Soiree

[Colette Moreau]

"Nicole Candraed"

Corele rightly kept an eye on things.  Playing the role of a minor noble meant she could move in and out of the groupings easily, although few of those circles parted to give her more than a cursory acknowledgement, let alone actually invite her into the conversation.  Nobody was particularly rude as she filtered, a honeybee checking out the flowers but never truly stopping to sip the nectar.  They recognized one of the Queen's Ladies in Waiting, even out of the matching dress all of the attendants wore.  Lady Candraed, the sole representative of the country House in the city, was obviously trying to break into society.  Lady in Waiting being the first step to establish her name, then attending functions on her own to try and establish some respect.

Of course, that was exactly the way Corele preferred it.  Filtering the young and old around her, she overheard lots of interesting things such as a grouping of Lords discussing whether or not to sojourn to the gentleman's parlor to be about their business in private. Many an unmarried lady fluttered about, prancing and preening for the eye of her next dance partner or stoking the embers of jealousy. For all of it, Corele was mostly relieved to not have to share their burden of that spotlight. She certainly had no interest in marriage. Almost two centuries in the White Tower had been enough commitment for her, and if she lost another it would finish her.

Her ears prickled on the conversation carrying on among a group of girls nearby, buzzing around the up and coming Kymira Taravin. The child was near to fifteen, and one of the High Seat's children Corele liked to keep a peripheral eye upon. Her and her group were making waves as they moved, though they seemed oblivious to their affect. She was in the company of a girl from an allied House and two from rivals, both of which was fitting and intentional. They likely all attended the same embroidery circles, music lessons, and etiquette dinners; one to keep an eye on each other, and two to present civil faces despite what happened behind their parents' closed doors.

Some investigating on her part discovered the intrigue of rumor concerning young Kymira. Rumors were always to be expected for a prominent noble like her, even as a teenager, but the circumstances were too odd for Corele to shrug it off as girlhood nonsense.

The girls were distracted watching the Shienarans. The moment the girls turned their powdered faces side, she swept up next to Kymira. Corele knew she was passing for something of about twenty, but it wasn’t out of the realm of ordinary to be acquaintances.

"Lady Kymira," she dipped a small, appropriate curtsy for the prominent noble, who turned upon the call of her name and broke into a wide smile, eyes glinting. Corele smiled back warmly. The two were something of friends. 

"Hello Nicole!  I didn't know you were here.  How is the queen?" Kymira's eyes, the same shade as Corele's, glinted playfully.  The child seemed to enjoy the idea she was close personal friends with someone whom the queen must treat like a sister. If only Kymira realized that Ladies in Waiting were closer to the queen's chamberpot than the actual woman, but there was still something to be said for a Lady who heard everything coming from the queen’s bedchamber when her husband visited. At least until the wards went up, but the One Power couldn't hide the aftermath. As Keeper, Corele certainly never imagined what that would be like to witness. The first time, she nearly froze with shock. 

"The Queen is lovely, thank you."  She smiled despite realizing Kymira did not inquire about herself personally, only the queen. Which was fine with Corele. She would have said much the same about herself. She quickly took note of what was on Kymira’s slender finger.

"Oh! Look at that ring you have there." One of the girl's companions glanced over, and Corele felt dissected by Kymira’s peer. The young noble frowned with disdain and went back to gossiping with the others until Kymira was unburdened again. They probably found it odd that Kymira associated with Nicole, but Kymira did not seem to notice the dismissal, and instead thrust the keepsake forward for Nicole to examine. Perched prominently was an enormous pearl of a rare blue tint. It certainly outshone the plainer jewels the Nicole wore tonight.

"A secret admirer?" Nicole tilted her head at the explanation, playing along, but clearly unbelieving. By then Kymira’s friends had become enthralled in their own little group and Nicole and Kymira were left to a moment of privacy. She lowered her voice. “You know that if your parents found out about that, they'll demand to know who it came from. Admiring a noble of your standing, if from the right source, could aid you as much as ruin you if from the wrong one.  And with your best years at Court still ahead of you..." she tsk'ed and shook her head sadly. Kymira's eyes furrowed and she glanced nervously at her hand. "And if its a fake, they'll demand to know how you came upon something on your own, and may send you to the country for a season until the rumor you spread dies out." 

Kymira's jaw dropped in shock.  Nearby movement caught Nicole’s eye. She hurried, “Your brother is coming over." Kymira twisted around. Indeed, her older brother was approaching. His eyes were on Nicole, and he smiled in a way that made her stomach flutter slightly.  He's your nephew... she reminded herself.  But the Lord and heir to the House had tempted her at court before with his charms, but there was always the excuse of the Queen to draw her away from the look in his eye. Here, she had no such excuse. 

She sipped some of her wine only discover that the glass was frustratingly empty. Kymira was tugging on her hand to do something, and Corele quickly thought of an idea. "Give me the ring, Kymira.  I'll hold it for you." The girl obeyed, tugged it from her finger but held onto it hesitantly. Nicole's eyes narrowed sternly, urging her. "I'll stay right by your side, I promise." Moments later, Nicole slipped the pearl onto her own hand, thrust her hand behind her back, and Kymira breathed a sigh of relief just as her brother joined them. 

He smiled down at his baby sister, who bat her eyelashes innocently in return. The Lord didn't buy it, and squeezed his sister affectionately on the shoulder, laughing. It was to Nicole, however that he bowed his head. A reverence from a gentleman to a beautiful girl that'd caught his eye, even one so far below his station that the courtesy was hardly necessary. Corele swallowed, distant nephew.  A far, far distant nephew. 

Suppressing the uncharacteristic nerves, she smiled. It seemed to light the distance in her eyes for the emotion she felt washed her entire expression. As she had for Kymira, she dipped a demure curtsy. "My Lord. You're looking well."

Leodon Taravin nodded appreciatively. Kymira's friends glanced over at the arrival of the newcomer. He flashed them all a brotherly smile, but they were unimpressed. Leodon was over thirty now, and much too old to be the object of their affections. Drake Darwyn, at eighteen, was the limit of their girlish fanclub.

"You as well Lady Nicole... And of course my sister.  That's your first cup of wine, I hope."  He nodded at the crystal perched in Kymira's hands.  She smiled and assured her brother she was being prudent.  "Good, good."  He laughed.  His own empty hands stole the drained glass from Nicole's, and cast it to a passing servant.  "Nicole I will not be refused a dance.  As it hasn't escaped my notice nobody else has had the spine to ask you."  He held out his arm expectantly, and Kymira looked aghast, not at the coupling of her eligible brother to a pretty thing like Nicole, but that if Nicole left in his company, so also did the ring on her hand!

Nicole snaked her arm in Leodon's, but flashed Kymira an apologetic smile as she was led away. The girl didn't trust her, but she need not worry, Corele had no intention of keeping the ring for herself.