"You'll do fine," Cordelia reassures him, as they head for the hall and the stairway beyond.
The great entry hall of Vorkosigan House is floored in an elaborate mosaic of plants and flowers rendered in colored stone, startlingly fine-detailed. Like a cluster of larger flowers in their richly hued formal wear, the rest of the Vorkosigan party -- Count, Countess, and Armsmen -- stands at the bottom of the sweeping stairway, waiting for the Dowager Countess and her guest.
Apparently everybody's been briefed on what to expect. The Count's reaction as they come into view is limited to a millimeter's worth of raised eyebrow, and the Countess only smiles.
"Captain Duo Maxwell," Cordelia says by way of introduction, as they near the bottom of the stairs, "my son and daughter-in-law, Count Miles and Countess Ekaterin Vorkosigan."
Count Miles may be something of a startlement to Duo; he's just under five feet tall, with a slightly oversized head that would look more proportionate on a man over six feet. His face is faintly lined, somehow without looking in any way old -- especially in light of his smile. "A pleasure to meet you, Captain. Any friend of my mother's is welcome here."
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The great entry hall of Vorkosigan House is floored in an elaborate mosaic of plants and flowers rendered in colored stone, startlingly fine-detailed. Like a cluster of larger flowers in their richly hued formal wear, the rest of the Vorkosigan party -- Count, Countess, and Armsmen -- stands at the bottom of the sweeping stairway, waiting for the Dowager Countess and her guest.
Apparently everybody's been briefed on what to expect. The Count's reaction as they come into view is limited to a millimeter's worth of raised eyebrow, and the Countess only smiles.
"Captain Duo Maxwell," Cordelia says by way of introduction, as they near the bottom of the stairs, "my son and daughter-in-law, Count Miles and Countess Ekaterin Vorkosigan."
Count Miles may be something of a startlement to Duo; he's just under five feet tall, with a slightly oversized head that would look more proportionate on a man over six feet. His face is faintly lined, somehow without looking in any way old -- especially in light of his smile. "A pleasure to meet you, Captain. Any friend of my mother's is welcome here."