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Drabbles
04. Roxanne of Haryse
Alanna, the First Adventure
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September 431
Corus
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Roxanne slammed the door to her chamber closed and threw herself on the bed, succumbing to a wave of tears. She had been at court less than a fortnight, and she had already been humiliated.

She ignored the knock on her door but was not surprised that her sister came in anyways. "Roxanne?" Wilina asked.

"Please go away," Roxanne told her sister, still weeping.

"You know I can't do that," Wilina said, crossing the room to sit on the edge of the bed. She arranged her skirts around her legs, smoothing a hand across her pregnant belly. The young Duchess of Queenscove was expecting her first child in a matter of weeks. That was why Roxanne was at court in the first place. As Wilina grew closer to having her babe, her husband had insisted that she get plenty of rest. This meant retiring early from court functions, and sometimes skipping them altogether. Wilina had written to Roxanne, asking her to leave Haryse and keep her company in the capital.

Now Wilina rubbed Roxanne's back as she cried. "What happened?" she asked gently. "Baird said that you were dancing with Squire Gary when he left."

"I was," Roxanne said bitterly. "He asked me to dance three times. Then we went for a walk in the gardens. He kissed me."

Wilina raised her eyebrows but did not comment on the kiss. "It sounds like you had a lovely evening. Whatever could have happened to bring on such sadness? He didn't try anything more, did he?"

"The kiss was enough," Roxanne said hotly. She sat up and took her sister's hand. She was getting to the painful part of the story. "After our walk I told Squire Gary that I was going to retire for the evening. I got halfway back here before I realized that I had forgotten the shawl you lent me- the one that belonged to Great Aunt Juliana.

"I went back to get it, and Squire Raoul was paying Squire Gary ten nobles. I heard him say that he hadn't really thought that Squire Gary would actually kiss me." Roxanne couldn't tell that part without dissolving into fresh tears.

Wilina's eyes blazed in anger. "They were betting?" she cried, getting up as quickly as her large belly would allow. "Betting? On someone's feelings? How dare they?!"

Roxanne watcher her sister pace back and forth across the room as her tirade continued. "Of all the most despicable, mean, disgusting things they could do!"

Wilina's husband, Baird, poked his head in the door. "Is everything alright in here?" he asked, though it was clear that everything was not alright. Wilina gave her husband a rather unladylike summary of what had happened to her sister, while Roxanne tried to pretend that she wasn't there.

"I am sorry that you had to experience that, Roxanne," Baird said. "It's a rather unfortunate part of dealing with boys that age."

Wilina rounded on him. "Did you participate in this sort of gambling at someone else's expense?"

"I did not," Baird said placidly. "But there were other squires who did."

"Well, they're despicable," Wilina said.

"There's nothing we can do about it," Roxanne said. Wilina huffed at her.

"I'll be damned if I'm going to let my son grow up to be such a pig. I refuse to raise him in a world where that kind of boorish behavior is acceptable."

"What will you do?" Roxanne asked. Wilina's face had a smile on it that Roxanne knew from experience never meant anything good. She had worn the same smile when they were children and she had convinced Roxanne that it was okay to sneak into their mother's jewelry box and don all of her fanciest pieces. They had lost several of them as they played outside and had earned a strong tongue-lashing that day.

Baird also seemed to be familiar with this smile. "What are you thinking of doing?" he asked his wife warily.

"I'm going to tell his mother," Wilina said, sounding very pleased with her plan as she turned towards the door.

"My dear, you're not wearing any shoes," Baird said, but Wilina only huffed again as the ninth bell of the evening rang.

"The Duke and Duchess always retire at this time, and they have to pass near here to get to the Naxen rooms. If I go right now, I can catch Duchess Roanna and have this settled," Wilina said, robe trailing behind her as she left.

Roxanne looked at her brother-in-law, who just sighed softly. "Come along," he told her. "We won't change her mind now that she's in this kind of a mood, but we can certainly try to contain the damage."

As predicted, Wilina was able to stop Duchess Roanna in the corridor. Wilina was already explaining herself when Baird and Roxanne caught up to her, but her tone had changed. This Wilina was proper and respectful. She may be passionate, but she understood the appropriate way to speak to someone to get things done.

"He did what?" Roxanne heard the Duchess say as they approached. She felt her face heating up.

"I am very sorry to be the bearer of such news, your grace. I do not mean to tattle, but I started thinking about how I would feel if it were my own son-" Wilina paused here to cradle her belly "-and I knew you must be informed."

"Indeed, Duchess Wilina. I am grateful that you told me. Rest assured my son will be getting an earful from me, and much more from his father." Duchess Roanna's eyes traveled over to Roxanne. "I am very sorry, Lady Roxanne. You did nothing to deserve being dishonored in this fashion. You should expect a formal apology from my son on the morrow."

Roxanne swept into a curtsy. "Thank you, your grace."

"I hope you sleep well." The Duchess turned to Baird and Wilina. "Duke Baird, Duchess Wilina," she said with a deep nod.

"Good night, your grace," they chorused together.

Wilina fell into step beside her sister on the way back to their rooms, linking their arms.

"Thank you, Wil," Roxanne said. "You are amazing. There's a reason you are everyone's favorite Haryse sister."

"Stop that," Wilina scolded. "We are both prizes, and don't you forget it. Someday you'll find a man- a real man who loves you- not like these petty boys who don't know who to treat you as you deserve. Until then, you always have your big sister to look out for you."

Roxanne smiled, resting her head on her sister's shoulder.

...

Squire Gary arrived to see Roxanne just after breakfast the next morning. He was holding Great Aunt Juliana's shawl. Roxanne insisted that her family stay, so Baird read a book near the fireplace, and Wilina took up an embroidery project nearby.

The squire looked properly abashed as he made his apology. "It's been brought to my attention- quite emphatically, actually- that my actions last night were somewhat less than appropriate. I am truly sorry if I caused you any discomfort, Lady Roxanne."

Wilina snorted over her sewing. "Are you sorry for what you did or are you sorry that you were caught?" she asked, ignoring Baird when he cleared his throat as a reminder that she should stay out of it.

Squire Gary looked from Roxanne to her sister and back, blinking slowly.

"Well?" Roxanne asked, borrowing some of Wilina's sass and courage. "I'd like to know the answer to that."

Gary let out a thoughtful sigh. "I guess I didn't think you would take it so seriously. It was supposed to be a gag."

"Well, it wasn't funny at all," Roxanne told him. "I understand exactly what happened. You and your friends were looking to have a little fun. You were right when you said you didn't think. You didn't bother to realize that I am a person and I have feelings. Your actions cut me, and I bled. I thought you truly liked me."

Squire Gary's eyes grew wide as she let all of the thoughts that had been tumbling through her head since the previous evening spill out of her mouth.

"I really am sorry," he said quietly.

"I'm willing to accept your apology, but there is a caveat," Roxanne said.

"What's that?"

"Never treat anyone like that. Not ever again. Do better," Roxanne said, fixing him in her gaze the way she thought Wilina might. "And make your friends do better too."

"I swear it," Gary said with a bow. He looked around uncertainly.

"I think you may go now, lad," Baird told him. Squire Gary bowed again, and nearly ran from the room as he made his escape.

As soon as he was gone, Roxanne burst into tears, sinking down next to Wilina. She was so relieved that the conversation was over.

Wilina set aside her sewing and pulled her sister into a hug. "I am very proud of you." Roxanne gave her sister a watery smile.

Baird looked between the sisters with a bemused look on his face.

"What?" Wilina asked.

Baird smiled. "I'm just thinking that the court might not be ready for the two of you together."