It was long meeting, and this was thanks to two stubborn noble Lords that had a lot of questions for Sigrid. By the time they let her go, Mauve had finished preparing her new creation; Danish pastries.
The name was not that of course, Mauve had named it fruit swirls.
She proudly presented them to Sigrid who was beyond starvation after a five hour meeting. "I made these with cream that was churned from the milk of cows on the mage farms. I added some dragon fruit glaze, moonflower nectar and...."
"Moonflower nectar! dammit Mauve did you raid the infirmary?"
It was the only place in the house were magical herbs and fruits were kept. Most of them were being used to develop medicine by the mages that were part of the organization.
Moonflower nectar was as hard to harvest as fairy dew. It was a sweet, floral syrup that was got from a flower which opened at midnight and only on nights of the full moon.
Eldoria had not seen a full moon for two weeks so far which meant a shortage of moonflower nectar. Sigrid had found the nectar to be effective in treating coughs. Because of the sweetness of the syrups, cough drops created with the nectar were famous among children.
With the flood coming, she was worried about coughs, colds and other related diseases.
Mauve was like a guilty child, she twisted her lips from side and played with her fingers. Her eyes were downcast as she avoided Sigrid’s inquisitive eyes. "I took just a little bit." she murmured. She bent down and pushed the plate with the pastries towards Sigrid. "Why don’t you try taking a bite before calling the knights to have my head removed."
Sigrid did not have the heart to berate sweet Mauve. She chose to eat the pastries and found the taste rather heavenly.
"This is good." she said through a full mouth. "I am giving you permission to take some more nectar as long as you can make me more of these."
Mauve sat down in the chair and smiled victoriously. "I knew you would come around."
Sigrid started on the second fruit swirl and she asked Mauve a question about something that had been on her mind. "How is your love life? Have your parents tried to match you up with another distinguished gentleman?"
"Look at me," Mauve’s hand swept over her body, showing her current appearance.
Her dress had been dirtied by floor in some places, her hair was unruly and falling free. She was barefoot with her feet up on the table.
"You look beautiful." Sigrid said. It was not a lie, Mauve was beautiful whether she was well put together or not. In fact, despite of the lack of any trace of make up, Mauve was astoundingly beautiful
"How kind of you to say that." Mauve laughed. She got a fruit swirl as well and started munching away slowly. "Actually, ever since I became your lady in waiting, there have been more offers for my hand than before but I keep turning them down. Mama said that I must marry a man from a family that has allied itself with you and the crown prince."
Sigrid appreciated Lady Silver, and hearing this made her like the woman a little more. "A wise woman your mother. If that is your hunting field for a husband then I can make some suggestions. What do you think of the Shadowmere’s?"
"The ship family..." Mauve grimaced and then proceeded to shake her head. "I have never associated with them except in passing. I would like to marry into a family I can fit in rather than one where I will feel like a stranger."
"The Bailey’s." Sigrid offered an alternative.
Again, Mauve grimaced, it seemed she had something against them as well.
"What?" Sigrid was curious.
"They are too strict and honorable."
"What is wrong with that?"
Mauve sat up, poked her head forward and replied, "Its too boring."
"The Ashford’s." Sigrid said.
Just as expected, Mauve grimaced, adding a wince to her reaction this time round.
"Too many rakes." Mauve’s face was a little too delighted when she talked about the Ashford’s. "No man is more likely to ruin the innocence of some silly debutante with dreams of escalating to the top of noble society more than an Ashford.
Last season, May Beaconworth was seen dancing with Eric Ashford and within a week, she was married off to an untitled knight in a hush-hush wedding. She was the most beautiful debutante of the season and yet she married an unknown knight! ha!"
"Right,...I remember that." Sigrid lied.
Mauve frowned. "You were not here, you were at the Eastern boarder. I guess the rumors must have traveled really far if you heard about it too." She got herself another fruit swirl. "Mmm, she was not the first poor lady to suffer that fate, there are victims every season. The Ashford house produces more male children than any other noble house in the kingdom. It means they have more rakes than any other noble house in the kingdom." She closed her eyes and sighed. "But they are all bloody good looking, every last one of them."
"That is a fact." Sigrid agreed. She recalled the three Ashford men she had seen at the bachelor’s auction ball and the chaos that ensued as women competed for a chance to go on a date with each of them. Each of those men had been extremely good looking, with well built physiques and carrying an air of wealth and elegance. "I bet they make really good looking babies."
"Mama used to tell me that looking at an Ashford for too long is how girls end up pregnant out of wedlock." Mauve giggled.
Sigrid nearly choked on the milk she was just beginning to sip. She laughed along with Mauve because the idea was ridiculous.
"Mauve, you do know how babies are made, right?"
Mauve rolled her eyes, after her mother’s words this was the second most ridiculous thing she had ever heard. "I have watched The dark rise of Lady Blanche, I know how babies are made." She covered her mouth again and giggled.
"Oh my God!" Sigrid exclaimed. "Mauve, err....do you need me to explain some things to you? I am willing to be your sex ed teacher."
In the corner of the room, Brolin and Conrad, the two knights on guard wanted to leap out of the nearest window. This was not a conversation they wanted to listen to.
The maids however had a different opinion, they wanted to listen so very much, especially the unmarried ones. Mauve was just like them, she wanted to hear all about the forbidden subject.
"Start with what happens after the couple kisses. They never show that part on Tv, just shadows and some sounds." She covered her mouth and giggled again. "If mama and Mrs. Elsworth were here, they would be so furious."