Descendants of the Kings (Book 2)

Ch 26: A bit of a B-word

Ella hadn't known what to expect when she invited Lady Tamsyn Gawain over for tea.

To cope with her nerves, she threw herself into being the perfect hostess and fussed over the preparations with the overzealousness of a mother hen watching over her first batch of eggs.

The location was the solarium, because she wanted it to be nice, but not too nice, so as to not come off as too formal. She'd even had flowers brought up from the gardens, to aid the air of freshness. She had four different floral teas set out in piping crystal pots, she'd chosen the sweetest cakes and bites, and the freshest fruits to be set out in towering platters. The blue embroidered linens matched the wingback armchairs she'd had brought in, and the silvery cutlery added just a touch of elegance.

Her dress had been an entirely different issue. She'd spent hours choosing just the right dress and hairstyle, so as to come off as presentable and serious, but friendly enough that she didn't appear standoffish. Even Katram had been boggled by Ella's absurd nitpicking.

The art of being a hostess was an underappreciated one, and for the first time in her life, Ella found herself grateful for all the lessons they'd crammed down her throat growing up. Somewhere in her grave, her old governess was crooning like a smug cat.

In her armchair, Ella sat ramrod straight, gloved hands clasped in her lap to avoid chewing on her nails. Finally, a maid led in a pretty young woman, and Ella stood to greet her.

It was then that she realised that she needn't have bothered with her obsessive planning. No sooner had Ella opened her mouth to speak, when she was enveloped in a warm embrace, the scent of fresh baked goods and apples hitting her nose, dark curls tickling her cheeks.

Lady Tamsyn pulled back, leaving Ella blinking owlishly.  "Oh, I'm sorry! Mama always says I should ask before I throw myself at people. I can't help myself, I'm a hugger!" she bit her lip and pulled a hand up to her mouth, still grinning wide.

"It's wonderful to finally meet you, my brother has spoken so much about you! Why, I already felt like I knew you," she giggled. She brought forth a basket she carried on the crook of her elbow and lifted the checkered yellow linen on top, revealing a steaming pie and a pile of giant, ruby-red apples.

"Mama and I baked this for you! Our orchards have the sweetest apples in the whole of the Kingdom, so I'm hoping you have a sweet tooth," she said, smiling so wide, her pink cheeks stretched like taffy, and her cornflower blue eyes twinkled.

Ella blinked once again, and then, a wide, flustered smile spread on her own cheeks. She took the proferred gift and inhaled the sweet, buttery scent. "I'm Ella," she said. "And I absolutely adore apple pie."

Tamsyn clapped once, her grin ever present. "I just knew you and I were going to get along smashingly!"

Ella laughed and lead her to the armchair, agreeing wholeheartedly.

Lady Tamsyn Gawain was the oddest noble lady Ella had ever met, and for that, she took an instant liking to her. Yes, she thought. They were going to get along just fine.

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"Lady Sivelle and Lady Gael Cleryn. Hmmm, what can I tell you about them?" Tamsyn tapped the end of her blue-feathered quill on her chin. "Well, they're good girls. Nice enough, and quite popular. Their father, Earl Cleryn, is in the Chamber of Lords. Oh! And Lady Gael is betrothed to Lord Illan Styllis, who is very popular with the younger crowd of Lords. That's good to take into account."

Ella, from her spot on a wide loveseat, hummed in consideration, jotting down Tamysn's comments in her journal.

True to word, Tamsyn and Ella had gotten along swimmingly. Tamysn was bright, bubbly and clever, and Ella had immediately known she'd made a good call in appointing her as her first lady-in-wait.