Froglock.
Teddy darling, such marvelous news! To think you have a suitor! Do you not fear you shall reduce your dear Nonna Ben to apoplexy by leaving me in suspense? Who is this young man you love like no other? I must have more detail! If the match proves as felicitous as you describe, it will, I confess, offer me much relief. Not only will you have found happiness, but the threat to Montagne will thus be greatly diminished. While it is grand to see Farina bound to a junior member of the Montagne family, particularly one (as well you know!) so clearly resistant to domination, yet I still fear Wilhelmina. The sooner you are wedded, the safer Montagne will be! Not—I assure you—that this is reason alone to marry; not nearly. But do enjoy your courtship, for it is a delight beyond measure to feel cherished.
Within our conveyance, on the other hand, emotions drift far indeed from love—and rather close to irritation and pique. While my satisfaction with young Trudy swells by the hour, for some reason your sister dislikes her. I cannot imagine why, as the girl is fetching and mindful and has the loveliest tresses, although I confess she expresses little enthusiasm for Dizzy as well. It was like riding today with two feuding she-cats; Escoffier was wise to sleep through it—and you to avoid it altogether!
I must say that for all Trudy's assistance and her skill with a needle, the girl continues to puzzle. At lunch she inexplicably leapt up, serviette in hand, a moment before the tavern keeper spilt a pitcher of water. It was as if she sensed the crisis—promptly averted thanks to her—ere it transpired. She knew, too, both times I intended to ask that she accompany us—last night when she demurred, and again this morning when she acceded ere the first word had crossed my lips. I cannot help but suspect some sort of magic—ironic indeed after our vow!
The possibility intrigued me enough to pry rather indiscreetly into her background, though I made sure to do so while Dizzy was elsewhere (she has forged quite a fellowship with our coachman, and believes me ignorant of their contests in spitting). But Trudy, it seems, has no background, or rather knows nothing of it. Her mother arrived in Bacio enceinte, never spoke of her origins or of the girl's father, and was taken by fever some years ago. It is a tender subject for her—as it would be for any of us—and I did not pursue it. Moreover, although Trudy carries the charming appellation of Fortitude, her mother's name was Mina, which is no virtue with which I am familiar—the family most definitely did not hail from Montagne! Altogether most peculiar, though I am delighted to have for once an attendant who anticipates spills rather than causing them.
Behold, we approach the city of Froglock and our first skirmish with Wilhelmina. I am certain that Montagne is thriving in your hands, and look forward to the conclusion of all this excitement that I might return to my kingdom and meet your charming suitor for myself! In the meantime, however, I do wish that one could outfit old women with armor. I should feel much safer in Wilhelmina's presence enclosed in steel.
Your resolute grandmother, all atremble,
Ben
The Imperial Encyclopedia of Lax
8 TH EDITION
Printed in the Capital City of Rigorus
by Hazelnut & Filbert, Publishers to the Crown
WILHELMINA
THE ILL-TEMPERED
Born to minor nobility in central Lax, Wilhelmina rose to a position of unrivaled prominence within her generation. Her father, Edwig, Baron of Farina, from a young age proved adept at the intrigues of court life, marrying himself to the far more eminent Countess of Paindecampagne; Wilhelmina, named in honor of Emperor Wilhelm VIII, was betrothed to the Duke of Höchsteland while still a child. Thus the family in only two generations climbed from the lowest to the highest of noble ranks, and obscure Farina swelled into a vast and powerful duchy. Wilhelmina was left sole ruler when her husband, and then
Teddy darling, such marvelous news! To think you have a suitor! Do you not fear you shall reduce your dear Nonna Ben to apoplexy by leaving me in suspense? Who is this young man you love like no other? I must have more detail! If the match proves as felicitous as you describe, it will, I confess, offer me much relief. Not only will you have found happiness, but the threat to Montagne will thus be greatly diminished. While it is grand to see Farina bound to a junior member of the Montagne family, particularly one (as well you know!) so clearly resistant to domination, yet I still fear Wilhelmina. The sooner you are wedded, the safer Montagne will be! Not—I assure you—that this is reason alone to marry; not nearly. But do enjoy your courtship, for it is a delight beyond measure to feel cherished.
Within our conveyance, on the other hand, emotions drift far indeed from love—and rather close to irritation and pique. While my satisfaction with young Trudy swells by the hour, for some reason your sister dislikes her. I cannot imagine why, as the girl is fetching and mindful and has the loveliest tresses, although I confess she expresses little enthusiasm for Dizzy as well. It was like riding today with two feuding she-cats; Escoffier was wise to sleep through it—and you to avoid it altogether!
I must say that for all Trudy's assistance and her skill with a needle, the girl continues to puzzle. At lunch she inexplicably leapt up, serviette in hand, a moment before the tavern keeper spilt a pitcher of water. It was as if she sensed the crisis—promptly averted thanks to her—ere it transpired. She knew, too, both times I intended to ask that she accompany us—last night when she demurred, and again this morning when she acceded ere the first word had crossed my lips. I cannot help but suspect some sort of magic—ironic indeed after our vow!
The possibility intrigued me enough to pry rather indiscreetly into her background, though I made sure to do so while Dizzy was elsewhere (she has forged quite a fellowship with our coachman, and believes me ignorant of their contests in spitting). But Trudy, it seems, has no background, or rather knows nothing of it. Her mother arrived in Bacio enceinte, never spoke of her origins or of the girl's father, and was taken by fever some years ago. It is a tender subject for her—as it would be for any of us—and I did not pursue it. Moreover, although Trudy carries the charming appellation of Fortitude, her mother's name was Mina, which is no virtue with which I am familiar—the family most definitely did not hail from Montagne! Altogether most peculiar, though I am delighted to have for once an attendant who anticipates spills rather than causing them.
Behold, we approach the city of Froglock and our first skirmish with Wilhelmina. I am certain that Montagne is thriving in your hands, and look forward to the conclusion of all this excitement that I might return to my kingdom and meet your charming suitor for myself! In the meantime, however, I do wish that one could outfit old women with armor. I should feel much safer in Wilhelmina's presence enclosed in steel.
Your resolute grandmother, all atremble,
Ben
The Imperial Encyclopedia of Lax
8 TH EDITION
Printed in the Capital City of Rigorus
by Hazelnut & Filbert, Publishers to the Crown
WILHELMINA
THE ILL-TEMPERED
Born to minor nobility in central Lax, Wilhelmina rose to a position of unrivaled prominence within her generation. Her father, Edwig, Baron of Farina, from a young age proved adept at the intrigues of court life, marrying himself to the far more eminent Countess of Paindecampagne; Wilhelmina, named in honor of Emperor Wilhelm VIII, was betrothed to the Duke of Höchsteland while still a child. Thus the family in only two generations climbed from the lowest to the highest of noble ranks, and obscure Farina swelled into a vast and powerful duchy. Wilhelmina was left sole ruler when her husband, and then
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