Letter from Home
Ula,
I received your letter and it is with no great surprise that I tell you that I told you so. Lord Ambassador Servalle Dafydd is a charlatan masquerading as a diplomat; I am surprised that you had the sense to listen to me and that you did not end up in his bed, and I am suspicious that you are lying to me. I must warn you that if you have told me an untruth, I will find it out and I assure you that I will make quite certain that you pay for it.
I cannot fathom why you would have an interest in the Pathi, but I suppose their money spends as well as any other. A culture which disdains right of birth, which has no real titles - if you must associate with their kind, you should at least check on their antecedents. You are entirely too credulous and trusting a child, and this so-called Custos is probably just leading you on until you let your guard down, then to sell you into slavery or worse. When he does, I assure you I shall not lift a finger to help you; you will need to extricate yourself from your problems of your own creation.
Lord Godfrey is undoubtedly a charming man and if you have in some way set him against you, I am unsurprised. Undoubtedly he saw right through you to the uninteresting and uninspiring heart. You are a rather soulless creature, Ula, and I am sure that Amber fashions have done little for your complexion or figure. Men prefer a woman with a ripe, womanly figure, someone of size and substance. I will make sure to call upon Baron Solaris should I come to Amber, as I imagine he and I will get along famously.
I have some instructions for you which you are not to disobey under any circumstance. Your brother Murdock has done the unthinkable and run off to join the Navy. I hereby forbid you to write to him or communicate with him in any way; he is dead to me and will remain so unless he rethinks this abhorrent foolishness and repents and returns home.
I am strongly minded to have your aunt recall you, as it is hardly seemly that you should remain in Amber when our family has suffered so terrible a loss. However, it seems that you have made enough money of late that all she can think of is profit; I will argue with her further when I see her for luncheon tomorrow. If she still refuses to have you return, then I may take a time at court instead. A change of pace would be welcome after my heart has been so cruelly broken.
I remind you that you have been and always will be a worse failure in my eyes than your brother. Thank the Deeps I still have one child who is worth something. Morven has shown no signs of discontent and remains faithful to his poor mother despite the abandonment of my other two children. If you have not found a suitable consort or courtship by next month, I may send him if I cannot persuade your aunt to have me go to you to sort things out myself. I am warning you, Ula. Your incompetence is really the last straw.
Your mother,
Orabel
I received your letter and it is with no great surprise that I tell you that I told you so. Lord Ambassador Servalle Dafydd is a charlatan masquerading as a diplomat; I am surprised that you had the sense to listen to me and that you did not end up in his bed, and I am suspicious that you are lying to me. I must warn you that if you have told me an untruth, I will find it out and I assure you that I will make quite certain that you pay for it.
I cannot fathom why you would have an interest in the Pathi, but I suppose their money spends as well as any other. A culture which disdains right of birth, which has no real titles - if you must associate with their kind, you should at least check on their antecedents. You are entirely too credulous and trusting a child, and this so-called Custos is probably just leading you on until you let your guard down, then to sell you into slavery or worse. When he does, I assure you I shall not lift a finger to help you; you will need to extricate yourself from your problems of your own creation.
Lord Godfrey is undoubtedly a charming man and if you have in some way set him against you, I am unsurprised. Undoubtedly he saw right through you to the uninteresting and uninspiring heart. You are a rather soulless creature, Ula, and I am sure that Amber fashions have done little for your complexion or figure. Men prefer a woman with a ripe, womanly figure, someone of size and substance. I will make sure to call upon Baron Solaris should I come to Amber, as I imagine he and I will get along famously.
I have some instructions for you which you are not to disobey under any circumstance. Your brother Murdock has done the unthinkable and run off to join the Navy. I hereby forbid you to write to him or communicate with him in any way; he is dead to me and will remain so unless he rethinks this abhorrent foolishness and repents and returns home.
I am strongly minded to have your aunt recall you, as it is hardly seemly that you should remain in Amber when our family has suffered so terrible a loss. However, it seems that you have made enough money of late that all she can think of is profit; I will argue with her further when I see her for luncheon tomorrow. If she still refuses to have you return, then I may take a time at court instead. A change of pace would be welcome after my heart has been so cruelly broken.
I remind you that you have been and always will be a worse failure in my eyes than your brother. Thank the Deeps I still have one child who is worth something. Morven has shown no signs of discontent and remains faithful to his poor mother despite the abandonment of my other two children. If you have not found a suitable consort or courtship by next month, I may send him if I cannot persuade your aunt to have me go to you to sort things out myself. I am warning you, Ula. Your incompetence is really the last straw.
Your mother,
Orabel