Hardly a Lady

II

"May I introduce my daughter, the Lady Giselle Debault."

Giselle curtsied deeply to the man before her, lowering her eyes respectfully to the floor as a lady should. Keeping the sophisticated poise she had been taught to carry herself with since she had been a babe, she slowly rose from her curtsy and stared at the man's face demurely, still without meeting his gaze.

He was not a handsome man; the top of his rounded head had completely balded, and only a few tufts of grey hair could be found around the rest of his head, and deep lines of age were set into his circular face. His thin lips were pursed as he surveyed Giselle, his dark eyes darting around through his gold rimmed spectacles and taking in every detail of this potential bride for his elusive master. He wasn't much taller than Giselle herself, and the way his doublet bulged showed Giselle that he was a portly man. He must be high up though, she found herself noticing, as his navy and silver clothing was not that of a poor man. Yet despite his evident prosperousness and the critical way he was surveying her, he did not look unkind, and the nod he gave seemed to show that he at least approved of her appearance.

"My lady," he greeted her with a slight bow. "It is a pleasure Sir," she replied in her most eloquent voice. The man stepped forward and took Giselle's hand, slowly rising it to his lips with a smile. "The pleasure is all mine, my lady."

To the side, Lord Axel nodded approvingly.

"I'll leave you then to make your inspections," Lord Axel said with a nod at the envoy, before crossing to his daughter and kissing her cheek stiffly. Giselle remained perfectly still, her father barely spoke to her these days, let alone kissed her. He didn't say a word, but Giselle knew what he was instructing her with. She could not let him down.

The envoy bowed his head respectfully as Lord Axel opened the door and strode out, shutting it behind him and leaving Giselle alone to this man's mercy. 

They stood in silence for a few moments, before the fellow smiled at Giselle and flourished his arm towards the chairs in the corner. "Come, my lady, I'm sure your father wouldn't mind us taking a seat. I am an old man, and would prefer to do this whilst seated."

Giselle smiled at him and obediently settled in one of the chairs, sitting upright with her ankles crossed beneath her skirts, and her hands clasped in her lap. The man nodded approvingly at her posture. "Well, you certainly look the part..." he commented, although Giselle had no idea what he was referring to.

"Oh how silly of me, I haven't introduced myself!" he exclaimed suddenly, chuckling as he rested his hand on his large stomach. "My name is Sir Lansley Ignex, and I must say that I am terribly sorry for all of this secrecy my dear, but it is the orders of my Lord that his potential bride does not know his identity until the papers have been signed and he has accepted you. He fears it will only complicate matters if you know before hand."

"Of course," Giselle replied with a fake smile, "I am only too happy to comply."

Sir Lansley reached for the decanter of whiskey and looked to Giselle as he produced two glasses. Giselle shook her head softly - it wasn't becoming for a lady to drink - and so Sir Lansley poured enough into one glass, taking a sip and then beginning.

"I have been tasked with the mission of finding the richest and most eligible lady in the land, who has the potential to sit in a very high position. I - and many others - believe that you are the one."

Giselle watched Sir Lansley curiously. What possible role could he and her father have in mind for her that set her above so many other eligible young ladies in the land? Other than her Debault name, there was nothing really about Giselle that distinguished her. True, she was considered beautiful, but there were many other girls whom men would find stunning. She was gifted with her harp, but she was hardly the finest and most accomplished musician in the land. She was rich, but there were many who were richer.