Maiden by Decree

Chapter 15

Chalmnessa

Or: So This is Where You Grew Up…

By

Maggie Finson

“What were you thinking?” Garret asked almost plaintively once he had gotten Deirdre back to her cabin and in relative private. “Risking yourself in a shipboard battle? You could have been captured, or worse, killed!”

“It seemed like the thing to do at the time?” She answered with a shrug. “I couldn’t just stand there and scream you know. I don’t do the helpless maiden thing all that well.”

“That has been made abundantly clear.” Garret sighed then muttered. “About the only ‘maiden thing’ you are any good at is keeping that maidenhood intact.”

“I heard that.” She called from behind the screen where she was changing out of the canvas pants she’d pulled on just before the boarding parties had started coming.

“You can’t keep risking yourself like that.” Garret went on with the original topic. “In case you hadn’t realized it, you’re pretty important to me and I’d really be devastated if I lost you.”

“Aww, that’s nice.” Deirdre called back from behind the screen. “Does that mean you’d protect me from any harm?”

“Of course it does.”

“That,” She answered with a sigh. “was not the thing to say there even if it did seem like it to you. I don’t NEED to be constantly protected, though the idea does give me some nice warm feelings I’m not used to having at all. I don’t WANT to be constantly protected, even if my disposition and some of the situations I get into seem to warrant that kind of thing.”

“You do have to admit that events tend to make sure that you’re in the thick of whatever is going on by now.” Garret shot back. “And that’s dangerous for anyone given the current political climate. There are people actively trying to KILL you!”

“Try living out on the streets.” She responded with a mirthless chuckle. “There are people there who would kill you for copper piece and think nothing of it other than the fact that once they’d done it they could either eat or have another drink.”

“But your actions earlier were – not at all lady-like.” Garret protested.

“I’ll be lady-like when I need to be, darling Deirdre briefly stuck her head around one edge of the screen blocking her changing from him with a malicious little grin. “You might bear in mind that I’m still learning all this ‘Lady’ stuff, and a lot of it is kind of made up as I go along so far.”

“Why is that?” The knight questioned almost plaintively. “You have more than enough teachers to help you learn.”

“Oh, let me think here.” The dark haired beauty answered in an acid tone of voice. “Oh! I have it! Could it maybe, just maybe, be the fact that most women and ladies start out as little girls! And I didn’t?!! Could that be the problem here? Just maybe? You think?”

“For the five-hundred and seventeenth time,” He almost shouted back at her. “I didn’t cause this to happen to you! Gods woman, you’d think I had a spell or potion ready just to change you into what you are!”

“Really?” The top of her head, covered in disarranged curls peeked out from behind the screen along with one wide, nearly ingenious ice blue eye. “Have you told me it isn’t your fault that many times? And you could have used a potion, or had Jess zap me with some spell, or something.”

“Well I didn’t!” Garret sighed and ran a hand through his hair in a gesture that showed how frustrated he was becoming with the conversation. “It’s the prophecy!”

“Have you?” She questioned.

“Have I what?”

“Told me at least five-hundred and seventeen times?”

I thought we’d gotten past that part of the conversation.” The knight retorted, exasperation clear in his voice and posture. And how would I know, at times it seems like I’m constantly telling you that. Who really counts something like that?”

“I do.” She answered smugly. “It’s been precisely four-hundred and thirty-three times.”

“How would you know that?” He questioned, in absolute confusion at the direction the conversation had staggered into.

“With this.” A delicate hand displayed a small, leather bound volume, waved it in the air for a moment then whisked it back to wherever it had been produced from. “My tally book. I make a tic each time you tell me that. Once you reach a thousand or so, I might even start believing you completely instead of just provisionally.”

“How many times do I have to…”

“I just told you that, Garret dear.” She interrupted his rejoinder in mid stride. “I think something around a thousand should manage to lull me into believing you on that one.”

“You’re avoiding the subject here.” He told her.

“No, I’m actually going into exquisitely painful detail for you.”

“I meant,” Garret answered in a carefully even voice. “the subject of you risking yourself like you did earlier. NOT how many times I’ve told you this isn’t my fault!”

“Oh.” Deirdre emerged from behind the screen, clothed in an ice blue silk gown that did wonderful things for her already compelling eyes and grinned at him. “I was having fun with the ‘how many times’ topic. Couldn’t we stay with that one for a while?”

“No.”

“Sometimes you can be a real poop, you know that, dear?” The dark haired beauty gave him a brilliant smile then turned her back to him. “Lace me up?”

“I’d give up, but that would just encourage you more.” He grumbled, but tightened the laces at the back of her gown and tied them off in a halfway decent bow.

“Oh I think this conversation is encouraging me quite well, too.” She turned and quickly gave his cheek a peck with her slightly parted mouth. “I absolute refuse to be some shrinking violet of a girl who shrieks whenever she sees a mouse – no matter how fearsome that mouse might be. Nor will I sigh in resignation and wait for some man to come rescue me if I get into trouble. That kind of attitude would have gotten me severely beaten up almost snatched bald, and probably killed had I assumed it over the past few months. Argue THAT with me. You’ll lose, trust me.”

“But you were wearing PANTS!”

“Have you ever tried fighting in a skirt and petticoats?” She questioned sweetly. “If you want I can let you try it. But it doesn’t work all that well, I’ll warn you. You have this really great move planned, then your petticoats slow you down and the skirt manages to wrap around an ankle at just the wrong time.”

“Ladies neither wear pants nor get involved in deadly fights!” Garret shouted.

“It wasn’t all that deadly for me.” She pointed out with a smirk. “I had Mina at my back and all those nice sailors trying to keep the nasty men away from me.”

“See!” He pounced on that. “You DO wait on men to protect you!”

“I wasn’t waiting.” She primly countered while her nose rose slowly until it was pointed towards a distant and rather high corner. “They volunteered their help once I showed them that I was capable of taking care of myself in a fight.”

“They were probably enthralled by your – feminine charms so well displayed in tight canvas pants and nothing but a corset for a top.” He shot back. “Of COURSE they covered you during the fight! Getting an eyeful as they did!”

“So?” Deirdre gave him an insufferably insouciant smirk. “I was always taught to make use of any asset I had.”

“Even the ones you seem to find so – distasteful?” Garret questioned almost plaintively.

“Use what you have, dear.” She responded while giving him a pat on the cheek. “Complain about it when you have the leisure to do so in safety if you must, but in the crunch make use of everything you possess.”

“You sound disturbingly like my mother when you say that.”

“I knew I liked her!” Deirdre grinned.

“I’m doomed! The gods have decided to saddle me with a copy of my mother for a wife.” He grimaced.

“Oh, I think I’m an original.” Deirdre winked at him. “But, boyo, you’re going to be paying for that spanking for years to come. I won’t forget it.”

“What does that have to do with this?”

“Confused?” She questioned sweetly.

“Yes!”

“Good.” Deirdre gave him another peck on the cheek. “Since I’m a woman now, you should know that the ‘fair sex – the distaff side – the weaker sex – holds grudges closely and waits for just the right moment to strike back. Even if it happens to be years later.”

“You think like a woman.” He shot back. “How can you complain about being one so much?”

“I grew up with nothing but women and girls in the household, Garret.” She shrugged. “Of course I know how women think and do things. If I didn’t I’d be a fool who deserved whatever happened to me.”

“I give up.” Garret managed a smile, opened the cabin door, and offered his arm to her. “Mother and Father want to have a word with you.”

“I thought that went well.” Deirdre told him once the ‘audience’ was finished and the couple had left the captain’s cabin. “Your father didn’t die of apoplexy and your mother was very supportive.”

“That’s because she would have been up on deck with you if her cabin door hadn’t been locked from the outside. With guards stationed in front of it.” He grumbled.

“Your father turned several interesting shades of pink and red.” She told him. “Does he do that often?”

“Only when one of his children manage to do something really stupid.” Garret answered tiredly. “Or when mother decides to pull some stunt that isn’t in character for a Duchess.”

“And just what kind of thing isn’t in character for a Duchess?” She questioned innocently.

“Putting on armor, taking a sword or another weapon, and sneaking out to fight beside your husband for one thing.”

“Armor…” Blue eyes sparkling with mischief and something more, Deirdre nodded. “Can you have some made for me?”

“I am NOT going there!” He retorted.

“Awww, come on.” She wheedled. “You know I’d be really cute in nice, snugly fitting armor.”

“I refuse to discuss this further.” He answered with as much dignity as he could muster. Though thoughts of her in such a getup were getting parts of him that he didn’t want her to notice until after they were married stirring.

“Oh, you’re no fun at all.” She pouted.

Other than the crew of the ship shouting her name in obvious adoration, the group’s disembarkation went smoothly enough and their baggage was transferred from the hold into several waiting wagons.

“What are you sniffling about?” Garret asked as he assisted Deirdre into the waiting coach.

“I made friends aboard that ship.” She answered. “They didn’t care whether I was male, female, or something in between. They simply accepted me.”

“Is the coach comfortable enough for you?” He changed the subject, all too aware of the impact his intended had exercised almost unconsciously on the regular seamen and officers of the ship.

“It’s fine.” She responded while settling into the luxuriously padded seat. “Sure beats riding side saddle. But almost anything would be better than that.”

“What do you have against riding that way?”

“Try it sometime.” She shot back. “You have to wrap a knee that is shrouded by petticoats and a heavy skirt around that stupid long pommel – which chafes by the way – and if you don’t hang on to either the reins or the horse’s mane you’ll fall off even in a simple change of direction. Try it sometime I’m sure you’ll see what I mean once you do.”

“Warriors don’t ride sidesaddle.”

“See!” She grinned in triumph.

“You aren’t a warrior, my lady.” He pointed out.

“I’m not?” She innocently responded as she took the mace she had appropriated from Mina aboard the ship and lovingly stroked its haft with a coy look at him.

“Gods.” He breathed. “I am both looking forward to and dreading the day we are married.”

“Good.” She gave him a contented smile and leaned into him so he had no choice other than to put his arm around her slim shoulders.

“IF I do marry you, and that is still a pretty big IF…” She went on. “I really want you to anticipate the wedding night. Will I simply give myself to you or will I make you work for it?”

“I have a feeling it will be the second option.” Garret sighed.

“Is that so bad?” She asked with a little smile and tilt of her head that always sent him into thoughts of what she would be like in their marriage bed.

“A bride is supposed to be eager and willing, if a bit frightened.” He pointed out. “The groom isn’t supposed to be afraid of his new wife, you know.”

“But you aren’t afraid of me are you?” She questioned sweetly.

“At times, my love,” He returned. “you could scare the gods!”

“Oh, you say the nicest things!” She rewarded him with a brilliant smile and a quick kiss on the cheek.

There was absolutely nothing he could come up with for an acceptable rejoinder to that one. Sighing, and touching his cheek lightly with one hand once he had turned away from her to approach the mounted party that would escort the carriages and wagons he muttered. “The original Deirdre and the Gods are laughing at me just now. I know it!”

Deirdre was soon joined by the Duchess Grace, Jessica, and Mina in the coach. Grace gave her son a speculative look, then a lift of one eyebrow to Deirdre with the slightest lift at one corner of her mouth. “Does my son always mutter when he leaves your presence, dear?”

“I Couldn’t tell you, Your Grace.” Deirdre shrugged. “He’ll yell at me, hug me then demand that I never ever do something ‘that’ stupid again, apologizes when I glare at him for the demand thing then politely, though a bit plaintively asks me to please stay out any more trouble.”

“Are you sure you weren’t born female?” Grace chuckled as she waved aside the beginnings of a protest from her son’s fiancée. “You handle Garret almost the same way I do with Lamont is all. Let him yell and get red in the face all he wants, cuddle a bit just to ease the tension and the rest. One would think you’d been doing this kind of thing, at least practicing it, all your life.”

“I grew up in a household of females.” Deirdre answered with a little sigh of her own. “It isn’t as if I hadn’t seen that done to a man before. Trying it and finding it worked with Garret was something of a surprise to me.”

“Deirdre, dear.” Grace smiled ruefully and smoothed the skirts of her own deep maroon travel dress. “My son is very deeply in love with you. When a man truly loves a woman she can literally step on every part of him, including his ego. I hope you don’t intend to crush him.”

“Oh, never that.” Deirdre actually looked shocked at the idea then sighed. “All I want to do is make him understand that I’m a person, not some porcelain doll who is so fragile I’ll break if someone looks at me wrong.”

“Makes sense to me.” Grace nodded then gave the younger woman a penetrating look. “How do you feel towards Garret?”

A thoughtful, and somewhat troubled pout appeared on the dark haired sometimes hellion’s face as she considered her answer. “I -- I love him, too, Your Grace. But I won’t let him muffle me in soft wrappings just to keep me around. I’d die living like that.”

“It’s all right, dear.” Grace gave the other’s hand an encouraging pat and winked. “That’s all I needed to hear, the sincerity in your voice and posture tells me you’re saying nothing but the truth. Besides, it took me a good two years to get Lamont settled down to even halfway accepting the idea that I wasn’t someone who needed to be ‘safely hidden away’ So don’t lose heart here. Garret’s a smart young man. I’m sure he’ll learn to accept your quirks without much in the way of protest in time.”

“I’ll believe that one when I see it. The tenth time or so.” Deirdre muttered much to the amusement of the other ladies in the coach with her.

“You goofed when you admitted to him that you loved him, you know.” Jessica added with a smirk.

“I thought he was asleep!” Deirdre countered with the red of a blush creeping from her cheeks to her throat and even lower.

“Never, ever,” Mina put in drily. “think that a man is safely insensate when you say something like that. They seem to awaken from even the deepest, most drunken sleep whenever one of us girls even gets close to uttering something like that.”

“Now you tell me that!” Deirdre grumbled much to the amusement of the other ladies.

The countryside they traveled through began as prosperous farms on the coastal plain interspersed with well tended orchards and tracts of still wild forest. Deirdre, never having seen anything but the land around the city of Jhalmar was enthralled by the scenery. “This is sooo beautiful!”

“Chalmnessa,” Grace answered with more than a little pride, “is a very rich Duchy, in resources, people, and produce. I have been in many places and was born in the mountains of Illeisia, but the lands my husband administers are some of the most lovely and prosperous ones on the entire continent.”

“I’ve never been more than ten leagues from Jhalmar.” Deirdre sighed, eyes wide while she took in the scenery.

“Oh, this is the boring part of the Duchy.” Jessica put in with a grin. “Wait till we get into the hills, then the mountains.”

Mina, seated beside Deirdre, leaned over and gave the girl a light squeeze. “If it’s any help, I was the same way the first time I was brought over this road. I think they use it to impress people, but the truth is the whole Duchy really is this prosperous and peaceful.”

“You’re going to love it here.” Jessica reached across the space between benches and gave Deirdre’s hand an encouraging squeeze.

“Is this real?” Deirdre whispered to Jessica as they settled onto a bench in the tavern section of the inn to await hot food and cool drinks. The staff and clientele both had gone out of their way to both look at and welcome Deirdre to Chalmnessa.

“Of course it is, dear.” Jessica answered with a grin. “These people are genuinely happy to both see and meet you. Now stop glowering and give them a smile, could you?”

“I’m not glowering.” The girl shot back then lifted an eyebrow and returned the grin. “If I was glowering they’d all be running by now.”

“Point taken, but smile and show your nice side to them.” The blonde answered with a quizzical tilt of her head as she finished. “Would that hurt you so much?”

“No.” Deirdre admitted then gave the serving girl who brought the wine for the ladies and ale for the men a sunny smile. “I’m just not used to people in taverns being nice to me. Usually I got thrown out. Without bruises if I was lucky.”

“Well, you aren’t some street urchin any longer, dear.” Grace put in with an encouraging pat to the girl’s hand. “Now you are the heir of Chalmanessa’s intended and you should get used to the idea that people are going to want to see you, welcome you, and just get a feel for what you are like. A Duke’s wife often has a great deal of influence on how that Duke deals with his people. Just give them the chance to see you without your defenses up and I’m sure they’ll love you every bit as fiercely as Garret and the rest of us do already.”

“I never thought of myself as all that lovable.” Deirdre snorted and unconsciously pushed an errant strand of thick, glossy black hair away from her face.

“Give the idea a chance, dear.” Grace chuckled. “You might actually like it once it completely settles into that rather obstinate Piece of granite you call a mind.”

“I am not…” Deirdre stopped, gave a thoughtful pout then laughed. “Okay, I am one obstinate, stubborn little bitch, but what can I say to that?”

“Admitting the fact is a good start.” Jessica answered with a straight face, though her eyes crackled with suppressed merriment.

“At least you admit that to yourself now, M’lady.” Mina put in, but couldn’t contain the chuckle that sneaked out from her tightly closed lips.

“To know that is to use it, dear one.” Grace put in with a wide smile on her face.

“You three are a really bad influence on me, you know that?” Deirdre grumbled then gave up on the thunderclouds she was trying to gather and let out a happy laugh instead. “Not to mention that you’re good for me.”

“Oh, that’s part of the whole deal, little darling.” Grace laughed. “We’re supposed to be supportive of my eldest son’s beloved. Fortunately, I discovered early on that I like her.”

“Right.” Jessica added. “We’re here to give you bad ideas that are fun, help keep you from making mistakes that aren’t fun at all, and just be around for you to talk to. I’m going to love having you for a sister-in-law. I was always afraid Garret would get saddled with a girl who was too full of her own self importance to be either a wife or the friend he needs.”

“Oh, Garret has a friend in me.” Deirdre nodded then pursed her lips in a frown. “But the part about ‘a lover’ I’m still not too sure of here.”

“Being his friend is the gateway to becoming his lover.” Grace answered matter-of-factly. “That is how I came to be Lamont’s wife. Fortunately, even though the marriage was arranged, I liked the big goof from the start. Loving him came later, but it did come, and our marriage is all the stronger because I was his friend first, then his lover and wife.”

“Well, don’t tell him I said this.” The Dark haired beauty admitted. “I love him so much it hurts. But I can’t bring myself to tell him that.”

“He knows, dear.” Grace assured her with a quick squeeze to the girl’s wrist. “In time you’ll be ready to tell him, but until then you both know that each of you loves the other. Sometimes saying it is superfluous.”

“But his tendency to try ordering me around has to go.” Deirdre firmly told the others. “I am not some little porcelain doll, or a mindless little bit of fluff to be told how to act.”

“Oh, trust me on that, dear.” Grace smirked. “If you were either of those things, my son wouldn’t be interested in you at all let alone head over heels in love with you. He simply needs to be trained a bit. Men are like that, you know. You have to literally beat the idea that you don’t require their constant protection into their thick, lovable heads. Once you accomplish that, you have the basis for a lasting relationship that will be a very rich one.”

I’m working on it.” Deirdre muttered.

“It took me two years to convince Lamont.” Grace laughed as she cast a fond look at her husband who was seated at another table and burying his face in large mug of ale at the time. “And I still have to remind him at times.”

“Unless it’s about getting between our legs,” Deirdre grumbled. “our men seem to have extremely short attention spans.”

“You, my dear.” Grace smiled. “Are a quick learner.”

“Learn?” Deirdre grimaced. “I’ve been making this up as I go along.”

Everyone in The Jolly Unicorn’s common room noticed that the party of noble ladies was having what seemed to be a very fun evening.

“What now?” Deirdre questioned as the sound of their mounted escort galloping forward reached her through the windows of the coach. “Are we being attacked by bandits who are intent on either killing me or stealing me away to a lonely cave where their leader can take unfair advantage of me?”

“You’re waaay to suspicious, Deirdre, you know that?” Mina gave her head an exasperated little shake. “It’s the honor guard to escort us into the city is all.”

“Like I don’t have reason to be suspicious?” Deirdre shot back. “After all, people are REALLY trying to kill me. Hello? Did you hear that one?”

“Deirdre.” Mina calmly replied. “You are safer in Chalmnessa than you would be anywhere in the kingdom. Even the peasants here would die to defend you.”

“Why?” Deirdre asked, genuinely perplexed.

“You are the future duke’s betrothed.” Jessica answered. “These people would give their lives to protect you without a thought.”

“I’m not sure I want the responsibility for something like that.” Deirdre answered almost hesitantly.

“Given your present and future position,” Mina put in, “That is a responsibility you’ll always have to be aware of. Whether the people like you or not, you are going to be the future duke’s wife, and are deserving of that kind of devotion for no other reason.”

”Then please teach me ways not to abuse that.” The one time boy and new lady demanded.

“You’re learning it already.” Grace told her. “Concern is the first step. Care for the people you rule, dear, and they will care for you.”

* * * *

Deirdre greeted Glory with a soft voiced hello and stroke to the mare’s muzzle. The horse hopefully lipped at the young woman’s hand which caused her to let out a genuine laugh. “Sorry, greedy guts, I don’t have any of your favorite just now, but I’ll see what I can do later on.”

The mare nickered in response but appeared unappeased as one of the escorting soldiers offered the young woman a boost up to the saddle. “My lady?”

“Thank you.” Deirdre offered the man, nearly as young as she was a smile while accepting his assistance to reach the saddle and began settling herself for the short ride into the city.

“Ohhh.” She breathed in pleased surprise as she caught her first real view of Chalmnessa’s capitol city, Serai. The city spread comfortably through a series of gentle hills and was surrounded by a defensive wall that gleamed an almost painfully pure white in the sunlight. Dominating the city itself, the Ducal residence occupied a slightly higher hill and appeared to be watching over the lower city with the benevolence of a mother watching her children.

“I never expected it to be so beautiful!”

“You wouldn’t have believed me if I’d tried describing it to you.” Garret had quietly ridden to her side. “Now you see why people call Serai Jhalmar’s Jewel.”

“Oh yes.” The dark haired, if still a bit reluctant beauty let out a sigh. “It’s breathtaking.”

“It’s home.” Garret shrugged then grinned. “But even so, I still think Serai is the most beautiful city on the continent.”

“I only have Jhalmar to compare it to, Garret.” Deirdre answered while looking over the prosperous farms and pastures.

“Jhalmar is a beautiful city.” Garret nodded but then waved towards the pristine appearing walls of Serai. “But nothing on the continent can even hope to wave a candle to surpass my home.”

“I can believe that.” The dark haired girl agreed with a genuine smile.

“Now, you need to prepare yourself for when we enter the city.” The knight told her with a note of warning in his voice.

“Prepare for what?” There was an edge to Deirdre’s voice that promised mayhem of one kind or another.

“Word has preceded our coming and the people know that my intended is in our group, which is you, by the way, and I’m sure a lot of the population will be waiting to both see and greet you.”

“Oh.” The mayhem faded to be replaced with trepidation. “Will smiling and waving work?”

“At first it will do nicely.” Garret chuckled then waved her indignant protest away. “I know, I know, your temperament isn’t really suited to being warm and nice, but you’ll manage. The thing is people traditionally expect the future bride of the Duke’s heir to personally meet a few of them on her first time in Serai.”

“Define ‘personally’, please.”

“As in meeting some of the townsfolk face to face and actually exchanging polite words with them.” Garret answered. “It’s expected, so please don’t be your usual scowling self for this. It means a lot to them and to me.”

“I’m not all that good at ‘making nice’, Garret.” She answered with a little sigh. “I just don’t have much practice with that.”

“You’ll do fine, my love.” He assured her with a pat to her thigh. “The people don’t expect nice, just honest and open to them this time around. But nice would be a plus if you could bring yourself to manage that.”

“I’m not going to get out of this marriage, even if I’m not ‘nice’ to them, am I?” Deirdre snorted then grinned. “So I’ll try, that’s all I’ll give you on this one, darling.”

“That works for me, dear one.” He smirked.

“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” She accused.

“I always enjoy being in your company, my love.” He returned with another smirk. “Especially when you know you have to be on your best behavior.”

“I do have a list.” She growled at him. “A long one with special marks for the stuff I need to get even with you for most. This one will probably be right at the top of that list. Right behind that spanking.”

“Would it help to say I’m sorry for that one?” He offered. “I HAD to get your full attention some way.”

“A well painted sign would have worked for that.” She snorted then favored him with a brief glare. “But you got my attention, fully. I hope you don’t regret that in the times to come.”

“Oh, I’m quite sure I will.” Garret quietly answered.

“Damned right you will.” Deirdre grumbled before going back to enjoying the scenery. “But don’t worry, I’ll be quite careful about being ‘nice’ to your future subjects.”

“Good, and don’t forget that they’ll be your future subjects, too.” He answered. “The Duchess rules as much as the Duke in Chalmnessa.”

“That’s something I’ll definitely keep in mind.” She told him with an odd, curious expression on her face then grinned again. “Though it is nice to know that women have some say in things around here. Especially since I hadn’t planned on being a woman at all not so long ago, let alone a Duchess.”

“Oh, don’t worry.” Garret probed his cheek with his tongue to restrain a laugh. “To know you is to love you, Deirdre.”

The crowds in the city streets were no worse than she’d handled in Jhalmar. Deirdre smiled, waved, and called back to some of the comments called their way.

“Doing good, my love.” Garret encouraged her when she started to flag a bit. “The people are already seeing you as not only beautiful, but accessible. You’ve won their hearts already, which I expected.”

“Just from smiling, waving, and shouting back a smart assed comment off and on?”

“Yes.” He grinned. “The comments are wonderful, and make you seem much more human to them, by the way.”

“Far be it from me to ruin your – our – future.” She answered.

“Now the real test comes.” He warned her. “We greet selected people on the steps of the Ducal Palace.”

“Do I have to be polite?”

“Yes.” Garret told her firmly.

“I would be, anyway.” She laughed. “I just wanted to see your face when I asked that question.”

“Was it worth it?”

“Oh yes, priceless!” She laughed. “Your expression was one that someone would wear when the sky was literally falling on their head and squirming into their brains on top of that.”

“You are an evil woman.” He answered with a sigh.

“I know, and I’m practicing to be even better at it.” Deirdre chuckled. “Do you think that will make me a worthy Duchess?”

“So.” He grinned. “You admit that you’ll marry me?”

“That’s still provisional.” She countered. “The question was hypothetical.”

“Then the answer is yes, that will do.”

“Good.” Deirdre smirked in her turn. “You’re obviously a smart man. I like that.”

“And you, my dear,” Garret responded, “are a devious, controlling, scheming bitch.”

“Thank you, dear.” Deirdre gave him a sunny smile. “It’s nice to know I’m actually doing this girl thing right.”

“Is this guy for real?” Deirdre quietly questioned Garret from the side of her mouth as a particularly obsequious merchant continued spouting platitudes that had gone from being flattering, to amusing then all the way down to annoying. All in less than three minutes.

“Yes, dear.” Garret sighed and gave her shoulder a light, encouraging pat disguised as simply placing his hand possessively on her shoulder. “Barrance is very rich, very influential, and consequently, very pompous. But under all that he’s a good man.”

“I’ll try to keep that in mind though at the moment I find it a little hard to believe.” She whispered back before favoring the man with a gracious smile and gently interrupting his soliloquy with warm thanks for the gift of precious perfumes he’d presented her with.

The rotund, bejeweled nabob beamed at her, bowed quite low, then relinquished his spot in line for the next person.

“Thank the gods.” The petite beauty shook her head briefly to move an errant strand of midnight hair off her cheek. “Do you think it will offend people like him when they learn I absolutely detest being fawned over?”

“Like me and the rest of us who now know and love you,” Garret quirked his mouth into a small grin, “they’ll get used to you. Eventually.”

“I’m not used to me yet.” She grumbled in response.

“Well, you’re doing very well, and this ordeal is over with.” The knight said with a grin. “You did very well, no cursing, glaring, or hitting happened at all.”

“Wait.” Deirdre ignored that jibe as she stopped the withdrawal of the Ducal party from the top of the steps leading into the palace. Her eyes were on a girl – young woman actually – who had been in the group of greeters but largely ignored. The girl’s dress was a bit ragged, but scrupulously clean, and neat, plus she held a bouquet of flowers in her hands tightly enough to strangle a small cow it appeared from the whiteness in her knuckles.

Her hopeful, and enthusiastic expression had slowly changed to simply hopeful, then downcast as the guards had chosen those who would be allowed to greet the new Duchess-to-be and she was slowly turning away with disappointment and defeat clear in the set of her shoulders.

“One more, Garret.” Deirdre told him then turned to the guards with an impish grin. “I know this should be over and you’re glad it is, but I need to meet one more person if you don’t mind?”

“Who would it be, M’lady?” One of the guards questioned as the hopefuls still gathered at the base of the marble staircase turned in anticipation.

“That flower girl.” She answered, indicating the girl she’d noted. “So far all I’ve met are rich, or militarily powerful, or political bigwigs. I wish to meet someone from the more common stock of this Duchy. Please escort her up her, if you would?”

“That is NOT acceptable, my Lady.” A palace functionary whispered close to her ear. He received a glare that could have melted steel in response.

“This is supposed to be ‘my day’ to meet the populace is it not?”

“Of course it is, and you’ve met…”

“Bullshit.” She responded without worry at the man’s flinch over her choice of words. “Bring that girl up here, and do it now, please.”

The implication that as the future Duchess, she could make life truly miserable for the man was rife in her request, and that one was wise enough to understand the fact. “Of course, my lady, it shall be done.”

The girl, with a surprised and perplexed expression on her face ascended the stairs until she was standing just below the level Deirdre was on. With a graceful curtsey, she greeted the future Duke’s intended. “My Lady, you do me a great honor by accepting my poor gift.”

“No, dear.” Deirdre answered with a warm smile. “You honor ME by offering it.”

“It is nothing but a simple bouquet, my lady.” The girl responded shyly.

“Oh, it is much more than that, dear.” Deirdre answered softly while holding out a hand to the girl. “Come join me here for a few moments, would you? It would please me a great deal if you would.”

The girl’s eyes widened and she darted short almost frantic glances at the courtiers and guardsmen until Deirdre’s hand gently pulled her forward to stand on the same level the lady and her lord occupied. Deirdre smiled again and soothed the girl. “It’s all right. This day is for me to meet the people and the people to meet me. Is there anything wrong with me wishing to know the common people as well as the rich and powerful?”

“No.” The girl admitted.

“Then come up, stand beside me, and offer your gift.”

At Garret’s encouraging nod, the girl allowed Deirdre to pull her up to the marble slab that ended the stairs and allowed access to the Ducal palace.

“My Lady.” The girl kept her eyes lowered as she curtsied again. “I am Rose, a simple flower seller. I have no rich gift to honor your coming with, but dare offer you these.”

Deirdre accepted the bouquet, a beautiful arrangement of white roses around a single royal purple orchid with the innocent white blooms of baby’s breath interspersed to dilute the arrogance of the rest of the arrangement.

“It’s lovely, Rose.” She breathed in the scents from the bouquet and momentarily closed her eyes in pleasure. “This, this is the finest gift I’ve received all day.”

Rose’s eyes lit with pleasure and joy at that. “It is nothing, my Lady. It is nothing but a simple flower arrangement. Surely it pales in comparison to the other gifts you’ve received today.”

“Hardly.” Deirdre carefully passed the bouquet to the functionary who had tried stopping this meeting with the simple command. “Put these in water, and make sure they are well tended.

Your gift was one that you did with your own hands, if I’m not mistaken?” She questioned.

“Yes, My Lady.” Rose answered softly with a blush of both pleasure and embarrassment.

“That,” The midnight haired lady replied, “makes it far more precious than any artisan made gift presented to me by people who could never have made what they offered.”

Rose smiled in response, but still seemed uncertain.

“Rose.” Deirdre told her. “A gift’s true value lies in what the giver put into it. The finest silks, gold, or jewelry that someone purchased to impress me pale in comparison to a simple bouquet that one poor girl made in the hope that I’d notice. Well I did notice, dear. The love you put into this flower arrangement will humble me for years to come, and to not acknowledge what you did would have been a terrible injustice.”

“Thank you, My Lady.” Rose had tears in her eyes.

“Thank you, Rose.” Deirdre hugged the girl and whispered. “I’ll expect flowers from you every day when I’m here. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy or precious. Wildflowers would do nicely with the way you can arrange them. But do bring them to me, please.”

“I – I will be honored to do that, My Lady.” Rose tried to curtsey again but Deirdre caught her upper arms to stop her from doing that.

“My name is Deirdre.” She told the girl. “And I value what you do highly. Remember that.”

“That was well done.” Garret hugged Deirdre.

“I was a commoner for most of my life.” She replied, but let herself be taken into the hug with a pleased little sigh. “Those people work their hands to the bone and often with nothing in return but a subsistence level of living. You make very sure that girl is well paid for her flower arrangements, dear or you will get some misery from me.”

“Oh, she will be.” Garret nodded while giving her another squeeze. “You just won the common people over, do you know that?”

“That wasn’t my intention.” She shot back. “The poor girl had obviously worked very hard on that bouquet and was really crushed that she hadn’t been chosen to meet me.”

“My point, exactly.” He countered. “Of all the people who greeted you, you took a common flower girl and pulled her to where you were. Though that could cause problems with the merchants and soldiers, it was well done.”

“I’ll charm the merchants and soldiers as needed.” Deirdre answered then grimaced. Gods! I don’t believe I just said that!”

“You will be a truly formidable Duchess.” Garret laughed.

“Would I get into a LOT of trouble if I used my mace on you right now?” She asked. “You know, just a little tap or something to bring you to your senses?”

“Probably.” He answered with a straight face then grinned. “Especially if you did that right out here in public and all.”

Sighing, Deirdre shook her head, dislodging a thick lock of midnight hair that immediately started teasing one of her breasts. Looking up at him through lowered eyelashes she flashed him a decidedly evil grin. “You never just accept taking your medicine the easy way, do you?”

“Now that you mention it, no.” Garret shrugged while lifting an eyebrow and flashing her another infectious grin. “The chase to get me to take my medicine was always so entertaining that by the time I finally got caught, I was laughing too hard to care.”

“Brat.”

“I don’t deny it.” The man probed a cheek with his tongue and shrugged. “Admit it. Driving your elders crazy is half the fun of being a child.”

“This relationship is going to be sooo interesting.” Deirdre thoughtfully muttered.

“I do believe I’ve said the same thing numerous times, dear.” He laughed.

Regardless of their being in public, she whapped him in the back of the head, but with the flat of her hand, not the mace.

“Are you still pouting over that little love tap I gave you yesterday?” Deirdre questioned Garret the next day while admiring the flower arrangement that had just been delivered to her.

“My ears rang for several minutes after that, my dear lady.” The knight responded and shook his head. “I’ve had full grown men who are proven warriors hit me with less of an effect. You have one strong arm for someone who appears as delicate as you do.”

“Why thank you, my lord.” Deirdre smirked then gave him a long look. “You are pouting.”

“You could at least have waited until we were inside.”

“Oh, is the big strong man afraid the people will think he’s pussy whipped?” She sweetly asked.

“I had that one coming.” He sighed and shook his head with a wry little smile. “No, but it was embarrassing. At least the people gathered know that they won’t have a shrinking violet or wimp for a duchess. I suppose that’s a good thing.”

“This future duchess thing isn’t set in stone yet, you know.” She told him with a tilt to her chin that invited argument.

“I’m patient, dear.” Garret carefully answered. “You would be a good one, for what it’s worth.”

“I won’t discuss that just now.”

“Oh, come on, dear.” Garret was nearly pleading. “You’re in my home, we’re betrothed by the King and Queen themselves. Can’t you just go with events?”

“I don’t know.” She said quietly. “Something in me just won’t let me do that. I still have some kicking and screaming to do here, I guess.”

“I’d noticed.”

“Oh, don’t take it so hard.” She soothed. “I never in my life took the easy way for getting through anything.”

“Again, I’d noticed.”

“But I generally get to where I’m going. Eventually.”

“One can hope.” Garret answered with a sigh.

“Oh, I do NOT believe this!” Deirdre glowered while surveying the kitchen and its staff. She was being shown through the keep, especially the sections where the lady of the house held suzerain.

“Three cases of food poisoning in the past year may be acceptable for some houses, but I cannot believe Her Grace the Duchess would allow it.” She stalked into the area, and centered her attention on the tubs where pots were cleaned. “Haven’t you people heard of pumice stones? Or hot water?”

The kitchen staff stared, and started grumbling until she held out one hand with the command. “Apron.”

“What was that, my lady?” The chief cook questioned with a gleam of anticipation in her eyes.

“Get me an apron.” Deirdre answered shortly. “I wasn’t always a lady, and if I can do this kind of thing, so can all of you. Now get me that apron and boil some water.”

Grace looked in and saw Deirdre industriously scrubbing a pot with a pumice stone and steaming water then turned to her husband with a nod and a smile. “I think she’ll do. Our servants got lazy while we were gone.”

“I don’t think that’s going to be a problem from now on.” Lamont chuckled. “Our son’s lady is getting them in line quite nicely.”