Once upon a time, the world was much dumber and more stubborn than it was in 1813. The nobility and royalty had gender specific primogeniture. In most cases, it meant that the first-born son of any family would inherit the bulk of the estates and the title if it were hereditary. In some cases, the law took this a step further and stated only males could inherit in any circumstance; they called this Salic law. This meant that if a King did not have a son, then his brother would inherit, even if he had a daughter who had a son. If the King had no brother, then a male cousin. If he had no male cousin, they would keep going back through the male line (of course stopping at the original title holder) until a claimant was found. Obviously, it could potentially go on and on with the line of claimants getting more convoluted, and one could argue the legal claimant was no longer tied to the original title holder by blood. The issue of inheritance has led to wars, and male preference primogeniture, or male only primogeniture, overall was not an effective way to inherit.
In the few kingdoms where a woman could inherit, she would inherit in name only as the laws made it so her husband was the title holder. This made it so the family name would cease with her, and in effect a new dynasty was created. It made no sense to those that valued their blood and name.
In 1713, King Eric of Westerly saw his neighbor King Henry III of Auroria appoint a shepherd boy as his heir, who then married Henry's only daughter, Leah. All to comply with a silly law that said women couldn't inherit under any circumstances, even when the king had absolute rule and could literally choose a commoner as his heir…as long as they weren't female. It was made further convoluted when the reason Henry chose Stefan was to try to take over a neighboring land. King by assassination of a political rival was one of the more creative reasons to pass on a crown, but again there was nothing anyone in Auroria could do about it since Henry was king and the law gave him that power. The ensuing war caused by the Mad King Stefan (as history would later know him as), former shepherd boy, between Auroria and the Moor made King Eric rethink his own kingdom's laws. He only had the one daughter, he himself was an only child. In fact, his line had a habit of only having one child. Since he only had a daughter, then the crown would pass onto whomever Melody married. In order to find a male claimant if he chose to pursue that option, he would need to canvass the history of his family tree, going back several generations and then soliciting distant cousins he had never met and were so far from the royal line they were commoners.
As they saw with "King" Stefan, what would a shepherd boy or any commoner know of ruling a kingdom?
King Eric saw his daughter as more than capable of running a country, she was raised royal after all and came from an impeccable royal bloodline. She was of his blood and had a family name that went back ten generations. Why should the proud family name cease to a lesser noble? He had no interest in merging his country with another if Melody should marry another prince or king. Westerly was its own proud nation and he had no interest, neither did his people, of being absorbed into another kingdom as a province.
If King Henry could appoint a low born commoner to his crown, then why could King Eric not give it to his royal daughter? Who would gainsay him in his own country? He was the king after all.
King Eric's gambit paid off, as he had several nobles also in the same predicament. They agreed with the sentiment that their blood and family name was more important than the tradition of male preferred primogeniture. It also turned out that nobles who did have multiple children, liked the idea of giving their second born sons the opportunity of a life outside the church or military. Why should second sons not have the option of a family on a comfortable estate?
Despite the hemming and hawing of the traditional minded, some first sons liked to not have the lingering threat of their younger brothers murdering them for their titles and money, if they could pursue a wife with such. Some first-born male heirs were then given the option to fall in line if they were rakish, or elsewise shirking their duties, or else lose their title and money to a sister. Others were glad to be rid of the weight of inheritance, as their passions lay elsewhere.
After Princess Aurora made peace with Maleficent of the Moor, she too agreed that she should be Queen of her own country and with the backing of the powerful Moor and Westerly, there was no one to tell her no. Maleficent I was made Protector, a title created for the land of the Moor and became allies instead of enemies.
And so with time, other kingdoms followed suit and equal primogeniture became law throughout the land. Females were elevated as heiresses, the social season changed along with it.
It was now the Heirs and the Debuts, each on the prowl for a spouse in the cutthroat race to the alter.
The Aurorian social season was supposed to invoke thoughts of spring and new life. Where Debuts would flutter about like butterflies in their colourful finery, in hopes of catching the attention of an Heir.
Carlos de Vil thought it was more of a hunting season and he didn't know if he were predator or prey. He certainly felt hapless, confused, and ready to bolt; nervous under an heiresses' gaze as he was appraised like a prize horse.
He stood on the fitting platform, his outfit for the first ball of the season getting hemmed for what seemed like the hundredth time. It seemed every time he thought he was done, his mother changed her mind and altered the design.
Nothing seemed good enough since his mother found fame and fortune, he had yet to find his place in their new life. He had all the trappings of a wealthy gentleman: the huge house on the outskirts of town, suit after suit in every imaginable fabric designed by the premier designer of London, and a dowry to rival a child of a duke. Even with all of that, Carlos felt he didn't belong and instead of heading towards the alter he felt he was heading towards the gallows.
His cousin Ivy, however, was the consummate huntress and was determined to be the first de Vil Debut to bring a title into their family. Every Debut wanted the prestige of marrying within their first season, Ivy had her sights set on the highest title that could be had by a well to do common family.
Carlos was technically the heir to Cruella as her only child, and it was her talents both in fashion and business that brought the de Vils to the cusp of the ton. They were a vastly wealthy family that started in the fur trade. They had everything except a title. They certainly had the favor of the Queen, Auroria II, but being a fashion juggernaut and wealthy did not warrant a title. Neither Cruella, Cecil, nor P.H. were about to go on a military campaign to bring glory to their family and earn it that way, so their next option was to marry into the nobility.
To Cruella's disappointment, Carlos did not have an ambitious bone in his body and was not as his cousin Ivy to prowl for an entitled Heiress. He took after his mother's cousin and was considered too well read and interested in topics that "confused the thoughts."
Carlos made a note to ask cousin P.H. how exactly had he gone for so long as to not marry. The previous de Vil matriarch, Malevola, was a frightening woman to behold and had led the family with an iron fist. She had died before Carlos was born, but the family still told stories of the notorious matriarch. P.H. again seemed to escape the confines of marriage with Cruella in the lead.
Whatever the secret, Carlos needed it if he were to escape marrying some heiress who would treat him as nothing more than a seed packet. Or to spend his life pretending to care for some insipid empty-headed woman who had more money than sense. He was not meant for high society life, and he wouldn't trust any heiress who pursued him for his sizable dowry as most heiresses would want someone actually from the ton. Any debutante that needed money meant they were likely spendthrifts. He did not want to be used as a personal piggy bank.
He didn't know why Ivy was so indifferent to being used in such a way, but he was not a desperate social climber and refused to be one.
Sometimes he wished he was as empty-headed as his cousin Diego, who did not seem to care about catching an heiress and neither did his aunt Cruella or his father Cecil seem to have any faith in him to ensnare one. He was left to indulge in sweets and stare off into space. Whatever fluff that filled Diego's head kept him content and Carlos envied him for it. Diego was merely dressed as a doll would be, placid and indifferent. Not wanting to waste a single season, Cruella decided all three would be introduced into society at once. The matriarch could not count on the Queen's favor forever as royalty could be fickle. It could potentially be their only season so she would make the best of it. While no one thought Diego would impress anyone, there was always the possibility of an heiress with a small title and several seasons under her belt that was desperate for a spouse. Or perhaps even a widow at the end of her prime that still hoped for at least one child.
Cruella had higher aspirations for Carlos, but just barely.
"As long as you keep quiet and don't bore them with your readings, I'm sure there's at least one moderately well titled heiress who would have you," Cruella had told as she compared fabrics against his skin tone, clearly not entirely impressed with what she saw in her son but determined for him to be dressed as best as she could do and money could buy.
Carlos was used to such criticism since he had hit puberty, he learned to simply nod his head and smile. Although part of him was glad his mother's hopes had rested in Ivy, he couldn't imagine how much more of his time would be spent primping and trying on different clothes if they thought he had an actual chance to snag a countess.
The ton was dismissive of Debuts. They were to sire or birth heirs and not much else. While Ivy and Cruella gushed over fine fabrics and dreamt of a noble life in gargantuan estates in the country, all Carlos could think about was the myriad of unhappy couples talked about by Lady Magnolia in her scandalous society papers.
Shamed Debuts that were accused of being barren or impotent, humiliated amongst their peers for supposedly "failing" at their one duty. Why anyone would want, much less run towards it like his family, such a life escaped Carlos.
Lady Magnolia was a smart businesswoman, assuming the writer was indeed a woman, and in any other circumstance Cruella would have admired the writer's ingenuity. Lady "M" as she was popularly known around the ton, had given her society sheets for free for the first few publications. Once the ton had found out that not only were the subjects written about with their full name, the information had been damning and therefore entertaining and worse still, by all known metrics true.
Even when Lady M started to charge an entire bronze rosette, the ton threw money at the delivery boys and couldn't get enough. There were even rumors, confirmed by Lady M, that the Queen paid an extra silver rose per publication in order to get the sheets up to half a day earlier than anyone else.
The entertainment was a double edge sword, those who laughed in the morning could be ruined by the evening.
Cruella raged that the de Vils had not been mentioned other than as "the Queen's current favourite dresser" and nothing else. From then on, Cruella was determined for her family to make their mark. The best designs of course went to the Crown Princess Audrey who was expected to take a husband that season.
The second best would go to Ivy, and Cruella tried her best with Carlos and Diego. While Crown Princess Audrey was the prize of the season, his mother was not so delusional or ambitious to think a titleless family could aim for royalty.
They couldn't even reasonably aim for higher than an earl or countess. Any title higher they risked courting a morganatic marriage and there was simply no point if the Debut nor their children could not inherit the title.
"We don't want to end up like that wretched Chad Charming," Cruella warned her niece as Ivy admired herself in the three paneled mirror.
Lady M's latest sheet spoke of the who's who of the season and which balls they were likely to attend. According to P.H., there were already bets in the parlors of who was likely to be betrothed first. Carlos was an avid reader, and the scandal sheets were the only material his mother wouldn't snatch out of his hand during fittings.
Chad Charming was the son of Cinderella and Christopher Charming. The latter the Duke of Charmington.
The sad case of Chad Charming, no title to inherit from his father as his mother was and still is a nobody. Marriage cannot make common blood blue. The scandalous marriage of the Duke of Charmington and a scullery maid employed by the small estate of the late Lady Tremaine, still has tongues wagging all these years later. "True love" may have won the heart of a Duke, but the morganatic marriage could not produce an heir.
Carlos thought morganatic marriages were dumb and particularly cruel.
Married is married, what does it matter the difference in station?
He knew the real answer was that it was to deter penniless commoners from seriously entertaining the idea of rising so far above their station and seducing an heir, and soft-headed heirs from marrying so far beneath theirs. Old money became old by jealously protecting it through marriage to the "right" people.
If not for the Queen's favor and Cruella's own vast wealth, any marriage a de Vil would procure would be considered morganatic.
Money forgives a multitude of sins, including the ultimate trespass of not being born in the ton.
The ton could smile politely and acquiesce to the lowest of their ranks accepting a commoner as long as they brought wealth and esteem.
Cinderella had brought neither and no one could wrap their minds around one of the highest-ranking peers in the neighboring kingdom of Auradon marrying such a lowly commoner.
Poor Chad, if he had been borne of any woman of rank then he would have inherited two dukedoms as Charminton's brother, the Duke of Weithershire, has so far had no issue of his own and after 16 years of marriage does not look to ever sire an heir. Unable to find a wife as an Heir and the scandal of his parents' marriage still on the tongues of the ton of Auradon, Chad has opted to delegate himself as a Debut in Auroria and gain a title through an Heiress. Of course, the most delicious gossip my Dear Readers is that the Duke of Charmington is quite canny. He knows he cannot give his title nor the Charming seat of Leverre Palace, but what he can do is sell off vast tracks of his own land to his brother and coincidently buy equal amounts of land at cost, build an even grander manor, and bequeath all of his money to his only son.
The title and estate are entailed to each other, the land and money are not if given away before the current Duke passes. Whichever Charming cousin inherits is going to find themselves bereft of everything but the house and title.
I foresee a bloody fight and cannot wait to tell you all about it.
Carlos rolled his eyes and couldn't fathom getting excited about a possible civil war between families. He couldn't fault the Duke, however, as the man clearly loved his wife and son and he found a clever loophole within the law to provide for them as best he could. It did leave the next Duke of Charmington essentially cash impoverished as without the land, there was no way for the next Duke to generate the money needed to maintain the estate much less the dignity of his new title. It certainly must have enraged the nobility of the Auradonian ton, as the Duke had found a way to circumvent the social punishment for marrying so far beneath his status and hobbled the next Duke.
There was no way for the next heir to support himself, so Carlos hypothesized that they would have to sell the estate and be content with whatever they could purchase with the proceeds. It essentially diluted the prestige of the title. Carlos was certain it made some heirs and heiresses nervous. Charmington had created a blueprint to destroying the future of a title holder.
Charmington had done nothing illegal; as the current Duke, the land was his to do as he wished. There was nothing that forbade him from selling the land and then purchasing it in kind and not tie it to his title. The money was his and could give it away at will. Carlos did suspect if Auradon had enough issue with it there might be some new laws in parliament very soon. There was little, if anything, the next Duke could do about it and it'd be years before the heir could have a claim to challenge, if there was anything to challenge. If the next heir wasn't obvious, the Duke was probably dragging his feet to find out. The potential heir could be ignorant of the title they had a right to and would be doubly surprised. Carlos wasn't shocked Chad had trouble finding a spouse in Auradon, the Duke had basically alienated his family even further.
Convention and the law forbade the Duke from giving his son his title, but Chad would be a duke in all but name if he had the lands, money, and a manor equal to one.
However, Carlos was well aware that to some, it was the title and only the title that really mattered.
Dear Readers, it has come to This Author's attention that we will have the rarest of Heiresses to grace London's social season. The ever-elusive Maleficent Bertha Diavalla Hadias Lefay, Marchioness of Connel, daughter of Her Grace, the Protectoress of the Moor Maleficent Angelina Marcheline Jolie Lefay III.
Lady Connel oft goes abroad with little known of her activities, but This Author always uncovers the truth. Her Ladyship has spent the better year in Westerly, enjoying their renowned black sand beaches and living the Bohemian life of an artist. She seems little interested in gaining the Protectorate, much to the consternation of Her Grace. Connel has barely engaged in any social season since her majority, perhaps being spotted for a mere hour at Her Royal Highness's, the Crown Princess Audrey's ball to open the social season. It seems the only thing to move Connel in the past is her close friendship with the Heiress to the Throne.
As the second highest ranking bachelorette Heiress in the Aurorian ton, one meagre showing at the first ball of the season was enough to have every Debut clamoring for her attention. However, most are reasonably put off from her artistic and Rakish lifestyle. While the allure of future as Protector Consort is an irresistible prize for most, knowingly volunteering to be a cuckold is not. Most Debuts rightfully refuse to be father in name only.
It seems Her Grace has finally lost her patience with her wayward daughter and we should expect Lady Connel to appear at most if not all balls this season. Whether or not she will deign to name a Marquis Consort is yet to be seen.
Crown Princess Audrey sat primly in her study, reading over Lady M's latest publication and was quite annoyed to read that her dear friend Mal would be attending London's social season instead of merely showing up to her ball in a fortnight. Normally she despised scandal sheets, but Lady M was less insipid gossip and more insider information. The Crown paid handsomely to get this information far in advanced. While Lady M's identity remained unknown, the Crown was prepared to detain newsboys and shut down all known printing presses in the entirety of Auroria if something written was damning enough to the Royal Family. Audrey was certain Lady M was well aware of this, and while they let through harmless, if not embarrassing, exposés of the Royal Family, anything truly damaging would have to be dealt with. It seemed Lady M knew how to walk the fine line. Audrey convinced her mother to allow the rag to continue as it did give them the edge when it suited them.
Such as to expect royalty from the neighboring kingdom, which they had not yet received a letter, but Audrey expected such within the coming days.
Lady M was a social freebooter, but her information had yet to be false.
"What are you reading?" a familiar voice suddenly appeared right beside her ear and caused the Crown Princess to flinch in surprised. Heart pounding, Audrey turned to see her dear friend had returned.
They were such close friends that Audrey had no qualms about rolling up Lady M's publication and smacked Mal right in the head.
"Don't do that," Audrey gritted out, decidedly unlady like. "And how are you in this room without announcement?"
"I'm the Marchioness of Connel, do I ever need announcing? Don't you just feel my noble presence as soon as I step into the room?" Mal prowled the study like a lazy and spoiled housecat, finally lunging herself onto an ornate couch across from a similar one Audrey sat, and made herself at home by laying on her back.
Audrey rolled her eyes and would have words with her pages. Mal was her dearest friend, but they ought not to let her best friend be obnoxious.
"I'm reading Lady M's latest publication. It would have been nice to know you'd be around for the entire season."
"Technically I've been around for the entirety of the last three seasons…" Mal didn't even deign to look at her, she opted to admire the intricate carved gold leaf rose moldings on the ceiling.
"Skulking about the libraries, out of sight, refusing to even dance much less talk to anyone does not count. Nor is showing up long enough to have witnesses to report back to your mother then leaving for those ghastly 'artist dens.'"
"Audrey, we really ought to run away. Going to these social events we hate so much cannot be good for the humors," Mal had turned her head to look directly at Audrey, her eyes uncharacteristically serious.
Audrey always got a thrill when they used their first names with each other, such informality unheard of in the ton, much less the royal court. It was their own form of rebellion, how pathetically minor it may be. When it was just the two of them, they were Mal and Audrey; never Connel or Your Royal Highness or Ma'am.
It was an impossible childish fantasy they still held onto, the courage to run away from their responsibilities and future. Mal would be an artist, paint and sketch from sunup to sundown; partaking in lovers without the pressure to wed one of them and produce an heir.
Audrey would breed horses and own a stable. She would live a simple country life where she would converse with horses more than insipid courtiers who would always play power games and the never-ending search for more wealth or higher titles.
Reality would always set in because no matter how much they may romanticize the commoner life, they knew deep down it was better to be wealthy and secure than poor. They may complain but they all dance to the tune of societal norms, and knew it was better than to be left out in the cold.
Mal hated the balls and social gatherings of the ton, but she did come crawling back time and again when her allowance ran out. Then there were their lands and people, for better or for worse they were the chosen stewards, and it was their job to take care of those under their rule.
"Say we do run away, what happens when Hadie is made Protector then gambles or spends the inheritance away?"
Mal petulantly frowned and hated when Audrey appealed to her honorable side.
I just want to be a hedonistic libertine artist, is that so much to ask?
But apparently Fate thought it was, as she was the only child of the current Protector and the next potential heir after her was an idiot spendthrift with an addiction to gambling, although Mal would frame it as an addiction to losing as he had never won anything substantial.
The Moor was known for its fertile land, healers, and seemingly unending precious gem and metal mines. The war with Auroria and the Moor 100 years ago was first waged because King Henry, and later King Stefan, wanted those lands and her great grandmother, Maleficent I disagreed it was theirs for the taking. After years of unnecessary loss of life, Maleficent I had come to a peace treaty with Aurora I. They had both deposed Stefan and crowned Aurora the first Queen Regnant of Auroria with the backing of Westerly. The Moor had become a Protectorate of Auroria and Maleficent I became the First Protectoress of the Moor, with precedence right after the Royal Family and independence to oversee the laws and land, only owing fealty and taxes to the Crown of Auroria.
The bounty of the Moor and its people could easily become completely undone with an unwise Protector. The people in her employ, the tenants of her personal land, and general public of the Moor did not deserve to have their livelihoods ruined and their future in doubt. There were still nobles in Auroria that had agreed with King Henry and King Stefan, and clamored to rescind the Moor's independence and have it come under the complete purview of the Parliament of Auroria.
The First Maleficent had instilled it into her heiress and every Protector since had strong beliefs in being conservators of the land. The Moor had strict environmental laws that forbade any mining company, owned by the Protector or otherwise, from simply ravishing the land and leaving it desolate after everything had been taken. There were plenty of examples even in London the detriment of industry coming before the people. The workers in the Moor had rights to a safe and clean environment. They also believed in a thriving wage, not just a living one. It made the Moor a most popular area to immigrate to. It caused resentment in the surrounding lands as Auroria and even Auradon had to mimic those laws and wages to remain competitive or accept lower quality workers or a deficit of workers in general.
Maleficent I and every Maleficent since had never budged from this and Mal would not either. Her idiot cousin, however, with his high debts could easily be swayed to cut corners and exploit their people in order to maintain his reckless lifestyle.
Mal knew it was illogical to resent her cousin for not being the responsible heir she did not wish to be, but that had never stopped her from resenting Hadie before. She had no doubt by the time he could be convinced to marry, his inheritance would be wasted, and she had no intention of supplementing it, no matter how wealthy she was and could absorb the cost several times over. Her mother wouldn't tolerate such a wastrel, and neither would she.
She would find out his debt to the last copper rosebud and then donate twice that amount to the Royal Orphanage of the Moor and the Healer's Guild, with a charity ball where he would be the guest of honor. Then she'll marry him off to an older titled Heiress with sense that would keep him in hand.
He could either swallow his pride and marry to save himself from poverty, or he could try to maintain his dignity with selling his small estate and dishonoring the family further. He was of the cadet Lefays, so no one would blame Mal for not indulging in his vices and letting go of an estate she did not need. He would lose the name Lefay as he'd be marrying as a Debut, but again he was not a merit to his House and Mal thought he didn't deserve it.
From Mal's sulky frown, Audrey knew she had gotten through to her friend.
"I don't even have idiot first cousins to leave the throne to, we'd have to start from my great, great grandfather King Henry...and that would mean my 5th…6th?...cousin would inherit. I am sure the current Schöneblume agrees completely with equal inheritance, and they are not still bitter about losing the throne."
Mal made a sardonic face that mimicked being sickened by the idea and ignored Audrey's sarcasm. If leaving the Protectorate to Hadie was a foolish idea, pulling from the cadet branch of House Dornröchen would be a complete disaster. Hadie was simply a wastrel and could be taken care of with a prudent marriage. The Dornröchen's of Schöneblume were dangerous political rivals. Charles, Marquis of Schöneblume, King Henry's cousin had understandably resented not being named heir when he was passed over for a shepherd boy. There was nothing he could do about it since the King at the time had absolute power and could name any heir he wanted. Stephan's claim was sealed when he married Princess Leah.
Charles had tried to lay claim to the Aurorian throne stating Aurora had no right to claim it herself as laws older than the throne stated no female could be regnant. He had attempted to marry his own son to Aurora, therefore combining the claims. Aurora I had no intention of marrying her second cousin nor giving up her hard won power. With the backing of the Moor, Westerly, and later Crown Prince Phillip of the Summerlands which later merged with Aurora when they married, Charles had little choice but accept the new Queen and laws.
The current Marquis of Schöneblume never spoke out loud his personal beliefs of whether or not he was the true heir to the throne, but no one would trust him as far as they could throw him. Audrey had no doubt that if the Schöneblume Dornröchens were allowed power, Auroria could see a return to not only sexist inheritance laws, but the revocation of the constitutional monarchy.
For the good of the people, stability, and safety of the land the line could not be broken.
No matter how much she may have begrudgingly accepted her place and her duties, a little bit of Mal died whenever she thought of marriage.
"Marriage is the death of passion and happiness."
Audrey rolled her eyes and wondered where such dramatics came from, it certainly wasn't from her mother.
"Did you spend time as an actress while you lounging away in Westerly? There's no need to be so dramatic."
All Mal did in response was stick out her tongue and Audrey was certain Mal was too childish, but still a better option than Hadie, to be Protector of the Moor.
"Well," Mal had perked up optimistically, taking Lady's M society papers from Audrey's hand, "the ton knows of my…colourful reputation. I'm sure I can avoid getting shackled down for another couple seasons."
Audrey's eyes narrowed and she voiced a suspicion she's had for some time,
"Mal, if you're Lady M I'm going to have you tarred and feathered."
The Marchioness barked out laughing, Audrey hoped these uncouth mannerisms would fade away by the time the season officially started,
"If I were Lady M I would have ruined Pacifica and then that pain in my arse would be shuttered away in the country forever."
Again, Audrey found herself rolling her eyes at the childish rivalry between Mal and Uma, formerly Viscountess of Pacifica. But it did remove her suspicion that her friend was the author of the scandal sheets. She knew Mal well enough that the Marchioness would not be able to refrain from quickly getting petty revenge against her rivals. When she really thought about it, Mal was also never around the social events because she hated them so, her artistic friend would not put herself through balls, promenading, or picnics in order to be witness to the gossip.
"The Duchess died a few months ago, she's Atlantica now," she told her friend solemnly, knowing her friend had been abroad and likely not paying any attention to the news at home.
Mal softened a bit, as much as she did not like Uma she wasn't so bitter and resentful that she'd take cheer at such a sad circumstance as Uma had loved her mother, Ursula.
"I'll be sure to send my condolences and flowers."
"Expensive ones," Audrey stressed. "Preferably Moor rainbow roses, the ones that shift colours. And perhaps with this bouquet, you two can put aside your childish rivalry?"
"She's the one that started it."
"You did dishonor her brother, Zevon."
"I didn't dishonor him, he dishonored himself. He could have turned me down. I offered a night of passion, not marriage."
"To Debuts they can mean the same thing."
"I doubled his dowry and found an acceptable match, I don't know what more people want from me."
"To stop despoiling their brothers."
"I make no promises," Mal smirked.
Audrey knew she couldn't expect more, and it wasn't like Mal was any better or worse than most Heiresses. She had money and access to tansy tea from the Healer's Guild, who could blame Mal for having fun before she was tied down by marriage? It wasn't like Audrey didn't have her own lovers, although she was better at being discreet and minding their feelings.
Audrey might be considered a rake in some minds, but Mal was a Rake: capital R and most Debut's parents steered their children away from her.
"Well, now that Atlantica has inherited her duchy she is in search of a Duke. So, no throwing shrimp on her head."
"I won't as long as she doesn't push me off a pier."
"Fair enough."
Nadine FéeMarraine, newly created Viscountess of Stellashire by royal decree, sat at an ornate desk with crisp white paper from Northern Wei. The Letters Patent granted her the title and lands worth ten thousand gold roses a year for the maintaining of the dignity of her new status. She wrote correspondence upon correspondence, her day filled with writing letters to the entire ton, it seemed to her. The work of a landed peer seemed endless.
Work on her new country estate had begun, which she had dubbed Star Hall. The builders estimated it would take around two years to complete, in which the FéeMarrains would spend living in their London abode, the newly refurbished and renamed Stella House. The Viscountess had plans to travel abroad to enjoy her new wealth and to start collecting furnishing and art to decorate her new seat. She wouldn't be able to completely fill Star Hall in her lifetime, but she had hope that her daughter and grandchildren after her would create a lasting dynasty. Perhaps even obtaining grander titles in time.
One of her first purchases was to commission a portrait of the family that would sit in their grand hall of their estate. Every family of worth had portraits done, in a year she would commission another one of just herself, the first Viscountess of Stellashire.
With her new land and tenants, in addition to her position in the House of Lords, she would not have time to be a Physician-in-Ordinary to Her Majesty any longer but one of the Physicians Extraordinary that specialized in diseases of the mind. She had been granted her title for her work in helping the late Queen Mother Briar Rose, she had eased the pain of the elderly royal in her last years and her mind was clear. Queen Aurora had cherished the time she had with her mother and was grateful enough to grant Nadine her title.
When her mother had approved of her going into medicine, Nadine knew becoming a member of the peerage was beyond her wildest dreams. She only wished her mother had lived long enough to see her daughter rise so high.
Nadine would see to it that her daughter and heiress, Jane, would live up to their new status and that started with finding a proper husband. The future wasn't secure unless there were children, and with her new title and money that meant the world was open to Jane in ways it had not been open to her. Jane would be an Heiress, and that meant second sons with large dowries; money that would help safeguard the FéeMarraine name.
She knew that season would be difficult if Lady M's society papers were to be believed, and she did believe them. Not only was Crown Princess Audrey supposedly seriously considering marriage, but the Rakish Marchioness Connel. Her poor Jane might have to look among the third sons or even wealthy common class.
Well, a wealthy Buccaneer still brings a large dowry and their roses are just as gold.
Besides the highest peeress and the Crown Princess, there was still competition from other Heiresses who came from titled families many generations gone who would be considered before her Jane. Prestige came with time, and she wouldn't hold back her daughter from a sensible match as long as the Debut had an impeccable reputation and a worthy dowry.
She thought of how shy her Jane was, the girl prone to fits of high-pitched hysteria whenever overwhelmed. With her help, they have mostly gotten the nervous tic under control, but Jane could lose control in embarrassing and inopportune times. She needed to be realistic as to her daughter's prospects, aside from her social shortcomings, Jane could not be considered a beauty; however, that was not as detrimental as Jane was an Heiress and not a Debut.
Perhaps it would be better to choose from the commoners, they wouldn't get airs about themselves or ideas of overtaking the marriage.
It had been a century since absolute primogeniture had become common practice, but there were still some men who thought they were naturally the head of the family and rights to the title. It was her name that would survive, and it was Jane's birthright, she would not allow some upstart second son take it away from them.
While Nadine contemplated her daughter's future, it never once occurred to her to involve her in those considerations.
Despite absolute primogeniture equalizing the sexes in the eyes of the law, inheritance still was not kind to second born children, even less so to those born of second marriages.
The Honorable Evie von Weither, daughter of Magnus won Weither, Earl Tabor was the second daughter and not in line to inherit anything. At the death of the Earl, his first daughter from his first marriage, Snow White, became Countess Tabor. The title, money, lands, and everything would be under her purview. Ravenna, Dowager Countess Tabor, would be left with nothing but her jointure and could only stay at Wunderschön Castle, the seat of von Weither, at Snow White's pleasure.
It was Snow White's pleasure to kick them out of her home before their father's body was even cold, but Evie saw that coming from a league away.
Ravenna and her stepdaughter never got along. Evie was never told the specifics, but over the years she suspected it was a mix of Snow White resenting her father remarrying, and Ravenna never quite being content with the level of luxury the earldom had provided. Evie blamed her mother as she was the adult and should have made more efforts to court the favor of the heiress. Ravenna knew the law just as every other citizen of Auradon. The first-born child inherited everything. She wasn't sure what her mother thought would happen, perhaps she was caught off guard as the Earl had died suddenly and she thought she had more time to gather enough wealth to see her through her remaining years.
Perhaps she thought Evie would have had a grand match and would simply live with her, a seamless transition.
Fate had decided to make Snow White a countess much earlier than expected, and Ravenna and Evie were currently staying in what she thought was a lovey cottage on the estate of her Aunt Freya.
Ravenna, however, thought it little better than a hovel the way she complained.
"I can't believe my sister, my own flesh and blood would sweep us away to this shanty…with only two servants for our use."
Given that her jointure could only afford accommodations maybe half the size of the cottage, in a much more remote village, and not even one servant, Evie knew her Aunt Freya was being more than generous.
Evie was rather good with sums and had gotten her hands on her mother's bridal paperwork. Ravenna received a dowry appropriate for the second daughter of a baron, and the late Earl had given her a jointure that would have provided her a comfortable life as a dowager countess. Unfortunately, her mother was a spendthrift and had lived beyond her means and depleted her dowry within a few years of her marriage and had also taken credit out of the original jointure. Currently, once all of her debts were called in after the death of her father, their funds were not as robust as they could have been.
A point of contention between Snow White and her father had been his inability to confront his wife on her spending. The Earl was too enamored with his wife's beauty to reign her in. Evie remembered several loud fights between Snow White and Ravenna, the heiress felt her father's wife was in danger of leaving the estate in bankruptcy.
Her mother had raged when they had moved out, but Evie was secretly pleased that Snow White had refused to release her dowry to her mother although it was at the bare minimum amount that was socially acceptable. She was certain her mother would have badgered her father into giving her something above their station. Evie didn't blame Snow White, her half-sister had the estate to run and couldn't just throw money about; especially not in the state Ravenna had left them in. She wasn't close to the Countess, the 14-year age difference on top of Ravenna being her mother didn't encourage sisterly affection.
As much as her mother claimed to love her, Evie was certain that if Ravenna had her hands on her dowry, by the time she found a match it would have been gone and she humiliated in front of the entire ton.
"That ungrateful miser aside, you are beautiful enough to make a splendid match," Ravenna never down and out. "Someone wealthy that can keep you in high fashion, with an estate with a mother-in-law wing…"
"with lots of mirrors," she had heard this enough to be able to finish her mother's sentence. She simply smiled and went along with her mother's thinking. There was no reasoning with her mother, only managing.
"That's right dear, my beautiful Evilette."
She didn't know where her mother's manic obsession with mirrors came from, and Wunderschön Castle had been littered with silver and gold gilded looking glasses from across the world. They were beautifully wrought, and Ravenna had collected them like most people collected portraits or artwork.
In order to spend outside the limits of her own dowry interest and pin money, Ravenna had purportedly used funds set aside to decorate the castle. That made the mirror collection property of the estate. Snow White had every right to keep and sell them for her own purposes. Instead, once the debt Ravenna had incurred for the estate had been paid off, whatever mirrors were left went with Ravenna. Evie was just thankful that silver and gold had gotten more valuable, as the frames were what was worth anything.
Of course, a castle full of mirrors could not fit into a cottage, so Ravenna took her favorite one—a huge almost wall sized gold monstrosity that looked more shield than mirror—that lived in her bedchamber and the rest were put into a trust and were sold whenever her mother got cash strapped.
Evie wished she could convince her mother to sell all of the mirrors, budget her money wisely and even put off her debut into society for a year or two, give them enough time to get their bearings. But alas, her mother saw her future marriage as a monetary opportunity and was spending money, that rightfully ought to go to her Aunt Freya in rent, on her wardrobe for the season.
Luckily, Evie was quite talented with a sewing needle. She convinced her mother to buy only a few dresses, she secretly unstitched dresses she had grown out of but still had perfectly reusable fabric and would make "new" dresses before her mother got a chance to purchase any more. She was a clever enough seamstress that she could rival designs from even the popular de Vils. She would tell her mother that she had taken initiative and would pocket the savings for an emergency. Something she was certain would happen sooner or later with her mother's uncontrollable spending habits.
Evie had her own ambitions for a wealthy match. Not because she wanted to live in luxury, but to get control of her own financial future. As a Debut, she would not have total control, but she'd be out from under her mother and that's what mattered. She would put her foot down and her mother could either live comfortably in the estate of her husband with the budget she gave her or try her luck with her Aunt Freya.
It was only a matter of time before Ravenna spent herself into actual poverty, Evie just had to get married before then.
Dear Readers, This Author's pen reaches across kingdoms. Mr. Chad Charming, no title to be had, will not be the only Auradonian to grace the Aurorian social season. He will be accompanied by none other than the Crown Prince Benjamin. Some might commend the prince for supporting his dear friend, but This Author has been told it is because His Royal Highness also seeks a wife. Is there a shortage of appropriate Debuts in Auradon? While I know the Debutantes of Aurora are some of the most beautiful in the land, This Author believes it is to find Debutantes who are not aware of the scandals of the Auradonian Court.
Of course Dear Readers, This Author never disappoints. It is said that the Crown Prince Benjamin had made some poor choices of State, which involved Anxelin, Princess Royal of Corona. The foreign princess had been made privy to Auradonian affairs and had even been given executive power…all before there was even an engagement! King Adam had taken his son in hand and Princess Anxelin had been sent packing back to Corona post haste.
Does King Adam hope his son will find a more appropriate Debutante in Auroria who knows their place?
Jay lounged on a chaise on the veranda of Mal's bachelorette accommodations in Neverland Square. Lefay House in the heart of London was the height of luxury and had more than enough room to house her, but it was also still technically her mother's house and the current Protectoress of the Moor could drop in whenever the mood struck her. Mal preferred her privacy and didn't need yet another lecture about marrying well.
Jay al-Gina was the only son of Jafar, the Grand Vizier of Agrabah; the second most powerful person in the kingdom. He liked to travel and being the Agrabi Ambassador to the Moor gave him ample opportunity. He and the Marchioness had similar tastes and outlook on life, both uninterested in marriage. He didn't have such a dramatic view on matrimony as his friend, but he didn't see the need for it. He had no desire for children, and titles didn't work the same way in his kingdom as it did in Auroria or the Moor. The difference was that he had lucked out that his father had no such plans for him and didn't seem to care what his son did. He was certain Jafar had some limit, but so far Jay had not reached it. His father was all but Sultan in name, his life had always revolved around Agrabah. If the law allowed for Amira Fatima to marry a commoner, he was certain Jafar would have pushed him towards the Sultan's granddaughter.
Currently, Jay was wealthy and free to do as he wished. He would accompany Mal to her balls and socialize, it was what good friends did. At the end of the season, they had plans to visit Northern Wei. They had to make the most of whatever time she had left before she would be shackled down by family and her responsibilities as heiress to the Protectorate.
He read Lady M as every member of the ton did, and he got secondhand embarrassment reading the gossip of the Crown Prince of the neighboring kingdom. It was a rather mortifying scandal, to be one of the most powerful people on the continent and publicly so incompetent.
What could the prince be thinking?
It made Auradon look weak, and it didn't bode well for the future of their monarchy.
Mal walked out to the veranda and strutted across his view. She showed off the newest fashion of Westerly, women's suits. It was still traditional for women to wear dresses at all times, but if Mal endorsed wearing tailcoats then Jay was certain it would catch on. It was a perk of being one of the highest-ranking peers in the land. They led the fashions; it was never dictated to them.
She wore a deep purple vest with black floral scroll work under a black velvet tailcoat. The pants were tailored perfectly to fit her curvy shape. While pants and tailcoats were traditionally men's clothing, there wasn't anyone alive who would confuse the Marchioness as anything other than an impish siren. He was rather impressed with the black pointed toe shoes that had matching scroll work and a daring heel. They almost looked like weapons and gave Mal a dangerous air.
Mal's purple hair was done up more traditionally with intricate plaits, with a few curls on the side to frame her lovely high cheekbones. Her hair pinned with the family emeralds and matching parure set of choker necklace and earrings, and a new emerald tie tack on her black silk puffed tie, and emerald cufflinks to a crisp white silk shirt to add to the collection.
He rather liked the idea of family jewels that could go to either gender. His ears felt rather bare and perhaps he could invest in a ruby earring. Something small, the huge chandelier monstrosities that were popular might do well to show off wealth, they looked uncomfortably heavy and he didn't know how they didn't tear through the ears.
"Well, Marchioness Connel, you do take my breath away."
Mal smirked and nodded her agreement, she twirled to give him the full view of her outfit.
"Although I don't understand, I thought the plan was to repel Debuts from being interested? You're going to have them salivating."
"I think the Debuts of Auroria deserve a thrill. I'm sure their horrid consort parents will push them away with the latest Lady M's sheets and once I start talking about art beyond whatever simple water colours they do to pretend they have a personality, they normally go running."
"And what does her Grace have to say?"
"She said I must make an actual effort, but still seems benevolent enough to allow me the freedom to choose. She can't blame me for simply sharing my interests and the Debuts don't like it."
"And once there's still no wedding in several seasons?"
"Then once she loses her actual patience, I choose the prettiest and most desperate Debut that can't resist being Protector Consort."
"And live in marital and monogamous bliss?"
Mal snorted, the very idea ridiculous to her.
"More like pop out an heir and maybe even a spare, then pay a whore to tempt him and once he's caught we'll make an arrangement."
"Seems underhanded."
"I always have the hope that I find someone I can make an arrangement from the start."
"There's got to be at least one Debut who has a realistic expectation of marriage and an appetite to match yours."
"Those idiots in Auradon spread those ridiculous tales of 'True Love' and now it's all in fashion, making love matches."
It was Jay's turn to laugh,
"That could not come at a worse time for you."
She didn't appreciate his mocking laughter,
"I can dismiss you back to Agrabah."
"But you'd miss my pretty face too much."
"Is it too late to run away?"
"You'd be terrible at being poor."
"That is the truth, and Hadie would burn the Moor to the ground."
"In a fornight."
"Sooner, definitely within a sennight."
"It's so rude of him to be the irresponsible idiot when I want to be the irresponsible idiot," Mal continued, thoroughly put out.
"You will make a great Protectoress and any Debut would be lucky to marry you," Jay's sincerity cut through their levity.
She leaned into him and put her head on his shoulder.
"Thank you."
"So, it this for the Presentation Ball?" He wondered about her attire.
"No, that nonsense is just for the Queen and the consort parents. The real first ball of the season will be Audrey's a sennight later."
"Then why are you in formal attire?"
"I was feeling fancy tonight."
Raucous laughter erupted from the Ambassador, there was always joy to be found with her.
"Well, I'll get my own tailcoats on and lets hit up a parlor. I feel like getting drunk and getting my ear pierced."
"oohhh," she loved how adventurous he could be. "What are you thinking?"
"Something small, I have no desire to torture my ears with the anchors you attach to yours. Rubies."
"They are a pain but I do love the way they look. And red is your colour. Lets go."
Jay quickly, as quickly as someone with several layers of clothes could, got dressed and they were off to a night on the town.