by Samuel Fort
Chapter 36 - Lady Del
After leaving Fiela, Ben had gone upstairs to collect himself. Then he showered, shaved, and put on some decent clothes. By the time he returned downstairs to look for Ridley, a remarkably decadent “champagne brunch” had been set up in the Great Hall. Tables had been placed between the massive columns and on each were silver and chrome dishes. He examined the cards atop the silver holders that described the dishes: Cinnamon Oranges, Grillades, Strawberries and Chantilly Cream, and Spinach Frittata.
What? No Eggs de Fiela?
Ben had hoped to pass through the hall unimpeded but was almost immediately approached by two guests. The first was a man in his forties with a purple bowtie. With his dimpled chin, square jaw, and piercing eyes, he looked to Ben like a Hollywood leading man from the 1940’s. His name was Romini, the Earl of something or other, of the First Kingdom.
With him was a slightly older woman, Lady Del, of the Eighth Kingdom. Ben mentally dubbed her ‘sexy First Lady,’ without really knowing why. Unfortunately, she was also what her own kind would call an ‘interminable bore,’ offering her unsolicited opinion on everything from fetches to investments. She had inquired as to the researcher’s plans should he find himself on the throne and he’d politely said he hadn’t given it much thought.
It was a response the woman disapproved of.
“How many serretu has Lilitu arranged for you?”
“Fiela is the only serretu,” Ben answered cagily. That was actually Ridley’s doing, of course.
“Only one?” asked Lady Del, making a ‘tut-tut-tut’ sound with her tongue. “It is unusual, having only the one serretu and to have her and your wife under the same roof with you. When the world quiets you should consider a few others and spread them throughout your kingdom. It is the best way to ensure your line is not lost to a single calamity.”
Ben pretended concern. “How many would you suggest?”
“Most noblemen have at least four. A king should have a dozen or more. That way,” the woman said, “all of your eggs are not in one basket.” She laughed, amused at her own wit.
“I see.”
“Of course,” she continued, “not all would be in the line of succession. To protect them, and yourself, you would secretly state in your will which among them would inherit and which would be returned to the citizenry. It is then in their best interest to ensure you remain alive, as their futures are quite uncertain otherwise. This arrangement also makes it extremely difficult for your enemies to select targets. They could spend months scripting the death of a serretu who is not even in the line of succession.”
Romini huffed, “Better to just get consorts. They are far less troublesome.”
“But,” said the woman, “they cannot inherit and so do not extend his line.”
“Perhaps not his line but they’ll extend his life! When was the last time a consort assassinated a king, eh? Three centuries ago! It is virtually a pastime for serretu and asatu!” The man laughed. “You are fortunate, Ben, that you had Scriptus Ridley on your team. He ensured Lilitu was kept in check by making her reign dependent upon your life.”
Ben replied, “Actually, I believe that was an oversight on his part.”
“The Great Sage made an oversight?” asked the woman, giving him a skeptical look.
“Well, I doubt he would have planned it that way…” Ben trailed off, noticing that the earl bore an expression identical to the woman’s. “At any rate,” the researcher continued, “The negotiations for Lilian’s pardon occurred long ago. I was probably in elementary school then, so I was hardly on Ridley’s ‘team.’ Any man could have been her husband.”
“If you say so,” mumbled Romini, taking a sip from his glass.
The woman said, “Speaking of which, I’d like to introduce my daughter to you.” She stood on her toes and scanned the room. “I saw her a moment ago.”
“Oh,” said Ben, taking a step back, “I should really-”
“She’s a sereti,” said Lady Del, stepping forward to fill the gap he had tried to create, “and just over thirty years old. She is an admirer of many of the Ardoon. The new generation, you see. Open-minded but not gauche. She’s quite lovely.”
Ben, wondering what a sereti was, struggled for a response. He felt a hand slipping through the crook of his arm.
“That would be Persipia, Lady Del?”
“Ah,” said the woman with an almost imperceptible flash of disappointment. “Lilitu. It’s so good to see you.” The women exchanged kisses.
“My husband prefers that I be called Lilian.”
“As you wish,” said the woman with an uneasy smile. “Lilian. The earl and I were discussing some trivial matters with Benzira - Ben, rather.”
Lilian said, “I have just returned from a morning stroll. What of Persipia? Is she well?”
“She is here, even.”
“Then you must introduce her to Ben.”
“I would be glad to,” the older woman said, as if the thought had never occurred to her.
Lilian leaned forward. “Do you think Persipia would favor us by agreeing to serve as consort to my husband?”
Ben’s face went almost as white as Lady Del’s.
“Ben,” Romini interjected, “are there any cigars in this place?”
“Yes, in my study,” said Ben. God bless you. “Follow me.”
When the two men were gone, the women again faced each other and began speaking Agati.
“Consort,” said Lady Del without inflection.
“It is just that things have been moving so very fast. Ben lacks a single consort. It is quite unacceptable, don’t you think? He will at some point need someone from outside our home for companionship. Persipia is attractive and intelligent. A good sense of humor, too, or so I’ve been told. Much like her mother.”
Lady Del looked like she’d spied a cockroach in her drink. “Yes, thank you, but…consort? As you know, she has spent her life training as sereti, learning the skills requisite to serving as asatu to a noble. Or, perhaps, senior serretu.”
“I see,” said Lilian. “Then I wish you good fortune in your hunt for a suitor. It may prove a challenge in the coming days, but you are aware of that, I’m sure.”
The other woman weighed this. “Persipia may agree to serve as second serretu to a man of proper stature. She would have much to offer in that capacity. She knows all the right people and speaks several languages. She also has an incredible eye for fashion, which would any noble’s wife would appreciate.”
“She has many wonderful qualities,” acknowledged Lilian, “yet, she is thirty-one in a world of twenty year olds and, let us be frank, an eye for fashion in the next age will be less useful than the ability to sew.” She shrugged. “It is a harsh reality, but there it is.”
“Consort,” the woman said again, as if by repeating the word it might become less repellent.
“To a king,” said Lilian. “As you are aware, consorts may become serretu. In time.”
Lady Del tugged absently at one ear. “It is perhaps a possibility.”
“One wonders if it shall remain so,” responded Lilian with less warmth. “Your daughter is exceptionally beautiful but I am told she is weak-willed and requires constant supervision. It is no wonder that she is a decade short of forty years and has yet to find a suitable position.”
The older woman deliberated on this for a moment before replying, “There is no assurance Benzira will become a king, or remain one. If Persipia agreed to be consort this day, she could be killed tomorrow for treason by the other Houses.”
“Or if they fall and she rejects this offer, she may find herself ravaged by an Ardoon mob. Precarious times, these, but everyone must choose a side. I do not require an answer this second, Lady Del. You must confer with your daughter. If she is not agreeable, I will not hold it against her, but neither shall I grant her refuge if she appears at my gate.”
“And if she were agreeable?”
&n
bsp; “Send her to me.”
“Would your husband accept her as consort? He seems uncomfortable with our ways. How would you convince him?”
“I would tell him the truth, Lady. If he is not pleased to avail himself to Persipia then he need not do so.”
“But then why should he take her as consort?”
“Because to do so would please me. I love my sister Fiela as I love none other but she lacks refinement and a proper education. She knows almost as little about the nobility as my husband. It would be pleasant to have a noblewoman with whom to exchange ideas as we rebuild the Ardoon. I would certainly seek her input on many things.”
Lady Del ran a finger around the rim of her glass. “She would, in a sense, be an advisor, to you?”
“In a sense, yes, and I’m sure her presence would be beneficial to your family’s fortunes. But,” Lilian added, dropping her voice ever so slightly, “do not misunderstand me. She must still fulfill her role as consort.”
The other woman gazed a Lilian for a moment, trying to read the hostess’s thoughts and confirm her own suspicions. Finally, the lady said, “As consort to the king,” the woman said, pointedly.
Lilian gave her a distressed look, as if the lady had just said something very stupid. “I’m sorry, I thought for a moment that we had an understanding.” Pivoting, she said, “I have many things to attend to. Enjoy the brunch.”
“Wait!” the other woman said nervously. “I will speak to her!”
Looking bored, Lilian waved a hand in the air and said, “Do as you wish,” but as she walked away, she smiled.
