Of Romances and Resolves

3- So it begins

The knife smoothly cuts through the brown paper, easily revealing a clean brief text that is typed methodically across.

I eagerly await my nieces' arrival. Do not defer the visit again, Mine-o.

(Lady Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury)

Mine-o sits himself comfortably on the plush dinner chair that has been utilized for two generations, staring at the first paper of the early morning unexpectedly confounded. When he rouse to take on his duties this morning, he never expected to take on the displeasure of his sister first (before all other concerns of his estate that are no doubt more paramount), no matter how subtle and dry it was expressed.

Lady Amara Talbot even from childhood has always been a force to be reckoned with. She is willful and unwavering in her resolve, a disposition which often grieved their mother who attempted, over the years, to tame her daughter's indomitable spirit.

"You look unsettled papa." Lady Amihan enters, garbed in simple a light green dress, dropping a soft kiss to his cheek and a teasing smile before sitting on his right. She greets Imaw, their butler, who allows himself to be disturbed from overseeing the arrival of their breakfast, and answers with his own gracious greetings. She then begins eating, patiently waiting for her father to relate the little event that caused a crack in his composure that she missed prior.

"It's your aunt." The duke answers directly and passes the paper to his daughter who takes it eagerly. He grasps the appropriate cutlery and starts to slice the meat he has picked from the sideboard. "It seems that we are reduced to mere telegrams. She now deems me unworthy to receive a letter penned by her own hand and instead finds it more suitable to state her concerns succinctly and sharply."

The Lady Amihan smiles in mirth before giving the telegram to Imaw who disposes it accordingly. "Your hands are tied papa. You need to have the carriage check for tomorrow's ride to Shrewsbury House on pain of the Countess' wrath."

"That I shall do. It is high time, indeed, after three consecutive postponements. I suppose her displeasure is just. Well then, I should arrange the carriage for you and Alena." He determines, drinking his glass of water before wiping his lips with the napkin. "Heavens, your brother is going to be distraught."

"Why is Dann going to be distraught, papa?"

Alena asks and enters the scene, kissing her father tenderly on the cheek then taking her place gingerly. "Pardon my tardiness."

"All forgiven my dear. As for the matter at hand, your aunt has effectively communicated her vexation at your unsuccessful visits and she demands your company most urgently."

Alena visibly brightens at the prospect and turns to her father with excited eyes, "Will she help me prepare for my debut then?"

There is a small smile on Mine-o's visage, an undertone of sadness in his face. His children had been living most of their lives without a mother, it made sense that they, especially Alena, would turn to the nearest source of comfort.

"She'd be most delighted, my dear, I am sure."

Alena smiles in pleasure, "I am so excited. To think that shortly, I will officially be welcomed in polite society.

Her older sister throws her a wry look, "Indeed! With all the dancing, the gossiping and the mind-numbing simpering."

"It has been so long since we've been in Shrewsbury, I'm sure our Aunt will be kind enough to arrange a ball for our arrival. Who knows Amihan, perhaps you would finally meet a man who'd successfully transform your disdain into profound affection." Alena retorts.

"Heaven help us that she would, my dear." Mine-o adds plaintively. The subject of finding Amihan a suitable husband has been a long feature in the family's frequent discourses ever since she debuted at eighteen. Inauspiciously, the lady has displayed an aversion to matrimony and had turn down a rather large pool of suitors, to her grandmother's horror. "Lest the dowager finally snap, then who knows what might happen."

+

After their breakfast, Mine-o orders that preparations be made for his daughters' departure to Shrewsbury house.

"What about the young lord, your grace?"

"I forbid him to join his sisters, he has caused too much mischief this year and shall be punished. Besides, my sister would quail at the thought of managing such a maelstrom as my wayward son."

The young Earl and future Duke of Lireo has been disturbing the quiet of the house by performing multiple pranks on the servants which has ceased to be amusing when one of the footmen sprained his ankle after falling down the stairs in fright. And when recently, he had a tussle with a tenant farmer's son, Mine-o decided to put an end to his son's misconduct firmly. He had ordered the boy to be locked in the house.

His sisters had pleaded on his behalf, of course, but Mine-o was adamant to induce a reform on the unruly boy. In response to his orders, the boy refuses to come to breakfast. He appears during dinner but persists in never uttering a single word.

"Do not let him out of the house," Mine-o reminds Imaw. "Let us hope that his sisters' absence and his lack of freedom would shove some sense into the boy."

Afterwards, he retreats to his study to review the accounts drawn up by his steward. He plans on finishing his review of the papers so that he could visit his tenants tomorrow, listen to their needs and administer aid.

When he completed the task, he turns to his personal letters. He sees a letter from three friends, his eldest daughter, Pirena, and his mother. After dithering, he decides to open his mother's letter first.

The recent weeks have been particularly harsh to the old woman, an illness has taken hold of her, and she can scarcely bring herself to be subjected to a short carriage ride towards the main house or endure a long visit from her grandchildren. She prefers to be alone in the house, desiring quiet and comfort which the youngest and the loudest, Dann, and the fussing of Alena can never give. As for her favorite, Amihan, she has nursed a heartache against the girl after the girl refused to give her assent to the proposal of the Marquess of Keswick's heir some months ago.

Dearest son,

The illness is corrupting my body, depriving me of bodily strength. It pains me severely to think that I am not long for this world and without the prospect of seeing my Amihan wed. Oh that obstinate girl! If only she could see reason and fulfill her beloved grandmama's fervent desire, then I shall lie on my bed calmly, divested of any cares and ready for whenever I shall be taken.

Your eldest has written to me that she has returned from the continent. Even now, I can scarcely believe her luck which she must have inherited from her mother who bewitched you when you were a foolish boy. To be able to marry the heir of a duke as well! For a knight's granddaughter, the girl has risen high.

If only the Duke of Sapiro's son had not perished, my Amihan would have been secured in status as well as fortune. Blasted fate! To deprive the Duke of Sapiro of his son and then his wife, and now with no more direct descendants or relations, the dukedom is to be extinct! That poor man.

But now that I am near my end, our efforts to have darling Amihan married must not ebb. She must marry even higher than Pirena, and so she deserves nothing but a royal match! Who do you think suits her? The third prince is handsome and a great sportsman, the second prince is too but less so (although he has the advantage of being a step closer to the throne). The king has always been partial to us, mayhap he would bestow the Prince of Devas, his heir, on our family? My Amihan would be the queen! The highest lady in the kingdom! Ambition does not suit this old woman, but oh what a lovely thought!

Think on it.

With my unabiding affection,

Mother