Taming the Rakes

13

Lily had perused the menu for the dinner before her marriage, and was pleasantly surprised when Juniper, the kitchen maid in the Ashborne City Manor, told her that many of Lily’s favorite foods, which were to be prepared tonight, were also Lord Iscor’s favorite foods. The young lady was quite confident that she could make a wonderful go of being a Duchess, especially if they already seemed so similar; they had the same favorite foods, traveled in the same social circles, and enjoyed the same leisurely activities.

            In the early evening, Lea and Theo had returned from meeting her new in-laws; another thing Lily was grateful for, she had none of those to deal with, as Lord Iscor was parentless. His mother had died when he was three years old, never having recovered from his birth, and his father had died when he was seventeen. Lily rolled her eyes when she thought of how enraptured Lea seemed with her new husband; the Unification Festival tended to have that effect, as people felt the magic of such an ancient ceremony. Lily, however, knew she was marrying for the power of position, and for the rise it would bring to her family; the Iscor Duchy was old, as old as the monarchy of Dechya itself, and binding the Aramoor Duchy to it would bring her family higher.

            The bell chimed seven, signaling dinner, and the whole family bustled into the formal dining room, as well as Father James, who would perform the Marriage Ceremony between Lily and Lord Iscor tomorrow. Lea and Theo sat next to one another, Lily on the other side of her new brother-in-law, with Lord Iscor across from her next to Lucy, and Father James next to her younger sister; her mother and father were at either head of the table, smiling lovingly over their family. The conversation was simple and civil as the courses were brought and taken by Lea’s faithful staff; the next time they were at dinner here, even if their parents attended, Theo and Lea would be at the heads of the table.

            “So, Lord Iscor, what are we to call you once you are family tomorrow?” Lea questioned, smiling politely at her future brother-in-law.

            Lord Iscor sipped his wine and dabbed his mouth delicately with his napkin. “Well, I had not really thought of that, Lady Leanora. What do you all call one another?”

            “I’m just Lucy, Lea and Theo are…well…Lea and Theo, then we have Mother and Father, and Lily is…well Lily. You can also call Lea know-it-all, and Lily Ms. Proper!” Lucy laughed out loud, causing Lea to giggle as well and Lord Iscor to smile and chuckle. “So, Lord Iscor, shall we just call you Lord Iscor or shall we call you something else?”

            “Amadeus, that’s what my name is. My friends call me Ami, but either Amadeus or Ami is perfectly fine by me,” Lord Iscor smiled pleasantly, playfully ruffling Lucy’s unkempt hair. “Do you not have a maid to make your hair nice, like your sisters?” He teased her, chuckling as Lucy stuck her tongue out at him impudently, which he grabbed with two fingers before she playfully bit at him. “You remind me of the younger Royal Daughters, they are just as playful and lovely as you, Lady Lucille.”

            Lucy laughed, shaking her head, and rolling her eyes. Lily felt a pang of jealousy wash over her, which she quickly shoved down; Lucy always got attention from everyone. She was young, wild, free to be who she wanted to be. Lea kept a closer eye on her when they were alone here, in the city, but when Mother and Father were there, she was allowed to be her truly wild self, because their parents spoiled sweet Lucy. Dinner continued with conversation, before Lea motioned for the women to move towards the tearoom, leaving the men to their cigars and brandy before a family game of cards.

            “Your family is lovely, Lord Aramoor,” Lord Iscor stated, puffing on his cigar. “I hope that I am blessed with as lovely children as you have been.”

            Theo chuckled, drinking from his glass of brandy. “If Lily is anything like my darling Lea, you are in for quite the ride; she is brilliant, funny, talented, and loving. After only two days I can tell I will be very happy with her as my wife. I am sure that Lily will prove just the same for you, Lord Iscor.”

            Lord Aramoor and Father James left them first, leaving Theo and Amadeus to talk amongst themselves for a brief moment before following. “How easy was your Lea to train, for your pleasure?” Lord Iscor asked, puffing his cigar once again.

            “Not difficult at all, Amadeus. I can have her writhing the moment we enter the tearoom already; she is quite the little minx, despite her virginal demeanor. I will show you, my friend; come,” Theo lead Ami from the dining room to the tearoom, and made his way towards Lea. The husband placed a hand on his wife’s lower back, leaning down and pressing his lips to her ear, whispering something; Lea shifted in her seat, blushing shyly and turning her face to kiss her husband lovingly. Lord Iscor smiled, shaking his head at his old friend; Ami, Thatch, and Theo had all grown up together, as Lord and Lady Ramshorne spent quite a lot of their year in the Royal City. Theo winked at Amadeus, smirking proudly.

            After their family game of cards, everyone retired to their rooms, eager to be rested for the wedding the next morning.