In Which Hollie Is Closer

February 2, 1204

"The bedroom is to your liking, I hope? I know you tend not to care much about decor or anything, but if only for the sake of comfort--"

"Shh." Hollie tapped her finger to Ricky's lips. It was sweet of him to consider such things, but as sweetness and consideration were typical of him, she doubted he could have made a bedroom unfit for her if he tried. "I'm quite happy with it. Cozy, but not cluttered--and simple, but not dull."

"Ah, good." His arm on her shoulder relaxed as she drew back her hand, though he choked out a nervous chuckle all the same. "Maybe it's good luck, a bedroom that fits the same description as one's husband?"

"You're not simple, and I'll box the ears of anyone who calls you such."

"I'm flattered that you're so eager to defend my honor." Ricky slipped his free hand beneath Hollie's knees and nudged her up to his lap. Comfortable though he'd made sure the bench was, she preferred this alternative seating.

"All those years of my nagging parents were worth it, you know. I'm sure I could have found someone who didn't make me miserable, but no one makes me happy like you do, Hollihock."

"And you likewise," she agreed, leaning inward until they were brow to brow. His eyes may well have been the only blue in the room, but there came and went a distinct second in which her whole world was that color. "Here's to all those years and then some of us figuring out how to make each other even happier."

"Each other, and ourselves from time to time. I know you're still figuring things out. If there's anything I can do to help you find yourself, know that there's nothing you can't ask of me."

"I know--but I'm a lot closer already." Closer in time, closer in space, closer in every sense including the gaps between thoughts and the strings that tied hearts together. "It helps when you have someone who will love you no matter who you are."

NEXT CHAPTER:

In Which Hollie Is Understood

December 25, 1199

"Hello, Hollyhock," Hollie's cousin greeted her. She hadn't expected or even wanted company--but if someone had to join her in Lord Severin's study, then Ricky was among the least objectionable possibilities. "You never were one for dancing, were you?"

"No, not really." Or much of the rest of it. Hollie pushed herself upright; if Ricky was anything like her in that regard, he'd want to sit down. "I hate weddings."

"I do too--and not just because my parents keep pestering me about when mine will be. They're pretty excessive, really. If you love someone, I don't know why throwing a big party would make that much of a difference."

Hollie sniffed. If love was what made the party unnecessary, then no wonder Gennie and Wolf had insisted on such a massive event. "Not everyone marries for love."

"I guess not. But anyway--I wanted to talk to you about something."

And what better time was there to do so than when they were both avoiding the rest of the guests? "All right."

"You start at the university next term, right?"

She did. He knew she did. "Why ask what you already know?"

"I want to know what your plans are for after."

"For a career?" Hollie frowned. "I don't think that's for me, really. I think I'd rather keep studying on my own time and maybe see where that leads--like what Rennie's doing." Careers, or at least any that sounded half-interesting, had more social requirements than she was willing to fulfill.

"Fair enough; some disciplines can be a bit restrictive in their commercial purposes. But do you mind if I ask about any..." Ricky grimaced. "...personal plans?"

"What, like marriage?" Hollie snorted. That might have been a cruel joke, had she been in the habit of denying her own flaws. "As if anyone would want to marry me."

"Actually, uh... I kind of want to marry you."

...huh. She'd never quite realized just how low her jaw could fall. "What?"

"If you're interested, that is. And this wouldn't be until after you've graduated, so you've got a few years to think about it, if you need them."

Her interest. As if that was the problem. "You don't seriously expect me to believe that you don't have anyone better in mind."

"Hollyhock, you're a hell of a lot better than you give yourself credit for. I haven't considered anyone else; we get along, we know each other well, and you have the right combination of brains and political background to make an excellent duchess." Ricky cemented the compliment with a smile--and a blush on his cheeks as his eyes swept over her. "And I hope you don't mind me saying it, but you've really grown into a beautiful woman."

"Um... no, I don't mind." She'd never really seen much reason to agree, but that didn't she minded. "Thank you, I guess. If I told you 'yes', but then I changed my mind--would you understand? I'd understand for you."

"Of course I'd understand." He laced his arm beneath her own and hoisted her onto his lap. "But I'll tell right now that I won't be changing my mind."

She couldn't help it.

She rarely smiled quite so freely. "Then I believe things are looking well on my end too."

NEXT CHAPTER:

In Which Ricky Allows for a Healthy Dose of Skepticism

January 7, 1199

"So Aunt Mona's maid has been Queen of Carvallon this whole time?" Whether or not it was the appropriate response for a future duke and the nephew of the woman who was apparently not the queen, Ricky couldn't fight the laugh and made no effort to do so. "All right, the world can be as shocked as it wants to be, but I can't pretend that's not at least a little bit funny."

His father obliged him with a slight smile. He wasn't as unorthodox as Lord Severin was, nor was he as loyal to Dea as Kaldar was, or as opposed to his late father-in-law as the baron was. If any of the Lords of Naroni were to have a problem with the whole scheme, it would have certainly been him--and perhaps he might have had a problem with it, had it reached his ears when it had been a newly-hatched conspiracy. But now, it seemed he'd deemed it pointless to fight against. "After all this time, yes, I suppose it can be now."

"Though, Grandfather Roderick must be tossing in his grave."

"Perhaps, but a man can change his perspective over much more trivial things than death. Stubborn as your grandfather was, I should hope the afterlife would provide at least some opportunity for reflection on such things. He may have already known, and come to peace with it long ago." Despite the grin, his father's tone was skeptical of his own words--but his brows twitched briefly upright, as if to say he knew he was no less prone to error than anyone else. "It seems that your Grandmother Laralita did learn of it before she went, and she took the news more calmly than anyone could have expected of her."

"Huh." Ricky pursed his lips as he nodded. After his grandfather's death, his step-grandmother's letters had progressed in a pattern of growth he hadn't quite expected of someone so famously materialistic and self-involved. "Sad as it is to say... I think widowhood actually did Grandmother Laralita a world of good, at least once she got past the worst of her grief."

"I believe it did. My father told me once that women are usually better off without a man holding them back--but a man had better have a woman if he hopes to make anything of himself. Going purely by myself and your mother, I'd say that's quite true." His father smirked. "And speaking of such things, I still intend to let you choose your own bride, but I won't pretend that I didn't think you'd have picked one years ago now. Twenty-six is well past the age an heir ought to be married."

"Don't you start on that! It seems I have this conversation with Mother every month." His mother was planning on having Aunt Mona and her family for a banquet the night after next, and Ricky had no doubt that half her motive in hosting them was to set him up with his oldest cousin. "But if it makes you feel any better, I do believe I've chosen someone. It's just a matter of figuring out how best to approach her with it."

"Hmm. I suppose that's a relief." But his father arched one brow, opting to take the declaration with a grain of salt. At this stage, maybe a healthy dose of skepticism wasn't unfounded--but Ricky didn't much want to think about that right now. "But don't waste any time in figuring it out, all right? Lord knows I want to live to see my firstborn's firstborn."

"I'll take all the time I feel we both need. I do want her to have some say in it, you know--not just 'marry me, or I'll have your family make you'." Not that he thought her family would. "Besides, you've seen your secondborn's firstborn, at least."

"I have, and I love her. But forgive your mother and me for wanting a grandchild who lives in the same country."

NEXT CHAPTER:

In Which Ricky Is Much of a Romantic

March 10, 1194

"So! What brings you to campus?" Ricky's cousin spun onto the other couch with a flash of a smile. He'd indeed called at Scorpio House for his sister--just to check up on her--and Lyssa knew it, but he saw Celina often enough that a trip out to the university would require some other purpose.

Lyssa would get a kick out of this one. A lucky thing CeeCee and Renata weren't around. "Eh... my father thought I ought to go scout out some perspective brides, so I'm humoring him."

She giggled--as he could have guessed. "Ah, Ricky! Ever the consummate bachelor, aren't you?"

"Hey, Adonis Wythleit graduated over two years before I did, and he's still not married."

"Yes, but Adonis Wythleit isn't going to be a duke one day." Lyssa winked. "That, and he has the luxury of being rather handsome. But really, I'm surprised Uncle Lorn hasn't arranged anything for you on his own."

"He says that if I'm to be duke one day, then I ought to choose my own duchess." He still thought that rather unfair to his siblings, most of whom were tidily paired up. At least he could take comfort in the fact that he'd yet to hear any of them complain about their future spouses. "It's not anyone's fault that I haven't found her yet."

"Have there at least been any close contenders?"

Ricky shook his head. "No. Well, I mean, I know many women who would certainly make fine duchesses, but I guess I'm a romantic at heart."

"So you're looking for The One." Lyssa raised a wrist to her forehead and swooned--half mocking, half sincere. "I have to say, cousin: I wouldn't have thought you much of a romantic."

"Well... at this point, maybe." He shrugged. He liked to think that when he met the right woman, he'd know it. But, he'd been wrong before. "I suppose that past a certain age, an heir can't afford to be much of a romantic."

NEXT CHAPTER:

In Which Hollie Is Still Young

June 5, 1192

"How's it going, Hollyhock?" Hollie's favorite cousin shot her a smile and sat down beside her. She hadn't seen too much of Ricky, since he'd been so busy at university. It was good to see an old familiar face, now that she'd taken a hiatus from school and mainly spent her days roaming about her grandfather's castle. Still, she'd wished he would have called sooner.

"Hollyhock? No one's called me that before." Granted, it hadn't been all that long since anyone had started calling her Hollie.

"Just trying it out. I can stop if you don't like it."

Hollie shrugged. "I don't mind it."

"All right. Well, I just thought I'd stop by on you and see how you were holding up, now that we know Dea's going to inherit."

Why did everyone think she'd been so hurt by that? "I'm fine. I don't want to rule, and Dea does, so it works out for everyone. I just wish I could go back and not have to listen in on any of my father's boring meetings."

"I don't know; they still might serve you well some day. Dea might give you or Gennie a shire if we acquire more land."

"Gennie wants to marry Dalston, so she'd have Veldora. And I don't want a shire. Dea can give it to Ella if she wants."

"Well, maybe you'll marry a lord who's stupid, and you'll need to help him out."

"I don't want to marry anyone stupid."

Ricky laughed. "All men are stupid, Hollyhock--especially those who don't think they are."

"You're not stupid."

"Ack! Sorry to have misled you there." He smirked. "Hollie, one day when you're older, you'll see me when I'm drunk, and you'll know just how stupid I am."

"Everyone's stupid when they're drunk." And yet--that was why they seemed to like getting drunk. Hollie didn't get it. "But I guess that's a long way off anyway. I don't know if I want to get married. Maybe I'll just stay with Dea."

"I'm sure you'd be a great help to her if you did."

"I don't know if she'll need help, though."

"Well, maybe not--but you're still young." She guessed so. It was only recently that she'd come to take that as a good thing. "You've got plenty of time to figure out what you want."

NEXT CHAPTER:

In Which Ricky Suggests an Apology

July 26, 1186

"Is it true?" Ricky didn't wait for his father to ask what he wanted. While he'd always known that his sisters marrying and moving away would be more likely than not, this hadn't been how he'd thought it would happen--his father making deals behind their backs, not letting anyone into the loop except for maybe their mother. Aunt Rona had warned him that his father didn't have the best approach to marriages, for all she liked Uncle Ashe now, but Ricky had assumed his father would have had it figured out by the time his own children were ready for betrothals. At least Karlspan hadn't won Celina in a tournament. "Celina's going to marry Karlspan?"

His father frowned. "Who told you that?"

"Karlspan, just before he and Celina headed to Veldora. She asked if he was sure he wanted to go, and he said they should get to know each other anyway. But he thought we already knew, or at least that she did." And while Karlspan made a lot of assumptions for Ricky's taste, that one hadn't been unreasonable. "Why didn't she know?"

"I thought she might be happier if she had a little more time to just enjoy her youth. I was going to tell her when she's sixteen--same with the others."

"The others?" Neva? Camaline? Celina, he could get--he'd overheard his mother telling his father that Celina had started a bodily function he preferred not to think about--but Neva was still a child. And Camaline was just a baby! "You've arranged marriages for the others?"

"Uh... well, they're all tentative, but yes." His father folded his hands and slid his wedding band about between his knuckles. "Neva will marry your cousin Prior. Dalston will marry one of Tarien Andronei's daughters, and Arkon will marry my cousin Abrich's youngest. As for Camaline, I'm in talks with Prince Sparron of Dovia for one of his sons."

His brothers too? "What about me?"

"You?" He'd thought it a valid question. But all his father could do was shake his head. "I haven't arranged anything for you."

"Why not?" Five for six didn't speak to any qualms about arranged marriages. "I'm your heir. Technically, I'm the only one who has to get married."

"Yes, well... you know, I was betrothed to your mother before I even knew what a betrothal was. And damn it, my father could have never found a better woman for me if he'd had a thousand years to look. I wouldn't be half the duke I am without your mother as my duchess."

He nudged the wedding ring firmly to the base of his finger. "I can't count on having that same good luck my father had if I were to find you a wife. As a duke, I do have to think of my people first--and I believe that it would be in everyone's best interest if you were to choose your own bride. No one will know better what you need in a wife than you, after all."

"Oh."

"So, now you know my plans. And do know that if any of the people I've found for your siblings turn out to be objectionable in some way, I won't force them to go through with the marriage." That... was reassuring. Ish. "Celina doesn't have a problem with Karlspan, does she?"

"I don't think so." But Ricky made a mental note to avoid finding spouses for his future children without their involvement. Celina may not have had a problem with Karlspan, but after this afternoon, she likely had a problem with someone. "You might want to apologize for not telling her, though."

NEXT CHAPTER:

In Which Karlspan Is Startled in Turn

July 26, 1186

"So I'm thinking I'll study Philosophy. It should be sort of interesting without being too time-consuming." Unless maybe there were a lot of papers involved. But if he specialized in logic, assignments would probably run more along the lines of short answer problems--at least, Karlspan dared hope. "What about you?"

"I don't know. I haven't really thought about it yet." That... sounded like Ricky. And Ricky's father, according to Karlspan's father. "I still have three years before I even go, and I don't think you have to choose your major right away."

"But it seems that most people have."

"Maybe. But everything sounds sort of interesting to me, and sort of boring too. I might have to feel all the faculties out."

Yes--his father had been right. The Mokonris were rather wishy-washy. The Mokonri men, at least; both of Ricky's full paternal aunts seemed to know what they wanted. Maybe there was hope for Celina after all. "Has your sister thought about it at all?"

"I don't know. Probably not; she's not starting until I'm a junior and you're a senior." Ricky lifted one hand from the ground and picked at his fingernails. Apparently he'd never heard of a file. "Why do you care what she wants to study?"

"Why shouldn't I care?"

"I don't know, but it's not like you to care." This coming from a kid who picked at his nails. "For all I know, she might not even want to go."

Really? "Why shouldn't she go?"

"It's not a question of 'shouldn't'. She might just not want to."

"Do you think she doesn't want to?"

"I don't know. But she wants a big family, and she might want to get an early start."

Ah, yes, the 'big family' excuse. When Count Felron had cited that during an angry rant about the university admitting women, all Karlspan's father had had to do was point out that it was only matter of time before there were more noblemen than reasonably-sized estates. Besides... "Your grandmother has ten kids and didn't get started until her twenties--older than she would have been had she just gotten out of this university. If Celina wants a big family, she can still have one if she goes to university first." Though, God--he hoped she didn't want ten kids!

"Hey, I didn't say I didn't want her to go. Just that--"

"Yes, yes." Karlspan rolled his eyes. "She might not want to. I heard you the first time."

"Then why do you--?"

"Ricky!"

Speak of the... well, it couldn't have been the best idea to think of her as 'the devil', even in his own head for the sake of an old expression.

"Ricky, I'm going to Veldora to see CeeCee and Renata--and to see if Lyssa's feeling better. Mama says you have to come with me."

"Aww, really?" Ricky groaned. There really was a world of difference between fourteen and fifteen, Karlspan supposed. Sure, girls Ricky's sister's age were a little younger, and Renata would probably always be plain, but CeeCee... no, there would be no such worries on that front, with her bouncing brown curls and her clever smile and her much-more-womanly-than-twelve body.

Not that Karlspan had any right to notice that now. But there was another opportunity to be had here. "I can go with you, Celina. I know the way."

"Oh." She stopped just short of him as he shot to his feet, eyebrows peaking as her brother sighed with relief. She wasn't any stunning beauty, but she was nothing horrible to look at either. Besides, she was only twelve; she couldn't have reached her aesthetic peak yet. And there were more important things than looks anyway. "That should be all right. I'll have to ask just in case, but Mama did call you trustworthy yesterday."

His father would be pleased to hear that. He'd told Karlspan to worry more about impressing the duchess than the duke before they'd left for Naroni; a mother's opinion, after all, meant more than a father's in such matters. "I'm flattered."

"Are you sure it wouldn't be an inconvenience, though? I mean, you are a guest, and Mama did ask Ricky."

"It's no inconvenience." For the sake of getting off on the right foot, he wouldn't mention that technically, Ricky had neither been asked nor been informed by their mother. "It will give us a chance to get to know each other. I don't know about you, but I'd like to have some idea of who you are before we get married."

Ricky choked. Celina was subtler, but the bulging eyes and the backward lean were an unmistakeable tell of a person in startlement. "Before... what?"

"Your father never told you?" Shit. Did most fathers not tell girls? It seemed a basic courtesy to tell them. Lia, at least, had been told about Cambrin Jamoran...

"He... didn't mention it." Damn. It would probably take the entire trip to cheer her up, if he could even do that. It might be a job better left to her friends. "Did they just decide this?"

Oh, double damn. He couldn't lie to her after that. "No, they made the agreement a few years ago now."

"A few years ago?" Why oh why hadn't his father warned him that she didn't know? More to the point, why had her father not told her? "Ricky, did Papa say anything to you?"

Karlspan followed Celina's gaze over to her brother. He doubted there was any more certainty there than there had been in regards to the university. From the looks of it, he wasn't wrong.

"No..."

NEXT CHAPTER:

In Which Lorn's Boots Are an Ill Fit

July 12, 1177

"So... wanna go play at the tournament grounds?"

It really said something when it fell to the five-year-old boy to break the awkward silence. Then again, five-year-old boys were... well, five-year-old boys. As far as Ricky was concerned, Auntie Rona had every right to refuse to come out of her room. In fact, it probably didn't make sense that Auntie Rona might view having to leave her room as a punishment, considering how many times Ricky's own room had been a place of exile. It meant nothing to him to just let it be and go about his business.

Similarly indifferent, Karlspan shrugged. Searle's son was a little older than Ricky was, maybe a little meaner too, but that didn't make him any less of a kid. "Fine."

The boys gave their parents a quick wave and hurried off. Maybe they had the right idea, not letting Rona's lack of cooperation get in the way of a good visit.

Sighing, Lorn let the doorhandle drop and took the seat next to Leara. Decorum stated that he should have offered it to Searle, but if Searle hadn't seated himself yet, then he probably didn't care. "It seems my sister will not be gracing us with her presence just now."

"It's all right," Ren dismissed, in spite of Leara's lingering frown. "We'll see her at supper."

At her side, Searle sniffed. "Assuming she deems hunger less tolerable than our company."

Was that a hint of offense? Surely it would be from anyone else. Then again, this was Searle. Then again, maybe it was preferable to err on the side of caution. "Sorry. She's usually quite polite. It's me she's angry with, not any of you." Well... maybe you, Searle. It was your idea, after all. Remind me why I went along with it? I told you she'd be upset!

Not that such a thought probably occurred to Searle. No... every thought occurred to Searle. "No matter. Many girls get upset over their betrothals. To hear King Oswald tell it, Ren here was none too pleased to hear that she was stuck spending her life with me."

"Searle!" The back of Ren's hand landed lightly on his arm. "You're three years younger than I am. That was a big deal at the time."

"Well, fortunately for Rona, this tournament has a strict lower age limit of sixteen." He pushed back a lock of hair. Lorn had tried that in front of the mirror a few times and found that the gesture only made him look feminine, but Searle somehow pulled it off. Maybe it was the complete lack of a soul made all the difference. "Speaking of which, how many competitors can we expect? Anyone notable?"

"Uh, well..." More than I was prepared to accommodate, at any rate! Not that he could push the words out of his mouth.

Thankfully, Leara was a bit more coherent. "We have about fifty competitors. Most of them are gentlemen looking to raise their status, but there are a few seasoned fighters with some connections here that have expressed interest. Casimiro de Cervantes has done quite well in some of the Galician tournaments, and Neilor del Marinos has a reputation in Catalonia."

"Del Marinos?" Searle raised an eyebrow. "Any relation to your brother's mistress?"

Lorn nearly choked. He was trying to be civil, and he realized that people's standards of what was and was not acceptable could vary, but bringing up the fact that Leara's brother had a mistress? And with the girls playing in the corner of the room, no less? "Searle--"

"No, it's... it's all right." Leara didn't sound quite 'all right', but Lorn shut up anyway. She was trying to compose herself, and--honorable intentions or not--his causing a scene would be counterproductive. Thank God for Leara. One of them had to know just what the hell they were doing. "But yes. He's Ellona's brother."

"Interesting." And yet, he looked like he was stifling a yawn. "Well, I imagine you can cross off most of the obscure names straight away. These tournaments do tend to go to the regulars." Searle stepped away from his wife's chair and set himself in front of Lorn while Leara exchanged a glance with Ren. "Of course, it's best to wait a few rounds before putting any serious money on the line. Are you a gambling man, Lorn?"

Lorn's toes curled inward, his boots oddly vacant, more like his father's boots whenever his sisters had bullied him into joining their dress-up games than any pair Lorn himself had ever owned. These were a man's boots and he'd never felt more like a boy. "No. Not particularly."

Searle laughed. "A pity. I was hoping you were. I imagine you'd be terrible."

NEXT CHAPTER: