All characters belong to Karen Chance, I am simply borrowing them for the purpose of this fic. Enjoy xxxx
"Dorina!" Mircea bellowed as he marched after his daughter. He grabbed her arm and spun her to face him. "Dorina, will you listen to me for one minute?"
Dory jerked her arm from his grasp. "What?! What is so important that it can't wait until tomorrow? I just want to go to bed." She sighed, exasperated.
"Lady Cassandra is coming tonight." Mircea said softly.
"And? I already knew that." She looked at him curiously. "If you had something to add to the consul's announcement, then why not do so during the meeting? Why only tell me?"
"Because this doesn't concern the other senators." Mircea sighed in frustration. He gestured towards his quarters, then followed as Dorina walked in their direction. He didn't speak again until the door was closed behind them. "Let's sit." He led her to a lounge where a servant was setting out tea.
"What is going on?" Dory demanded when she noticed the set up.
"We need to talk." Mircea settled into a chair and gestured for her to do the same while he poured them both tea.
"About what?" She asked warily as she sat and accepted a cup f tea.
"About Lady Cassandra."
"Ok." Dory settled more comfortably in her chair and took a sip of her tea. "What about her?"
"Mainly the fact that I married her." Mircea stated bluntly, then sat back in his chair to wait for his daughter's reaction.
Dory nodded slowly, looking into her teacup. "You married the Pythia." She spoke slowly. Mircea continued to watch and wait. Finally she looked up at him, "Guess you really traded up, huh?"
Mircea sighed again and sat forward with him elbows on his knees. "Dorina, I loved your mother." He paused for a second to let that sink in. "I wouldn't have married her if I didn't and I married Cassie for the same reason. If anything marrying her has made my life more difficult." He smiled wryly. "But then Kit does often tell me that I've always had a thing for difficult women." He muttered as he sat back; giving Dory more space to process what she'd just heard.
"So basically what you're telling me is that I'll be meeting my new stepmother tonight." Dory said slowly.
"Yes." Mircea replied firmly.
Dory, once again looking into her teacup, nodded absently. Suddenly her head snapped up to meet her father's eyes in a hard stare. "How old is she?"
Mircea gave a small resigned smile and quietly answered, "24."
"24. Right." Dory went quiet for a moment, contemplating all she had been told then unexpectedly perked up. "So when do I get to meet her?"
Mircea chuckled quietly. "I've arranged for us to have dinner tonight before the Senate meeting, we will be going from there to the meeting so please dress appropriately."
Dory looked down at herself then back at her father. "What is wrong with what I'm wearing?" She demanded.
Mircea raised an eyebrow before speaking, "Nothing if you were going hunting, but a Senate meeting and especially an audience with the Pythia requires something more noteworthy. When you go back to your room, you'll find a few new additions to your wardrobe – all of which are appropriate for you to wear this evening. I'm sure you'll approve." He added with a smirk.
"Fine. I'll wear a ridiculously expensive and impractical dress." Dory grumbled, "But don't expect me to like it." She added with a glare.
"I have a feeling you and Cassie will get along quite well." Mircea noted, standing up. Dory did the same and he gestured towards her room. "Go, get some sleep. I will see you this evening." Dory simply nodded and left to do exactly that leaving Mircea to sit back down and finish his tea in quiet contemplation.
He was still sat there a few moments later when a hand settled on his shoulder and a voice murmured, "If you want to find answers in your tea leaves you'll have to finish drinking the tea first."
"Dulceata." He smiled.