The Duke's Bride

[Countess Elaina Moorwood]

"Prince Henry, my cussian, is dead. He died of the plunge 4 years ago. An actor has been playing him ever since.  In two years time there will be a fake war. I will ride in with my support and demand that he step down for the good of the kingdom. He will step down and then be sent to a hermitage and we'll looked after. It's the dukes I'm worried about. They'll try and fight on his behalf and that's when the fighting will get real. My only real contest for the throne is a second cussian. Rotbart will go to war agents me and I'll stop him. Then I will go about improving the lives of our people. That's it really. Lance and I have to get married first because of the bridal contract but after that it's army challenge queen war prosperity"

[Carver Amell]

Carol stares at her. "You're mad. You want to be Queen?"

[Countess Elaina Moorwood]

"Not really. But rothbart is worse than harod and gsmllen and I could do some good. This country isn't ready to be anything but a monarchy but I can get us closer"

[Lance Roidmet]

"You could have a lot more support if you had a husband you were willing to crown," comments Lance, from near the fire where he's been pretending not to listen. 

[Countess Elaina Moorwood]

"I could but that would mean needing a husband more than just in name if you're up for it...."

[Lance Roidmet]

"I could never be king. I could grant you an annullment, however." He shrugs. "After you finish your duty and end the monster who killed my family."

[Countess Elaina Moorwood]

"We'll talk later about this" I sigh visibly disappointed

[Lance Roidmet]

Lance shrugs, turning back to the fire. 

[Wylde]

"One you're queen can we throw that man into the dungeon and let him rot forever?"

[Carver Amell]

"If you're queen will Bethany be a duchess?"

[Countess Elaina Moorwood]

"I'm guessing tovas planning on killing harod so not to the dungeon and yes Bethany IS I duchess. She's the next in line."

[Bethany]

"Okay, no, too fast again," Beth says firmly, eying Lance with fairly well concealed concern. She shifts slightly, sitting forward a couple of inches. Ones that just happen to put herself in front of Carol, blocking easy line of sight from Lance to her twin. "How does that relate to-- to us? Who are you?" Her gaze indicates Lance. "And you?" Garrett now.

"And-- how did you get me to the wagon?"

Oh dear. Beth must have been holding that demand in for a while now but with Tova back and in front of her...

[Marian Hawke]

As her eye scans for Garrett, she notices he's nowhere to be seen -- he's not where she last saw him, and the door's just a little ajar. 

[Countess Elaina Moorwood]

Lance is my France. He's the duke of Belmont. You got here by a coin of teleportation. Tova is a member of the Yadvashem. The righteous amongst nations a group of church magicians. She got you and your sister out before being captured. Lance won a torniment to get her back, gamllen suffered an act of god and died. Garret is one of the men in my employ. You and your sister are safe here as long as you wish to stay. No strings attached."

[Bethany]

"What? No, Gregory Roidmet the Lion of Roses is the Duke of Belmont," Beth protests, then her eyes widen. "Magician?!" She makes a hasty sign of the cross but something seems off about her reaction.