AN ACT OF CHARITY
time: Midday
place: The poorer but respectable neighbourhoods of Palisade, bordering the less lawful areas.
participants: Chrysanthemum Fitzpercy and Dino Prazina
premise: While out doing charitable work, two nobles bump into each other and strike up an acquaintance.
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Chrysanthemum Fitzpercy was not best pleased.
She had coaxed and cajoled her mother into believing that Marigold was a sufficient chaperone for her charity work, but Lady Lily was exceedingly fond of her youngest child, and therefore, exceedingly disposed to fret over her. Chrysanthemum had never in her life gone out of doors without a chaperone, and the fact that she now had a supposedly magical deer following her every move did not deter Lady Lily from worrying about the dangers of scoundrels that might not be discouraged by animals large enough to kill a wolf. Her point was not entirely invalid, Chrysanthemum supposed begrudgingly. Of all the magical deer in all the world, Marigold was perhaps the least threatening looking: beribboned, decorated, perennially skittish, and, thanks to Chrysanthemum's constant pamperings, also slightly pudgy and soft, she looked more like a carousel horse than a chaperone animal. Still, Chrysanthemum considered her to be a more than adequate safeguard against any danger, and she was tired of having to wait for Larkspur to be home and available whenever she wanted to do anything even slightly interesting. Larkspur hardly ever made time for her since he had become involved in Government.
He had not managed it this time, either. But Chrysanthemum had said that he would, and her dear mama had believed her, and so here she was, slightly nervous, but excited nonetheless. If she could just prove to her mother that she was perfectly safe with Marigold as a chaperone, surely her mother would see that she was right, and she would soon be able to go into town whenever she wanted! And best of all, Marigold could not relate to Lady Lily where she had been, so she could do all the things Larkspur had been hesitant to allow, like political meetings. Maybe she could even speak at one!
Marigold nudged her, and she was roused from her reverie. Whereas Chrysanthemum was merely nervous, Marigold was terrified. "Oh, I know, sweetest," crooned Chrysanthemum. "Deer were not made to live in cities! But you needn't worry, you are so much more clever and delightful than an ordinary deer. And this is all very proper work, so our disobeying Mama was not actually wrong. The poor have so much more need of food and good used clothing than Mama has need of my company! I am sure that when I explain it to her like that, she will understand at once."
Marigold did not look entirely convinced, but merely pressed closer against Chrysanthemum as she balanced the bag of goods that was saddled to her, grunting anxiously.
"Do not be so timid," Chrysanthemum insisted. "This part of Palisade is not even dangerous! That part of Palisade is." She pointed to a street only a few blocks away.
~Lady Kanna~
