Vipers and Tea

[Anacrasia Shahrizai]

"Right after Beltane, so... two months now," I said after a moment of thought.

[Evangeline L'Envers de Morhban]

"I take it that its going well then." I said smiling. "Or is that for you to know and me to find out." I teased.

[Anacrasia Shahrizai]

"Well we're still courting, so that should tell you something," I said with a smile.

[Evangeline L'Envers de Morhban]

"True." I said smiling softly. "May I ask, one female to another?"

[Anacrasia Shahrizai]

"Depends on your question," I said, one brow raised even as I continued to smile.

[Evangeline L'Envers de Morhban]

"Do you have plans on children?" I asked curiously, my own fears making way past my common senses.

[Anacrasia Shahrizai]

“Yes,” I said, seeing the fear in her eyes and wondering at the cause. “I can’t take the risk of leaving this family without a clear heir.”

[Evangeline L'Envers de Morhban]

I nodded, knowing she was right. Gervaise was the Sovereign and I to be his wife, there was no question that I would have to bare his children. I wanted to yes, but children scared me so.
"How many do you want?"

[Anacrasia Shahrizai]

"Probably two or three," I said, watching her face and still seeing the fear. "Not a large family. Why do you ask?"

[Evangeline L'Envers de Morhban]

"Curious." I said softly. "I'm sure you're aware of my parent's history, having children has always been a fear of mine."

[Anacrasia Shahrizai]

I could have made several pointed comments about their mother's disappearance, but I chose not to. We were getting along after all.

"I suppose that's understandable. I've always been... blessed with the knowledge that my line has never had any trouble producing children," I replied, an oblique reference to the bastards my father had sired.

[Evangeline L'Envers de Morhban]

I nodded.
"Does it...scare you?" I asked raising a single brow. "To have children running about your feet, pulling on your skirt."

[Anacrasia Shahrizai]

"I don't have a lot of experience with children," I said, sort of answering her question. I never admitted to fear, not if I could help it. "But I'm sure I will make do."

[Evangeline L'Envers de Morhban]

I nodded with a soft smile, thinking of my own issues with children. I wanted to have them, and I knew Gervaise would be a good father to them. But it certainly worried me. I remember a time when I had been little when I had come running to my mother and pulled at her skirt. She had gotten so angry at me, turning around to back hand me across the face, condeming me if I ever did it again. There was a part of me that worried I would do that to my own children.

"Thank you for your kind words and your hospitality Duchesse, but I should be returning and I've taken up too much of your time already." I said smiling still.

[Anacrasia Shahrizai]

"It was time well spent," I replied with a smile, rising in anticipation of showing her to the door. "I'm glad we had a chance to have this chat."

[Evangeline L'Envers de Morhban]

"Yes." I said smiling softly at her and then curtsyed deeply. "Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to have an open discussion." My function was a bit awash, my mind strangely running over the thoughts of children in my head.

[Anacrasia Shahrizai]

"Of course," I replied as we headed to the door. She seemed a little preoccupied. "And let me know when the wedding is and I'll commission your gift."

[Evangeline L'Envers de Morhban]

I smiled softly and followed her toward the door.
"Oh yes, of course." I said, my mind registering some where that she was commissioning the gift which meant it would be something possibly elaborate. But my mind was still in a fog.

[Anacrasia Shahrizai]

She was behaving very oddly. "Evangeline?" I inquired.

[Evangeline L'Envers de Morhban]

I turned my head to look at Anacrasia, my brows shot up at the sound of my name coming from her.
"Hmm?" I asked shaking my head a little, my hand going to my forehead. "Forgive me." I force a calm smile and some what felt better but now was not the time to be thinking of things that didn't need to be thought of.
"I had a lovely time, thank you once again for your hospitality."

[Anacrasia Shahrizai]

"You're very welcome," I said, watching her closely. "Have a safe trip home."

I opened the door for her and her carriage was waiting already. I made a mental note to give my staff a bonus.

[Evangeline L'Envers de Morhban]

I nodded, smiling and curtsying to her once more before turning and heading for me carriage. My mind focused on leaving Anacrasia's home without making a fool of myself, and as I took the hand of my footman I climed in and settled in my seat. My carriage lurched forward and I sat straight as we headed for home.

[Anacrasia Shahrizai]

I looked after her departing carriage for a moment before I turned and went back inside. Something went sour just at the end of it, and for the life of me I couldn't figure it out. Oh well, she had been warned.