"More Tea?"
"Yes, thank you." :A servant takes the unspoken command and pours.:
"You're quite welcome."
"So how was the Ball?"
"Fine"
"Did our nephew attend?"
:Agitated: "No, he declined"
"Hmm. Did he say why?"
"Oh, he was unfailingly polite about it. He spun off nonsense about his studies and some magical project Brand's tutoring him on."
"That's the third party of yours that he's turned down attending, right?"
:Black look: "What of it?"
"Your unspoken opinion, dear Florimel, is clear. Marcus is acting as dull as…dishwater."
:Shrug: "When he walks the Pattern and travels in Shadow, that'll cure him I suppose."
:Laughs: ""You know as well as I that we find in Shadow what we want or what we look for. So, if he is not going to look for social situations, he won't find them."
:Frustrated look: "So why should I care, or you?"
"Because we DO. We don't want our nephew to turn into a miniature Redhead. I just wish his father had let Deirdre foster him in Rebma a season or two. That would have cured him."
"Shock therapy is more like it. So why don't you invite him to Rebma? I'm sure Queen Moire would like to meet him."
"Perhaps I should. Any word from Deirdre, lately?"
"You know as well as I that I don't talk much with our bloody-minded sister. She's still grieving Saul in her own way, out there in Shadow with her axe."
"She'll be back before Marcus walks the Pattern on his 21st birthday, never fear."
"Yes, but if we are going to help the boy, we have to do it before that happens, Llewella, in less than six months."
"Agreed. Thank you for the tea, dear sister."
"Try the clams, dear sister."
"Thank you." :Samples the delicacies before her:
"They are delicious, trust me. The lobster is good, as well." :Samples some herself:
"So, he turned you down, too?"
"Unfortunately."
"Well, did you at least put a veneer on the invitation? Suggesting that he see the schools of Ammonites or something? The Palace here itself is lovely enough as a destination."
:Green eyes flare a bit: "Of course I did! I suggested he take a week of vacation. See a play-one about Faiella as a matter of fact. Talk with members of the Illuminata. Be presented to Queen Moire. See the art and architecture of the Rebman Palace. I didn't mention that I planned to put him in the company of some of the fine young ladies of quality of Rebma in the process."
"And he turned all of that down?" :Slightly incredulous:
"Smoothly. He's well mannered, much more than his tutors. He doesn't have that 'Aren't I great?' attitude Bleys seems to love to affect, not to mention Fi's arrogance or Brand's mood swings. But he patiently, deliberately gave me an excuse of having a lot of home-work."
"Maybe it is all a façade, an edifice."
"What do you mean, Flora?"
"Let's stroll down memory lane. A few years ago, right in his formative teenage years, his father Saul has the heroic stupidity to take that assassin's crossbow bolt meant for Queen Paulette. Marcus, without a father figure, and seeing the hazards of the martial life, drives himself into the company of the Redheads and begins learning Sorcery. And little else."
"I wouldn't say quite that. His mother, and Corwin, did try to train the boy in other things…"
"Yes, and that lout Caine took him to Madame Brousaud's establishment when he turned seventeen. He hasn't been back there since."
"How would you know? You wouldn't actually…"
:Cuts off: "I have had…dealings with the proprietress' brother."
"So do you think that he might be…?"
"Let me finish, dear Llewella. Just before his mother skipped out of Amber, I caught Marcus eyeing the daughter of the Deigan Ambassador. He seemed almost embarrassed when I told him that her name was Lucille, that she was unmarried, and she had an interest in Botany.
"I don't see why he should have been."
"It's clear, dear sister, that he is still hurting over the loss of his father. And his Mom going off into Shadow when he turned eighteen didn't help. He's made his studies into a shell."
"So we need to find the right person to get through his defenses, then."
"Exactly. Thank you for lunch, dear sister."
"A lovely party, is it not?"
"You're looking quite pleased with yourself, Flora."
"As do you. I love it when a plan comes together."
"He dances fairly well, doesn't he?"
"I told you so. He is polite and charming."
"So how did you set him up with her? She's quite good looking, I will reluctantly admit."
"Oh, I didn't set him up with Katrina. I set him up with Joselle de Crie."
:A flash of confusion: "I don't understand."
"It was one of those things, Llewella. Joselle's Mother was visiting her from Crie and I managed to get her daughter and Marcus alone together. She's a student of the Academy of Sciences and Arts there. And she is extremely gregarious."
"So why is he out there with Katrina?"
"Oh, I am getting to that. Anyway, after a couple of nights of rather roaring passion between the two…"
"Flora!"
"I have my sources, dear sister. Anyway, Joselle's mother and her returned to Crie. It was one of those quick burning, hot affairs." :She smiled: "No regrets, but nothing that was going to last beyond it."
"And this…Katrina?"
"Oh yes, Katrina Tassel. Pretty, but I think Marcus will soon find her a bit vapid. Which is fine by me, because I think Taria von Drakesberg is much more his type."
:Laughs: "And here I was thinking about a certain young lady in Rebma who he is perfect for."
:Smile: "It's your turn, anyway. And I did the hard part, of cracking his shell. Do remember to keep me informed, Llewella."
"Of course, Flora."