Between her father and Edmund, Nonah knew that she was expected to meet the rulers of the other duchies. To the General, it was more of a sign so she could gain an insight to everything she had told her over the years. For Edmund, Nonah wasn’t quite sure why he wanted her to meet the leaders whom he was about to join, but she was almost certain it was out of some sort of brotherly affection: a sign of some sort that Nonah couldn’t see past his words. She was known back home as a lady who knew how to hold her own to those who held her with some sort of regard, otherwise as a lady who didn’t know her place to those who saw her as something as unworthy as gracing their sight. Gavan always used to joke that his sister was like the seals that he had seen depictions of from abroad: any water that was dumped on her just seemed to roll off – even if the proverbial water was hostility.
Regardless of her brothers joking comments running through her mind, though, Nonah knew that their graces were not like the General nor Edmund nor even their own Duchess: their minds were different – their beliefs molded off of different values than those which were held close in her native duchy. They were men and women with their own agendas: snakes in the grass who weren’t to be trusted. And Nonah was in no mood to meet with snakes; there was enough treachery in the world without seeking out its puppeteers.
There was one person Nonah knew she was more than obligated to meet. Not because she was the hostess of the ball, nor because she was an influential leader whose favor she was seeking, but simply because she was to be married to one of her dearest friends. Nonah had heard plenty of the Duchess Esabell, and if anything, what she had heard had intrigued her. She was an intelligent woman and a capable leader who – while her tastes may vary stylistically from Nonah’s – seemed to possess a set of sensibilities that Nonah could agree with and admire. It was more than the fact that Edmund was to marry her grace, although that was part of the reason she saw it necessary to meet the duchess; it was that she truly wished to pass on her congratulations to Her Grace and her future husband.
The fiery haired lady had never seen the Duchess before, but from what she had heard from her father and Edmund, she wasn’t difficult to spot. She possessed a level of grace that seemed to radiate about her – a trait that Nonah envied even though she hardly placed anything on appearances. Would the woman receive her, Nonah hardly knew, but if there was one thing Nonah had always been told, it was that hopefully her forthright nature would show the duchess she had no underhanded notions in her desires to speak to her.
Walking over in the direction of Esabell, when Nonah was in proximity, Nonah’s even voice floated the distance between them, “Duchess Esabell.” She said, dipping into a curtsy that showed a level of respect, but not the simpering sort that most ladies were known for. “I come to deliver my congratulations to you and your betrothed. His Grace Edmund has spoken much of you and it is nice to be able to place a face to a name.”
Turning to find the source of her name Esabell nodded, smiling to the woman before her, not even the slightest idea of who stood before. She played her part though, smiling and paying rapt attention to the fiery haired lady as she spoke. She was a handsome girl, young and innocent in appearance but with a striking note of honest nature to her. She seemed the sort that Esabell could enjoy the company of, free of desire for power and wealth from the very first image.
And she was a friend of Edmund. There was no doubt, any friend of Edmund was a friend of Esabell, a friend of Pemberton. “Thank you, Lord Edmund is truly a blessing.” It was clear that the woman was not Edmunds dear sister, Grace. Surely her groom would have introduced his own sister himself, not to mention the fiery red of the woman’s hair could not have come from the same parents as his own black locks. No she was a friend either Edmund had not mentioned or she could not recall discussing. Not that she would allow that uncertainty of identity be discovered, if this lady were so close as to have heard much of her than she was clearly dear to her betrothed.
“I do hope I fit his description, as terribly old and little as I am.” Her joke was lighthearted though honest. She was dreadfully old to be getting betrothed and so awfully tiny next to the solid form of Edmund. Of course her own small stature was one reason she thought Edmund so terribly handsome. She delighted in having to stand on her toes to reach him on the few instances she had permitted herself to be close to him. Esabell was a frightfully pious and innocent woman, virginal and girlish when it came to showing real affection to men simply because the few intimate moments she had had with them had been in her own youth and with stable boys who knew little of courtly honor. But she had and it had been an eternal fight with herself to remain as pure as she had kept herself.
Before those recollections could bring a blush to her cheeks however she brushed them aside, mentally crossing herself as she took in the courtier before her, curious as to who was so close to her betrothed so as to have heard so much of her.
The revelries that swirled around the hall seemed to bring everything into perspective and distort at the same time. The level of extravagance was enough to make Nonah’s head spin, but there was nothing like a ball to bring out a side in people rarely seen. Those who were suspected of being snakes in the grass became more bold as they indulged in wine and dancing, bringing their motives closer to the forefront. Those who were known for creating scandal were given more opportunity to do so, and a level of treachery came about that Nonah hardly could understand. While she had been annoyed by her father’s mindless conversations with his friends, she understood now why they didn’t discuss issues of pertinence like she was used to. To be overheard in such an environment could only bring horrible results.
And Nonah was surprised because of this that the Duchess received her as warmly as she did. Either the woman had developed a quick way of judging the character of others with a glance or she was playing by the same rules as Nonah: keep everything to polite conversation so nothing is said that can’t be taken back.
A small smile came over Nonah’s face as she heard the Duchess’s words. Old and little? And at times Nonah she thought she had image problems. While the lady knew her friend wasn’t entering this union for love, when he spoke of his future wife, a level of tenderness entered his face that she had never seen before. “Well, it all seems to fit…Duchess of Pemberton, the lady Edmund says he swoons over. Although I’ve never taken much to swooning. It’s not an activity looked highly upon back home.” Her last words brought back a conversation before she left Benthey, the one that had made her more than obligated to come to the ball. She left out the part where she offered Edmund Gavan’s services to dress up to be swooned over in practice. For some reason, while such words seemed more than natural back home, in the current stuffy environment they seemed completely out of place.
"I promise I'm not normally like this." Nonah added, knowing that to some her words might seem like flattery. "I merely speak what was spoken to me. But I do feel bad rambling when I might as well be a complete stranger. Lady Nonah Alix." she said simply, knowing that her surname was probably unknown in this region and that even if it was it meant nothing to her.
Duchess Esabell did seem to fit the role of glowing bride. Nonah was hardly an expert on the subject, avoiding most formal celebrations as if her life depending on her non-presence, but from what she had heard, most women were excited about an impending marriage. Most had learned such experience from family and close friends, but the last marriage Nonah had seen was between a cousin who was several years older than herself to a Viscount from across the sea. And Nonah seemed to find it better that way. She hardly doubted she would be able to handle so many celebrations anyways.
--ooc: sorry it's a flaming piece of monkey crap...I just wanted to get something up before I jump into studying for my stats midterm--