an unexpected visit (Rena/Kenna, 4/29, afternoon)

[Rena Parr]

Rena Parr was… well, a great many things at that moment. Overwhelmed seemed to be the most prominent emotion that she was feeling as the month wore on and more members of the Montrose family arrived to stay in the manor house. When Rena had agreed to stay with the King’s Sensenchal until such a time as she could be married off in return for Rena’s ability to run a house, she didn’t quite think it would reach this kind of frenzy while she still lived there. She had underestimated the number of Montrose family members, and the number of people they could fit into the manor house. Her days were spent dodging servants and trying to hide the fact that she knew what a broom, a mop, and a dust rag were for and that she actually used them. And that didn’t include the disputes she mediated, and just the people, hallways and corners that she would wander down when she wanted to be alone were now full of people. For a girl who was used to spending much of her days alone, and in whom crowds inspired anxiety, it was unnerving.

Instead of solitude, Rena had sought activity, running from one chore to the next without much of a backwards glance or a moment of rest. Other than her pre-dawn horseback riding, the few times she was actually persuaded to sit, and the hour she spent with the children in and around the house, Rena worked and made herself useful from before breakfast until after supper. It left little time for socializing, and even less for grieving, which was exactly how Rena preferred things, though she knew things were going to have to change soon. She couldn’t spend the rest of her life trapped in a bubble of her own making, no matter how much of that her guardian allowed her.

That afternoon she found herself in the dining hall, already preparing for the evening meal even as the last midday was carried away, while discussing with the cook that night’s menu. Her simple, yet sturdy, green and yellow dress swished as she wandered quickly from place setting to place setting, straightening plates and flatware to her specification while absently making comments to the cook. Her long red hair was for the most part loose, though she had made the attempt to keep some out of her face with the black ribbon that she always wore in honor of her family, though the poor ribbon was no match, since several tendrils of her hair had escaped to frame her pale face. She wasn’t expecting any visitors that afternoon, and was quite happy about it too. Visitors still made her uneasy.

[Kenna Merrick]

With the entire clan in the capital, Kenna felt like politics were pressing on her from both sides. And there was only so much of these people she could take in one dose. But her father had that little brat of a ward that he was keeping like a pet toy, and the girl needed to earn her keep in a better manner than just managing the household. With the except of a few guests and the recent bunch of Montroses, normally Duncan’s house was nothing short of simple to take care.

So she headed to his manor, not bothering with announcing herself. She rarely did, and her father didn’t mind her returning to the place she’d grown up without invitation. The servants were used to seeing her, enough so, although Kenna didn’t come back as often now that the ward lived there. Kenna hadn’t understood why her father had taken a ward, and of all wards a girl. And Kenna had never been nice the young Rena Parr because of it.

Her carriage arrived - the distance between manors was enough to make some form of transportation worth using - and her footman helped her open. Kenna opened the manor door and headed into the house. Her instincts had her heading for the kitchens, considering that the little Rena Parr did run her father’s house and right now the place was overflowing with guests. Montrose guests. Guests like Catriona. Kenna shuddered.

“Rena!” she called out as she entered the kitchen. There was little warmth in her voice. Not that Kenna Merrick ever had warmth in her voice. “Are you in here?”

[Rena Parr]

Rena flinched as a voice from the kitchen called her name, carried through the door between the kitchen and the dining hall with no more trouble than the fact the voice was cold. There was only one person who really addressed her in such a way, and as much as Rena didn’t want to deal with whatever Lady Kenna Merrick wanted from her, she definitely didn’t want Kenna running amuck in her kitchen. Actually, she wasn’t even sure why she was down there in the first place, other than the fact that Rena was probably getting woefully predictable.

She quickly exchanged glances with the cook, who looked about as reluctant to re-enter the kitchen as Rena felt. But instead of sneaking away to one of the attics, Rena took a deep breath and straightened her spine before she made her way to the short set of stairs that led to the kitchens. She was determined to not let Kenna scare her, she was getting enough of that by dealing with Kenna’s relations and the mere thought of having to deal with the entirety of Forsilvra’s nobility at once.

“Good afternoon Kenna.” Rena said, keeping her voice light and pleasant as she entered the kitchens. “How can I help you?” She was unfortunately familiar with the icy attitude she usually got from Kenna, and though she did try to stay perfectly polite, Kenna was one of the few people in the last few years who had triggered her temper. “Perhaps we could continue this conversation elsewhere, perhaps over tea in one of the sitting rooms?” Rena hoped that Kenna would agree to the change of locals, because Rena did not want to deal with Kenna in the middle of a very busy kitchen that was already preparing for supper.

[Kenna Merrick]

Kenna waited, hoping the silly girl didn’t get some idea in her head to run off and hide right when Kenna actually had a worthwhile task for the girl to take care of. Worthwhile enough because it would, in theory, help her father, and Kenna actually couldn’t complete this one (nor did she really want to). So when Rena, entered the room, Kenna forced herself to smile, although she was sure the girl wasn’t stupid enough to believe that Kenna actually cared for her. Not with the way Kenna had acted like Rena Parr was no better than an ant to be stepped on. What her father saw in the mousy girl who was of some dead line of nobility with nothing left to her name but a small dowry and an aging banner, Kenna couldn’t say.

“I have something for you to do for me. The sitting room is fine - preferred - by me. I never did understand what you see in these kitchens anyway, but they are certainly no place for two ladies to speak of matters that are upmost importance to the family. You do consider yourself part of the Montrose clan now, I assume? After everything my father has done for you out of the kindness of his heart.” Which also made no sense. Duncan wasn’t kind. Kenna felt her iced over blood change state as it began to boil at the thought. He was probably nicer to this twit than he was to his own children, or grand-children.

“Have some tea brought. We can use the upstairs parlor in father’s wing for privacy.”

[Rena Parr]

Rena fervently wished she had the foresight to run off and hide, because the look on Kenna’s face when she actually entered the kitchens made her more worried than the fact that Kenna was in the kitchens in the first place. The woman’s smile made Rena feel like she was some kind of prey being watched before the predator went in for the kill, or rather made Rena worry that she was sick or in some kind of pain so that the smile, or at least what pass for a smile, was completely unintentional. Though, if she thought about it, it was unlikely that the smile was in fact unintentional, Kenna was hardly the sort of lady that did anything without some meaning. Which made Rena twice as worried.

Of course she had something for Rena, but the details were going to have to wait. With a gesture and an apologetic look she sent servants for tea as soon as Kenna said she preferred elsewhere, letting Kenna talk. She wasn’t sure what her status was within the Montrose family, and frankly she wasn’t sure she wanted to know, though she was going to have to figure that out before she actually completely immersed herself in the court once more. But even Rena had to raise an eyebrow when Kenna waxed into the kindness of her father. Rena knew perfectly well that she was taken in because her parents had had their own dealings with the seneschal, not because he was inclined to charity without reason. “As you wish,” Rena said, once Kenna had decided where to go, “Therese, tea please.” She commented quietly, trusting that they had heard where they were going, since it was likely the entire kitchen heard, while still trying to figure out how to answer Kenna. The trouble was that Rena didn’t exactly know how she fit into the Montrose family, other than owing them for taking her in.

“Shall we?” Rena asked, gesturing to the doors leading out of the kitchen and into the main part of the building. The faster she could get this conversation behind closed doors the more likely she wouldn’t have to deal with the gossip later.

[Kenna Merrick]

Kenna nodded, “We shall.” Without another word or a look, she turned and headed to the stairs. The parlor would serve nicely to be away from the prying ears of her father’s staff, although she knew that he picked only good and trusting people to be in his service. He’d expressed as much during their walk the other day. Kenna, on the other hand, trusted no one - not her father’s servants or her own. They would betray for the right money. Anyone would, even someone who spoke of being completely loyal to a fault.

She arrived at the stairs and climbed them swiftly. Rena would follow behind. The girl had no reason to disobey her and Kenna didn’t feel the need to look over her shoulder and ensure that Rena was following. At the top of the stairs she turned left and headed down the long wing that marked her father’s private chambers. The parlor was nestled in the back, decorated in the beautiful reds and golds that marked the colors of House Montrose. Once there Kenna settled into one of the soft red fabric chairs and waited for Rena for join her, expecting the girl to sit across from her.

“Now, Rena, I assume that as my father’s ward you know something about the political state of House Montrose?”

[Rena Parr]

Rena nearly sighed in relief when Kenna turned around and headed out of the kitchen, she wasn’t sure if she could hold her temper if Kenna had started in on how she organized her servants or a various number of things that Kenna could have harped on. Frankly, she was more comfortable elsewhere while in Kenna’s presence, though the older Lady’s presence wasn’t exactly comfortable to begin with. Kenna reminded Rena too much of her long deceased mother, cold and haughty, though other than their demeanor the two rarely seemed the same.

It took all her grace to keep from tripping over her skirts as she followed Kenna, slightly insulted that other didn’t at least check and make sure that she was following. It wasn’t like Rena hadn’t considered slipping off behind Kenna’s back, though she was reasonably sure that it would just make matters worse. She quickly made her way past her last chance to escape as she shut the parlor door behind her, quickly so she wouldn’t be tempted to run. But she didn’t immediately sit, preferring to stand until Kenna finally told her exactly what her plans for Rena were. She wasn’t that naive, she knew Kenna didn’t like her, and that it had to be something important and quite possibly something Rena wouldn’t like, since she did show up on a surprise visit.

“I know a little of it, but not as much as you certainly know.” Rena replied evasively. She didn’t think she knew everything, and admitting to more or saying the wrong thing would certainly open her up for ridicule, so she said less. “What is it you want from me Kenna?”

[Kenna Merrick]

Kenna eyed her. “Sit Rena. I’m not a dog. I don’t bite. Whether you like me or not isn’t my concern. I care only about my father and what you can do for him. Now, sit down.”

She was harsh, but she didn’t care. The girl thought to stand there like her better, refusing to sit as a way to show some level of defiance. Kenna thought she was being nothing more than stupid. Why would you think to defy the daughter of the man who took you in and fed you and clothed you and took care of you while you came of age? And not just any daughter. His only daughter. His favorite daughter. His favorite child at that. Yes, Kenna decided. Rena Parr was being stupid.

“You don’t know enough. You live here with my father. You should make it your business to know, and behind that whatever you can do to help him improve him. House DeLauncey. They are Lords of The Vandermark. Do you at least know who they might be?”

[Rena Parr]

Oh God, Kenna was right, she was being stupid. And not just stupid, but ridiculous. She was thinking like Rena, the girl who had been avoiding the court like… well, like the plague, but she was supposed to be thinking like Rena the courtier. Her mother did train her for such an eventuality, but after six years, four keeping her father’s life together, and two avoiding everything, the lessons were slow in returning. But that didn’t give her an excuse. She had to be better if she wanted to return to court. She had to think beyond the escape route, the one that she would lose by sitting down.

She took a deep calming breath before stepping away from the door, sitting primly across from Kenna, her back straight, and hands folded in her lap, but she was concentrating on the grain of the wood of the table. “House DeLauncey…” she said slowly, ordering her thoughts. “They’ve ruled the Vandermark since they settled there. Currently the head of the family is Cassius DeLauncey, but they also have two council seats, the authority of Welfare and the authority of Knowledge.”

[Kenna Merrick]

“Good,” Kenna replied, “And you will need to know more. The DeLauncey’s are powerful and sometimes at odd with the Fitzwulfs. I want to know what they really think of our Northern lords. All of them. The Harcourts and the Hallvadors and the Vulferams. You will befriend their ladies and seduce their lords. Smile and nod and ask questions. Get them to talk. Oh, I know you’re sitting there asking why not me? But I am wed already and clearly my father’s daughter. Anyone with two licks of a brain will know what I am doing. But not you. Rena Parr is a mystery. You’ll be lucky if any of them have ever heard of you. And you have a sweet and innocent look about you that will make them pleased to be your friend. Have you shared your first kiss? Make it a DeLauncey boy.”

Easy enough instructions, but Kenna wondered if the shy and reclusive girl could handle them. Still, this was a golden opportunity for Rena Parr to repay their family, and Kenna thought the girl should jump at the chance. “Bring the information back to myself and Lord Duncan. Anything at all, whether you believe it to be helpful or not.”

[Rena Parr]

Given that she had heard a rumor that a disgraced DeLauncey began the Fitzwulfs, she was hardly surprised that the two families were at times at odds. It was the rest of her plan that had Rena panicking. "You want to use me as a spy." Rena said quietly, with no emotion, though panic was settling into a cold hard rock in the pit of her stomach. It was probably a good thing Kenna had forced her to sit down, otherwise she probably would have fallen over in surprise. She had to admit, the plan was a good one, by Rena's own choice she had avoided the Court since her father's death. Few people remembered the little Parr girl, but what they would remember was the Parr family's devotion to the crown and court, not to the Montrose family. And, as Kenna had put it, she was young, unmarried, and looked too darn innocent. She could even blame her panic attacks on the anxiety of returning to court than having to ask a bunch of questions that she didn't want to.

She didn't want to say yes, that was the very bottom of the issue. She had hoped to make her return to court as painless as possible, despite returning when the entirety of the court was gathered. This... Thing Kenna wanted her to do would vastly complicate things that Rena didn't want to complicate. And from the look on Kenna's face she was expected to throw herself into such a task. Problem was, Renada Parr believed her debt was to Lord Duncan, not to his already-married-off-to-the-Merrick-family daughter. "And your Father has approved of this... Plan?" Where was that tea? She would do anything just for a distraction at that moment.

[Kenna Merrick]

Her father didn’t know about the plan. That was because Kenna had thought it up about ten minutes before leaving her own manse and riding over to inform Rena that she would comply. “I think it’s best if he doesn’t know, don’t you Rena? After all, he is a member of the council. It would be one thing for people to find out you were collecting information for me, and I can claim that it was my own personal uses. But if those same people were to accuse my father of having a spy, don’t you think that would be damaging to him? You and I both know he had nothing to do with this. Besides, becoming friends with a few DeLauncey boys should be good for you. If you want to find a husband worth his salt, you’ll need to start acting like you want one. Holed up in here with my father as your only company just makes you look like a whore instead of a ward, and I’m sure that’s not the impression you’re trying to give the court is it?”

Kenna had forgotten the tea. Her eyes were intently on Rena now, like a cat stalking a mouse. And Rena was about a brave as a mouse, while Kenna was most certainly like the cat on either of her siguls. “Really Rena, what were you going to do? Sit around here and play cards with House Montrose’ servants?”

[Rena Parr]

Of course he didn’t, Kenna wouldn’t do anything to stain her father’s reputation. Rena, however, seemed to be fair game. She was still uncomfortable being a pawn in something that she hadn’t had any true exposure to in several years, not since her mother’s death. Her ability to navigate court was something she worried about constantly, now that her return to the glittering throng was now only days away. Hours even. The thought nearly made her panic all over again. She was far from prepared, and the thought of mourning in public at the roses ceremony was already gut wrenching and panic inducing.

She was still as Kenna lay out the entirety of things, wringing her hands in her lap and staring at the floor. A knot in the rug. Trying to think of a way out of it without making a mortal enemy of Kenna. It was already bad enough that Lord Duncan’s daughter didn’t like her for being in the same house her father inhabited, but she had the feeling that if she didn’t give in Kenna would find a way to make her life more than intolerable. “I doubt much of the court remembers my name or of my existence. But you have a point.” She replied, spine straight, shoulders back, making eye contact. She didn’t acknowledge the door opening, or Therese entering with the tea as Kenna shot off one last barb. “I imagine that would be among much better company.” Rena said calmly, taking the tray from Therese, thanking her before dismissing the girl back to her duties before depositing the tray in its rightful place and retaking her seat. “As such, I return to court on the first, when the entirety of court is in attendance. And I will see if I can get any information from the DeLaunceys, if you will fill me in on the current climate of court.”

[Kenna Merrick]

She could see the uncertainty in Rena’s eyes. The hero help them both, the girl was utterly useless. Better at fluffing her father’s pillow than courtly games. Kenna wondered how a woman like her had been born heiress of her estate. Pitiful really, Kenna thought to herself. But then Rena started to accept, and while Kenna showed nothing on her face, she was pleased that the game was working.

“The court is feeling, testing. They all want to know where they stand now. With a new king and a unsettled world, the games are ready to be played. That is precisely why you’re needed Rena. They don’t know you. They don’t know what team you play for. They can’t know more than the fact that you are warded here with my father. For all they know, he’s a man you hate. In fact, that might be the best angle to play if they probe you deeper, for everyone loves to complain with someone who shares their opinions. Regardless, the DeLauncey’s aren’t from Arbrecht. But they must still have connections with the Fitzwulfs. I want to know just how strong they really are. I’m sure that even someone as inexperienced as you could find out something. And besides, perhaps in your probings you can meet a husband. Someone to take care of you from here on out.”

So you can get the hell out of my father’s house…