[ She cards her fingers through his hair - and there is no judgement, no hatred, not even smugness, but only such an unbearable happiness that as he turns his face up, like she couldn't miss it, not for anything. Like this was hers, and for it - for it she would wage a hundred wars, a thousand battles. Flicking between his eyes, like this, mapping that expression, knowing it for what it is. ]
Sometimes you look at me, but... I wasn't sure - [ sure he cared, sure what any of this meant. It would be wrong, wrong to ask more of duty than it already took from them. He had no want or interest in being bound. Neither did she, even if that freedom took different forms for them both. Wouldn't, and couldn't ask, just had to wait to see if he would be ready to give. ] - you are my love, my Byerly. For I do love you. Most ardently. Poison branches and all.
[ Let her pour and pour it out. Until she could burn every doubt out of him. ] This isn't the death of that. Nothing will be the death of that. [ Or of her. ]
[ His eyes drop again, his eyes coming closed. His adam's apple bobs. His voice is low. It isn't a relief, exactly - for relief is a feeling of lightness. This isn't anything of the sort. This is the opposite, as a matter of fact. A man without attachments is a free man; a man living a life of nihilism and contempt is relieved of all burdens. She's a weight on him, spiritually as well as physically. Drawing him down to the earth. Keeping him from his light and carefree life. He cares. ]
[ She doesn't know what she's expecting - not his face to fall, not that sheer heaviness that with something she is so happy to give. But - well, he would never be that kind of man would he? She must console herself that he had always be honest about that.
So she smooths her fingers down, over his shoulders. She has asked enough, at least for now. She trusts ever, that if it mattered, he would come to her. Letting them rest, as she perches back from him. Give him space to breath. ]
Well - aside from no more morning rides? [ And she is terribly miserable about that, but nor is she a fool. But it's an attempt at levity over something he hates her doing, grouching when she gets out of bed in the mornings. ] First, we will need to announce it. Whatever comes of that. I suggest a little latter, until I have found everything out of the doctors, and they have finished their regime for me.
[ She has been sitting long and quiet, with these plans, forming them, and she settles her hands to his upper arms, rolling back. Her belly flat, for now. ] Secondly, we need to start writing our wills. The minute this child is born, we become irrelevant to your family. So I need to make sure that before they start getting ideas, they do not think they will ever have a hand in influence him or her, or any of my money. [ It's harsh, unforgiving, but is too often done. As soon as a child is secured, the parents and their opinions become irrelevant. ] I suggest that a member of my family, or your sister, must be a second on all transactions to do with their inheritance in the event of our death.
Lastly - [ now her hands to move to her belly, smoothing over it, like she can't quite believe what she has been told to be true. A deep, deep breath. That's a life there, ] - I was thinking... blue, for the nursery.
[ He opens his eyes again, looking at her. There's no hint of lightness in his gaze, for all the levity that she's shared with him. Sign enough of just how huge this is for him - it might be the first thing he was incapable of laughing at. ]
Then...They told you that the child is a...boy? Blue, you said. [ No comments denying the prospect of his family getting ideas. His immediate family wouldn't, but someone like Richars? Entirely possible. ]
No. They don't know yet. Said I had caught it too early to tell... [ But she sets her jaw, stiffly and proud - the way she gets ever when she has put her mind to something. Flat open determination like this is just a matter of ] But I am sure we will have a son first.
[ Perhaps then, perhaps he will be happy with this then. ] Even so, I certainly always liked blue. [ Rather than the red and dark oranges of her house colours. She quite liked his a sight more than hers. ]
[ It's a relief, almost, to hear that sound. The last thing she wanted - and the only thing that had worried her endlessly once she got the news - was losing him entirely over this. ]
I'll hold off making you go to family dinners for a month, if it turns out to be a girl.
[ She drums her fingers idly on his shoulder, thinking up a suitable pleasure for herself. ]
You have to come for a morning ride with me. Every day for a week.
[ Just the one, for she can be a merciful tyrant, at least sometimes. But good - better than good. Easier, slowly taken breaths like she dares not trust it. Not quite yet. ]
[ She wriggles, bracing her knees against his side. ]
They will want to toast with you at least once after it's announced. I am afraid there will be no escaping that one either.
[ She might not be able to stomach much alcohol - and thank God, no one will expecting her to touch a drop now - but the rest of her family? Oh he wouldn't be able to flee from their eager happiness, either. Down right prolish in their excitement, at times. ]
[ A hum, sliding her fingers against into his hair with as little prompting as that, and her fingers are cooler. Light, if not quite as soft as they should be. But for his question, she reacts at odds to that steadiness, her nose turning up, turning away even as her hand doesn't even slightly detangle - a half bitten of protest that she isn't.
Except he had rather obvious proof that she couldn't make it half of what he did without ending up a giggling mess of too bold intentions - and even quicker to picks fights. ]
I used to watch them see who could down whole bottles of wine faster, if that serves as a measure?
[ - Oh he is not getting away with that. As soon as he taps, she bites, lightly at least but a determined set of teeth around the tip of his finger before she lets go. ]
I could try to be more fun - shall I drink my through your next family gathering?
[ Which could only end as well as it did the last time she attempted to 'join in'. With someone bleeding, quite probably. ]
[ She makes a noise of indignation, a determined shove to take the higher ground as she pushes him back down. Her hands flat on his chest, leaning forward with all her weight. ]
I do not. I stay awake a perfectly decent time. You just want me to stay in bed all morning.
[ Soon enough, she won't be able to do this for awhile. Pity, it's just about the only way she's not pushing up on tiptoes to reach him evenly. Won't be so light in his lap, either.
But for now, she crawls up to keep her spot as long as she can have it. Settling herself over his hips. Planting her hands either side of his head. Grinning bright and quick in her oh so hard won victory, before she settles back. ]
Well I am Lady Vorrutyer, aren't I supposed to be mad by now?
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Sometimes you look at me, but... I wasn't sure - [ sure he cared, sure what any of this meant. It would be wrong, wrong to ask more of duty than it already took from them. He had no want or interest in being bound. Neither did she, even if that freedom took different forms for them both. Wouldn't, and couldn't ask, just had to wait to see if he would be ready to give. ] - you are my love, my Byerly. For I do love you. Most ardently. Poison branches and all.
[ Let her pour and pour it out. Until she could burn every doubt out of him. ] This isn't the death of that. Nothing will be the death of that. [ Or of her. ]
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So what happens next?
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So she smooths her fingers down, over his shoulders. She has asked enough, at least for now. She trusts ever, that if it mattered, he would come to her. Letting them rest, as she perches back from him. Give him space to breath. ]
Well - aside from no more morning rides? [ And she is terribly miserable about that, but nor is she a fool. But it's an attempt at levity over something he hates her doing, grouching when she gets out of bed in the mornings. ] First, we will need to announce it. Whatever comes of that. I suggest a little latter, until I have found everything out of the doctors, and they have finished their regime for me.
[ She has been sitting long and quiet, with these plans, forming them, and she settles her hands to his upper arms, rolling back. Her belly flat, for now. ] Secondly, we need to start writing our wills. The minute this child is born, we become irrelevant to your family. So I need to make sure that before they start getting ideas, they do not think they will ever have a hand in influence him or her, or any of my money. [ It's harsh, unforgiving, but is too often done. As soon as a child is secured, the parents and their opinions become irrelevant. ] I suggest that a member of my family, or your sister, must be a second on all transactions to do with their inheritance in the event of our death.
Lastly - [ now her hands to move to her belly, smoothing over it, like she can't quite believe what she has been told to be true. A deep, deep breath. That's a life there, ] - I was thinking... blue, for the nursery.
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Then...They told you that the child is a...boy? Blue, you said. [ No comments denying the prospect of his family getting ideas. His immediate family wouldn't, but someone like Richars? Entirely possible. ]
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No. They don't know yet. Said I had caught it too early to tell... [ But she sets her jaw, stiffly and proud - the way she gets ever when she has put her mind to something. Flat open determination like this is just a matter of ] But I am sure we will have a son first.
[ Perhaps then, perhaps he will be happy with this then. ] Even so, I certainly always liked blue. [ Rather than the red and dark oranges of her house colours. She quite liked his a sight more than hers. ]
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What, going to force the Y chromosomes into the fetus by sheer force of will? That's ambitious, even for you. I think it'll be a girl.
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I'll hold off making you go to family dinners for a month, if it turns out to be a girl.
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You have to come for a morning ride with me. Every day for a week.
[ Just the one, for she can be a merciful tyrant, at least sometimes. But good - better than good. Easier, slowly taken breaths like she dares not trust it. Not quite yet. ]
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Or perhaps your daughter will save you from your wicked wife and you will count your blessings in her every day.
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They will want to toast with you at least once after it's announced. I am afraid there will be no escaping that one either.
[ She might not be able to stomach much alcohol - and thank God, no one will expecting her to touch a drop now - but the rest of her family? Oh he wouldn't be able to flee from their eager happiness, either. Down right prolish in their excitement, at times. ]
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[ He lifts his finger to tap in his chin. ]
Will they bring out the good wine, do you suppose?
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For the first grandchild born of this generation? All of it, I suspect. Every last drop for a week.
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[ He captures her hand, bringing it to press against the warmth of his neck. Her fingers seemed cool. He's helping. ]
Well, that is an intoxicating prospect, forgive the pun. And are they better drinkers than you, little lightweight?
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Except he had rather obvious proof that she couldn't make it half of what he did without ending up a giggling mess of too bold intentions - and even quicker to picks fights. ]
I used to watch them see who could down whole bottles of wine faster, if that serves as a measure?
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[ He taps the tip of her nose. ]
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I could try to be more fun - shall I drink my through your next family gathering?
[ Which could only end as well as it did the last time she attempted to 'join in'. With someone bleeding, quite probably. ]
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Oooh. Ouch. But in all honesty, could you please? You'll pass out within five minutes and I'll have an excuse to leave.
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I am not that bad!
[ Yes she is, but never mind that right now where she pokes him in the side. ]
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My apologies, dear lady. It would take seven minutes. At least.
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I do not. I stay awake a perfectly decent time. You just want me to stay in bed all morning.
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Like a sane person. Yes. All the fun is had at night, you know.
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But for now, she crawls up to keep her spot as long as she can have it. Settling herself over his hips. Planting her hands either side of his head. Grinning bright and quick in her oh so hard won victory, before she settles back. ]
Well I am Lady Vorrutyer, aren't I supposed to be mad by now?
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