To Be A Lady

Writers: AL, April, Paula
Date Posted: 14th February 2010

Characters: Corowal, Erilite, Thelassa
Description: Corowal finds a teacher for Erilite and hears a shocking revelation.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 7, day 3 of Turn 5

"Lady Thelassa, can we bother you for a few moments?" Corowal asked when
he approached the elderly, white-haired lady. If he had read the Family
records correctly, Thelassa had earned the honorific by marrying into the
family.
Her first husband had been a his distant cousin, twice or third removed.
She was one of those constant figures in Ladies Solar, never moved by the
political turmoils and holding her own little court (mostly daughters,
granddaughters and in-laws). She also was, based on everything he had
heard of her, a true lady to the tips of her well-tended nails. Corowal
imagined Felyna turning into something like her on her old days.

"Of course, dearie." Lady Thelassa lowered the bit of stitching she had
been working on. It was getting harder, her eyes didn't work quite so
well
so it took twice as long to get anything done. Still, it kept her hands
busy so she continued to work. For the moment, however, she set it aside.
"What can I do for you?"

"I have somewhat delicate favor to ask from you," Corowal replied and
glanced his daughter.

"Oh?" Now that did get the lady's attention. She leaned forward, eyebrows
raised as she peered between Corowal and Erilite.

Erilite stood quietly. She knew that her father needed her to learn to be
a lady. To be proper. She tried to smile sweetly. All the while she
watched
every move that was made. She listened to every word and how it was spoken.

"This is my daughter Erilite. She had very unusual childhood and she now
needs someone to educate her to the ways of the Blood", Corowal said.

"Unusual childhood?" Curiouser and curiouser. Lady Thelassa turned her
attention to the young woman and scrutinized her. Corowal's daughter, eh?
"How so?"

Corowal told her Erilite's story: her illegitimate birth, mother's death
and rough childhood, muteness, the trek to Emerald Falls hold to find him,
her father.

Thelassa listened to the story without interruption. If she was
scandalized by anything mentioned, her expression didn't give it away.
When it was over, she chuckled softly. "I must say, I'm not surprised."

Well, Corowal was surprised by her lack of reaction. "You're not?" he asked.

Lady Thelassa leveled her gaze at Corowal, a smile stretching over her
lips. "Corowal, you are nothing if not your father's son. You two have
more in common than I think you realize. Now," Her gaze returns to the
girl and she holds her hand out to her. "Come here, child."

Corowal was dumbfound. Had his father sired bastards too? He had been two
when he died, his mental picture of Corovan came from his mother. She had
never even hinted that he had been anything less than perfect. She must
have not know.

Erilite looked from one to the other. She could see the shock on her
father's face. This was interesting. She turned to the old woman and
studied
her anew. She allowed the woman to look her over in return.

"So," Corowal regained his composure. "Would you be willing to teach her?"

"I will." The old woman agreed with a smile. She winked at Erilite,
then turned her attention to the Lord Holder. "I will teach her, and
properly so. She's woefully behind, but we'll soon catch her up."

"Thank you, Lady Thelassa," Corowal said.

to Please my father.> Erilite wrote. She offered a smale smile. Her mind
was still taking in everything.

Thelassa took the note without a hint of expression until she read it then
nodded. "Of course my dear. It won't be easy, but I will do what I can
for you."

"That's settled then," Corowal said with a little breath of relief. Of
course, he was still puzzled by Lady Thelassa's remark, but he would
return
it to some later time. Meanwhile, he planned to dig in to the hold records
some more, to find about his father's history.

Last updated on the February 15th 2010

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To Be A Lady