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 Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 8:43 pm
"Yes. Thank you." Marcus caught the girl's eye, and was amused to see her avert her eyes quickly. At least he was married now. "Well, I had a look at the guest list." A single look. "Certainly looks long enough. That was your doing, Gran?"
The Duchess sipped. Ah, if only he could learn to behave as easily as Terryn. But Marcus was never one to yield. "Well, we are obligated to invite them all. We mustn't be rude."
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Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 9:37 pm
"Except for Humphrey." The earl pointed his knife at the Duchess. "You promised to take him off." He smiled at his son-in-law, feeling rather proud of his victory. "Of course, it may well get longer. We have to add your mother's family, Terryn."
"Momma's family?" Terryn cleared her throat, doing her best to keep her eyes from growing wide in shock. "I mean, monther's family? I thought that you had fallen out of contact with them, except for Aunt Allayne. And isn't she with child anyway?"
The earl nodded, deciding to stay around for a bit and grab some more carrots. "Yes, but I will send her a request in my next letter to extend the invitation. With any luck, we will have some replies."
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Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 10:03 pm
"We felt that it was only right to ask them to join us. After all, there are not many youth on your mother's side. I expect they'd have some interest in your wedding," explained the Duchess. She couldn't tell if Terryn was delighted or horrified. She was surprised, certainly. "Unless you would rather not. It would be your choice," she added graciously, as though allowing Terryn to choose her own guest list was a tremendous favor.
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Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 10:06 pm
Terryn thought on it a moment before shaking her head dismissively, becoming very interested in her turnips. "No, I want very much to see them. Some of them I do not even remember." She offered the Duchess as noble a smile as she could muster. "Thank you."
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Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 10:12 pm
Marcus glanced up, having voraciously devoured most of his plate already. "And you will meet my brothers..." He sounded like he was just waking up. "I have not written or seen them in months." A sort of disbelieving chuckle made its way out. They were his best comrades, but somehow he'd managed to forget them in recent events. "They will never believe that I'm getting married, I am sure of that."
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Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 10:28 pm
"They will never believe that a woman allowed you to marry them." Terryn couldn't help herself. She let out a chuckle as she sipped her wine. "Or, more precisely, that a man allowed his daughter to marry you." She glanced to her father, sharing a light smile. "But assuming they survive the shock I would very much like to meet them."
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Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 10:40 pm
"They are generally quite resistant to shock," Marcus assured her. "If I were you, I would prepare myself for torment and heckling. The likes of which you have never seen before." He grinned. "I had to learn from somewhere."
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Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 10:43 pm
Terryn rolled her eyes, pointing her knife in her husband's direction. "I believe that they will have to contend with me. A woman with such a sharp tongue is liable to throw them off guard. Especially when that woman is of noble breeding and not a simple tavern wench." She raised an eyebrow and smirked, making sure not to lock eyes with the Duchess in case she thought her words were an insinuation of her grandsons' morals, or lack thereof.
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Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 8:03 am
The Duchess smiled when Marcus shook his head and returned to his food. "Funny that you mention this now. Arvin and I were just speaking of a battle of the sexes. Five to one seems almost fair...though I hope the boys will not be at too much of a disadvantage. Warn them to brace themselves in their invitations."
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Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 6:39 pm
"Oh most definitely." The duchess's enthusiasm spurred Terryn on, and she turned her attention to the other woman. "Perhaps I should not sleep the evening before. If I am exhausted, maybe they will be able to get a word in edgewise." She glanced at her husband, an ever so kind smile on her face. "Hopefully they have not gone and gotten married, or they might have gotten some practice under their belts."
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Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 6:46 pm
Marcus shook his head skeptically. "They are not the marrying kind. Besides, I believe that you may indeed be at a loss for the first time, if they were to release their full forces on you. And why shouldn't they? You are, after all, the little wife." He grinned.
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Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 7:13 pm
"The little wife?" Terryn chuckled. "Well then I am sure they will be quite comfortable with me. They are probably used to seeing things that are...little." She kept her voice low and directed at Marcus for the end part, quite aware that her father might enter cardiac arrest if he heard her.
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Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 8:11 pm
For once, Marcus reddened. It wasn't dinner table discussion, but then again, this was Terryn. "Interesting that you say that, Terryn," he answered, in the same quiet voice, "considering that only moments ago, I distinctly recall--"
"Children!" The Duchess, bless her heart, was actually fanning herself. She did not look amused; on the contrary, she looked like she was in danger of fainting. "Children...your meal."
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Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 8:26 pm
"Is delicious, my thanks to the chef." Terryn caught herself only just too late, her remark having slid out without a moment's hesitation. She turned on Marcus, her eyes narrowing. "See what you've done? You've made your dear grandmother think that we were childish. You, sir, should be ashamed of yourself." She tutted, returning daintily to her meal. "Acting beneath your station in such a manner. Disgraceful."
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Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 8:32 pm
"If only he were ashamed, my dear. If only," sighed the Duchess, rather theatrically. There was the gentle edge of sarcasm jutting out from her words, and Marcus felt slight relief at the knowledge that she wasn't about to pass out. He threw up his hands. "The gentler sex," he grumbled contemptuously. "A misnomer if I have ever heard one."
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