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Paige makes her way down the hall after checking in on the twins. She was lucky in the that they were asleep, but worried that it might make for a late night for herself or Winter and Eve.
She can hear Hope and Phillipe's evening practice nearing to an end as Gaston admits her to Lucas's rooms. She finds a seat and makes herself comfortable as she waits for him to arrive.
"Bon soir, cousin," says Lucas as he enters. He moves at once to her, and she can tell at once that he seems a little preoccupied, even if the politeness of his greeting hadn't given it away.
His outfit is 80s rockstar chic - jeans that look as though they've been sprayed on, Gucci loafers, a red v-necked cashmere sweater but the long red cashmere scarf and big boxy white jacket with padded shoulders have been left in Xanadu. However, his hair is still casually tousled - one suspects it might have taken several hours to get it looking so, and an industrial amount of gel to keep it looking that way after climbing all over the potential city in Xanadu.
He lifts her hand to his lips and, as he lowers it again, his face relaxes into a smile.
Paige chuckles slightly, but not at him.
"You'll like Xanadu," he says. "Are you still looking for a ship to take you there?"
"I'm not sure. I think so, but Paris just put an offer on the table," she comments.
Lucas' eyebrows lift slightly, and then he smiles. "Ahhhh, Corwin," he murmurs. "He seems to be in a collecting mood ... Maman has also received an invitation."
"Have suitable arrangements to help me make the move?" she asks.
Lucas shoots her a slightly enigmatic look. "It ... might be arranged," he says. "We could take a little walk to the harbour, if you like. I always feel it looks so nice in the twilight ...
"It's a little bit more than a little walk, but I've a Trump of Merlin to hand that should facilitate a return," Paige offers. "Or we could take a walk on the mountain and I could procure a spyglass so you might still sample the sights without the smells," she counters.
Lucas smiles. "But the aromas are a part of the experience," he protests. "All the senses ... fully engaged. You know the importance of that, don't you?"
She nods in surrender.
"Paige - have you noticed any change in Solace since your return?"
"To be honest, I've only seen her about a few times. She seems to have been keeping to your rooms. Is she unwell?"
"I believe so," says Lucas slowly. "I believe I will ask Gerard to examine her again. Have you met the new cousin who claims doctorly skills? I had hopes that Solace might feel more at ease with a woman but our cousin seemed more intent on displaying a somewhat prurient interest in my sex life ... it may well be that poor Solace felt unable to be fully open with her." There is a fainst frown between his brows still - he seems disturbed - an unusual thing for Lucas who prides himself on his urbane demeanour.
"Hannah? Why she and I got along remarkably well," Paige offers. "I doubt she was truly interested in your sex life. I think she's just curious how Amberite breeding goes. Look at me and Adonis for example. Other than the Regent's legs, I'd bet that the majority of questions she's had to discuss is sex, at least with this family," she chuckles.
"And you're implying that there's something more to Solace's illness than her not being healthy enough to carry another St. Virile heir," Paige says. "Let's take your walk and you can explain."
Lucas nods his agreement and - once Lucas has written a swift note and dispatched the page Pert with it, and they have settled the vexing question of which outer garment Lucas will wear for an evening stroll (a rather nice trenchcoat in an unusual shade of French navy, which Lucas feels sets off his eyes rather well), they set out to walk down Kolvir.
With Lucas's permission, they'll stop by her rooms so that she can explain to Mace that she's taking a walk and that both Couth and he are responisble for the children. Paige also tells Eve and Winter the same. She finds a cape that covers the Tonkin kiem at her belt slides her arm in her cousin's as they walk.
Lucas is quite agreeable about this diversion.
"You could always pop the children into our nursery," he suggests. "Hope is enchanted by the twins. And soon, they'll be old enough to play with her!"
"I appreciate the offer, but I'd not want to endanger your children, too," she explains. "If given my druthers they'd be safe in Xanadu or Paris already, but I'm loathe to leave them too far away and their father is expected soon."
"Really?" says Lucas. "What a shame I'm taking Solace away to Xanadu. I'm sure she's just longing to meet a potent fertility god.
"Talking of which, do you have trumps of any of the Xanadu crowd? I need to pop back for an important meeting. Y'know, if I'm going to start doing this shuttling diplomat thing, I really do need to acquire a couple of trumps of my own. I don't even have Maman's - on the other hand that would be too like giving her the opportunity to say that I never call."
"Troublemaker and Martin are both in residence I believe," she says. "Although I'll be needing one or the other soon enough myself. When you need to go, let me know and I'll arrange it."
"Martin's, if I may," said Lucas, casting a swift sideways look at her. "I'll return it when I catch up with you in Xanadu. As for leaving ... I'm hoping to go as soon as we get back to the Castle. I've told Solace to prepare. Xanadu time moves a little faster than Amber's, and I want to be in time to attend the Court. That necessitates seeing Solace settled, and donning appropriate apparel - neither of which, of course, can be rushed.
"I must see whether our King will consider the possibility of a funicular in Xanadu," says Lucas thoughtfully. "It shouldn't be out of the question - and could improve life immeasurably. And think of all the fun opportunities for accidents and struggles on the carriage tops too. I shall suggest it as useful for Gerard, but I think I might throw in a reference to Where Eagles Dare - do you remember the evening we saw that together in your apartment? When you emptied a bowl of buttered popcorn over my head when you found out I'd taken your latest amour to a bath-house? Those chinos were never the same again."
"Whose? Yours or mine?" she chuckles in remembrance.
"I can only speak for mine," says Lucas. "Still, it did give me the excuse to visit the laundromat. I always found it an excellent place to pull."
She shakes her head incredulously.
Lucas laughs. "Don't tell me you've never been tempted by hanging around for an hour with nothing to do, and the smell of fresh laundry everywhere.
"As for Solace ... To some extent I'm hoping she'll recover strength in Xanadu. It does, after all, have a fully functioning Pattern - I saw Lilly walk it a few hours ago, Not that I propose Solace would ever assay the Pattern. But it does have a positive effect - or so it's reputed to have."
He speaks lightly, but Paige knows Lucas well enough to guess that only a very real concern would have driven him to discuss this so openly.
"That collection of phrases is a mess for even your European phrasing, my love," Paige objects.
Lucas' response is a particularly Gallic shrug.
"First, Lilly's taken the Pattern and she's fine?" When he acknowledges that, she moves on, looking relieved.
"As far as I could judge," says Lucas. "I imagine she requested the Pattern to send her somewhere with a bed and clean sheets. Her new room, probably, unless she is curled up in her room here in Amber."
"Second, such a suggestion would imply that Solace has the ability to complete such a walk. And that's the explanation to Trump questions last week," she decides. "Any thing else you wish to hit me over the head with?"
"Always you tempt me," Lucas murmurs. "But no ... I shall refrain."
Paige will walk the entire way if Lucas seems determined, but she mentions that she has her carriage in the stables that can be readied quick enough. She can drive if he wants privacy and if walking is important, they can park it at her townhouse or the Prince and walk the rest of the way.
Lucas is always perfectly willing to drive at leisure rather than walk. He sees no need to put themselves to the trouble of driving themselves - unless Paige really wishes to drive, they can take a coachman or groom to drive - his own man Cheval, if she likes.
When they reach the dock area, Lucas doesn't make his way to any of the regular shipping offices. Instead he takes a side alley that, eventually, leads to some small and neat marine cottages (the kind where respectable chandlers might make their homes). He knicks on the door, and a rather small, apple-cheeked woman answers it, greeting Lucas and Paige with a bobbed curtsey, but with no sign of surprise. She leads them through the house to a little and airy room at the back, which is angled to provide a view over the harbour - not as spectacular as the one the castle provides, but nonetheless most attractive.
"May I fetch you anything, my Lord?" she asks.
Lucas glances at Paige. "Would you like anything? My contact should be here shortly."
"Wine if you have it and it's no problem," she answers directly to the woman.
Lucas waves a negligent hand to indicate that this would be acceptable to him too. The woman drops another bobbed curtsey and bustles away.
"And what will we be discussing with your contact?"
Lucas' dark eyebrows arch. "I thought you wanted a ship," he says.
"True enough," Paige admits. "While Family counts for many things, you were always one to find your own way in the world."
Lucas smiles faintly. "It's a habit I acquired early," he says. "I'd say Maman ensured I'd acquire it, but ... I believe that some things are beyond even her control."
"Can't blame a girl for wanting to do the same," she chuckles.
"Oh, I think you've usually done very well for yourself," says Lucas. "In material terms at least."
He seems about to say something more, but their hostess bustles back in, carrying a large tray. It contains not only three glasses and a bottle of wine - a hearty, rustic red, as the straw covering of its rounded bottled implies, but also four plates - three bare, the other containing an assortment of thin slices of cheese, olives, green grapes and a puddle of fine olive oil to dip the squares of coarse country bred into. Lucas looks over this preparation and, finding it good, gives a nod. The woman beams again, and whisks away, leaving them alone - the third glass and plate, it seems, are in anticipation of their company.
"Shall I pour?" Lucas asks. "This is not a wine that needs to breathe - it needs to gulp. And be gulped in turn, of course."
Paige smiles. "Not that we've ever drank such wines in excess," she chuckles. "Remember the Doors show, when was it? Late '68? We finished off near two cases of that dreadful red and at least two bags of smoke."
"Golden brown," says Lucas reminescently, as he fills two glasses. "The name of the wine I have mercifully forgotten. And then we went drove down to Monterey through the dawn with that rather gorgeous young man - do you remember his name? I think he went on to be something in movies later on ... but then he was just enormously pretty. And vice versa, if I recall. And we splashed through the surf ... all before anyone was awake, I think. You were wearing that green dress of yours ... the one with the fringed skirt."
Lucas, of course, always remembers what people wore.
"I've still got the dress. I think it's in storage in Heerat, at Maria's," she says with a smile. She tosses back the red and her train of thought passes a few stations before stopping.
"That reminds me. I'm not going to be able to loan you Martin's Trump," she says. "I'll gladly contact him and hand you through if he's receptive, but... I'd feel better if I kept hold of that card. It was the first made of him after... Well, you know."
She looks at her empty glass. "You shouldn't get me on that topic. I should've known he trusted me, just by that. But sometimes I don't see what's right in front of me." Paige gives Lucas a little sigh and shakes her head.
Lucas reaches out and lays one slender hand over Paige's - a rare physical gesture. His hand rests on hers for a moment, without his saying anything.
Her whole face softens, and the smile she's offered most of the evening fills her eyes. He doesn't have to say anything.
Then he reaches for the bottle with his other hand and pours them both a second drink.
"Very well," he says. "But if you are opening a conduit, we may as well use your father's card. Fewer questions, and all that."
Paige nods and recovers her glass.
He raises his full glass. "Let's drink to sea and sun and wide open beaches, wide open bars and wide open ... well. To pleasure, Paige, wherever we may find it."
"Pleasure I can find where I need it, Lucas," she says with a smile. "It's the responsibility that's killing me.
"As to where we might find it," she begins with a mischevious sparkle in her eye, only to be interrupted.
Lucas smiles ruefully. "Doesn't responsibility come in much the same shape for both of us, Paige? Small people, with a readiness to open their mouths and wail, matched only by their readiness to open the other end and ... yes, well. I must confess, I am looking forward to the age of childish candour and the ability to ask disconcerting questions. Hope seems to possess an almost preternatural circumspection, which I suspect marks her bloodgift from her paternal grandmother, but I have hopes of Phillippe and your brats." He takes a long sip of the wine. "Ah, Paige, of all the Family, who would have wagered odds on you and I slouching into Xanadu trailing clouds of domesticity?"
A woman opens the door. "I see you've started on the after-dinner drinks without me, Lord Lucas. Good evening Lady Sommers." From some women even welcoming words such as this would be said coldly. Opal Hardwind is just such a woman.
"Mistress Hardwind," Paige replies noticably warmer.
Lucas smiles with slightly feline amusement. "Madame Hardwind," he says. "I'm glad you can join us. Perhaps you are hopeful that our consumption of alcohol might have loosened our tongues and unsteadied our heads before we set ourselves to talking business. I fear such is not the case, although the wine is certainly ... robust. May I offer you a glass, or shall I call for tea?"
He awaits her answer (and the accompanying business of pouring, sipping, or sending out if necessary) before continuing smoothly, "Actually, my cousin and I are interested in making you a business proposition. Two, in fact. In pursuance of our ... ah ... mutual objectives."
He is watching her closely.
She smiles, utterly insincerely. "I'm always open to business propositions. Most businesses, anyway, if they hold the promise of profit." She looks at Paige and then back at Lucas. "What business do you wish to engage in that I might be interested in?"
Paige defers to Lucas with a slight tilt of her head and eyes that say it's Lucas's game, he should have the first move.
"Actually," says Lucas, "I'm interested in two pieces of business. One is the purchase - or possibly the loan - of a ship. It needs to be a steady vessel, capable of speed, but not too light in the water. Its crew should be experienced and stalwart, preferably honest and hopefully a fair proportion of them aesthetically pleasing. Its appointments should be ... luxurious. Its cargo will be precious indeed.
"My second ... well, you might see the first as a spur towards it.
"The King is about to undertake an ambitious new venture. He is looking for people he can work with - and one of his requirements will be for a merchant fleet of experience and trusted skill; people who will get the job done well, efficiently and to time. Who will be rewarded appropriately. And I had the strangest fancy that you might be interested."
"Your fancy may be accurate, Lord Lucas. Certainly such a ship could be found. Given the lack of recent passenger traffic, it may not be immediately luxurious. How soon do you need it?"
Lucas glances at Paige. and an open handed gesture invites her to speak.
"Soon, I'd think," Paige answers. "The exact timing is something I hope to have a better grasp on over the next week, but no sooner than two weeks I'd think."
"Which should," says Lucas, "Give you every opportunity to translate the state into luxurious."
"And can you say more about the royal needs and rewards. Surely you know by now that I," she says, stretching the last word significantly longer than it deserves, "would not buy a pig in a poke."
Lucas' smile is his most lizard like.
"And surely you know by now that I would never dream of selling one." Whatever mileage she got out of the word, Lucas takes it there, then up the ramp, onto the freeway, and heads for Route 66 with it ...
Paige just watches the interplay, sort of like watching a carraige accident. It's horrible and she knows that a proper lady would avert her eyes from the carnage that's about to ensue, but she just can't draw herself from it.
"Excellent. Then show me your pig and I shall consider it. Or, if you prefer, I could provide you what you need for my own price to be named later, if you wish to buy my pig in my poke."
"The wise," says Lucas, "set value on information above rubies. The foolish set value in base copper. And I know that you, Madame Hardwind, are a singularly wise woman." A glance at her asserts that Lucas finds her not only wise, but something more. "Some more (tea or wine)?"
He certainly pours more wine for himself - and glances, with a raised eyebrow, at Paige to see if she wants more.
Paige hasn't finished the last and makes no move toward Lucas with the glass.
"To whom should the rewards be given? To the most worthy. From our dealings, Madame, I have come to believe that you don't just passively deserve rewards dropped from the purse of a provident princeling. You prove yourself worthy of them by your own endeavours again and again and again. A woman fighting in a world - a man's world. It ... ah .... excites my admiration.
"As I have said, we have two deals on the table here. The ship - for which you will name a fair price - and it will be paid. And my information, for which ... the price is a simple one. I will give you the means to a new fortune, to business opportunities beyond your dreams and ... the chance to attain the thing that you desire above all others.
"And I am generous, Madame Hardwind. For I am prepared to listen to what price you will pay me when I give you that."
He smiles again, and sips his wine.
Paige seems content with Lucas's wrangling of the horns on this one, and doesn't open herself to getting gored.
She sips her wine. "You know the reward I want. Will you make a case for me with your uncle? I am a friend of the crown, a good friend."
Paige raises a questioning eyebrow to Lucas.
"As I said," says Lucas, "I will give you the chance to attain the thing you desire above all others - and that includes adding my voice to the argument. But ... I am also offering you the chance to prove your own worthiness." He smiles. "It will lend force to my words if I have positive proof of your own abilities. And you will have the satisfaction of knowing it is your abilities that are rewarded, rather than being dependent on the favour of a scion of Amber.
"Ready your fleet, Madame Hardwind. Within a two-week, chandlers will be charging prices that will break shipwrights and merchants' hearts. And I will need a fleet in readiness.
"Let it be yours."
She nods, slowly.
Paige smiles and finishes her drink.
After Lucas, Opal, and Paige complete their discussion, Paige and Lucas return to the castle. Solace is waiting, with a bag packed carefully by Gaston for each of them. Paige contacts Bleys by Trump and passes the couple through.
It is late, late night in Xanadu, and almost everyone is abed. Bleys is in the library, or what will become the library. There are a lot of well-made bookshelves, many of which are empty, and more social spaces than in the Castle Amber library. These spaces contain couches, in the pale color typical of undecorated Xanadu, and low tables for conversation. Whoever furnished them also thought to provide well-stocked sideboards.
Lucas is able to take Solace and retire for the night. Solace will sleep in in the morning, but Lucas can take the time to explore the Castle and, for instance, find the kitchens and the kitchen staff. By the time Solace has dressed and broken her fast, it is late morning, and Lucas and Solace are at liberty in the castle.
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XL: Back in Amber | Index | XLII: Seeking advice and offering help
