I'm Pleased

Writers: Clancey, Paula
Date Posted: 20th May 2009

Characters: Corowal, Felyna
Description: Corowal finally tells his new wife about Erilite (among other things they discuss).
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 2, day 8 of Turn 5

Felyna

She regarded the face peering back at her from the silver plate and nodded, pleased. Her hair was curling just right around her face, lending her a look of innocence that she much enjoyed showing, then letting her actions prove her just the opposite. She had won her husband, but now it remained to _keep_ him. That meant making him happy. And so far, she thought,she was doing just that. He certainly seemed to be smiling a lot lately, anyway.

There were some other things to be settled, so she knocked gently on Corowal's office door. "My Lord? Might I come in?"

"Of course you can, my dear Felyna," Corowal replied. "Your timing is perfect as always, for there are some things we must discuss."

Her smile was bright and warm, as she entered into his office and took a seat across from him. Though, before she settled into the chair, she pulled it around the corner to be closer to him. Charming, in its way.

"I know we have a few things to discuss. One thing is my marriage contract. I know we discussed it before the wedding, but I ran across an interesting opportunity with one of the local holds a day or so ago, and I wanted to re-look at the contract in more detail. Today seemed a perfect day for it. Where would you like to start?" She turned her gaze to him, showing intelligence in the spark, but willing to be led by him.

"Of course, if you so wish, my dear," Corowal said and after moment of searching, found the document and pushed a hide towards her.

Felyna nodded, and looked down at the hide, beginning to read through it. "My father has been planning for my wedding for some time, now. I suspect you found this very satisfying?" She read through the rest of it relatively quickly, having already had some idea what her father offered from her first look at the contract. "These trade agreements were what interested me, though I don't seem to recall too many of the other details." She grinned, showing the truth of her interest. "I'm glad to know I'm worth this much!" She winked at her husband.

"Of course you are. I'm satisfied with it. As you can see, you will receive a monthly allowance for your personal expenses now that we are married," Corowal said and pointed the clause.

Felyna blinked a bit at that, and read it again just to make sure. How had she missed _that_ the first time through?

My. She certainly knew her price, now. She almost laughed. For a moment, she felt like they should have married for love. Not for ... convenience. For a moment, she felt much like the ...prize breeding runners that her father and Corowal both shared a passion for.

For a moment.

Then it was gone.

She would be wealthy, all on her own. Not dependent on a man for the first time ever. Really, it was very good of Corowal. Several emotions chased themselves across her face, and she finally said quietly, "That is very generous of you, my Lord. Certainly not necessary. But I thank you." She smiled at him. "I am quite satisfied with it.. with all of it..." She lay a hand, insistent and proprietary, on his arm. Her husband had proved to be quite satisfying in their bed, and she hoped she had proved the same.

Corowal chuckled. "I don't want to you to run here every time you need a new dress," he said.

She laughed softly along with him, and offered with a bold grin, "Or perhaps something that goes under a dress?" She teased. "Really, its very fair and quite the compliment. I hope you are pleased?" She meant with the contract, but also with her. She also wanted to talk to him about the children, as well, and wondered if now was the time.

"I'm pleased," Corowal replied. He really should tell her about Erilite, but for once, he didn't know how to approach the subject. Felyna smiled warmly at him for a long moment, then said quietly, "Corowal, I think there are a few other things we should... discuss.... now that we've finished the contract..."

She paused, thoughtful. "I wanted to ask you about Erassa...what your plans were for her, given that now there is a woman in the suite again." She was gentle, still unsure if his feelings - or lust or whatever it was - for her were strong enough to bear up mentioning his first wife, and the mother of his children.

"I was planning to keep her as the children's fostermother. My fivesome is quite a handful and they are very attached to her. Besides Wallia has special needs because of her blindness. I need you at my side, not tied to the nursery," Corowal smiled gently to her.

She returned his smile, considering the merits of keeping.. or not keeping... Erassa. He was right in that she was not completely interested in staying in the nursery. She would much rather influence her husband, not the children. She didn't necessarily like the woman living right in the suite, however, but perhaps she could arrange something for her .. out of the suite... but still close enough that Corowal would be pleased.

She finally nodded. "I think that's wise. I would much rather be at your side than anywhere else, though I do enjoy your children." She actually did like his children. And they had already shown they liked her; getting trapped in that storm had done wonderful things for her relationship with Corowal, and his children. She was growing closer to them now that she lived with them, as well.

She pulled the contract back into view, thinking of something. What if she bore Corowal children? She certainly planned to do so. She was under no illusion that any child of hers would inherit the Hold, but what would there be for them? Her voice softened a bit. "Corowal... you do want more children?" He had said so before they were married, but now that they actually _were_ she felt less sure.

After all, her children might provide a bit of .. competition. She was happy with her status as Lady Holder, though she was also sure she would like children of her own. "I know they will not inherit.. but you do _want_ them?" If he did, Erassa would be even more necessary.

"I like children," Corowal assured her, sensing her emotions. Then he winced a bit. There was no way he could not tell her. "Their number just seem to grow rather unexpectedly."

Her brow furrowed in curiosity at his statement. What did he mean by that? "Unexpectedly? I would think you knew in plenty of time when Ofelia was pregnant, darling." Her tongue rolled over that endearment, enjoying her ability to use it. Her cheeks flushed with a sudden flashback to their wedding night; the night she had earned the right to call him "darling". And had she ever...Her lips curved in a teasing smile as she waited for his response.

"This happened long before Ofelia..." Corowal said and then he told her about Erilite and how she had just appeared to his office one day.

Despite her normally very proper behaviour, Felyna's mouth dropped quite open as his story unfolded. She could abide her own children competing with the children of his previous marriage. But a child born outside the marriage bed? Oh, the scandal. It would be hard for him.

She struggled with her own irritation at some un-named woman, maybe a drudge, who'd dared to bear Corowal's child, and finally said, very quietly, "Well. That's a surprise. Its a well-kept secret now, love. But shards! I hope it never gets out into the public... " Her cheeks coloured when she swore; that was definitely not proper!

She stared at him a long moment. "Are you.. going to acknowledge her? Surely you're not!"

"Well, she deserves some happiness, she had a hard life. Although the brand of being Lord's bastard would not help that. I don't know. I haven't done anything official yet," Corowal said. "I hardly know her."

She was silent for a time, thinking it through. "I would be careful with it, Corowal. At least get to know her first. Its going to cause waves of scandal throughout the Hold, though you said you weren't married at the time, so that, at least, is good." She was ticking off practical things in her mind, while trying to throttle the aggravation that her future children - if there were any - would have someone else to compete against.

"I'm careful, my dear," he said and took her hand, bestowing little kisses on it.

As so far seemed to be the case, he was easily able to divert her sharp mind from a particularly unpleasant subject. Or at least, this early in their marriage, she was definitely willing to _be_ diverted.

Pleased with him, she pulled his hand close and placed her own kiss on a finger. "How about we return to our rooms and practice _not_ being careful for a while, my husband?" her lids were half lowered, and her smile slow. "Surely the work will be here in a candlemark or so...?" Outright bold, but she thought her new husband would appreciate it in her.

There would time to worry about these two "extra" women .. Erilite and Erassa ... after she had so firmly bound Corowal to her love that she could get away with suggesting some _minor_ changes.

"How could I refuse you?" Corowal replied softly.

Last updated on the May 20th 2009

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I'm Pleased