[Naria is... a lot better about her emotions and anxieties. Oh, she felt the anticipation, the waiting for things to come to fruition, the chance for them to go awry, but she remained as icily calm as she could make herself be - turned out, when she was not immediately in the vicinity of her beloved princess, it was easier to compartmentalize her emotions.
She had sent a message with a private courier immediately after their meeting to the Marchioness with a personal request, and from there, it was planning. Maria always did like planning - putting her mind to work at piecing together circumstances that she would ideally like to happen, what she would settle for, and what she would avoid. And what she would do if something did go wrong.
She spent her entire trip back to Cainhurst writing out lists of what she thought she would need, paring them down by availability and, in all honesty, actual need. Eventually, the time came for her to pack her traveling trunk, and make the trek out from Cainhurst to Riverglen. She arrived a few days early; she had other diplomatic things to attend to, so her first day was mostly spent talking with the Marchioness, doing a little catching up, ensuring her letter had arrived, and thanking the woman profusely for her consideration. The Marchioness was more than willing to talk about how great of spirits she was in, partially because of her role in the hush-hush courting between Maria and Zelda, and how she was more than happy to allow something that irritated the king to conspire within her keep's very walls.
The next day was spent making sure her clothes were clean, pressed, and presentable; or rather, ensuring the servants were put to the task, as well as making the rest of the arrangements while Maria was out rubbing elbows with other nobles. By the day of the party, she bathed, dressed, and ready. Very early. She did what she could - writing missives, reading part of a book that she didn't absorb whatsoever, checking and rechecking everything. This would be a much more public occasion than usual for the two of them to be close, and she'd, quite publicly, ask for at least one dance. Let alone whatever happened when the party started to wind down and she stole the princess away.
Finally, however, it was time.]
"Presenting: Lady Maria, Viscount of Cainhurst." [The crier called as she stepped through the door, bedecked in the usual flair of Cainhurst Finery - of course, in a very masculine style. That was how Maria had operated for years.
And she made her way into the crowd. She would not seem over-eager to meet up with Zelda, so she said her hellos to the nobles along the way, no matter how long it took to close the gap. But, once there... she held out a silk gloved hand.] Good evening. Is your first dance this evening free?
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She had sent a message with a private courier immediately after their meeting to the Marchioness with a personal request, and from there, it was planning. Maria always did like planning - putting her mind to work at piecing together circumstances that she would ideally like to happen, what she would settle for, and what she would avoid. And what she would do if something did go wrong.
She spent her entire trip back to Cainhurst writing out lists of what she thought she would need, paring them down by availability and, in all honesty, actual need. Eventually, the time came for her to pack her traveling trunk, and make the trek out from Cainhurst to Riverglen. She arrived a few days early; she had other diplomatic things to attend to, so her first day was mostly spent talking with the Marchioness, doing a little catching up, ensuring her letter had arrived, and thanking the woman profusely for her consideration. The Marchioness was more than willing to talk about how great of spirits she was in, partially because of her role in the hush-hush courting between Maria and Zelda, and how she was more than happy to allow something that irritated the king to conspire within her keep's very walls.
The next day was spent making sure her clothes were clean, pressed, and presentable; or rather, ensuring the servants were put to the task, as well as making the rest of the arrangements while Maria was out rubbing elbows with other nobles. By the day of the party, she bathed, dressed, and ready. Very early. She did what she could - writing missives, reading part of a book that she didn't absorb whatsoever, checking and rechecking everything. This would be a much more public occasion than usual for the two of them to be close, and she'd, quite publicly, ask for at least one dance. Let alone whatever happened when the party started to wind down and she stole the princess away.
Finally, however, it was time.]
"Presenting: Lady Maria, Viscount of Cainhurst." [The crier called as she stepped through the door, bedecked in the usual flair of Cainhurst Finery - of course, in a very masculine style. That was how Maria had operated for years.
And she made her way into the crowd. She would not seem over-eager to meet up with Zelda, so she said her hellos to the nobles along the way, no matter how long it took to close the gap. But, once there... she held out a silk gloved hand.] Good evening. Is your first dance this evening free?