regency au } { of intervening stepmothers and friendly sparring

[wildkingdom]

Liam: [and he will wait until then, and when Kate is alone he will break away from his knight for a while and find his way to get in her path.] M'Lady, can I have a moment of your time, please?

Kate: [turns in surprise and let's her eyes rest on Liam for a moment before nodding] Of course.

Liam: It's about Lady Malia. Well, more about Lord Theo.

Kate: What about him?

Liam: He does not have good intentions.

Kate: How do you know?

Liam: He brags about her to his friends. He knows what she is and he wants to take advantage of that. I don't know why though, but I'm trying to learn.

Kate: All young men brag, Liam. How do know his intention is to do harm?

Liam: I just know.

Kate: You're going to need a little more evidence than that if you're going to try and impress this on Lord Hale.

Liam: I'm working on it still. But you have to notice how he has isolated her from all the others except his friends.

Kate: Malia never had many friends to begin with. How do you know this was also not her choice?

Liam: Because he is making the choice for her but making her think it's her choice.

Kate: How, Liam? Your instincts may be right, but it can also be routed in jealousy.

Liam: Because I know I'm jealous, but I also want her to be happy and it to be real, and not fake. If he meant it, I would be happy for her. I'm not.

Kate: So your evidence again Lord Raeken is that you do not believe his affection to be real and therefore are unhappy with her prospects. [her head tips to the side] I am suspicious as any woman should be in this world, and while I am not quick to trust any man, I haven't see anything that would leave me to be wary of him. You're going to have to bring me more than this, Liam.

Liam: I will. But I just need someone else to watch. Someone who can make sure she's safe because she doesn't want me around.

Kate: [sighs softly] Alright. I will keep an eye on her.

Liam: Thank you. That's all I wanted to ask.

Kate: [she nods again] But if you want to stop this courtship, I need more than that.

Liam: I will get it for you.

Kate: See that you do.

Liam: [nods, and he turns to go, his body language all but relaying his fears]

Kate: [watches him leave before moving back through the crowd to try and get eyes on Malia and her suitor]

Theo: [and he is there, totally showing off his new sword and letting her hold it]

Malia: [and Malia is ... pretty decent at swinging it, thanks cousin Derek]

Theo: [grins from his spot] You are a natural, Malia. I am impressed.

Malia: I've had a lot of practice. Derek taught me and Cora to wield when we were young.

Theo: I could find another sword and we could spar, if you wish?

Malia: Are you sure?

Theo: Yes. Unless you would prefer wooden swords, but I find that they are for little children with no control.

Malia: [considers again, before nodding] Alright.

Theo: Wonderful. [and he will go and fetch her a sword as well, trading with her so that he can have his back] Will that suffice, m'lady?

Malia: [nods before raising her sword and taking her position] Ready?

Theo: Ready. [he has been fighting since he was a child, and way too anal not to have been perfect at it before showing it off]

Malia: [grins and then she will charge in to swipe at him, wielding her sword expertly]

Theo: [and he will answer her, careful to look shocked at how good she is while keeping himself safe]

Malia: [and she will just continue to match him in kind, pushing and testing his limits, while trying not to show off too much]

Theo: [and he will wait for a good opportunity to "misstep" and fall down]

Malia: [and her eyes will widen in concern] Are you alright?

Theo: Yes, yes I'm fine. I just... you're amazing.

Malia: [her head ducks a bit with the compliment] I'm not that good.

Theo: No, don't do that. You are very, very good. Better than half the men in the tourneys.

Malia: I don't care about tourneys. They're all about glory.

Theo: Yes, but it also keeps soldiers in training. Otherwise they get bored.

Malia: Well, I am not going to war.

Theo: You never know. The war may come to you.

Malia: Then I have better tools to fight with. [though she's not elaborating on what]

Theo: True, but sometimes you may find yourself without them and it's best to know other weapons.

Malia: Which is why Derek has taught me.

Theo: Derek is a fine knight.

Malia: He is. I'm sure his daughters will learn the same as well.

Theo: Your family is just so fascinating.

Malia: Why is that?

Theo: How close you are, how you value intelligence and strength...

Malia: Aren't all families close?

Theo: No, not really.

Malia: That seems such a waste.

Theo: The world is not perfect.

Malia: No, I suppose it's not.

Theo: But it's up to us to make it a better place, right? We are the next generation.

Malia: [she nods] I suppose.

Theo: [grins] We can do anything we put our minds to.

Malia: [she laughs] Yes, we can.

Theo: So, what shall we do now?

Malia: Go for a walk?

Theo: The gardens?

Malia: [she nods] That would be perfect.

Theo: [smirks and goes to take her hand] Let's go.

Malia: [and she nods with a smile and follows]

Kate: [hangs back and debates whether she should do so]

Peter: [coming up behind her] So this is where you have disappeared to.

Kate: [glances back with a smile] Well, you did leave me to my own devices.

Peter: I should know better, yes.

Kate: [she sighs, before glancing after Malia and Theo] Liam found me.

Peter: Oh? I didn't even know he was here.

Kate: He's worried about Malia.

Peter: Well, it's not his place to be worried about her any longer.

Kate: It won't stop him if he loves her, Peter.

Peter: [laughs] He's just a child.

Kate: He's your daughter's age.

Peter: They are both children.

Kate: But you're allowing Lord Raeken to court her.

Peter: Lord Raeken is the first person she's actually been friendly with since Liam's departure.

Kate: Yes, well, Liam is concerned that he isn't all he appears to be.

Peter: Oh? And what proof does he bring?

Kate: A "feeling," mostly. He says that Lord Raeken means to use her to an undetermined end and is trying to isolate her from other courtiers their age.

Peter: But no real proof. [crosses his arms] Hmm.

Kate: He's determined to find it, if it exists. But from what I've observed, I'm not sure his accusations hold water.

Peter: Liam may have broken our trust, but he never intended to hurt Malia. But it could be his jealousy at play too. We'll just keep an eye on them.

Kate: [she nods] I suppose we'll just have to see what happens.

Peter: Yes. But until then, would you like to join me for tea?

Kate: [turns with a smile] I would love to.