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Celeste was, had always been, someone who had tended to watch, to learn and to weigh up those options available to her before she acted. In Xander she had met a man who was the opposite of that, whose tendency was to movement, to action. There was no doubt in her mind that it was a powerful combination, the pair of them just so long as they could harness each others' strength and overcome each others' weakness. Here, that was vital. The words her grandfather spoke were clear and the young Andaris listened and attended. This was not a time for coy machinations, not here and not with him. This was, perhaps literally, a call to arm and was certainly a call to movement. Xander's words were clear, and very much him. His hand on her back caused a smile to lift her lips, a slight one but noticeable.
That the road ahead was not glamorous nor easy was something which Celeste understood completely. Such was nobility ~ it seemed very much to be one thing and, for those who played at being lords and ladies and did no more than that, it probably was the glamour it promised. As soon as one became involved or invested, however, then the gilded surface was scratched away. Unconsciously, Celeste's hand moved to her side, where Rafael Warrick had tried to kill her, by stabbing her at her engagement party. She understood, at least in principle, what the road ahead was and she knew that glamour had no part in it.
And then, there were the scrolls.
Celeste watched as her grandfather held them up. Listened to his words. She thanked Jahn with a quiet but polite thank you as he left the scones, quite certain that Xander would be in there like a bolt out of a crossbow. As he was, Celeste's glance to her husband was amused. He was like an army, in truth, he marched on his stomach. She looked at the scroll, her long fingers wrapping gently around it and then, before she took hold of it she looked at her grandfather. Was he sure? Duke and Duchess was a big step and that he thought they might be ready was a great accolade. Her gaze met Xander's, then, and the look he wanted from her was there. Yes, she thought, it was right.
Breathing in, the Baroness held on to her grandfather's words as he gave them the information needed. There was a ceremony, to be held this trial, then there were other things that he said, things hidden in his offer. Responsibilities which reached beyond the public purview and a network which had maintained for a very long time? "Yes," she said, in response to whether she would undertake this.
As for Xander's question, well Celeste understood why he asked it. She harbored no such concern, because her grandfather had watched her grow, had made this decision based in knowledge of her and, she suspected, of Xander too. It was a fool who did not listen to the advice and guidance of those around them, those with more experience and Celeste did not consider herself a fool. However, she was a determined individual and if her grandfather had wanted a puppet, he would not have had her wed Xander Krome, would not have given them Astedia but would have ensured that they were groomed. No, Celeste did not ask the question or worry about it, because she felt that she knew the answer.
She waited until her grandfather had answered Xander's question and then she looked at her grandfather and smiled slightly. It was an almost wistful expression she wore. "I have a hundred questions, grandfather. About the aspects beyond the public awareness, about this network you speak of. I am sure, though, that you will tell us what you can before the ceremony, and what you can not tell before, then you will after." Reaching for a scone, she broke one in half and handed the second half to her ever-ravenous husband, nibbling gently on the delicious sweet. As she had so much of her life, Celeste waited patiently until she had the whole picture and then, if there were questions remaining, she would ask them.
That the road ahead was not glamorous nor easy was something which Celeste understood completely. Such was nobility ~ it seemed very much to be one thing and, for those who played at being lords and ladies and did no more than that, it probably was the glamour it promised. As soon as one became involved or invested, however, then the gilded surface was scratched away. Unconsciously, Celeste's hand moved to her side, where Rafael Warrick had tried to kill her, by stabbing her at her engagement party. She understood, at least in principle, what the road ahead was and she knew that glamour had no part in it.
And then, there were the scrolls.
Celeste watched as her grandfather held them up. Listened to his words. She thanked Jahn with a quiet but polite thank you as he left the scones, quite certain that Xander would be in there like a bolt out of a crossbow. As he was, Celeste's glance to her husband was amused. He was like an army, in truth, he marched on his stomach. She looked at the scroll, her long fingers wrapping gently around it and then, before she took hold of it she looked at her grandfather. Was he sure? Duke and Duchess was a big step and that he thought they might be ready was a great accolade. Her gaze met Xander's, then, and the look he wanted from her was there. Yes, she thought, it was right.
Breathing in, the Baroness held on to her grandfather's words as he gave them the information needed. There was a ceremony, to be held this trial, then there were other things that he said, things hidden in his offer. Responsibilities which reached beyond the public purview and a network which had maintained for a very long time? "Yes," she said, in response to whether she would undertake this.
As for Xander's question, well Celeste understood why he asked it. She harbored no such concern, because her grandfather had watched her grow, had made this decision based in knowledge of her and, she suspected, of Xander too. It was a fool who did not listen to the advice and guidance of those around them, those with more experience and Celeste did not consider herself a fool. However, she was a determined individual and if her grandfather had wanted a puppet, he would not have had her wed Xander Krome, would not have given them Astedia but would have ensured that they were groomed. No, Celeste did not ask the question or worry about it, because she felt that she knew the answer.
She waited until her grandfather had answered Xander's question and then she looked at her grandfather and smiled slightly. It was an almost wistful expression she wore. "I have a hundred questions, grandfather. About the aspects beyond the public awareness, about this network you speak of. I am sure, though, that you will tell us what you can before the ceremony, and what you can not tell before, then you will after." Reaching for a scone, she broke one in half and handed the second half to her ever-ravenous husband, nibbling gently on the delicious sweet. As she had so much of her life, Celeste waited patiently until she had the whole picture and then, if there were questions remaining, she would ask them.
