Log: The last straw
--[ Mandrake Suite(#1205RAJ) ]----------------------------[ Royal Palace ]----
Lucretia is in residence, wearing slightly different clothing from her usual. She has a slightly drawn expression, and seems to be going through papers. There is a footman on duty to mind the door.
Navarre speaks quietly to the footman and informs the man who Delilah is. He asks if Lucretia is receiving visitors.
It would appear that Lucretia is receiving visitors, for the footman opens the door to Navarre and Delilah. He is a surly sort, however; he doesn't perform introductions. He just leaves the door open and disappears into the suite further. This is not entirely unusual.
Delilah may be nervous but she moves confidently beside Navarre her full skirt swaying against the crinoline beneath it. The smile that is in place may be more forced than sincere but the effort is made.
Navarre leads the way in. He's not smiling but definitely is nervous.
Lucretia looks up from her reading, sees who it is, and for a moment, closes her eyes. She looks very tired. She reopens them, offering a smile. "Good evening, cousin. I see you've brought company. If we had a fourth we could have a rubber of bridge. I'm assuming this isn't who's responsible for cutting my apprentice's throat? I rarely play bridge with people who do."
Delilah replies in a serious tone, "The only throat I've threatened lately would be his," she waits then turning to Navarre as if she expects to be introduced formally.
Navarre shakes his head, "No, Lucretia, this has nothing to do with that. This is a personal matter that I feel I need to speak to you about." He turns towards Delilah to make introductions, "Lucretia this is Lady Delilah Gattini. Delilah this is my cousin, Lady Lucretia de'Mandrake."
Lucretia quirks her eyebrows up. "Lady Delilah. How do you do. Personal matter?" Her eyebrows go a little higher.
Delilah's gaze moves from Navarre to Lucretia, "It has been an interesting day, Lady Lucretia." She offers another smile but does appear to be nervous. Her foot taps briefly before she stops the betraying motion. She leaves the personal matter to Navarre.
Navarre nods as he turns back to look at Lucretia. "Yes. Lady Quina and Lord Theo were questioning me about my intentions towards Lady Gattini. My intention is to wed Lady Gattini, Lucretia, but I am not so naive as to think my family has no say in such a matter either. Hence why we are here."
Lucretia returns, "Well, I know that mine has, but I fear I left my telepathy in my sibling rather than in my cousins, so I'm afraid I know nothing of your own." She seems patient about it. She turns her gaze onto Navarre, and she sighs, lifting a hand to the bridge of her nose as if pained by sudden headache. "...Right. And - no offense, Lady Delilah - I'm sorry; I'm very tired, it's been a long day and a longer week, and I'm afraid I'm about scraping the bottom of the tact barrel already. You're absolutely correct - legally, you cannot wed without the permission of the head of your family. Doing so means - well, pretty much giving up everything; you'll be married, but nameless and family-less. So. Let's move on past a brisk discussion of the legalities." She sets her paperwork aside, settling her hands in her lap. "Why?"
Delilah frowns briefly and glances toward Navarre. She may have expected something like this, "I think she wants you to provide her with a reason other than romance and possessiveness. Do we have one?" The question is asked lightly as if she were trying to support him.
"Why?" Navarre takes a deep breath, "I could give you a hundred reasons, Lucretia, but the honest truth is simple." He glances at Delilah and offers her a smile before looking back to his cousin, "I love her." And that is the most honest thing Navarre has ever said to Lucretia. "Given who I am and what I do, that to me is the most important."
Lucretia looks at Delilah. "If it should happen, I'm glad to see you grasp politics." She looks back at Navarre. "I'm very happy that you've found love. Unfortunately, love alone does not do practical things. It doesn't pay bills; it doesn't provide political assistance; it doesn't take out the trash; and, it doesn't provide reason enough - by itself - for a noble marriage. Remember what I told you, back in the beginning? Now..." She takes a deep breath, sighing and looking between them, "please, try again, and give me reasons which will, in fact, benefit your House, rather than your personal emotional state."
Navarre nods and begins, "Lady Gattini is a Lady of Montevalno. She is a wonderful artist and extremely skilled musician and composer. Not only that, she is skilled in politics and diplomacy, she is also rather capable of keeping me on a very short leash. The lady in question makes me strive to be a better man, not only for myself and her but for the House, Lucretia. She has been helping me to understand such importance and loyalties. There is also a small matter of her ties to House Chantris which are currently being looked into. So it may prove that she is of good standing among one of the Great Houses of Amber." He pauses, "I have more if you wish to hear them?"
Lucretia motions. "Spit it all out," she answers, not unkindly. "Though I should note that so far, you've not said anything which is sufficient, or brings us something we haven't really /got/."
Delilah appears to be happy that Navarre has fielded the question. She steeples her fingers together and drops her hand. "Well, it sounds as if we have nothing of interest to you and if I get pregnant, he'll defy the house and be nameless and, perhaps, Mandrake would be better off without an impetuous youth. I am not particularly concerned with the status of such a child because I believe that there are more ways to power than through great houses of Amber, if there were not my daughter would not be the Pathi Ambassador."
Navarre holds off on continuing the list as Delilah speaks. He hadn't been expecting that response. So he clears his throat and asks Lucretia, "Will you be honest with me? You've told me that you hope Theo and Tine can work their magic upon me and that I can prove my worth to the House one day. In the interim though, do you believe that you could gain anything for the House in a marriage using me as the bait? I am constantly told my reputation is worthless, Lucretia. Lady Gattini accepts me regardless. Would that not make this a good match on its own?"
Lucretia looks to Navarre patiently. "As it happens, I do have a potential match lined up for you, which /would/ if it goes through, net quite a bit for the House. I did tell you that I would try for it; I try my best for /all/ of you, Navarre. Through Theo, I gained alliance with Chantris, and resolved all of our debts. Through other means, we got rid of all of Karm's debts, and regained all our holdings there. I realize you may think me a cruel and heartless woman, but the fact is - while I want you to be happy - I /also/ have to look at what the House will get. That is my duty; to do my best for the House." She looks to Delilah wryly. "If you think you're going to shock me into losing my temper, honey, I have to tell you, it doesn't work that way." She looks back at Navarre. "Aunt Carolyne is dead."
Delilah smiles and nods, "I don't need to shock you into losing your temper," she shrugs, "I believe that I have a better hold over him than Mandrake. If I'm wrong, I have lost anyway. If the best for your house is throw out your members because they won't marry as you dictate, I do feel for you. But a marriage that will not be consummated does not make a true marriage and he has promised me he will not."
Navarre looks shocked and dubious at the news of a potential match but it's the announcement of Carolyne's passing that shocks him more. "My condolences to you and your own betrothed, Lucretia. I take it this means he will be returning to Amber then and you can enjoy your own wedding vows." He glances at Delilah, "We can at least stay calm and polite. I gave my word on that and I will honor it." He looks back at Lucretia, "She speaks true. I won't share a bed with any other woman. In that regard I am worthless to you."
Lucretia looks at Delilah with a patient expression. "Navarre, is this true? That you promised her this? Because if so, you've broken your word to me, you realize. In any case, I've frankly had enough of this nonsense. I don't really care if you're in love, in lust, or in loco; if your lady love's attitude is indicative of what her behaviour's going to be like on a regular basis, it really gives nobody any reason to cooperate or do a damned thing for you. The name of the game, children, is compromise. But if it's true, well, then, you've foresworn your oath to Mandrake." She shrugs. "You are an oathbreaker." She rises to her feet tiredly. "It's unfortunate, really. Let it be known that if you attempt to break the secrets of Mandrake, the penalties of being foresworn shall fall upon you ten-fold; even at the cost of your life. You are hereby stripped of name and title, and are noble no more. You are forbidden to use the name of Mandrake in any of your dealings, and your parents shall be given the mourning stipend. You are banished from Mandrake holdings, having proven that your loyalty never was to blood. Now get out, please. I have a busy day tomorrow, and I don't have any use for worthless trash who don't know the value of their word."
Navarre has nothing to say, he simply turns and gestures towards the door, indicating that Delilah should go first.
Delilah nods to Navarre and moves toward the door to exit.
Delilah walks towards the way out.
Navarre doesn't leave though, he waits until Delilah has left before he looks back to Lucretia, "I would ask a simple thing," he says quietly, "That you would send the ring I gave you to my mother and father." He then unbuckles the saber, "And that you would see that this is returned to Celeste. I thank you for that small kindness." He sets the saber down upon the desk. No move he makes is threatening in any way. "Goodnight."
Lucretia says calmly, still tiredly, "Leave, please. You've wasted enough of my time. Abide by the strictures I've placed, or you will face worse penalties than this. It's a pity that both you and she could not simply think to listen to what I tried to tell you; a fair offer would have been listened to. But you have never listened. You bluster, you threaten, and you stalk out. You are, without a doubt, the most ignoble man I have met in a very long time; and I have met many. Go away."
Navarre goes away.
OOC Note: Navarre has done other things that have led Lucretia to this course of action. ICA=ICC and let me stress that I am not upset OOCly nor do I harbor any ill will or grudge towards Lucretia's player. :)