Winterfair

[veryvorkosigan]

Vorkosigan House is astir this evening: the children are getting their own carefully supervised Winterfair party in the nursery wing, and the adults making ready to head to the Imperial Residence for the Emperor's party.

In the Dowager Countess's suite, there's one extra guest making ready.

Comments

[maxwellsdemon02]

"Got it." He ditches the plate so his hands are free and tucks them behind his back in an approximation of parade-rest.

[veryvorkosigan]

The Emperor and Empress are moving slowly but steadily through the party, exchanging brief nods and smiles with most, a few words with some. They don't act as though they have a particular destination in mind, but they're unmistakably moving in Cordelia's direction.

She dips a small curtsey as they draw within a few feet. "Happy Winterfair, Sire. Madam."

Emperor Gregor's smile is a bare indenting of the corners of his mouth, but something about it bespeaks reserve rather than displeasure. "Happy Winterfair, Lady Cordelia. And Captain Maxwell." Another nod, this one to Duo; the Emperor meets his gaze, the look brief but startlingly intense.

[maxwellsdemon02]

"Your Majesties," Duo says, bowing at a carefully polite angle. He smiles, but lets his bangs fall over his eyes to break that look.

We don't stare at the Emperor, Duo, even if he started it.

[veryvorkosigan]

"I hope you're enjoying your visit, Captain," says Empress Laisa cheerfully. "You couldn't have a better native guide than Lady Cordelia."

"And I trust you've been having an entertaining evening?" the Emperor adds, with the smallest flicker of his eyes toward Cordelia ... a glance that looks incongruously amused.

[maxwellsdemon02]

"Of course!" Duo says, honestly, but with a layer of look-I'm-so-harmless cheer. "You have a lovely city. And Winterfair has been very enlightening."

[veryvorkosigan]

"I hope we haven't scandalized anybody who didn't need scandalizing," Cordelia murmurs, her smile entirely too demure.

"Not that I've noticed," the Emperor says, just a touch dryly. "Do please keep it that way?"

That smile tilts up at one corner -- briefly, but enough to turn demure into positively conspiratorial. "Of course, Sire."

[maxwellsdemon02]

Duo eyes them both, furtive. Seems like the Emperor here approves of Cordelia more than not. But also doesn't really want a scene. For her sake or his?

...maybe for Security's sake.

"I'll do my best to keep the Dowager Countess out of trouble," Duo says, giving that statement all the weight it deserves. (i.e. none) "But I'm afraid I can only follow her lead, being an ignorant galactic."

[veryvorkosigan]

That gets a hastily suppressed snort of laughter from the Empress, and a swift exchange of glances between the Imperial couple.

"I'm sure she won't steer you wrong," the Emperor says, the tucked-in corners of his mouth deepening slightly, and he gives a nod that suggests the conversation is wrapping up.

"I'll do my very best not to," Cordelia agrees.

[maxwellsdemon02]

Duo bows again, still rigorously precise. "Thank you for allowing me to attend," he says.

[veryvorkosigan]

"Our pleasure," the Emperor says -- and sounds like he means it. "And thank you both for joining us. Happy Winterfair."

The Empress reaches to press Cordelia's hand, with a twinkling-eyed smile of her own, before the two move on.

[maxwellsdemon02]

"They get more points for style," Duo tells Cordelia after the Emperor and Empress are out of earshot. "Though I guess I should've expected, since you had a hand in raising him..."

[veryvorkosigan]

"I wasn't the only one," she says equably, "but Gregor internalized a lot of the best from both me and Aral. In terms of the expectations and pressures of his job, that was all Aral."

[maxwellsdemon02]

"Yeah?" Duo glances up at her. "I mean, I know you were Count and Countess, but heck if I know what that means at home, much less here."

[veryvorkosigan]

"In this case, it's more significant that Aral was the Imperial Regent until Gregor came of age. And Aral ... was raised with the duties and responsibilities of the Vor as a big part of his training."

[maxwellsdemon02]

"Ohhh, so he was like, substitute Emperor for a while, okay. This must have been after you married him. Was that a head trip, or were you inured to the whole Vor society thing by then?"

[veryvorkosigan]

She chuckles, a touch ruefully. "It was only a few months after I married him, and it was a definite shock. I was under the impression I was marrying a retired Admiral who was through with everything -- the military, politics, all of it. Marrying the Imperial Regent was not what I signed on for."

[maxwellsdemon02]

"Geez, no, I can imagine it wouldn't be."

He glances around the crowded ballroom, the myriad guests, and the royal couple still making their greetings.

"You seem to have done okay for yourself, though."

[veryvorkosigan]

"Oh, we did all right."

She's smiling; she's looking across the room at one particular small but energetic figure, and the taller quieter one by his side.

"Someday I'll tell you the whole story."