“Oh my lady, I am so very, very sorry!” A flustered Rena declared, desperately trying to mop up the spill, and Jess could just feel her mother’s hawklike gaze lock upon them, a bird of prey about to swoop down for the kill.
"Oh, that's quite all right, Rena." Jess forced a smile. "There is no need to apologize, I'm the one who jostled you! Too impatient to drink from my own goblet, and this is what I get. Now why don't you go straighten yourself out, dear Rena. No need to fuss over me for my own mistake."
Jess gently shooed her away, receiving a grateful look as a flustered Rena went off to compose herself. Jess turned around to flash her mother a quick smile. “Forgive me, Mother. I believe I’m feeling a bit of nerves, what with the gala and all.”
Apple's fierce gaze told Jess she was overdoing it, for all that Geoffrey flashed her a look of gratitude. Jess just hunkered down and went to work on her lemon crepes, slathering on plenty of butter and honey. "Delicious, Mother. I do believe our visiting chef has outdone herself!"
Her mother's gaze had turned reflective, her expression giving nothing away at all. Jess felt a slight shiver of apprehension. It would be well for her not to forget how exceedingly sharp her mother's intellect was. A deadly blade that had pierced Jess's most clever schemes more than once as a child, she reflected ruefully.
"Keep your head down and focus on your crepes, Jess. If you say anything more, you'll have given up the goose entirely," Twilight murmured even as he indulgently munched on his own poached salmon, prepared especially for him.
Jess stroked her kitty in gratitude for his soothing presence, and was almost relieved when her mother at last declared the meal ended, and that it was time for a certain young woman to get herself properly fitted in her dress for the gala to come.
32
“My daughter, you look exquisite,” Agda declared happily as a much relieved Jess, finally free of her seamstress’s prickly administrations, finally stepped off her dress stool to present herself to her mother’s happy gaze, spinning around once to complete the effect.
“Oh Jess, your Gala dress is absolutely lovely!”
And Jess had to admit that for all she detested dresses in general, she did look rather fetching in it. The bodice was complimentary without being overly showy, the dark crimson fabric had just enough puff and ridges to mitigate the extent of her powerful shoulders, while still showing off her feminine curves to excellent effect. Jess found herself grinning, despite her initial disdain for the project.
“Onnika is going to love me in this dress,” Jess declared with a certain amount of satisfaction.
Her mother's smile was wry. "If that's what it takes to get you to get you into such a lovely dress, so be it. But I was rather hoping you might focus your attention equally on the nice gentlemen that would be attending.
Jess arched her eyebrows in amusement. “You’re hoping I’ll seduce some young man?”
“You know that’s not what I meant, Jessica.” Her mother’s gaze was suddenly cool. “It is one thing to have pillow friends, my dear. Quite another to commit to romance with one of the opposite sex. That, my child, can have significant repercussions. Political and otherwise.
Jess nodded. “I could get pregnant and give some idiot with no prospects a path to staking a claim on the Calenbry assets.”
Her mother smiled. “I don’t know that I would have put it quite so… cynically, Jessica. But yes, bluntly speaking, that is our concern.”
"Well then, perhaps it's best I give boys a wide birth and just dance with Onnika," Jess teased. "I bet she's far cuter than any of the guys will be anyway."
Agda's cool shake of the head let Jess know very quickly that her wheedling would have little effect on the outcome of her mother's already made up mind. "No, Jess. Please keep in mind that this gala is as much a political gesture as it is a celebration. Honoring various male guests with the pleasure of your company for at least a dance is something you are going to have to put up with, I'm afraid. And sweetie?" Her mother's hand gently touched her daughter's chin. "If a man is so smitten that he begins to speak of an alliance, or even an engagement, do be graceful enough not to strike him outright or challenge him to a duel, will you? I would be most grateful for that show of restraint."
“Yes, Mother. I won’t strike down any idiot so presumptuous as to propose to me after a single stupid dance,” Jess sighed. “I thought we agreed I could wear my armaments on our grounds! I can’t believe you’re making me wait 'til after the gala to have them back. I feel naked without a blade.”
"No, Jess. Above all, you're not wearing a sword to the dance!" Her mother's tone was sharp. She collected herself and took a deep breath. "My dear, I was once a young woman myself. I know how scary that first dance can be, and I can only imagine that your sword serves as a source of comfort to you. I can understand that, but I must ask you to be brave, and resist the need for what amounts to little more than a crutch, in civilized circumstances such as these." Agda smiled, giving her daughter a gentle kiss on the forehead. "Now you are not going to tell me that an untrained fifteen-year-old girl is a braver creature than my noble daughter, are you? Such is the age of most girls on their first coming out dance, and none of them are trained in the arts of warfare, I assure you."
“Yes, but even the youngest and frailest of girls coming out is at least allowed a belt knife. Certainly I have proven trustworthy enough for you to be comfortable allowing me the use of a dagger, Mother. Else our guests might find it strange, as if I’m a dangerous cat, half feral, needing to be declawed entirely!”
“Please don’t say such things, Jess. You will make me lose my appetite entirely!” Twilight shuddered from across the room where he was busy grooming his coat under a warm patch of sunlight beneath one of the stained glass windows that so filled the dressing room with a pleasing afternoon glow.
“Sorry, Twilight.” Jess grinned apologetically. “See, Mother? Even Twilight thinks it a bad idea!”
"Not as bad as your taste in metaphors," Her familiar quipped dryly, before going back to his sunbath.
Her mother gazed at her archly. “Very well, Jessica. I suppose I can trust your sense of discretion enough to allow you the use of a belt knife. For eating, dear. Please try to resist the urge to stab our guests, no matter how much their attempts at witty conversation grates.”
Jess grinned. “I will do my best mom, I promise!”
"Well Twilight, how do I look?" Jess asked sometime later, holed up in her quarters, trying various belt knives for the one that suited her outfit best. Which for her, of course meant finding the deadliest blade she could that still looked fashionably understated against the crushed velvet of her crimson dress.
Her cat looked her over with a critical eye. “While the main-gauche can be an effective parrying weapon, it really doesn’t look like anything but what it is. A weapon for combat. No one would think it an eating utensil under any circumstances.”
Jess frowned, but in all honesty couldn’t disagree, so eventually settled for a slender dagger made out of quality sword steel. The handle fit snugly in her palm, the hilt understated but sufficient for a solid grip. It was longer than most, but its narrow width gave it a deceptively diminutive air. The perfect feminine accoutrement, particularly since she was well trained in its use.
“Better,” her cat approved with a nod. “Excellent for a femoral slash or slicing key arteries under the armpit. With your strength, a blade of that quality could easily be driven through links in mail without snapping. Not that you need it, but no one is manhandling you any further than you want them to. Best of all, its slender enough, and the hilt is diminutive and plain enough, that it looks almost… feminine."
Jess grinned. "Yes, I know. Oh! And before I forget…" With that Jess quickly slipped a second pair of gloves in the purse pockets artfully sewn into the folds of her dress. The gloves were rather heavier than a standard pair, but didn't mar the lines of her dress when she put them in the carefully sewn pockets.
Twilight grinned. “And your mail gloves. Expecting to be taking on swordsmen that need to be disarmed?”
Jess shrugged, chuckling at herself. “I guess I am just feeling a bit… edgy. Knowing I have a card or two up my sleeve lets me feel less vulnerable to, you know, men. And dancing.”
Twilight gave a catlike shrug. “Oh well, I suppose it never hurts to be prepared.” With that, he sprung from his pool of light by the window and gracefully strode his way to the door of their chamber. “Come Jess, no use delaying any longer. The fete awaits, and I do believe our guests are starting to arrive.”
Jess sighed. Unable to put off the inevitable any longer, she opened her door and grimly proceeded in her silken slippers towards the main ballroom where their seneschal was already announcing their guests.
33
“Oh Jess, you look beautiful!” her sister assured as they linked arms and proceeded down the hall together. Jess smiled and noted how stunning Apple looked; rich auburn curls spilling down her forest green dress in an artfully done display, her outfit perfectly complementing eyes the shade of evergreens, highlighted with just the right touch of kohl for contrast, a piercing glance that could stop a man's heart with desire, Jess was sure. Her artfully done lips, dyed the rich red of rose petals, glistened in a playful smile.
“You look quite stunning yourself, Apple. Dressing up for someone in particular?” Jess teased, hardly expecting her sister to blush, which she did.
"Well, you know how I went to Artesia's gala the week before? The one you were completely uninterested in attending? Which let's be honest, might have been for the best. In any case, I met the most charming young man. Kipu de Trolos." Apple sighed happily. "He has the most tragic air. He lost his mother, you know. She drowned, or that is what Artesia told me. We don't speak of it, of course. But he is witty, kind, a delightful conversationalist, and not hard on the eyes, I promise you that."
Jess smiled. “Sounds like someone’s found an admirer.”
Apple sighed happily. "Well, seeing as both you and Geoffrey have found beaus, I don't see why I can't have someone as well. Besides, he has sent not one, but two letters since the gala. Oh, Jess, he has such a romantic turn of phrase! His wording is so proper for all the love he hides between the lines, that not even Mother has cause to complain, though I know she reads my letters before turning them over to me.”
Jess nodded at that. "No doubt, dear sister, no doubt. I look forward to meeting him. I do so hope he is worthy of your heart!"
Apple smiled gratefully at her sister. “thank you, Jess. Your support would mean the world to me. Now remember what Mother said. One or more of our guests is likely to be a Crown spy, so it's especially important that we are all on our best behavior.”
Jess nodded. “I know. No skewering guests, even if they really ask for it. And we call them Agents of the Crown, or King's Men. They never liked being called spies when they were trying to recruit us at Highrock.”
“You, an agent. I shudder at the thought,” Apple teased. “Oh! There’s Mother with our first guests. I believe it is Lord Jeliu with his wife. Come, let's greet them!”
With a deep breath, feeling almost as if she was girding herself for battle, Jess put on her sweetest expression and proceeded with her sister to the front hall where a massive banquet table was covered with a delightful spread of roasted meats, fresh baked bread, baskets of fresh fruits, hard and runny cheeses and a veritable plethora of other gustatory delights awaiting the hungry guests even at that moment making their way inside.
Lord Jeliu, a rather short, rotund man wearing an unflattering shade of puce, lined though it was with gold thread, was nonetheless the height of gracious courtesy. “My Lady de Calenbry and her most beautiful daughters. It is a divine pleasure to see you all once more, and thank you again for inviting your humble servant to attend your wonderful gala.” With that he bowed low and Agda did permit the lord to kiss her gloved hand before graciously inviting him and his wife to partake of the glorious feast awaiting then, to the accompaniment of flutes and mandolins playing gently in the background.
Sadly, Jess found, not all the guests were so courteous or respectful. Several of their guests had seen fit to bring their eligible sons and daughters with them, and even if the lords themselves were solemnly courteous, in many cases bowing low to Jess personally while congratulating her on her martial accomplishments, their sons with their knowing grins were a different story. Often eyeing her like a particularly fine piece of sweetmeat they’d love to gobble up, together with their hands which sought to hold hers a bit too long when they whispered their knowledge of Highrock revels, and Jess soon found herself developing an extreme distaste for playing the greeter. Her mother’s momentary glare skewered her on the spot, however, when she attempted to make a halfhearted excuse to exit from her assigned role. Her grimace effortlessly transformed into a genuine smile for the next guest.
“My dear Jessica, it is so good to see you!” Effused a warmly beaming Lord Dierter, bushy brown mustache just the same as when Jess had last seen him, and she beamed happily at seeing a face both friendly and familiar, transported in that instant to the warm camaraderie they and a number of other lords had shared at the Turnsby estates when a triumphant Jessica had been regaling them with feats of her martial prowess back at Highrock, having just beaten the rather obnoxious Nicolaus in single combat. Lord Dierter had seemed genuinely interested in her opinions and experiences, unlike a number of the younger hangers-on who had admired Jess for other reasons. Not that she had minded at the time, not a bit. But after being ogled by so many younger noble’s sons while playing greeter, it was nice to see a friendly face who seemed to admire her for herself.
“Lord Dierter. A pleasure to have you! It is good to see you again.”
“Likewise, my dear Jessica. Please, meet my dearest. I was just telling her the finer points of your most entertaining duel with Lord Nicolaus. Chastened him quite smartly you did! Very interesting it was, seeing the technical play of rapier against longsword.” At which point a diminutive woman wearing a peaceful shade of green almost seemed to step from her effusive husband's shadow, curtsying gracefully before Jess. Her face was gently care-lined with the tidings of middle age, but Jess could tell she had at one time been a stunning beauty and was still quite handsome, despite the faint sprinkle of gray in her hair. Her smile was warm and full of gratitude. “Thank you, Lady Jessica, for your most noble rescue of my husband, to say nothing of the other guests that night. We are most deeply in your debt, and if we can ever be of service, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
Jess found herself grinning back warmly, and hoped Lord Dierter recognized just how lucky he was to have such an intelligent, perceptive, and all around wonderful woman in his life. “It was my pleasure, dear Lady Dierter. In that time of peril and desperate need, never had my duty been so clear. To abandon even one life to those monstrosities would have been, to me, unthinkable.”
“Spoken like a true knight!” Lord Dierter admired, giving a heartfelt bow to Jess once more before turning to his wife. “I told you she has a way about her. Natural charisma, that one.” At which point Agda gently closed the conversation, gracefully directing them to the table piled high with fare. The lord smiled his appreciation, turning to his wife. “Come, my love, I do believe that banquet table is calling our names.”
Jess smiled fondly at their backs before her attention snapped forward once more, to yet another familiar face. It was none other than Armond, gazing at her with a sweet fondness quite at odds from their first encounter, his rich caramel hair spilling down in artfully arranged ringlets down the back of a cashmere jacket, held in place with a crimson bow. He would look almost effeminate, were it not for his natural athletic poise, and his confident smile. Jess found herself feeling a touch breathless, a delightful shiver caressing her spine. She even recognized his playful wink.
“Dear Jess. May I say what an honor it is to see you again?” With that he gave her a fluid bow,
gently squeezing her hand not an instant longer than good taste would dictate, and she knew without a doubt that he was interested in her. Feeling slightly flustered, Jess recalled that she did sort of like his warm smile and charming wit, when he wasn’t being a cad.
Armond's expression turned suddenly serious, almost solemn. “I do hope you don’t mind my appearance. I was hoping, perhaps, I had left at least the ghost of a good impression after my admittedly foolish initial behavior, for which again I offer my most sincere apologies. For you see, dear Jessica, you have certainly left an impression on me.”
Jess blinked, not having expected this candid admission, nor the realization that she did indeed think fondly of him. “You have a new sword,” she said at last, searching for something to say.
Armond beamed happily at her comment. "Yes indeed, dearest Jessica. You inspired me, you see. That most valiant battle you fought, single-handedly taking out those two monstrosities." The young lord sought to repress a shudder, the horrors of that night obviously still haunting him to some degree, and the look he favored her with was, if anything, even more admiring. "It was a glorious sight. You were a figure out of legend. And I took home your points, you see, about the arming sword versus the rapier. Of course I equipped it with the most protective of hilts. As I train for unarmored fighting, I'd be foolish to forgo that, but at least I am seeking to master skills that will serve me in good stead, beyond a mock duel between friends."
Jess nodded approvingly "A reinforced cup hilt is excellent protection for your hand, so long as its weight does not throw the balance of your weapon off. I see you now carry a buckler as well, with ridges and rings to catch the point of a rapiersman's blade. Very good, Armond. You are taking your lessons to heart. For all that their protections can overlap, your cup hilt will guard your hand better for the style of swordplay you were taught, where you lead with your right foot, arm extended with cut or lunge, even as the buckler is excellent for trapping an opponent's blade, as well as warding blows."
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