Maria had never visited the Claes estate before, unless you counted that time she'd walked past it on her way to the Academy, which she didn't. She'd gotten an invitation from Katarina to visit during the summer vacation, but as she'd been going to buy sulphur at the time, she'd missed the opportunity.
They were expecting her and so after she arrived late in the morning, her horse was led away to the stables and she was taken to a sitting room, it was only a brief wait until her host was able to receive her. As she reflected on the luxurious accouterments of the Claes Manor she had seen on her way inside, as well as the finery in the sitting room she found herself in, she had to conclude that her own manor looked rather… bland. She had hardly stripped off the decorative carvings, pillars and wall paper, but the discolored places where she'd taken down what she considered pointless, useless or too Dieke for her tastes had been plentiful and obvious, even in just the places her visitors yesterday had traversed. While she was thankful they were polite enough not to mention it, Maria hoped she'd have a few sculptures up soon to get the place properly decorated.
When Duchess Claes entered, Maria stood and bowed. This was one of the most powerful women in the country, after all. Millidiana Claes, formerly Millidiana Adeth, second daughter of Duke Adeth of Hasard. She was a beautiful but severe-looking woman, who had all the poise, dignity, and quiet grace that her daughter constantly lacked except when she was wielding a sword. She looked like an older, leaner version of her daughter, without Katarina's muscletone.
Or, Maria noted, her wide, welcoming smile. Katarina smiled so muchthat it was often missed, but in her mother's face, Maria understood what she meant by having villainous eyes. Without Katarina's wide smile, the eyes that Duchess Claes shared with her daughter made her seem she was glaring, despite how smooth and neutral the rest of her face was. Eyes aside, she carried herself with a neutral, formal posture that in any other would have been polite, or even welcoming, but with her made her seem like she was mildly annoyed.
The unfortunate woman. Having a daughter like Katarina aside, the fact her own face always forced an aggressive edge to her interactions must make political deception difficult for her. That the duchy of Claes was so powerful, enough that one of their scioness' was fiancée to a prince, showed she had flourished despite it.
That or the Third Prince has always been a lust-driven idiot, but Maria didn't want to think about that, as it made her worry about the country too much.
"Thank you for accepting my invitation, Lady Campbell," Duchess Claes said once they were seated and refreshments were offered. "I regret that my husband cannot be here, as he is in the midst of his duties across the duchy."
"The honor is mine, your grace," Maria said, smiling to convey her sincerity. "Had I known, I would have been willing to come at a more convenient time."
"No, it is well that you come now. This meeting has been long delayed," Duchess Claes said. "On behalf of my husband and the House of Claes, I thank you for going to the aid of my daughter when she was taken so suddenly in the night. We are in your debt. As trying as she is, thank you for saving our daughter. Had she been harmed, my husband and son would break, and I with them."
"I was merely doing my duty as Student Council President and as a friend," Maria said. "Lady Claes should never have been left alone, and I blame myself for allowing the situation to progress as it did, that she was vulnerable to being abducted."
"Yes. As you warned us in your letter," Duchess Claes said. Even if her expression was neutral, her eyes made her seem intent and accusing, and after all these years Maria did not doubt that she was quite aware of their effect on people. "You advised that my daughter be given a bodyguard."
Once upon a time, Maria had sent an anonymous letter to the Duke and Duchess care of Katarina's maid Anne Shelley. It was when she had first realized that Katarina was, not to dodge frantically from the beastly disemboweling claws of the point, an idiot. One seemingly completely unaware she was surrounded by lustful people all seemingly competing to be the one to sate their lust for her.
Not that Maria quite phrased it that way, as calling two princes, the daughter and son of the Prime Minister, her Katarina's own brother, and some random Marquess' daughter lustful idiots, in a letter sent to a duke and duchess, would have turned out badly for then merely-commoner Maria Campbell. And for all the honor of the position, Lady Maria Campbell, Knight, wouldn't have fared much better.
"If I may your grace, may I ask when Miss Shelley revealed my name?" Maria said. "I requested to be anonymous."
"She conveyed your request for anonymity, but given the content of your missive, we had to insist," Duchess Claes said, and Maria nodded in acceptance. "However, she defended your intentions, conveying that you only possessed concern for our daughter."
Maria thanked Miss Shelley for obfuscating her avoidance of Katarina. She was baking the woman some cookies.
"I apologize for my presumption for sending it," Maria said. "However, what I had observed of Lady Claes up to that point moved me to inform you out of concern for her safety."
Maria paused to think of how she could convey this properly, then remembered it was Katarina they were speaking of. "Lady Katarina is a wonderful person," Maria said. "She is kind, friendly, and draws people to her like hollows to a soul. She possesses surprising knowledge of strangely practical fields. Her swordsmanship is an unbreakable wall that will punish any who try to challenge it. Any enemies who choose to set themselves against shall find themselves drowned in the endless waves of friends she makes just by being herself. But Lady Katarina, left to her own devices… is a naïve, childish idiot who would eat food off the ground." Maria had seen it happen, more than once. It was both distressing and mildly flattering that it was usually things that Maria had prepared.
Duchess Claes, rather than being angered, offended or outraged… sighed and looked pained, but nodded.
"I've tried to help her, to remind her what modes of behavior are expected of a noble, but… " Maria sighed. "She's Katarina."
"She's Katarina," Duchess Claes agreed, sounding tired.
"But when I sent you my letter, it was because I was concerned that someone would take advantage of her trust and kindness to isolate her and have their way with her," Maria said, getting to the point.
Duchess Claes looked very disturbed at the bluntness of the words. "Surely you overstate the risk?" Duchess Claes said. "After all, my daughter is many things, but alone is seldom one of them. Keith is with her at every free moment, she has her close friends Lady Mary and Lady Sophia at her side, and she has the personal attention of the Third Prince. You are often in her company as well, I hear."
"And she was kidnapped the moment that all of us were away from her for the first time I could recall," Maria said. "Once more, I apologize it became necessary for me to rescue her in the first place."
Maria saw Duchess Claes clench her jaw, the muscles standing out in against her leaner face, which lack the youthful plumpness that Katarina's possessed.
"And I suppose a bodyguard would have prevented that," Duchess Claes said flatly.
"It would certainly have served to deter," Maria said. "Katarina was kidnapped this time. Such was a time-consuming endeavor. If the kidnapper had instead chosen the path of isolating and defiling her–"
"Stop!" Duchess Claes snapped, and Maria fell silent.
Stillness settled over the sitting room.
Maria waited patiently, looking deeply into her offered refreshment and tried one of the offered snacks. She was proud to say she could do better.
Eventually, Duchess Claes said, "Katarina is the daughter of a Duke. Who would dare?"
"Are you familiar with the treatment of Lady Berg, fiancée of Prince Ian, scioness of the House of Berg?" Maria said.
Duchess Claes' lips tightened. Evidently she was.
"And the Third Prince is considered much more desirable," Maria said. "While it would obviously not work, can you not picture some desperate fool believing that the prince would not marry a dishonored woman and seeking to make it true?"
"I… see," Duchess Claes said, sounding as if she were restraining herself.
"I originally thought that Lady Claes was unprotected because she was a shrewd, cunning and intelligent woman who had surrounded herself with power in her rise as the hidden ruler behind the throne," Maria admitted. "And as such would know better than to be isolated."
Duchess Claes burst out laughing. At the shocked look that soon came over her face, her hilarity had been a surprise even to herself.
Maria nodded with a self-deprecating smile. "Yes. In my defense, I was young and ignorant, and thought that Lady Claes was trying to seduce me to add to her retinue."
Duchess Claes coughed, despite the fact she was not drinking anything, and stared at Maria. "I… can't possibly imagine how you could come to such a conclusion."
"Lady Claes was always close, physical, inquiring as to my romantic situation, offering the friends as viable romantic partners– including her fiancée," Maria paused as Duchess Claes slapped her hand on her face, "and behaved with… well, her usual Katarina impropriety. As a commoner who had heard stories of noble… improper behavior… I was naturally wary."
Duchess Claes sighed. "And I can't even fault you for coming to think such a thing. Katarina…" she growled.
"Please, do not hold it against Lady Claes," Maria said. "It was my own misunderstanding. As Lady Claes has never been in a communal institution of learning before, she likely was just excited to make new friends, and I in my ignorance took it poorly. I have of course since learned, but in my insight, I realized that she was much more vulnerable and endangered than I had initially thought, which is what eventually prompted me to write to your grace."
"And then your concerns came true," Duchess Claes said.
Maria nodded soberly. "And while some would learn to be more watchful after such an experience…"
"It's Katarina," they both sighed.
"That girl never learns," Duchess Claes said with bitter tiredness.
"I do not think she has it in her to learn of the evil and vileness hidden beneath the veil of propriety that society raises to make itself appear presentable," Maria said. "She shines, seeing the best in people and in so doing, people see the best in themselves, and act like it. It's as if they do not want to disappoint her by not being her radiant image of them, and so they at least show themselves as better people to her. But there would be those whose Dark Soul is a consuming abyss instead of a tranquil darkness. They would see her light and wish to snuff it out."
"I think you give my daughter too much credit," Duchess Claes said. "She still doesn't behave as a proper noble."
"True," Maria said. "But better an improper noble than an evil one. The former can be taught. Eventually. The latter… weighs all down."
"You are the only one who seems to have ever made her learn anything," Duchess Claes said. "Perhaps I am asking too much, but please continue teaching my daughter."
"Of course," Maria said. "Did I not swear to?"
Duchess Claes frowned for a moment before she blinked in realization. "You did," she said. "I apologize if I seemed to be impugning your honor."
"You care for your child," Maria said. "I would not be so petty as to hold that against anyone" except perhaps for that woman, Maria thought, "and I know full well what it's like to worry about Lady Claes."
For a moment, their eyes met, and they smiled tiredly, kindred souls on the same long, exhausting journey.
"Thank you for protecting my daughter," Duchess Claes said with honest simplicity. "Thank you for seeing she did not come to harm."
"It was my honor and my pleasure," Maria said. "I would wish to protect her at all times, but sadly time shines on, and responsibilities mount as the past crumbles like a delicate eggshell. I will soon no longer be around Lady Claes as often, and my ability to protect her will be curtailed."
"When that day comes, I release you from your oath with sad gladness," the Duchess said. "I ask only you remain her friend."
"For as long as she honors me with that admittedly common title," Maria said. "Will you be giving her a body guard, then?"
The Duchess frowned, and stared off to the side for a moment. "A part of me feels it is excessive," she said. "She will return to living here, after all. Who would threaten her without having to cross all the armsmen of the Duchy of Morpork and House Claes, who adore her as if she were their own daughter or granddaughter?"
Somehow, Maria was not surprised. This was Katarina's home, where the love for her would be greatest. "I understand you disagree with her engagement to the Third Prince?" she said tentatively.
Duchess Claes knit her brows at the seeming non-sequitur. "Yes…" she said hesitantly, eyeing Maria carefully.
"And he is aware of your opposition."
"I have often requested the engagement annulled," Duchess Claes said. "Katarina is too improper to be a princess of Sorcier, much less Queen. The prince is insistent on marrying Katarina, however."
Maria inwardly sighed. Even Duchess Claes took it as given the Third Prince would succeed his father. She really worried for this country, that he would seem an ideal candidate.
"I would, of course, not impugn his highness," Maria said, the accepted starting phrase for impugning his highness, "but I must point out that if Katarina should become pregnant with his child…"
There was a snap, and the Duchess Claes' cup fell to the ground, the delicate handle parted from it and clutched tightly in the Duchess' suddenly clenched fingers. The maids hovering quietly in the background proceeded to clean it up discretely as the Duchess fixed Maria with a horrified stare.
"It would, of course, be improper," Maria said as if continuing a line of thought. "And of course any noble lady would know better than to be alone with a man, even one as unimpugnable as his highness…"
There was a smaller snap as the handle broke in two in her grasp.
Maria fixed her eyes on the Duchess. "It would, of course, be unlikely to happen," Maria said. "The Third Prince loves Katarina too much to make her live with the dishonor of having a child out of wedlock."
Hope seemed to fill the Duchess' eyes, only for them to be snuffed out before Maria said a word.
"Of course," her grace said in heavy, Titanite Slab tones, "to correct such a dishonor, he must marry her, and quickly, before scandal arises… "
"You would know his highness better than I, your grace,' Maria said. "Would he be the sort to conceive such a ruthless plan to claim the woman he says he loves against all who would oppose him?"
"Achoo!"
"Oooh, someone's talking about you," his Katarina teased.
"Pardon?" he said.
"It's an Ashina superstition," she said knowledgeably, and he had to marvel at how much she seemed to know about their culture. It was as if she'd been raised there! "They say that if you sneeze, it means someone is talking about you."
He laughed. "Well, I hope they mean me well," he said. He leaned towards his beloved. "What other superstitions do they have in Ashina…?"
A handkerchief is thrust into his face.
"Your highness, please," Mary said with pointed politeness. "Don't just sneeze and put your face close to Lady Katarina, she might catch some sort of disease! For her safety, maintain social distance!"
"I apologize if I have distressed you, your grace," Maria said quietly. "Please, ignore the foolish rambling of one who is more commoner than noble. I am surely ignorant of many things that would easily reveal the flaws in my thoughts."
"Do not say such things, Lady Campbell," the Duchess said. "I will not allow insults be said of the gallant knight who rescued my daughter. Even by you."
"It is your domain, your grace. Your wish is my command," Maria said.
"You have given me much to consider, Lady Campbell," Duchess Claes said. "I would speak to you more, if you are willing. Will you join me for lunch?"
"It would be my honor, your grace," Maria said.
Somewhere, Katarina Claes felt a chill. It was as if, from some place, perhaps deep within, perhaps far off… heavy shackles that would have bound fell away.