#baronyofthesilverwolf

Marigold may feel a bit silly as the Baroness, of all people, tells her to drink ALL the glass

"Every drop, please" Nadeen explains

It might be a sign of how much it is needed, that Marigold meekly obeys without a complaint. Well, HARDLY a complaint, other than, "You have so much going on right now, you shouldn't be worried about little old me." As she drinks.

"You are a loyal servant of Silverwolf, you are exactly the sort of person I should concern myself worrying about. A ruler who ignores her subjects is no leader."

"I would argue that I was packing lunches for adventures, yes, and GOING on them, long before your host was even born..." She smiles, and finished the glass. "But I suppose the best I can do it keep you from worrying by listening."

"Yes yes, you were a vivacious exciting young headstrong wilder. And now? You are a wiser but still vivacious and exciting grand dame who has learned dignity"

A few creases around her eyes lighten, and she straightens up, moving a bit easier.

"You're a magnificent Chef, but I think maybe flo should do more leg work for you if we can't find you some assistant"

"Flo has been a blessing. I simply don't think I could handle things without her any more - at least, not the parts up and down the stairs." She allows, a rare moment of admittance. "But your and the Lord's chambers are up, and I most certainly cannot neglect the inner rooms of the Freehold (Library, the Balefire itself, which are downstairs, more secure than the main level). "I feel a bit rude to accept it from a guest, but Madern has been a help as well. He is young and spry, and willing at that."

"Is he now?" A pause "mmm I think perhaps we should extend his stay then. After 3 days he won't be a guest, so he'll need to earn his keep. Sounds like you have a means for him to do that." A curious look "I wonder if we can install an elevator? No I don't mean just so you can work, you're a part of this hold and you should not be denied access to levels just because of stairs. Until then... yes, put Ernie to work in whatever capacity you deem fit. We'll have him earn his extended stay. He is no fledge, after all. As the keeper of our purse, you and Julius anyway, you may pay him a reasonable wage though as he has room AND board it need not be extravagant. What do you think?"

"An elevator? CERTAINLY NOT." She is FIRM! "For one, it would ruin the flow of the manor, the antique style, the vintage decor!"

"And for another... you KNOW that Miss Thistle would not be able to resist it..."

"if not her, then Wudlig!"

Nadeen almost feels contrite, then alarmed "They wouldn't be able to resist it, would they?"

A hand pressed to her chest. "I don't think my heart could handle it." She laughs, but is serious.

"After all, it's not that I can't go up and down, I'm no invalid YET. It's just that up, down, up, down, with mop and bucket, laundry basket, ladder for cleaning the lintels, hauling up and down the blinds for shaking out, airing the rugs, several trips a day, that takes it's toll."

There is more to keeping the manor in tip-top condition than the Lady had realized! It just... always seems pristine, but perhaps there's more to it.

"And that's not even taking into account the weekly deep cleaning, floor polishing, scouring, wiping down the walls and baseboards... Flo is a blessing indeed, she doesn't balk at all at hard work..."

"Inventory, sorting the pantry, stocking, planning, shopping..."

"Mending, darning..."

"I knew about the inventory and shopping" She says but she is embarrassed that there's so much she didn't realize

Marigold blushes. "Oh, dear. Listen to me going on, It's NOT a complaint, you understand!"

"Well then," Reclaiming some kind of highground "THen my instructions on Madern make sense then don't they? ANd no you weren't complaining. I Wanted to know what needed covered. "

"Right now, I think the poor boy feels a bit adrift, understandable, he just plopped off the silver onto our doorstep. It may be that he's helping out so he doesn't feel obligated, I do fear the poor boy is Seelie as they come. He may not be interested in a job, much less for this sort of work. It's what many boggans call 'thankless endeavors' - a misleading term, but it covers so much that everything NEEDS doing, no one thinks about, and isn't.. well, there is no glory in scrubbing the toilets, even in the King's own Court. And I assure you, Kings make use of the same facilities as everyone else."

"I know" She says "I was fostered by Kings" A bit of amusement there at her word play

She laughs, a long, belly laugh, tears even at the corners of her eyes a bit. "Bless, I only wish m'lord had heard that..."

A soft chuckle of her own "It was rather good wasn't it? " She actually gives the woman a hug "Marigold, you gave me a chance when it would have been easy not to. I am not seelie, but I am still capable of gratitude. If there is some form of compensation you think needed to lure Madern or anyone else you approve of to these often thankless but always neccesary tasks let me know. For though, I am less concerned with him than you. And I saw that not as an slight to your health, but because I care for you more period. So rope the boy in unless he's unsuitalbe in your eyes. "

"Well, he does seem to have a talent for making due. That is, he scraped together an entire pasta bake when I was out shopping, and scarely scraps left in the kitchen. It was basic, but he has skill. He could be a true asset for a hold that doesn't have a lot to go off of, but even for a well appointed one like ours, it shows initiative. I'll chat with him, it did sound like he didn't have much of a home to return to, none he wanted to speak of. Oh! He spoke of a friend, lost during the Storm. A pretty little butterfly pooka. I know you asked me not to gossip if I could, but I really would like to put out feelers to help find her for him."

"Right of rescue, yes, put out feelers. We'll make overtures to whatever hold she may have found shelter in. And I hope she has found a hold for shelter"

"Ah, and you might wish to offer Linnea a raise. We have allowances to do such in accounting, of course, but it might mean more if it came down from you or Aiden." She chuckles softly.

A tilt "Is this about the hair thing?"

"Rather, I'd say, just make extra sure she would be seduced away from Silverwolf." A sly smile.

She leans in, now in gossip mode! "Not to say that you should try to curtail what she does on her own time, but more oft than not, her clothes have come to the wash smelling of the forge... and not Willy's, I'd bet. Willy, after all, doesn't seem partial to sandlewood pine cologne..."

"And not just that, I've washed Linnea's linens for years, and never before did she have..." Marigold is wicked, showing no shame in sharing details of the GASP lacy underthings that have recently been added to Linnea's wardrobe. Tame, to many, it's certainly nothing truly risque, but downright RACY for the quiet Troll!

She listens then blushes but smiles "Yes," A whisper "I do worry I'll lose her yet. But if I do it would be one I'd be bitter sweet happy about. I fear I'm not a very good varich. Far too much enyoment of romance. However, yes. Some form of compensation so she can meet someone like a 'chief' on more equal footing... though I don't want to offend her sister and.." Then the linens talk starts, and her eyes widen "Really? I never knew she liked 'blushing peach' as a color"

"It's nothing compared to Bluebell, say.. she generally hand-washes her own delicates, but I mistook an item for a headband, and she claimed it as underthings! There's more fabric in a roll of dental floss!" Marigold tacitly does not bring up Nadeen's own things, which likely fall somewhere roughly between Bluebell's wantonness and Linnea's blushing maiden on the chart.

Indeed, Nadeen is a bright girl and realizes that her own bedroom outfit, which she has taken to calling 'The Dragon Tamer' has probably been noticed by the boggan too, "A bit narrowing is too harrowing for me"

"Well, Bluebell has less to fill said fabric." Looking over Nadeen appraisingly. "Some ladies need more support, in the bust. Linnea, for example, though she has yet to explore past these sportswear tops. I am sure that anyone who is granted a glimpse would be gracious and kind to her, but, oh, they are not lingerie."

Amused at something "Perhaps the Chief feels like he's crossed a goal line and scored?" Wicked

"Perhaps, not a raise... but if you were to, mmm, invite Linnea on a shopping trip? Now, you might need to not share some of the details of WHERE you will shop, but it cannot hurt for her to know you support her, she can stay with Silverwolf, have her cake and smooch it too?"

"I think you have an.. no, you have SEVERAL excellent points"

"A shopping trip with Linnae sounds idea. I know just the place to. Czarina of the Evening Apparels "

(Fade to plotting and gossip)

"...Thane Danica?"

Muppet tags along if he isn't told to go.

Thane Danica is relaxing. Or, as close to relaxing as she ever is - there is a cup of coffee by her, and she's looking over paperwork from a comfortably shaded spot on the wraparound porch, which she was see anyone approaching the manor.

The nocker is hard to miss - rainbow voile, neon hair, and...

There they are.

Thistle rubs the back of her neck. "Uh.. Thane?"

One can practically hear the creaking as she looks up and over at Thistle. "Yes?" Eyes scanning past the girl, on the alert.