#baronyofthesilverwolf

She considers. "What is the point of having a classically trained French chef if we are going to resort to such junk food?"

Gwen has a dozen thoughts, none of them polite, but stoicly observes, "I think you're the only one who doesn't enjoy pizza on a rare moon, Chancellor. Marigold is amazing chef though true. Why every guest who has tried her meal comes away impressed. It definitely helps Silverwolf stand out that she's here. People who visit praise her work and thus the hold."

Calanthe listens to this, and gives Gwen a smile. "It must be so freeing to not have any care of your appearance."

Gwen tries not to visibly stiffen at the jab, but keeps working "That's one thing I envy about your kith, Chancellor... no matter if they just woke up, didn't even dress up, or even if they step in mud, they always seem beautiful on the outside."

A thin smile. "All true about our amazing chef. And yet, why disrespect her training and skill?" She looks at the bread rolls - a bit lumpy... and stifles a giggle.

"I don't see it as disrespect, ma'am" ignoring the giggle "I see it as learning, and trying to help her out. But.. I understand if you want to eat out"

"This is a Noble Hold of House Ailil, not some teenager's pizza party."

At this, Gwen shrugs

And keeps cleaning. After all it wasn't a question

"I'll speak to Marigold about it myself. Where is she?"

"She's in her room, she's recovering from her injury." Gwen stops cleaning, wiping her hands off, "She was ordered to rest and is obeying those orders."

Calanthe draws back, startled. "Injury? Who would DARE?"

"No one did" she says "It just happened" But she does pause She's probably more concerned about the haven of the hold than Marigold herself but it's nice she at least finds the idea of her hurt offensive. "It's an old injury or condition ?"

Calanthe's face screws up into a worried scowl, and she turns, swiftly leaving the kitchen in the direction of Marigold's chambers.

don't make me think you're decent Gwen thinks.

Bluebell peeks up from where she had ducked behind a stack of pots when Calanthe came in. "-I- liked the pizza. Any my body is a temple." She says to Gwen.

Gwen says "Bluebell, is she going to yell at Marigold about this? Make her feel liike dirt?"

Bluebell strokes her ears nervously, like one might play with a ponytail. "No?"

"Shit" gwen says

And she looks tempted to leap after then says "I have to finish these chores or THAT will be used as an excuse to go after Marigold" A frustrated sigh, "Thanks, Bluebell, I'm glad you like pizza. Sorry about the bread. Marigold told me but I guess I need to practice"

"Beauty is on the inside." She says, serenly. "And the rolls are fluffy and good, especially with butter and honey. There are some who all the hives in all the gardens could not sweeten."

...in another wing...

Calanthe bursts through the door to Marigold's suite - a suite it is, though humbly decorated for comfort and use rather than ostentation - and finds Marigold within, reclining back with pillows and placing a playing card on the table between her and her guest, Baroness Nadeen.

"So here I would double the contract, or Coinchée, and as my bidding partner you could Re-contra before the fourth pass... " Looking up, Marigold smiles at the Chancellor. "Oh, Calanthe. Did you come to play a hand? I was just teachign the Baroness how to play Belote." Naming a card game very popular in France.

"I confess, I had never heard of it before now, but I'm quite enjoying the lessons" The baroness says as the Dame enters in "Dame? Is there an emergency? You burst in without knocking so I am worried"

A frown shot at Nadeen, but Calanthe remembers herself and bows to her, if a bit stiff and perfunctory. "Baroness."

Moving to the bedside - "Marigold, I was told you were injured? What happened?"

Marigold sighs and sits up straighter. "I tried to tell everyone this is just a big mishmash misunderstanding. I just need to rest this darn hip until the cold snap passes."

A small, high-heeled stomp from Calanthe. "You... you stubborn- recalcitrant- mule of a steward! How can you do this to us?" Her voice angry, but her expression... worried?

"You are a bit stubborn, Marigold , wonderful, but stubborn" The baroness, for once agrees with Calanthe "Lord knows you deserve a day off though so no harm on our end really, but for your sake I do wish you'd consider that operation. I know a wonderful surgeon in Rivervale. Mind you, he's a cardiologist but he might know someone"

"She won't consider the surgery - and it's practically routine these days" Calanthe gives Nadeen a look that is frustrated.

"And despite being injured, you'll work yourself to death and then leave us with no one!" Calanthe snaps. "All because your pride won't let you hire anyone to help? The hold has grown, for better or worse, and you still think you can do everything on your own? Maybe it IS time for you to retire."

"I'm still spry enough to send you to bed without your supper if you push me on this." Marigold warns Calanthe. "It wasn't so long ago that you were knee high to a grasshopper and here you are, backtalking your own nan! You should be ashamed."

The Chancellors cheeks flush at the scolding - and in front of the Baroness, at that!

At that, the baroness puts a hand down on Marigold, "You're not my nan, though I hope I am becoming a friend. And while I think retiring you is.. too far even if it was meant to protect you, a little help shames no one. Why Hearth Kerri has her 'embers of the Hearth', and apprentice squire, and Sally Mae a kinian who cooks quite well also who aid her. It gives her time to focus on other duties or planning and yes, the needed day off. You would still be head of the kitchen" a glance to Calanthe "And I think it's an excellent idea ,Dame to get her help. But I think she should have a hand in picking her assistants? don't you agree?"

Calanthe's eyes glint a little as she looks at Marigold. "You know that I could order you to see a doctor and do what's best for you." A hand raised. "A snap of my fingers, and you'd be trotting down to the clinic. Or rather, limping, since you let this go so long."

Marigold does not seem to take this threat as threatening. "Aye, that you could. And even if I was willing to have someone operate on me - and I'm not saying I am - it would be weeks of recovery. Heatherbalm can help heal the wound, yes, but they said it might be months of therapy before I could walk, and that's in perfect scenario. Months! This place would fall apart. Even with help..."

"Don't forget that the freehold's fire does cause natural healing at a supernatural rate" Nadeen says, though she looks curious "So perhaps.. not so many months. I wonder"

"Would some sort of brace help?" She asks

Marigold frowns. "See, this is the sort of fuss I was hoping to prevent. I'm here to serve and take care of you, not the other way around."

Calanthe considers. "Perhaps Miss Willy could advise? Granted her work so far has been tailored to beasts, but she may have some ideas on how to better outfit a fae..."

"or know someone who does" Nadeen says as if she didn't hear marigold

"Perhaps there is some wisdom in consulting a fae doctor, or a doctor known to fae." She allows, giving credit TO the idea without quite giving Nadeen credit FOR the idea.

Marigold, "Don't think I don't hear you talking over me-

"I fear that having pushed herself too hard, Marigold should rest. Let us not tax her with the details."

"Yes. I will get a list of candidates... as Reeve I suppose out reach falls into my duties " then another nod and yet she still doesn't seem to register the boggans' protests "Oh definitely not. I think rest, and perhaps hot linemnts on that hip"

Then she turns "Oh, Marigold. Shall we continue our card lessons for me?" Endearing smile "or do you want to nap?"

"Oh, no, you all go on then." In a big of a huff. "Nice to see you ladies getting along for a change. Go and play."

Nadeen fights a smile , it would not help but her eyes twinkle "As you say, Marigold."

And she rises and moves with Calanthe out if the Aili is going. Or she stays if she doesn't

Calanthe heads out, perhaps a hint of haste in her step to exit before Nadeen, but it is smoothly done.

And awaits her in the hallway.

A door is closed behind them "She is stubborn"

"If we wanted to, Silverwolf would have a reputation for the finest mule in Apples."

She frowns though. "Marigold's hip has troubled her before, but she refuses to see a doctor about it. She went once, a few years ago, and came back insisting he was a quack and snake-oil salesman, and it was just arthritis."

"Could it be something unpleasant happened with the doctor? That he was unprofessional and this bad incident affected her?" A frown

"I think she just didn't like the answer. She's getting older and these mortal bodies are not immune to the ravages of time." A hand runs down her own side, as though to reassure herself that yes, her OWN host is still trim and strong. "And that she would need to relinquish some of her control. Nearly as proud as an Ailil of her ability to handle everything herself, in her way." A touch admiring.

"You care for her, more than you let on normally" The Baroness says "It looks good on you" A thought "I think she must see it as her being head of the kitchen, for Pride's sake as you say. I think she must pick them out but she might delay until the horn of doom calls if she gets a chance"

Calanthe bristles a little, but then smooths back down. "I suppose she is somewhat of a weakness to me. She's as much a part of Silverwolf as the very manor itself. She's been here since before Aiden came to his Baronial seat. Perhaps I am soft on her."

"I was thinking it was a strength" Nadeen says earnestly, "We unseelie are creatrues who know Passion need not be separate or secondary to duty, but rather a fuel to the fires of duty. It is that passion that has made you among the premiere falconeers in all of Apples"

"Hm." She nods - not displeased. "We must find a way to make this seem her idea. Else even the finest candidate she may reject outright as a sign of her being weak in needing assistance."