In Which Hanna Is Squeezed Softly

October 19, 1186

"Hanna!" Her mother reached her arms from the couch with such a burst that Hanna stumbled back a step. "I wasn't expecting you today, baby."

"I had some free time." Better to get this over with quickly, or so she'd decided as she'd tossed and turned the night before in search of sleep.

Her mother was not conventional, and for the most part, she loved her for it. Whereas many of her friends hadn't dared told their parents that they'd started using herbs, for instance, her mother had been steadfast in her support. Hell--if Hanna had come to announce that she'd gotten knocked up, her mother's instincts would be to help, never to scold or rage or anything else most parents did.

But this... well, for all Leina had spoken of little else since she'd been old enough to play pretend, Hanna doubted her mother would take it so well. "I have news."

"Oh?" Her mother smiled, probably expecting some academic accolade. If only she'd had thought to call on Sister Lurra before leaving campus! She hated the thought of that smile fading away.

Hanna nodded to the couch. "Maybe we should sit."

"All right." One black brow arched, but her mother obliged nonetheless, allowing Hanna the seat beside her. "Something shocking?"

"Um... yes, it might be." Here it was. She doubted her mother had ever quite imagined this for her--it was no secret it hadn't panned out for her mother herself!--but it was her life, after all. And her mother deserved to know. "Sev asked me to marry him."

Silence--just her mother's catlike eyes, shocked, staring. She supposed she'd have to elaborate. "And I, uh... I said yes." That, at least, merited a blink. "I'm sorry if that's not what you were hoping for, plus I know your marriage wasn't great and you might have wanted something different for Leina and me, but I love him. He makes me happy, and I know he'll keep making me happy, and I'll be able to help with his family business and keep myself occupied. I know you must be disappointed, but--"

She stopped. Her mother's warm hand had taken to squeezing her own, soft and silky as the first time Hanna remembered.

"Now, why on earth," her mother soothed, white teeth visible as her lips crept upward, "do you think I'd be disappointed?"

NEXT CHAPTER:

In Which Sev Is Not To-the-Point

October 16, 1186

Sev was not technically allowed inside Hanna's room. In fact, Sev was not technically allowed inside Hanna's house. Male students, after all, were not allowed inside of female residences--and vice versa.

Technically.

In truth, males and females regularly called at each other's residences, sometimes in full view of secular staff--or even the more lenient of the clergy staff! Landus's sister, the assistant chancellor, had more or less confirmed that the rule was pretty much lip service for overbearing parents and overzealous church higher-ups. Lady Ellona herself had once been mistress to the current king, after all, and Lady Rahileine had once fallen pregnant by a married man; Sev doubted either of them felt right about forcing celibacy on others.

And now that the old duke's 'medical center' was up and running... well, if anyone on campus wanted to minimize their risks, or to take care of themselves in the event of said risks, they were free to do so. The center wouldn't have opened if anyone expected complete and prolonged abstinence. Hanna had been on herbs for a while now. But any carnal activity that happened today would be more or less incidental.

Or non-existent, if things didn't go well. But Sev didn't want to think about that just now. Just ask her. It's frightening, sure--but you'll never know if you don't ask.

"Hanna?"

"Yes?"

Huh. How to start. He'd thought he'd had it all planned out--but now that he was here, his mind was blank. "I... I'm going to be a senior come winter."

"I'm aware." She was a mathematics major. "I'll miss you when you graduate. It's a while off, but I will."

"Yes, well..." Sev swallowed. How to proceed? A gentle touch seemed a good bet; he took her by the shoulders and pulled her close. "Maybe you won't have to miss me long?"

"I do graduate six months later. And you'll visit, right?"

"Of course. But after you graduate... well, I'm going to help my father with the business, right?" It was the longest wait of his life, but she couldn't have wasted more than a second before nodding. "I know how to make good business decisions now, and how to negotiate, how to manage staff and resources."

"Mm-hmm..."

"But I'm not great with the numbers--the books. I mean, I'm all right, but not great. And of everyone else, my father's the best, but he doesn't care for it much. So, would you maybe be interested, if you don't have anything else lined up?"

"It wouldn't be the least agreeable thing I could do with my education." She slipped her own fingers between those of his free hand and squeezed. "Though, I'd probably have to move to Veldorashire."

"Yes, well... maybe you could?" This was it. Thank God. And God damn it. "My father's going to have a house made for me, and it might be a little big for just one person, so... maybe we could live there together?"

She sat up, brow cocked--but her hand remained in his. "Is this a proposal?"

Good thing one of them was to-the-point. "Maybe?"

NEXT CHAPTER:

In Which Orrick Is Hit by a Thunderstorm

September 17, 1185

Prior to this term, if anyone had ever told Orrick he'd one day have a personal beef with both the King of Dovia and the Baron of Rexus, he would have chalked it up to either delusion or a lazy, unfunny prank. But now that Tivalia was at the university, that delusional, lazy, unfunny person would have been dead right.

Not that Orrick had anything against Tivalia. Indeed, he thought she was a very nice girl, even if she was a little head-in-the-cloudsy for his personal taste. But she was betrothed to Koradril, and despite the match not being their idea, the two were quite infatuated with one another. In both of their fathers' eyes, this was a blessing--but one that came with a heightened need for a chaperone at any afternoon out and evening in. At first, Hanna and Sev had been happy to just make every date a double date, but one offhand mention of this in a letter and the almighty fathers disapproved. Another couple, after all, could easily sneak off on their own, leaving Koradril and Tivalia scandalously alone.

And more often than not, it seemed that of the populations of Aries and Taurus Houses, Orrick was the only available babysitter. Tonight was no exception. Senwick, often out about spreading some hi-jinx or another, had headed back to the shire proper in attempt to woo old Seoth's daughter. Landus had an important exam to study for and Arelle had to finish reading a book. Arlia had plans with some of her... special friends, while her newly-named betrothed, Lorrick, was already halfway to the bottom of the bottle trying not to wonder about those friends. Farilon and Palgrin had a project due in one of their shared electives, and as for Tiada... well, Orrick didn't really know, but when he and Sev and Koradril had arrived at Taurus House, she hadn't been here.

And she still wasn't. That meant he was stuck here. "Koradril, don't you have a paper due tomorrow?"

It was a weak attempt and he knew it. But why couldn't Koradril and Tivalia just adapt a 'What they don't know won't hurt them' mentality like so many others on campus? And worse, why couldn't he bend just enough from his inherent rule-keeping tendencies to suggest it? He feared that come October, things would get even worse when Farilon's betrothed started at the university. Her father was a friend of Orrick's Uncle Rifden, and apparently he was among the strictest of fathers when it came to courtship rules.

"He finished it. He brought it over earlier so Arelle could do a grammar check." Tivalia sidled up a little closer to Koradril--not that Orrick had thought that possible--and rested her head on his shoulder. "She's finished with it, by the way. You can get it from her before you go."

"Great."

Not so much. Hmm. Maybe Sev had something better to be doing. Sev and Hanna weren't the problem, but if Sev had to leave, then Orrick had no qualms about leaving Hanna to supervise the prince and his lady on her own. Pity that he was too much of an innate stickler to just point out that any concerned parents were a kingdom away.

"Oh, God, you roped in poor Orrick. Don't you sticklers realize that any concerned parents are a kingdom away?"

Smirking, Hanna turned her head and nodded to the newcomer. "Tiada, Sev and I haven't had a date in weeks, so if you're so concerned about Orrick's free time, no one's stopping you from relieving him."

"Ugh, no. I still say that what they don't know won't hurt them. Not my fault that the rest of you saps keep going along with this."

"Hey, I still maintain that a double date should be adequate supervision." Sev subverted his own point as he and Hanna nuzzled noses, suddenly unaware of anyone else's presence. Orrick didn't get it. He could get desire, sure... but to the point where it overpowered restraint and tact? Who did this in front of other people? A double date ought to have just been four people talking.

"Not when you two are the double date! The rest of us could be having an orgy here and you'd just be staring at Hanna with puppy eyes." Tiada had a weird talent for saying exactly what Orrick was thinking. Given how they barely knew each other, this was as baffling as Sev and Hanna's need for public displays of affection. "Come on, Orrick. Let's leave the lovebirds to their oh-so-chaste-and-wholesome nest."

On cue, Orrick twitched--and Koradril cringed. "But our parents--"

"Aren't here. As long as nobody has a baby in nine months, you're fine." Tiada's bony, freckly fingers took Orrick by the arm and yanked him upright. He wouldn't have guessed her strength just by looking at her. "Orrick. Library. You're going to help me with some stuff for my psychology elective."

"Psychology elective?" Granted, he didn't know Tiada all that well, but he never would have guessed her to have the slightest interest in psychology.

"That's your major isn't it?" She didn't slow her pace as she spoke. Orrick caught up and followed her toward the library, past the point of caring exactly how he escaped the love-fest. "I don't get it at all. Believe me, I need you more than they do."

One glance over his shoulder proved her right. "All right."

She got to the door and stepped inside, holding it open behind her. He hurried on through and let her shut the door after. "So, your books are in here, or--?"

"I can't believe you bought that." She grabbed him by the arm again and pulled him away from the door, not letting up until they were only a few inches apart. "No offense, but there's not enough money in the world to make me take a psychology course."

She'd said 'no offense', but as it turned out, she didn't leave him quite enough time to be offended.

It wasn't Orrick's first kiss, but based on the others, he wasn't quite sure that this was a kiss. Usually they started shyly, leaving a long moment's pause in case one party backed out, slowly drifting closer and closer together until finally, the lips touched, like soft rain. Tiada hit him like a freak thunderstorm. Her mouth was open and dynamic and his teeth bowed to the force of her tongue. His knees buckled. He didn't think his knees had ever buckled in his life, but they were buckling now.

What the...?

It was a thoughtless, blurry minute before she finally let go. "Interesting."

"Um... yes, you're telling me." Whatever it was, 'interesting' wasn't the worst word to describe it. Not that it answered any questions. "So... why...?"

"Just kind of wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Just, you know, without all the cuddling and crap."

Huh. "I would have guessed you'd done that before."

"Never. Felt like it was about damn time, though." She flipped some of her wild curls over her shoulder and beamed at him. He wanted nothing more than to freeze time and count the freckles on her face. He'd met this girl, sure... but he didn't think he'd quite seen her before. "Sorry if you were averse, though."

"Not averse. Just... surprised, I guess." To put it mildly.

"All right. Glad to hear that." Her dropped her arms to her side and rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet. The awkward, almost lazy movement was oddly mesmerizing. "So... how about another go?"

NEXT CHAPTER:

In Which Hanna Observes the Universal Woes

October 12, 1184

"So you're saying that if we eliminate the lace on the bodice and settle for a slightly more saturated color, we can shred another five percent off the production cost?"

Hanna nodded. She and two of her three housemates had all opted to take Professor Stephane's Textile Arts class as an elective--Hanna and Arelle because their mothers were a lady's maid and a seamstress respectively and it had seemed like an easy credit, and Arlia because her brother had insisted on her taking at least one 'wifely' course even if he had let her major as she pleased--but the course so far was not as any of them had expected. While Professor Stephane clearly knew the technical processes of making clothing, her course focused much more strongly on design than production, which made it both more interesting and more challenging than Hanna had guessed it would be.

This particular assignment was to design a gentlewoman's wedding dress within a modest budget--fun, yet practical, and not inappropriate given Hanna's Mathematics major. It was also a group assignment, which had made for a convenient unit with her housemates' presence in the class.

That wasn't to say the project would go off without a hitch. No, Arelle and Arlia would make sure of that.

"We might save some of the lace if we lowered the neckline. I mean, they're going to be seen later that night anyway." Arlia often reminded Hanna of her mother. As a result, she was simultaneously fond of the Carvalli lady and more inclined to take her in small doses.

Arelle sometimes reminded her of everyone else's mother. "By everyone at the wedding?"

"Why not? If you think about it, that's how it must have been done historically: everyone watching and cheering while the bride rode the groom like a stallion."

"Not exactly like she would a stallion, I should hope," Hanna muttered, prompting a snicker from Arlia.

Unamused, Arelle frowned. "I still think the lace would be the more practical deduction."

"Of course you do." Arlia rolled her eyes. "You're a virgin."

"So are you."

"Technically," Arlia added with a wink.

Hanna glanced down at the plan again, the current draft that was too modest for Arlia and too frivolous for Arelle. The three of them had gotten a little tipsy their first weekend in the dorm, the term before Tiada had joined them, and the result had been a lengthy conversation about all things sex. Arelle had been seeing Dalston Denvus--Hanna's half-brother's half brother, such an odd thought--for several years now, and would probably marry him once she graduated, and the two had yet to succumb to temptation. Knowing the both of them, they likely wouldn't until their wedding night.

Arlia, on the other hand, was a noblewoman who was expected to remain a 'technical' virgin--which, according to her, carried only the restriction of 'no penis in the vagina'. A penis anywhere else was fair game, as were fingers and tongues and Lord only knew what else in the vaginal area. And so were--so Hanna had learned from her failure to knock when entering apparently private rooms such as the library and the sitting room--both men and women, one at a time or both at a time, sometimes three or four at a time. As much of a kindness it might have been to both of them, Hanna dreaded the day she'd have to introduce Arlia to her mother.

But while the two housemates varied drastically in their approaches, at least they'd both figured out what they wanted and had their ways of getting it. Hanna had met Sev on her first day of class. She liked him. He liked her. He was too respectful to say it, but she suspected he wanted to sleep with her. Some part of her wanted to sleep with him too, but some other part had some hang-up or another. For both of their sakes, she hoped she didn't take too much longer to figure out which part won for now.

And for now, maybe it was best to focus on homework while there was homework to be done. "We could compromise. A somewhat lower neckline, with somewhat less lace. There's a balance to be found."

"So we could keep some of the lace."

"And there would be no risk of any breasts popping out."

Sometimes, it wasn't easy being the moderate. "I don't think breasts popping out were ever a concern, but yes, that's what I'm saying."

Across the room, the door from the hall clicked open. Odd. Tiada's class must have gotten out early.

Or not.

Arelle was the first to look up, greeting the newcomer with a smile. "Your highness. To what do we owe the honor?"

"Arelle." Koradril nodded, though--unusually for him--he didn't return the grin. "Arlia. Hanna, can I have a word?"

Huh. Given that Koradril lived with Sev, Hanna supposed that the prince knew her best of all the women in Taurus House. Still, she wouldn't have expected him to seek her out. "All right..."

He edged back toward the bookcase by the window, and she stood up to follow. The acoustics of the library were poor by design; if they kept quiet, neither Arelle or Arlia would hear, even if either had any inclination toward eavesdropping. "Need something?"

"Just to talk." But his drooping mouth and lifeless eyes didn't imply chitchat. "I'm sorry. I got a letter from home, and normally I'd talk to Sev or one of my other housemates, but they're all either in class or out and about, and... well, aside from them, you're the person I know best here."

Out of the entire campus? She wouldn't have guessed that. Then again, she supposed many found the prospect of a prince intimidating, even if Koradril no less down-to-earth than any other man. "Oh."

"And I'm sorry if I'm interrupting anything. I just..." He looked down to his boots. Logically, princes must have done that as often as anyone else, but she hadn't thought she'd ever see one do so. He may not have ever wanted for the material, but there were some universal woes to which even royalty was not immune. "I really need to talk to someone right now."

She doubted there was a person alive who hadn't felt that at one time or another. "It's all right. I'm here to listen."

"All right." His mouth twitched in lieu of a smile. Seconds later, she'd know for sure it was all he could manage. "My mother is dead."

NEXT CHAPTER:

In Which Camaline Calls at the New House

March 30, 1175

"Auntie Camaline!" Camaline barely had a chance to ready herself before Leina sprang into her arms, her older sister trailing with a graceful exasperation. Smiling, she gave the little girl a quick squeeze; Camaline wasn't fond of children as a rule, but she had a certain soft spot for Aydelle's girls. "Auntie Camaline! Guess what! I can count to a hundred!"

"All the way to a hundred?" she gasped, as if the very concept was mind-blowing. Hanna rolled her eyes; at seven, she was old enough to realize when adults were being indulgent, but at least she was sensitive enough not to dampen her sister's spirits.

Leina beamed. "Can I have candy?"

"Leina!" Hanna scolded as Camaline pulled a package of sticky toffee from her cloak pocket and dropped it into Leina's outstretched hands. "You shouldn't just expect candy."

"But Auntie Camaline always brings candy!"

Camaline forced herself to laugh. Such reactions were more emotional than she was ever inclined to be, but children were not attuned to subtlety and it seemed a shame to alienate the only two she cared for. "That I do--and don't think I forgot you, Hanna," she added as she produced a second parcel.

Her resolve to be more grown-up forgotten, Hanna took the candy and grinned. "Thank you, Auntie Camaline."

Leina, who'd already proceeded to her new stash, flashed a gooey smile. "Fank 'oo."

"Enjoy." Camaline tapped Leina on the nose, then clasped her hands together. "Is your mama home, by any chance?"

"She's upstairs." Hanna tugged at Camaline's sleeve. "Can I take you cloak and hat?"

Nodding, she removed her crispinette and diadem, then proceeded to the ties of the cloak. "Thank you, honey." She handed the discarded garments to Hanna, who stashed them in wardrobe with a child's sloppy care; Camaline sent a last smile the girls' way, then proceeded up the stairs to the bedroom. "Aydelle?"

"Cammie!" There was a delighted, welcoming note to Aydelle's formerly tired voice; settling into a new place was difficult, but it was a relief when that phase was over and it was nice to see that Aydelle had reached that point. "Get in here!"

Too ready to oblige, Camaline bolted up the remaining steps and turned around the bannister--only to wish she hadn't. "...Oh."

There was a girl on the other side of Aydelle's bed. She was a gangly redhead with a plain face but Aydelle wasn't known for being picky. They were both clothed and they weren't touching but those facts seemed little more than details. Camaline knew she wasn't Aydelle's only lover--far from--but most of the others were men and after Aydelle's disastrous wreck of a marriage, Camaline got the sense that all she wanted from anyone with a penis was the simple use of said organ. Another woman was more troubling. Another woman might have been a threat.

"Oh, I've forgotten my manners." Aydelle tossed a lock of silky hair out of her face and laughed. "Aspen, this is Princess Camaline, future Baroness of Tetran. Cammie, this is Aspen. She's lady's maid to the duke's little sister. Anyway, Lady Rona is relocating to her brother's castle and Aspen is staying here while a room is being prepared for her. She's a great help with the girls."

"Your highness."

Camaline studied the girl as she pulled herself to her feet and gave a clumsy curtsy. She was far too stiff and awkward to be a proper maid as far as Camaline was concerned; she scarcely looked comfortable in her own body, much less in the presence of her superiors. What could someone like Aydelle possibly see in such a kid?

"Charmed." She found she could only sniff, but Aspen looked neither offended nor disappointed. Perhaps she was just too stupid to react.

"Mind running downstairs and occupying the girls for a while, honey?" Aydelle nodded toward the stairs, then sent a wink Camaline's way. Compliant, Aspen shuffled in the direction of the steps and vanished into the depths of the ground floor.

"Don't worry--it's not what you're thinking." Aydelle shot up from the bed and twirled around the footboard, catching herself on Camaline's shoulders and planting a kiss to her lips. "We were just having a little heart-to-heart; poor girl's run into a bit of a snag in her love life, I'm afraid." A snag in her love life. Well, insecure little oddballs like Aspen needed to get used to that--not that Camaline cared much. Just as long as the problem had nothing to do with Aydelle, she didn't give a damn either way. "Anyway, what brings you here today? Is your husband out and about?"

Camaline rolled her eyes. "He went to Veldora to see Searle's new baby."

"Oh." Aydelle's queasy face summed it up more accurately than anything Camaline could have said. "Awkward."

"You're telling me. Sparron drunk himself into a stupor when we first got the news--but then again, it's not like the idiot didn't know to expect it."

Sighing, Aydelle turned around and headed back to her place on the bed, her skirts swishing against the floor and a sway in her hips. "It's not always that simple, love. But speaking of babies..."

"No." Not wanting to dwell on it, she joined Aydelle on the bed. Yes, people were talking. Yes, her father-in-law kept sending her expectant looks and she was getting tired of just standing there and shaking her head. Yes, Sparron was probably getting anxious for a baby if only to assure himself of some illusion of normalcy. But it was a lost cause--and really, if it hadn't been for Sparron and the in-laws, she wouldn't have cared. She'd never wanted babies anyway. "Mark my words, Sparron will knock up Searle before he does the same to me."

Expression unfathomable, Aydelle's gaze swept over her, a soft hand resting against the curve of her side as the eyes finished their scan. "Oh well. It would be a shame to ruin that perfect body anyway."

"Oh, I don't know." Camaline scooted a little closer to the middle of the bed and smirked. "You've had two of them and your body's as perfect as ever."

"You liar--regardless, I appreciate the thought." Aydelle slid her belt through its rivet and dropped it onto the floor, then drew nearer, taking Camaline by the hand and fiddling with the golden pretense around her finger. "Sparron has brothers anyway."

Not that it was the heir part that concerned him, but Camaline nodded. Aydelle probably had some sense of it anyway. "He does."

"And he still treats you well? He doesn't do anything disagreeable?"

In spite of herself, Camaline had to smile. "He's my best friend."

Aydelle wove her finger through a lock of Camaline's hair and folded it under. "Then that's all that matters."

NEXT CHAPTER: