[Lady Elena Lawley]

Elena had lied. The young woman stared out the window of the swaying carriage, and knew that she was not in the least looking forward to meeting Richard Castyll. In fact, she was dreading it. What would he think of her, this man who had scolded her to shame? Elena wasn't sure which consequence would bother her more-his hatred, or his admiration. Admittedly he already had a bad impression of her so she doubted that the latter option was even plausible, but still...it was going to be very uncomfortable keeping company with someone she was indebted to. She'd made a potentially fatal mistake by allowing the duke to begin their acquaintance on the higher ground. He fought from the hill of superiority, and thus he had the advantage.

The young woman resisted the urge to bite her nails and instead folded her hands tightly in her lap and closed her eyes. Her palms were clammy from nerves; and for a moment Elena was abstractly grateful that the duke would not be touching her hands. There was no way she could think of to steady the nerves making her quiver. This man she was about to meet had the power of life and death over her, and for that she hated him.

Elena wished that Aelf was there to put his arm around her shoulder, but since Katharine had made him ride outside she settled on thinking over the better points of Castyll's letter. he thought her intelligent; that was something. And he'd written her back. He'd deigned to write her back, of course, and that was insulting; but if he was truly convinced of his own greatness and considered something as simple as a response an honor, then it was an honor. Maybe he thought her a cruel and manipulative harpy, but she had also impressed him. That would have to be her comfort.

The girl tightened her fingers and took a deep breath, trying to ignore the strange feeling of the new veil covering her hair. Katharine had stopped an hour later and taken advantage of a present inn to prepare her daughter for the meeting. Elena had endured a thorough bath and grooming in wary silence, not daring to protest under the force of her mother's determination. She was bathed and perfumed and laced into a gown of lilac silk, and then, strangest of all, Katharine had sat down to do her hair. This had been Aelf's job for years now, and feeling feminine fingers combing through the locks had been nothing less than unsettling.

In the end, however, Katharine had produced a vision. the debutante still looked young, but a glossy updo and crystal eardrops lent a few years to her face. Elena felt out of place with the Harleston veil and elegant gown, but s he had to admit that the style suited her well. She looked pretty.

Lady Lawley exhaled and opened her eyes, staring out the window at the too-swiftly approaching manor. Time was running out, and the girl automatically dried her hands on her skirt before the coach rolled to a stop.

[Lady Katherine Lawley]

Katherine had to admit she was not feeling all that pleasant in the high-collared, stiff Harleston gown. It was of a rich, green color and the most expensive of materials, which made it a tad more bearable. Still, she would've felt so much more comfortable had she been allowed to wear one of the vivid Ashton-styled gowns, which she donned differently than the style of the mentioned duchy ordained-Katherine liked to lower the high, square neckline and present her deep decolletage. Not too deep, though-God forbid Lady Katherine Lawley ever to have been improper. In public. Which was all that counted, was it not? She belonged to those who certainly knew how to manipulate that very fact to the best of their use.

As for her hair, it was not covered in a veil, which would have been a typical sign of Harleston. Careful in details, Katherine only placed a silver hair net over a stylish, intricate bun. She would not display her desire to impress the Duke Richard Castyll on a silver platter. The point that she, the Dowager Warbride of Ashton, had deigned to wear a dress appropriate for his duchy, served to prove her respect for him. The silver net and the extravagant bun stood for the purpose of stating without any words that respecting the Duke did not mean revering him. Katherine was merely being curteous. She would not diminish the importance of the duchy where she lived and the duchy which she represented. never in a million years. Partially because of her pride, to which she would never admit.

Elena, however...now, she was the one coming to Harleston for education, to grow accustomed to the traditions and the traits of its court. This meant she was also the one who had to completely adjust to the customs, such as even dressing, in order to one day consider them her own. So, the younger Lady Lawley wore a Harleston veil, an elegant lilac dress, glossy eardrops and a lot of face powder. Katherine had spent hours of preparing her daughter for the meeting with the Duke. With good reasons. It was hardly difficult to guess those-what reasons could a mother possibly have to introduce a young girl, a pretty young girl, eligible for marriage, to a Duke seeking for a wife?

Katherine found her plans to have been immaculate. Elena had been informed of the plans regarding her 'education' only a few days after Katherine had sent out a letter to Duke Richard. If she knew her daughter, she'd thought, then Elena would also have written to the Duke. Soon, she was informed she had estimated correctly. When the Duke actually replied, Katherine also knew that he had not found Elena's letter that of a proper girl. And that he, now, had no reason whatsoever to doubt the genuinity of Katherine's wishes to subject her daughter to Harleston's demure and strict nurturing for nothing but the sake of the child.

Deep inside, she was immensely proud of her plots and schemes, especially when they turned out to be this successful. But no one could have told, judging by her marble face and her emotionless, cold green eyes as she descended the carriage. When her daughter did the same, though, she let a trace of disgust eneter those orbs deliberately. Why? For she had noticed the nervous manner in which Elena had dried her hands on her new dress. She would have gladly strangled the girl on the spot. It was clearly seen what Elena had inherited from her father, and what from Katherine. It was Darien who had always been Katherine's favorite child---

But not anymore.

Leaving thoughts of the son who had betrayed her behind, she focused on the manor, where the Duke was supposed to come from in order to greet them.

[Duke Richard Castyll]

Arriving at his private chambers Alvin knocked and entered without even a moments hesitation. He knew the Duke well enough and the Duke trusted him enough to give the man such privilege. Few other close personal assistants in all of Adesia, Alvin was sure, had as much power and rights as he. The man was not only the personal assistant, doing as Richard asked, but he was a close friend, adviser, and confidant. He was only a few years younger, but like everyone he kept close to him, Alvin was nearly as handsome as he and was as single as well. However, his story was much different than Richard's own. He had married a servant girl, the most beautiful that had ever been employed at the estate, and unlike Richard, they both had fully committed their love to one another. It was the true romance story that a man like Richard would never have for himself, nor would he ever understand. Three years ago she had died from illness, but Alvin had two children, one a lawyer, the other a banker, both making enough money to not only break their family free from a long line of servants, but also making the family very rich. Alvin had so much to bless Richard for, as Richard had so much to thank his best, and only real friend.

"Richard, Lady Katherine and Lady Elena Lawley have just arrived." Richard looked up from his table and turned, thanking Alvin and telling him he would be right out. Throwing on a fine black coat he slowly pulled back from a paper he was studying and walked from his room where Alvin met him and followed a step behind. The two walked with such power and confidence one who knew little would wonder who the nobleman behind the Duke was. He was not even of noble birth, nor made noble, yet he had been given more power in Duke Richard's duchy than any other before, even more than any church official. As the front door was opened for them Richard walked through, not too sure what who he was expected to be greeted by. Oh, he knew it was the Lawley's, but after the letters he had received and after the investigators he had sent to study them further, he was still not too sure what to expect. He had been told they were an unusual set of nobles, the two so very different in approaches, yet the two women were both very wise and intelligent, even Lady Elena who was so very young.

Richard was known to have a taste for young women, but it was not always as one thought when it came to him. He was known as a playboy, but so many times before he had sought young men and young women, nobles or not, and assisted in propelling them forwards to achieve great feats, accomplishments they surely would not have even discovered they could reach for had he not come into their lives. Maybe it was Lady Elena who was to be his next challenge, his next success, as well as his wife. It would certainly be a different approach to it all, for though he had slept with many of those women, none had even been considered to be wed to him. As he exited the manor he quickly descended the stairs, purposely to show that despite being in his mid-forties, he was still quickly agile and athletic, and full of enough energy to keep up. After descending the stairs he smiled as he looked upon them both, thoughts directed immediately at Lady Katherine instead of Elena for she had not worn black. It was odd, a wise woman who knew court etiquette well, wanted her daughter to be apart of his, yet did not try and flatter him by wearing his colors. Did she know more about him than he knew of her? She had drawn his eyes, Elena hadn't, for that brief moment.

He had only seen Lady Katherine Lawley amongst others in the past, formal kingdom gatherings, but as he saw her now he realized he had obviously missed something those times before. As he caught her eyes looking at him with such confidence in her own status, he looked into a face so lovely, mature beauty at her age, and found himself a bit stricken by it. If she knew his story well enough she would know of Alexandria Santos, his first wife, who was nearly ten years older than him, and was a strong, confident woman. What Richard did not know yet, not well enough, was Lady Katherine was just as his first wife had been, and subconsciously, the immediate impact of her presence, was for him to be drawn to her, her beauty, and her obvious confidence in herself and her beauty to not dress herself as any female guest of the Harleston Duke was expected.

Finally, he drew back his eyes from her and looked at Lady Elena, a girl who looked so very young for her age, yet so very beautiful in her dress, a dress that was a perfect fit for a woman of Harleston. He found her to be interesting, she would be a great beauty as she aged, just as her mother he was sure, but he was not really thinking about that. He wanted to smile as he thought about the letter that she had written, her confidence in herself and her ability as surely strong as her mother. Instead of smiling, he hid his affection by bowing his head slightly in her direction, a response to the last letter she had sent him.

"Lady Katherine Lawley and Lady Elena Lawley, it is with great admiration and warm invitation that I welcome you to my estate. Allow my men to carry your items inside to your rooms for your stay and I will show you to my hall where we can share conversation and drink." Bowing deeply in the direction of them both he rose and turned, walking off to his hall where he would wait for them to arrive, wanting to arrive and sit before he allowed their more proper audience to his lands. Walking into the hall Alvin waited behind at the entrance to show the two women in when they were ready. Taking a seat he placed both hands on each side of his chair and watched the door, with great interest, awaiting their arrival.

[Lady Elena Lawley]

The great doors of the Manor opened, and the young woman in lilac felt her heart start to stutter when the Lord of all Harleston stepped out to greet them. She, the ever-bold, was afraid. Ridiculous to be so afraid of a man; a middle-aged man with a head touched by grey who insisted on stepping like a boy, but afraid she was. The duke was a stranger and a threat; any man with such power over the future was frightening. What would he want? More importantly, what would she want? Elena's too-quick mind was already getting ahead of itself. As she waited for Richard to speak she tried to picture standing at his side, bearing his children....and couldn't see it. Equally elusive was an image of her, turning down the offer to become a duchess. No. What she could see was a rumor sweeping throughout the whole of Adesia; whispers about the young Lawley daughter who was worse than mother and brother combined. Elena managed to hide her cringe, but inadvertently her glance flicked to the ever-present Aelf. The Celt, in turn, gave her a smile-a look of comfort, and a look of confidence.

Elena took a breath and felt the cold knot in her stomach slowly start to loosen. It would be impossible to cure it completely while she was here and constantly wondering if she had left her home for the last time, but something in her guard's face made her feel strong. In his mind, at least, she was worth more than the stunning Katharine (whom, Elena noted, was once again upstaging her on the playing field) and the mighty duke combined. Aelf was a good man and a wise one, and his respect was harder to earn than that of a king. In his world, Elena came first-and he revered her because she had earned his adoration.

Aelf's smile widened as he watched the Harleston servants unload the carriage, and his charge was suddenly reminded of the little bag inside her satchel containing gifts and good-luck charms given by other manor servants. Aelf wasn't the only one who valued her. Her own mother might wish her dead, but those under her command were glad to be so and knew that the mistress cared enough to miss them in her new home. They would miss her and she them and that was something....it said something about her that made her stand a little taller. Young she might be, but she had earned her place.

And then she felt the eyes of the Duke upon her, and began their introduction by smiling. She didn't know what on earth he thought of her, but thinking of her friends at home and the one loyal servant still with her made it easy to smile and easy to meet his eyes. Elena thought for a moment that he wanted to smile too; the corners of his mouth twitched up-but then he was inclining his head to her in a bow, and she was drowning in a flood of relief. The bow said more than enough. She was forgiven, and he was impressed. Lady Lawley still didn't know what she wanted to come out of this meeting, but one thing was certain-Duchess or not, the last thing she wanted was to earn Duke Castyll's disgust. She was better than that, and that one simple little bow in her direction was comforting enough to make her forget the lingering glance Richard had given her mother. Elena kept her smile from widening, but took her skirt in her hands and swept him a perfect cursty. She held the pose while the Duke welcomed them and bowed, and then opened her mouth to speak as she rose.
"Thank you, Your Grace, I-"

She blinked. Castyll was already moving; retreating to the interior of his manor without sparing another word. Elena didn't even pause to glance at her mother for direction; she simply put her skirt in order and followed behind Edythen's master. The young lady did not let herself pause to gawk at the grandeur of this manor, but felt in the coolness of the shadows and the splintered warmth of sunshine on her skin high ceilings and stained glass. She would look later.

Elena thanked Alvin for his attention with a smile as she passed him at the door, and then she was in the hall. Aelf ghosted up behind her to pull out a chair, and the girl paused a moment to press his hand in thanks before she took a seat. She kept her eyes on the duke as was only polite, and began their conversation with a softly teasing smile. "I'm afraid I am too slow for you, Your Grace-it would seem my tongue can't keep up with your stride." The expression softened into warmth, and the younger Lawley gave him a look that was both gentle and genuine. "...But thank you so much for your gracious welcome to your home. Truly, Edythen is the most beautiful home I've ever seen. I'm glad to be here."

Katherine would murder her, of course, but for now the only action Elena knew she could live with was simply being herself. Whatever happened here, it was going to happen because of who she was and nothing more. She could be at peace with that.

[Lady Katherine Lawley]

In a spur of irrational emotion, Katherine felt victorious as her appearance was the one to attract more attention from the Duke than that of Lady Elena, her daughter, depsite Elena being younger and all that. Of course, she would never have admitted to that, just as she would never do anything to have the Duke's interest in her grow. He was to marry Elena. When she was finally rid of the child, and in the process allied with a powerful family, related to the Royal Family, Katherine would be free to plot and scheme with more ease. Darien would be her next step-she already had numerous plans and their variations depandant on the factors to come ready in her mind. She would find him a wife of excellent standing. Once all of that was done, she could begin with rising her family higher and higher in the society of Adesia. Truly begin. This was not getting carried away-it was preparing oneself for all the possibilities that could come.

"Thank You, Your Grace." She replied to his welcome with a slow and elegant curtsy, as it had been expected, quickly, before they went on with their conversation and further introductions inside. Her voice had been her usual-cold, emotionless, but with a tad of some secret addition one could not have named. Perhaps it was all her will and ambition leaving an imprint and manifesting itself. It came to her naturally and she was perfectly content, more than just content with that. She only regretted that her daughter had not inherited more of that. Oh, her son could've used a larger does as well, his past clearly showed that. But Darien at least possessed something that was called elegance, style and manners. A sense for proper and improper-he only chose to ignore it at certain times.

At this very moment, Elena was proving herself to be the opposite. As the Duke turned around, headed towards the hall, the younger and obviously the stupider Lady Lawley, with her mouth agape, raised her skirts from the floor and hurried after him. Katherine stared at her frostily, before beginning to move after her. It took her a lot to compose herself, but alas, she was used to hiding what she felt. Oh, how she wished she could have strangled Elena! But she would not run after her, oh, no. The punishment would come later. It would most certainly come. Elena was supposed to act improperly, but only to a certain level-a level of being too bold in her words, not demure enough and perhaps clumsy. But not embarassing herself in such a manner! Not knowing the simplest of etiquette!

Owain, her servant, followed at a proper distance behind her, as she reached the hall. She barely scratched Alvin with her glance, not even thinming of thanking him for something that was his duty. Katherine entered the room just in time to hear Elena say;" -it would seem my tongue can't keep up with your stride. But thank you so much for your gracious welcome to your home. Truly, Edythen is the most beautiful home I've ever seen. I'm glad to be here." Fine. This was better. It worked well for her story about an overly bold girl and it had at least ended somewhat properly. Before taking a seat, she shot a look of frightening reprimand at Elena, remaining standing while addressing the Duke. It reflected her pride-she was, in a way, looking down at him literally, for he sat and she stood, "Your Grace, my daughter has expressed what I feel-we are both content to be here. She is eager to learn of the Harleston ways that shall aid her, while I am glad to be in the Duchy of my birth." By 'aid her', she evidently meant aiding her behavior. After saying that, she sat down gracefully, as if sweeping onto the chair, her green eyes focused on Richard.