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Ealasaid · 08-16-2003, 06:49 PM

Averyll spent most of the morning wandering aimlessly from room to room, deep in concentration. From time to time, she would take a seat in this room or that one, then rise again and begin to walk. She could always think better when moving. She just wished she had some chore or work with which to occupy herself, but there was none. The servants were quite efficient. No sooner did she pick up a stray feather duster or stoop to fluff a pillow than a smiling chambermaid appeared at her elbow all too ready to take over for her. Finally, she had to give up and content herself with walking.

As Tessa had been all to quick to point out, the Pelien woman was, indeed, a snake and a formidable target for a first foray into the trenches, so to speak. It worried Averyll if the other girls would be up to the challenge. She was not terribly worried for herself. After all, following the death of her wayward husband, she had had to settle accounts with quite a mixed bag of creditors and opportunists, everything from angry tailors to professional gamblers. Keeping that in mind, she did not feel particularly threatened by a befeathered and bejeweled Lady General of the court. What she did feel was frightened for Finduilas. It was Finduilas' future and reputation that were at stake, not her own, and a woman like Lady Pelien could truly wreak havoc with that. Averyll knew that she and her friends would have to keep their wits about them.

After a light lunch with Tessa and Vieana, during which all talk of the upcoming tea was carefully avoided, Averyll retired to her room to dress. Every detail must be carefully attended to. Lady Pelien had a sharp eye and would notice any sign of carelessness nad, if she was like the other ladies of her ilk, carelessness would be seen as a sign of disrespect. Still only a few months out of formal mourning, Averyll chose a dress of white and a pale pearl gray. As befit her station, it was elegant of cut, suiting Averyll's slim figure well, but fairly plain of decoration. She hung a delicate silver chain around her neck from which dangled a single, perfect black pearl. Finally, she twisted her chestnut hair into an elegant chignon. She was ready.

She joined the other three ladies in the sitting room down the hall. Each was beautifully dressed and coiffed, suitable for a dinner with Eckthelion, himself, not merely afternoon tea with a viper. She smiled at them approvingly.

"You all look perfectly lovely," she said, glancing to each nervous face in turn. "That was the first step. Now that we have our armor in place -" she winked at Tessa "- we must make sure of our strategy. And, remember, we must not let her see we are nervous. She will be on to you like a shark on to a wounded halibut, at the first sign of fear. If any of us see another of us floundering, we must go to her assistance immediately. Agreed?"

"Agreed," said the other three, not quite in unison.

"Good." Averyll smiled again. "And remember to smile! This is a social call. We must appear light and breezy and pleasant, not nervous and frightened. And we must not cross the line from breezy and pleasant to silly or empty-headed. We are trying to win this woman's respect, not her scorn."

"Right," Vieana agreed. "My husband has always said that if one wishes to succeed in battle, one must exude confidence."

"Exactly," agreed Averyll.

"Are we going to repeat any of those awful rumors?" asked Elen. "The ones we made up."

"Only if we have to, I would think," answered Tessa. "I am more interested at the moment to see if we can find out more about these things they are saying about Finduilas. I would very much like to know where those things are coming from."

Averyll nodded. "I think that is our first objective. We must see how things progress from there. If you are uncertain of what to do or say, then follow my lead. I have dealt with worse sorts than this Lady Pelien. Shall we go, then?"

"We might as well get it over with," sighed Eleniel. With that, the four ladies gathered their shawls about them and summoned their escort to depart.

[ August 18, 2003: Message edited by: Ealasaid ]

08-16-2003, 06:49 PM	#142
Ealasaid Wight Join Date: May 2003 Location: under a large pile of dirt & gravel Posts: 193	Averyll spent most of the morning wandering aimlessly from room to room, deep in concentration. From time to time, she would take a seat in this room or that one, then rise again and begin to walk. She could always think better when moving. She just wished she had some chore or work with which to occupy herself, but there was none. The servants were quite efficient. No sooner did she pick up a stray feather duster or stoop to fluff a pillow than a smiling chambermaid appeared at her elbow all too ready to take over for her. Finally, she had to give up and content herself with walking. As Tessa had been all to quick to point out, the Pelien woman was, indeed, a snake and a formidable target for a first foray into the trenches, so to speak. It worried Averyll if the other girls would be up to the challenge. She was not terribly worried for herself. After all, following the death of her wayward husband, she had had to settle accounts with quite a mixed bag of creditors and opportunists, everything from angry tailors to professional gamblers. Keeping that in mind, she did not feel particularly threatened by a befeathered and bejeweled Lady General of the court. What she did feel was frightened for Finduilas. It was Finduilas' future and reputation that were at stake, not her own, and a woman like Lady Pelien could truly wreak havoc with that. Averyll knew that she and her friends would have to keep their wits about them. After a light lunch with Tessa and Vieana, during which all talk of the upcoming tea was carefully avoided, Averyll retired to her room to dress. Every detail must be carefully attended to. Lady Pelien had a sharp eye and would notice any sign of carelessness nad, if she was like the other ladies of her ilk, carelessness would be seen as a sign of disrespect. Still only a few months out of formal mourning, Averyll chose a dress of white and a pale pearl gray. As befit her station, it was elegant of cut, suiting Averyll's slim figure well, but fairly plain of decoration. She hung a delicate silver chain around her neck from which dangled a single, perfect black pearl. Finally, she twisted her chestnut hair into an elegant chignon. She was ready. She joined the other three ladies in the sitting room down the hall. Each was beautifully dressed and coiffed, suitable for a dinner with Eckthelion, himself, not merely afternoon tea with a viper. She smiled at them approvingly. "You all look perfectly lovely," she said, glancing to each nervous face in turn. "That was the first step. Now that we have our armor in place -" she winked at Tessa "- we must make sure of our strategy. And, remember, we must not let her see we are nervous. She will be on to you like a shark on to a wounded halibut, at the first sign of fear. If any of us see another of us floundering, we must go to her assistance immediately. Agreed?" "Agreed," said the other three, not quite in unison. "Good." Averyll smiled again. "And remember to smile! This is a social call. We must appear light and breezy and pleasant, not nervous and frightened. And we must not cross the line from breezy and pleasant to silly or empty-headed. We are trying to win this woman's respect, not her scorn." "Right," Vieana agreed. "My husband has always said that if one wishes to succeed in battle, one must exude confidence." "Exactly," agreed Averyll. "Are we going to repeat any of those awful rumors?" asked Elen. "The ones we made up." "Only if we have to, I would think," answered Tessa. "I am more interested at the moment to see if we can find out more about these things they are saying about Finduilas. I would very much like to know where those things are coming from." Averyll nodded. "I think that is our first objective. We must see how things progress from there. If you are uncertain of what to do or say, then follow my lead. I have dealt with worse sorts than this Lady Pelien. Shall we go, then?" "We might as well get it over with," sighed Eleniel. With that, the four ladies gathered their shawls about them and summoned their escort to depart. [ August 18, 2003: Message edited by: Ealasaid ]