"Not exactly your usual self, are you?" Nanalie teased as little Karlspan tugged at the sleeve of her tunic. She got the laugh she'd wanted, but it was hardly Garrett's usual hearty chuckle--just a forced, almost pained choke of a snicker. A dull ache throbbed within her gut. Not that it wasn't nice to know that Garrett had a serious side, but this was... confusing, to say the least. "What happened?""You really want to know?" She nodded. He watched as she bounced his son in her arms a couple times, his mouth caught midway toward a grin but weighted down with some bitter anchor--sort of like the way her father used to smile for her stepmother when he was thinking of her mother. "Kiddo's birthday is coming up and instead of a nice toy or something, his grandmother got it in her head to get him a new mama."
Whimpering, Karlspan clung to Nanalie's shoulder. She tousled his fine gold hair before shooting a frown toward his father. "The queen set you up?""Well, I'm a grown man and she's not my mother, but she's trying." And if that sigh was anything to go by, she was going to keep at it. "I guess I get it--she wants her daughter's only child to have a mother--but I wish she wasn't trying to get an alliance out of it too. The woman she brought over yesterday? Niece to the Queen of France."
For a count's second son? A mere knight? "Maybe you should have gone for it. Is she pretty?"
Garrett shrugged. "Pretty enough. She didn't seem all that comfortable around little Karl, though. And while I'd like him to have a mother, I don't think it was be much of a service to him if I married just for the sake of that. A kid should get to see what love is, you know?"
Not something she would have expected to hear from a noble who'd been set up with a queen's niece, especially if he'd already married another queen's daughter. Then again, maybe he was low enough on the ladder that politics weren't everything, or at least not for a second marriage. Lonriad was a knight, after all, and a lord's third son; God knew he hadn't married her sister for the connections. "I see."Garrett's mouth twitched, but his eyes didn't seem to want to press the matter. Fair enough; if he'd gone out of his way to visit on a lonely day when she would have otherwise had the house to herself, she supposed the least she could do was change the subject. "So... you have a birthday coming up?" she asked the toddler, prompting a smile--a real one, she was pleased to see--from his father. The little boy nodded. "Fun! How old?"
He held up two fingers, which was a little surprising in spite of the math; most two-year-olds Nanalie had known were not nearly so reserved. Nearly a year of knowing him now and she'd only recently earned the trust required to hold him. Then again, maybe she ought to have been flattered. The only other person who ever got to hold him was his father. "Two! Practically a man!"He flashed her a quick view of his tiny, gap-ridden teeth. Behind him, Garrett twisted his wedding band. "I think he wants to invite you to his party."
"I wouldn't have guessed this little fellow liked parties.""He doesn't, but Grandmama insisted." Garrett shook his head, his lips settling into a sheepish grimace. God damn, he smiled a lot, and not just when he was happy. And yet... would he have looked like himself, not smiling? "He might enjoy himself a little more if you come, though. He really likes you--don't you, Karl?"
The child answered by tightening his hold on Nanalie's shoulder, a wad of cloth bunched up in his tiny fist. It had always bothered Nanalie when her little siblings tugged on her clothes, but in spite of old experience, she didn't mind so much with Karlspan. "I'll be there."
Big surprise--Garrett beamed. "Great."NEXT CHAPTER:
6 comments:
So much for coming home to relax... :S
Bad day? :/
This is another one of those top cute posts, there's chemistry here - Nanalie just doesn't see it let alone know what to do about it :P Hopefully Garrett will ease her into the idea of well ... Whatever THIS is.
Stressful day, for sure :S
There's definitely chemistry, although if Nanalie is aware of it then she's making an effort to ignore it. I'm not sure I can see Garrett giving up any time soon, though.
Baby Karlspan is just adorable. And I think Nanalie could be a great mommy to him someday. A much better mommy than the Queen of France's niece would be. ;)
However, I have to wonder ... considering that Elhina felt the least-regarded and least-loved of her mother's children (at least, the ones she had an opportunity to know), how would she feel if she knew that she wasn't even dead two years before her mother started searching for what is essentially her replacement? Also, I have to wonder, is there any chance for Searle-the-no-longer-dying to come to Naroni and mention that in Laralita's hearing? ;) He's the only one with enough of an axe to grind to do it.
Heh, I'd like to see that Searle scene. Only I don't know what good Searle's input would do. First Laralita would be hurt, then she would be aghast at his audacity, then she would selectively alter the incident in her memory to make herself appear more sympathetic and then she'd just go on being the same jerkface that she's always been and that she'll always be forever and ever, world without end.
Are we going to see this birthday party? Are things going to happen there?
Morgaine: He does seem quite attached to her ;)
Interesting point about Elhina there. She might see it from her mother's point of view--Karlspan needs a mommy--but she could very well take it as her being replaced, just like Laralita replaced the rest of her family.
Oy... Searle would have no qualms about saying that to Laralita, for sure. But who knows if it would stick :S
Pen: Alas, we will not be seeing this party. But I can't imagine Laralita will be too impressed with Garrett's date :S
Unfortunately, that does sound like Laralita's default pattern. That woman just can't hold on to responsibility on the off-chance she can accept it in the first place.
I don't know when we'll be seeing Searle again. Shame, though--I do love writing him.
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