I've made a career out of being considered unsuitable for marriage."
Isabelle says, "You don't know my mother. I was thinking if we both smelled strongly of fish, it might drive her out of the room."
Cyrus actually ponders that for a few seconds and says, "No. She's probably seen that one before."
Isabelle says, "What do you suggest then?"
Cyrus shrugs, "I could just be myself. That usually works."
Isabelle says, "I don't think that will work. You're somewhat dashing, a sea captain, and the son of a Duke."
Cyrus stands up a bit straighter. "Guilty on all counts. However, I'm not heir to anything, knock wood." He pauses to rap his knuckles on the banister. "Surely, there are better catches than me, out there." He thinks for a moment then says, "Damn. Compared to most of my friends, I AM the best one out there. I wonder if I have time to get involved in an inappropriate affair before tea."
Isabelle says, "Yes, see, you are a pretty good catch, Cyrus." She looks a bit desperate. "See I don't want us to let Mother come between us. I have plans for finding huge resources in shadow and I like going out of the dock with you. You get out of Amber fast, and I like having a ship, versus horses. So this could be a very lucrative partnership for us." She begins to take off her mittens. Her hair, and George who sits beside her, are sugared with snow.
Isabelle says, "Oh could you?" Realizing he offered to have an inappropriate affair.
Cyrus smiles broadly, "Your Highness, not even I can work that fast."
Isabelle smiles encouragingly, "I'm sure you could if you really tried, Cyrus."
Cyrus nods, "Well, I can think of one way to accomplish the task in the time we have left but that might change the nature of our partnership in a way we're currently trying to avoid."
Isabelle thinks about this a moment, as if she's trying to work it out. Isabelle can be a quick-study sometimes, but not when it comes to Noblemen. "Well, I don't know what you're talking about, but don't you have a friend, or someone, who might help out that way?"
Cyrus sighs and apparently gives up that conversational thread. He answers, "No one who won't end up putting me in a worse position. Flora's not the only parent I have to worry about."
Isabelle says, "Covered in fish still seems the best idea so far."
Cyrus replies, "But then we won't be able to get away from the smell."
Isabelle says, "Well, we'd take a bath afterward. If not the fish, then something like it. If we pretend to dislike one another she'll be all over that. She knows I like traveling with you and your crew."
Cyrus nods, "Also, that sort of thing seems to be like blood in the water for some mothers."
Isabelle says, "What's to be done? She hasn't already issued an invitation has she?" Suddenly, the dark blue eyes hold some panic.
Cyrus nods, "It arrived this morning."
Isabelle proposes desperately, "We could leave town."
Cyrus counters, "She can walk shadow, too." He begins to look worried.
Isabelle starts pacing, her heeled boots clipping on the floor. "Come on Cyrus we have to think of something."
Cyrus leans against a wall. "We could elope. No, that'd be playing right into her hands."
Isabelle takes a few more steps pacing, then casts a fabulous smile at Cyrus in her amusment. It is the kind of smile only a daughter of Flora could manage. She laughs. "No that's not what we want."
Cyrus pushes himself off the wall and begins to pace, as well. "We don't have time for anything elaborate. I'll just have to make the worst impression possible. Maybe I'll regale her with tales of disease and dismemberment. I have a lot of those."
Isabelle chuckles. "That might do it. But then she might forbid me from sailing with you too. Not that I will of course. If she's not wanting to marry me off she's thinking I"m too young. However, I'd far rather be sneaking off with you and your crew than trying to battle something she'd arrange with your parents. Augh!"
Cyrus nods and says in all seriousness, "Sea serpents are vastly preferable to my parents."
Isabelle says, "To mine too. Oh Gods, why can't the leave us alone?? One wedding doesn't mean ten more!"
Cyrus shakes his head. "Weddings get people thinking along entirely unnatural lines, Isabelle. I've seen it happen time after time."
Isabelle finally sits down on one of the bottom steps of the grand staircase, her long coltish legs crossed at the ankles. Well I just don't know what to do about it. I suppose you're right though, not enough real time to plan." She lifts the dark blue eyes, "Really? Has this happened before? My last boyfriend was a French Philosopher. Very handsome man, the kind with those dark brooding eyes. She left him alone!"
Cyrus nods, "Well, yeah. I suppose she would." He sits beside Isabelle and shrugs, "We'll just have to get through this together." He offers a hand, "Deal?"
Isabelle puts her hand in Cyrus's. "Deal. At the very least we can help each other out of these kinds of parental jams. When did she invite you to tea?"
Cyrus looks downward, "In a few hours."
Isabelle says, "A few hours! I don't think I knew about it. Maybe she wants to meet you alone."
Cyrus looks worried again. "You have to come with me. We're a team, right?"
Isabelle says, "Yes I suppose we are. We could make each other very rich in time."
Isabelle says, "But she's had years of practice getting the better of me, and none at all with you."
Cyrus grins, "Well, we have that going for us." He looks upstairs, "I'd better get ready. I'm dressed for work instead of combat." He stands, "Meet you at the palace?"
Isabelle rises, "All right. See you there, Cyrus."
Isabelle says to her dog, "Come on George."
Cyrus waves to Isabelle and heads upstairs looking rather nervous.