Sharing news and more... - 3/21 - Jynessa, Skye (Open)

[Skye Drake Harrowmont]

Skye had promised Warren that she would share her good news with Jenna, so it was early in the morning that she sought out her step-daughter, a beaming smile on her face. Perhaps it was true that women in her state glowed, but if you had asked her before, during her pregnancy with Ariane, she likely would have said something rude. She hadn't felt as though she'd glowed then. Quite the opposite.

Skye went outside first, where Jenna had been reading, hoping that she was still taking her constitutionals outside. They were good for her, good for any woman in their respective condition, and she clasped her hands together as she stepped out into the garden, spotting Jynessa.

"Sweetling, I've good news." she called, reaching out for her hands.

[Jynessa Harrowmont]

Jynessa looked up from her book and reached out for her stepmother's hands. She looked Skye over, her heart clenching for a moment as she expected yet more dark tidings as that seemed like almost all that anyone ever spoke of lately, but Skye's smile was bright as a summer sun and her eyes all but shone with happiness. What in the world...? Good news? What did that even sound like these days?

"There are still glad tidings in the world?" Jynessa laughed and squeezed Skye's hands. "What is it, my lady? A caravan of silk merchants?"

[Skye Drake Harrowmont]

"Unfortunately no, but good fortune anyway. You're not alone." Her eyes shone with amusement and a bit of deviousness. She debated teasing Jenna, but the poor girl likely couldn't take it. Good news was so far and few between now and with Jenna feeling lonely, perhaps her news would help. "You shall be having a little brother or sister. I'm due around the same time that you are."

[Jynessa Harrowmont]

Jynessa frowned briefly then Skye continued and the frown turned into a look of wide-eyed disbelief. She realized her jaw had dropped and quickly closed her mouth. "Skye!" She hugged her stepmother.

"Alathia's mercy, are you sure? You aren't jesting are you?" She laughed, a grin taking over her face. If it was a boy then Alexandre wouldn't have to keep the Harrowmont name, and he'd be free to finish his studies. Her father would be so-- Jynessa's grin faltered as that thought caught her unaware. Would father even be there? But she didn't let it take hold of her, instead she hugged Skye again.

"How are you feeling? About the same time... are you sure? And all this time I've been complaining about how awful I feel, you must be having it just as bad. I'm sorry... How come you didn't tell me?"

[Skye Drake Harrowmont]

"Very sure. I visited the midwife yesterday and she confirmed it for me." Pulling back slightly, she kept her hands in the other girl's and she shrugged.

"I'm fine, that's just it. I haven't felt nearly so badly as I did with Ariane." That had made her wonder, truly wonder, if she was having a boy. This pregnancy was different, for sure. "And everything's been so stressed and hectic I expected to feel somewhat badly." Skye embraced Jenna and laughed. "I would have told you, had I but realized.

[Jynessa Harrowmont]

Jynessa squeezed Skye's hands, and if she'd felt better she might have been bouncing. "Oh, Alathia's mercy! It's wonderful! I... Have you told Ari? She's going to be over the moon." She hugged her stepmother tight as she dared. "And... if it's a boy..." The sheer number of things that might change almost made her dizzy. "Jerryk's toys. One of us is sure to have a boy anyway... I should find them. Ariane's already got all mine but we never opened Jerryk's. Oh.. but I shouldn't think about it should I? The gods might dislike it. There are so many superstitions about pregnancy, have you noticed?" Jynessa laughed. "But I'm going to thank the gods anyway. I'm glad we're together."

She was surprised her father would have a child now. He was so sick but... well. Things happened. She'd figured that out already. And Skye had wanted another baby, so maybe the gods were granting at least one wish in the household.

[Skye Drake Harrowmont]

She'd been worried about how Ariane might feel, having a younger sibling. She'd been the baby of the house for the past three years, after all. "You think she'll be happy?"

When Jenna mentioned the toys, Skye shook her head. "Wait, darling. Let's not get ahead of ourselves." She did laugh softly, though, as Jenna hugged her. She couldn't help it, the way the smile spread over her lips.

"As am I, dearheart. Your Father was pleased, too, that you wouldn't be alone." She kissed the girl's temple and squeezed her with care. "How are you feeling, by the by?"

[Jynessa Harrowmont]

"I think she will. Though you might have to tell her that a baby isn't a doll." Jynessa was a little worried herself about that concept. The only baby she'd much played with was Ariane and she really had no idea what to do with one. She just hoped the wet nurse and the governess would be better at it. It being... baby-keeping in general.

"I'm better. My wrists are hurting a little less. I almost wish they hadn't cauterized it." But she knew they'd had to act quickly to stop the bleeding and it was faster than trying to sew a wound shut. "The scars are going to be so ugly."

[Skye Drake Harrowmont]

To that, Skye winced a little before nodding. "Yes. I doubt that I'll let her hold the babe, unless I'm right there with her. I'll tell her that she'll have to be careful with him. Her."

Skye looked relieved, her face calming a little, the anxiety she hadn't even been aware she'd been showing fading at that. "I know, but there are some creams we can put on the wounds to make the scars lessen, to help heal them. If you still don't like them, perhaps we can find you some pretty bracelets?"

[Jynessa Harrowmont]

Jynessa laughed. "She'll have time enough to treat it like a doll later. Poor Jerryk, I used to get him into my dresses or I'd get into his clothes, and we'd have plays..." Her smile faltered. It was years and yet in her head, he was still her own age. He'd grown up and was taller than she was now, and his hair was a little darker blond, and his voice was a little like father's... but that wasn't true. He was still ten and he always would be. Six years and it still hurt. She wondered if she would ever stop missing him.

"Bracelets might be nice," she said, welcoming the change of subject. "I saw some of the island ladies at court- they always wear so many. I could just adopt the fashion here. I wonder if they'd think it too oudlandish?"

[Skye Drake Harrowmont]

"No doubt she'll want to dress her younger sibling up in all manners of things." Jerryk made her think of growing up with her own siblings. Her sister and she had never had the opportunity to do such to their brothers. No. The pall that hung in the air there lent to little playtime. Still, she and Gabriel had managed it, but how much joy could be had at the place where she'd grown?

The mention of 'island ladies' had Skye bristling. It was odd to feel that way about anything, but she couldn't help it. They were tacky, those women, wearing their paint and their bright colors. The jewels that dripped off of them and the way they held themselves. Shameless. She frowned then. "No, that would be too gaudy for you, I think. Your beauty doesn't need to be accented by such garish jewelry. I'm certain we can get a jeweler to make you something lovely and delicate. Understated. Something that accents your beauty instead of squawking it out like the colors of a peacock's feathers."

[Jynessa Harrowmont]

She blinked at Skye's sudden change of expression but didn't comment on it. "Very well, no squawking jewelry..." What had Skye so out of sorts on the matter of jewelry? Had father forgotten her nameday again? Or assigned her someone else's?

"Do you know, it's been too long since we both went to the jeweler. We should go. Get something pretty and new for Vykra, after all this madness lately." Jenna looked at her stepmother hopefully.