regency au } { of dowries and marriage preparations

[impetere]

Stiles: [going to the main study where he has requested for both Laura and Peter to meet with him. He has a notebook open on the table as well as a letter from his uncle that he had hidden in his belongings about what Stiles was allowed to offer as part of a marriage contract without his presence in the negotiations]

Laura: [has left Amelia with her husband and is sitting on the couch, giving Stiles a small smile as he comes in. She knows what this is about, but she'll let him get it out all the same]

Peter: [and since this is technically still his study when he was in the manor, he is already there, relaxed in his chair by the fire.] So, Lord Stilinski, what have you gathered us here to speak on?

Stiles: [he smiles] I uh... I'm here to enter into negotiations for Lady Cora's hand in marriage.

Peter: [one eyebrow goes up, and he looks at Laura]

Laura: [smiles wider, because yeah, sorry Peter. Sisterly secret keeping and all of that] And we are glad to have you here.

Peter: It seems I am the last to know, then. I take it she has accepted your proposal.

Stiles: Yes, yes she has.

Laura: Cora told me as her sister, not as her alpha. She wanted to let Stiles request her hand officially.

Peter: Well then. It looks like we have a contract to draft. Will your uncle be joining us?

Stiles: I have his list of offerings in return for Cora's hand.

Laura: [straightens and extends her hand] Let's see.

Stiles: [and he will hand it over. It mostly talks about alliances, manpower in time of war. The bride taking the Stilinski name is a must as she will be responsible for continuing the family line with Stiles.]

Laura: Have you discussed some of these with Cora?

Stiles: No, I did not. I will admit I know what on this list is important and what is not, and I figured I would speak with her on it before I sign on it. I felt both of you would be able to help protect her interests in this.

Laura: The alliances and manpower are fine. If you marry my sister you will be pack and we protect our own. I also don't think she will have a problem with children. [eventually] It is changing her name that you will need to discuss with her.

Stiles: [nods] And if she is against it, I think my uncle will be satisfied if our children take my name.

Laura: [she nods] I think she would accept that. It is the not the same as with me, where Amelia will be the alpha in my place one day.

Stiles: Between you and Derek, there will be many heirs to the Hale name. I am the only one of mine, and it is the reason my uncle legitimized me as his heir. It's the one thing I cannot negotiate on without him.

Laura: No, of course. They are your children too, Stiles.

Peter: I believe Cora is aware of that. It was one of the terms in the contract with Lord Whittmore. Most women are under the understanding that their children will bear the name of the husband. Lord Parrish is not attached to the name he carries, so he did not have a complaint in Laura's case.

Laura: [she nods] I'm sure Cora will agree to one or the other.

Peter: So we will leave the choice of her name to Cora, but we can agree on the children. [he will walk to his desk and pull out a piece of paper] And while we are pack, we will always gladly appreciate the alliances and manpower. While we will probably not need it for a long time, you never know what the future will bring.

Laura: [she nods] Though we would probably wait to come out about the werewolf of it all until you are actually in control of the manor.

Peter: Which does bring up a very sensitive topic back to the children.

Stiles: [nods] I figured as much. I had been thinking about it, and Cora, and just knowing how close she is to her family. I don't want to take her away to live far from everything she knows and loves. And I spoke with my uncle about that during my last trip home. He... he does not believe that I need to be at the manor until such time that his health starts to fail. Yes, he will want us to spend time there and get to know the landowners and the manor, and of course wanting to get to know his great nephews and nieces... but we can remain for the majority of each year here in Hale Manor for many years to come.

Laura: Good. Not that we would have objected to you needing to take her to your uncle's home, but I would have anticipated a lot of travel for her if not for you as well.

Stiles: As you both have said, I'm pack. In the years I've been here, before and after my title... I've started to learn what that means. And these walls are more home to me than my uncle's. I'd rather our family be raised here myself.

Laura: Good. Are there any other concerns you want to address?

Stiles: I... am supposed to ask what Cora's dowry would be.

Laura: Ah. [she glances over] That is Peter's department. He handled everything with Jackson's family.

Peter: [and there is a long list of money, yearly taxes and both lumber and salt supplies. Land isn't an option since that was Laura's inheritance, but the return of alliance and manpower as needed.]

Laura: Hopefully that will be acceptable.

Stiles: [just blinks] Yeah, I believe that will be. We just…we just need to write it up and I can ask Cora about it to see if she is in agreement before we sign and send it to my uncle for his approval.

Laura: Perfect. [there's a pause, before she straightens a bit] Now, on our end, Cora doesn't want a lot of fuss to be made. While we understand that there does need to be some pomp and circumstance, do you think your uncle will be amendable to keeping the engagement party and wedding small?

Stiles: That I don't know. I am fine with it, but again, I'm the heir. You probably were not able to have much control on how that kind of ceremony was to be when you were to marry Daniel any more than I will be able to.

Laura: [she nods] Just ... ask. I'm sure she can manage being social when she needs to, but she doesn't particularly enjoy being the center of attention.

Stiles: I will ask for her. I may be able to only get one of the two. Perhaps if nothing else, I can get the wedding to be family only if the engagement party can appease those my uncle would need to.

Laura: [she nods] That would be amendable.

Stiles: I will do my best then. Anything for her happiness.

Laura: You will make her very happy, Stiles. I have no doubt of that.

Stiles: Thank you. You should see her smile when we're alone. It's beautiful - the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. [and he has a goofy smile as well]

Peter: [just smiling from where he is writing]

Laura: [she nods as she gets up] I'm sure you'll both be very happy.

Stiles: Thank you.

Peter: I will work on writing all of this up. Stiles, why don't you go speak with Cora on the name issue and you can tell me how to word it after dinner.

Laura: [she nods] And you can discuss anything else you're worried about with her too.

Stiles: I will. Thank you both. [and he will bow and take his leave to hunt Cora out]

Cora: [and he will find her in the library, curled up in a chair with one of the books he sent her]

Stiles: [and he will arrive at the library, looking to see if anyone was in the hallway before he slipped into the room] M'lady, I hope I am not interrupting.

Cora: [glances up when she sees him and smiles] No, not at all.

Stiles: [closing the door behind him] Your uncle and I have come to agreement on most of the terms in the contract. [grins]

Cora: [his excitement makes her smile, moving over so that he can sit next to her] What did he say?

Stiles: Well I got everything I wanted. [he sat next to her, going to kiss her] Which is you, for the record.

Cora: [her smile softens as he kisses her] Duly noted.

Stiles: Though there are a few things that we need to discuss.

Cora: What's that?

Stiles: Well, your sister said that you would prefer to have our ceremonies kept small and low key. I would not have control of that, but I can ask. If I can only get one - which would you prefer to have being smaller?

Cora: [considers for a moment before] The wedding.

Stiles: That was what I was thinking as well. But it was your choice.

Cora: [she nods] I can handle an engagement party. I'd want the wedding to be smaller.

Stiles: Okay. [and then he will lay out all the other stuff except the stuff about the names]

Cora: [which is fine, she remembers most of it from when she was engaged to Jackson]

Stiles: And then there is one other thing.

Cora: What is it?

Stiles: Your name.

Cora: What about my name?

Stiles: [takes her hands] My cousins will all lose the Stilinski name when they are wed, leaving me the heir to pass the name on. One of the things my uncle wants to insure is that when we are wed, we will be Stilinskis.

Cora: ... Oh.

Stiles: I think, if you do not wish to part with your last name... we can compromise with my uncle as long as any children we have will carry my name.

Cora: [she nods] I do not think the latter will be a concern, but I think I will need more time to consider about my own name.

Stiles: Well, I think we can give you until the wedding for that. I don't mind either way. You'll be my wife either way.

Cora: [she nods] Yes, I will.

Stiles: And... I have already agreed with my uncle that if you did accept my proposal... that until we were needed to take over the manor... that our family would live here for the majority of the year.

Cora: [her head snaps up, brightening considerably as she does] Really?

Stiles: Of course. After all, this is my home too. All my most precious memories are within these halls.

Cora: [she can't really articulate how much that means to her so she just leans forward and kisses him deeply instead]

Stiles: [and he will hold her, kissing her back just as deeply, keeping her close]

Cora: [she pulls back from the kiss after a moment, brushing his thumb against his cheek] Thank you.

Stiles: I did promise you that I would make sure you were always happy. I couldn't bear the thought of taking you away from your family. From our family.

Cora: [she nods, but still. it means the world to her] That doesn't mean I can't thank you.

Stiles: You're welcome. My love.

Cora: [she watches him for a moment, still unsure about a lot of things, but she shakes it off for now] Do you think they will want to have the engagement party at your uncle's manor or here?

Stiles: More than likely there so that those of importance to my uncle who would not be going to the wedding can meet you.

Cora: [she nods] That sounds fair.

Stiles: And of course your family will be invited. [grins]

Cora: I would hope so or there would be a great deal of protest.

Stiles: Oh, I don't doubt that.

Cora: But it makes sense, since the wedding would probably be here.

Stiles: Yes. And it will be wonderful.

Cora: I'm sure it will.

Stiles: And as I said, we can wait as long as you would like.

Cora: Do you think your uncle will be content with this?

Stiles: I will make sure he is.

Cora: [she nods slowly, before] It is alright if he doesn't want to wait.

Stiles: Are you sure though? Because as much as I would love to be married to you right now... I do not want you to do anything until you are ready.

Cora: [she isn't ready for a lot of things but she also doesn't want to make things hard for Stiles with is uncle either] I can handle marrying you. I just ... worry about certain ... expectations.

Stiles: [shifts a bit, holding her hands] What kind of expectations?

Cora: [pauses awkwardly for a moment] Do you know if your uncle will insist on ... insuring it's ... consummated? [because Derek put her in her head and now she can't stop freaking out about it]

Stiles: I don't know. I can ask.

Cora: [she nods glancing down awkwardly at her hands again]

Stiles: [he squeezes them] You are perfectly normal in being nervous about that, Cora. I was too.

Cora: [glances up] You've done it before?

Stiles: Yes. Um... Lord Whittemore wanted his son to be knowledgeable on all things in being a man. Which included... that. I was still the whipping boy at that point, which meant his education was my own.

Cora: [she nods some because she understands that much at least] It isn't so much the act that bothers me as ... another presence being there. [the act freaks her out plenty, but adding someone else to the mix, someone who's there simply to be a voyeur is ten times worse]

Stiles: There are different ways to do it. I know some watch, some just want to see the sheets to see the evidence on the breaking of the maidenhead. and some will exam you after the fact to look for evidence of the seed being laid.

Cora: [yeah that last one also makes her very uncomfortable] And they cannot take us at our word?

Stiles: One would wish. I'm not big on someone watching either. [thinks] Is there a way that, perhaps... your sister or uncle could tell with their own gifts if we have consummated our marriage without seeing it?

Cora: [she pauses then nods] You can usually tell by scent.

Stiles: Well, if we marry here... they would be the ones responsible for that part since part of it is showing that you are untouched previous to that night. Perhaps... perhaps your sister and you could find a way to make it work in a way that would be comfortable to you?

Cora: Maybe. I'm sure we will find a way.

Stiles: And Cora... if you don't feel you are ready that night, we do not have to. I will take any repercussions on that, but I will not force you to be with me now or ever. Not even for our marriage contract.

Cora: [glances over and gives him a small smile] I appreciate that. Thank you.

Stiles: You're welcome. As it is, I'm more than happy just with your kisses.

Cora: Good to know. Though we will have to do it eventually.

Stiles: I know, and I'm sure we will both be nervous. And I will be as gentle as I can.

Cora: [she nods] In some ways, it would probably be best if we just ... got through the first time that night.

Stiles: Why don't we wait then to see how you feel that night to make that choice? [small smile]

Cora: [her head ducks a bit] Probably a good idea.

Stiles: [one hand lets her hands go to tip her chin back up as he leaned in to kiss her gently]

Cora: [kisses him back, one hand moving to his arm gently]

Stiles: [and he will just happily kiss her for a while, keeping her close]

Cora: [and she will let him, eventually pulling back to curl into his shoulder a bit] Is my uncle expecting you back?

Stiles: No, we are going to finish after dinner.

Cora: Then you can stay?

Stiles: Yes, I am yours.

Cora: Good. [and she will shift to settle against him so that they can snuggle a bit before dinner]

Stiles: [and he will enjoy that, probably reading from the book to her for a while]

Cora: [which she will enjoy immensely]

Stiles: [and then after dinner he will tell Peter of the decision and they will finish the contract and send it off to Stiles' uncle for approval]

Cora: [and they're officially engaged!]

Stiles: [yup, and uncle will agree to big engagement, small wedding.]

Cora: [thank you Stiles' uncle]

Stiles: [and then word will slip out to the rest of the castle]

Cora: [and Cora will spend most of her time hiding from Erica demanding details]

Stiles: [and him trying to politely decline bedroom advice]

Cora: [oh yep, she's getting some of that too. Her friends don't know when to quit]

Stiles: [it is going to be a long winter]

Cora: [yeeeeeeeeeep]

Stiles: [which they can spend in the library by the fire, snuggled up and reading]

Cora: [yes, that sounds like a much better plan]