The Heir & the Buccaneer (IC|Invite-Only)

[Great Hyruke]

Kit watched with disinterested eyes as he watched his sister apply the finishing touches of her make up in her vanity. She painted her lips with a shade of lipstick that lay somewhere between red and pink. As she finished, she patted her blonde hair that was worn short, pinned up in the fashion of faraway Londres so that it framed her delicate statuesque features. Satisfied, she stood, hand on her hip and smiled. She looked ready to kill. Metaphorically. At least Kit liked to assume metaphorically.

The Lady Alice Mary Amelia Barbon, grinned at her appearance in the mirror. Alice had been praised all her life for her good lookings. She had been an adorable baby, a cute little girl, a lovely young woman. Her mother had said that while she had been named after her great-grandmother, she should have been named after the titular character of ‘Alice in Wonderland’, for she had those dazzling blue eyes, silky golden blonde hair. Alice however referred to know her namesake had been Alice of Connuriste, a wife and mother of an emperor, as well as an empress in her own right.

The twenty year old Alice had always carried herself as if she were meant for greater things. Why wouldn’t she? Her mother, the Duchess of Garmouth was the daughter of a late emperor, while her father, the Duke of Garmouth was the grandson of a king. Yes, both her mother’s empire or her father’s kingdom no longer existed, but that was not the point. She was meant to be more than a noble daughter of a Duke with only a few small land holdings around a small port along the old Scottish coast.But life wasn’t a fairytale. If she wanted something, she’d get it herself.

Alice found her door of opportunity in the most unlikely of places, in the far northern reaches of the continent, on the snowy coasts of the Northern Sea in a land called Gosataborg. The news had been, ever since the new year, filled with talk of Prince Ragnar, sole heir to the Gosataborgian throne and his seemingly never ending search for a bride. There were bets and speculation on who he would end up with. This far he’d rejected a Princess of Patuania, as well as the middle daughter of the late Deritain emperor.

Like seemingly ever other young single woman, Alice had taken notice. And she had come to a decision. Ragnar would be hers. She would find him, and she would win him. Not because she was in love with him, nor simply because she would be a Princess. No, he would be hers because she won. She always won. And she was prepared to make sure she won with flying colors, and to mark the first step in her wider long goal of greatness. But of course that meant she had to throw her hat into the ring and girl had she thrown her hat in.

With so many young women throwing themselves at the Gosataborgian palace gates, not to mention the royal families and national governments hurling said young women, Alice had had to fight just to get promised a meeting. But if Alice were to win, she had to differentiate herself from the others. So instead of going to Gosataborg, Alice had invited the Royals to Garmouth. The Barbon Family would host the foreign royals at their estate, Linkwood House and entertain them with some sailing and such. And they are due to arrive any minute now.

[Gosataborg]

Ragnar sat across from his parents as the limousine made its way through the highlands of northern Grea Hyruke, twisting its way along the coast towards Linkwood House. This trip, while not an official state visit, did represent the furthest south that any member of the Grand Ducal Family of Gosataborg had ever ventured. The warm spring air was almost a bit of a shock to the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess, while if it was one to the hereditary prince, it was one he enjoyed. Ragnar loved Gosataborg, but he had grown tired of remaining in the palace, entertaining shivering princesses and ladies not used to the chill.

It was also a rare sight to see the royals not in their formal uniforms. Grand Duke Sakarias wore white trousers, black shoes and a long sleeve black and white sweater, his mustache groomed to perfection. His wife, Mathilde wore a pastel pink dress white flats, pearl earrings and her blonde hair pinned in up with a white head band. Ragnar meanwhile wore white trousers like his his father, but his polo shirt was pink, a white sweater tied around his shoulders. One would be forgiven for mistaking the royals for a simple affluent family going gor for a day on the water. Which, in a way, they were.

The limousine came to a stop in front of Linkwood House and a footman opened the door for them, the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess stepped out, linked by their arms, while Ragnar followed them, and the trio waiting to be greeted by their hosts.

[Great Hyruke]

The Duke and Duchess of Garmouth stepped out into the stairs that lead to the front entrance of Linkwood House.

The Duke, a short and thin man who seem to have a permanent scowl on his face, watched the Grand Ducal family of Gosataborg step out of their limousine carefully. The Duke, Elliott David Barbon, had deep dark circles under his eyes. His hair, once brown, was now entirely gray, cut short against his head, pale blue veins were visible beneath his pale skin that clung tightly to his bird like physique. David wore a white button down shirt, a pale blue tie, a black vest, and a black kilt with blue plaid. His socks were blue while his boat shoes were black.

The Duchess on the other hand, was a tall willowy woman, her blonde hair styled in a large near that framed her face. Though only 5’9” she looked four inches over her husband in her flats. She wore a baby blue dress with a white floral pattern, white gloves on her hands and a white head band. Her features were glamorous, her full lips painted a pale pink and her large blue eyes darting with intelligence as she stood in presentation, not a single hair out of place. Princess Mary of Connuriste had always been a neat person.

The Duke and Duchess were joined by their children seconds later. Christopher Charles Connor Barbon, affectionately known as Kit, was their eldest. The Earl of Carrick, his courtesy title as his father’s heir, was a tall man who towered over both his parents at 6’2” and built like a swimmer. His eyes were brown like his father’s brown eyes but his mother’s cleft chin and blond hair, parted on his right side. He wore an outfit that was virtually identical to that of his father’s, though his tie was a darker shade of blue.

Then there was Lady Alice Barbon. Alice was just a year younger than Kit, but half a foot shorter, tall for a woman, though still an inch shorter than her mother. She had golden blond hair that which reached just past her shoulders, and piercing blue eyes that blazed with life and thought and clear intent. Freckles splashed around her perfectly symmetrical button nose and sharp pink cheeks. She wore a light blue jumpsuit with a white belt pulled tightly around her waist. Alice was thin, with gentle curves. She wore white boat shoes and white gloves on her hands.

Alice made her way to the front of her family’s pack, dropping into an elegant curtsy. Alice had been taught in ballet since she could walk, as it was tradition in her mother’s family that all girls have an artistic talent engrained into them. She could also paint in watercolor, okay the harp and the violin while singing alternating between Scots Gaelic, Hyrukian and Deritain. Alice smiled gently as she bowed her head to the gusting royals.

“Your Royal Highnesses,” said Alice, still in her curtsy, “It is an honor for you to Grace us with you visit. I know I speak for my family when I say that you have,” Alice raised her head, her eyes darting to Prince Ragnar, “a truly splendid time here.”

[Gosataborg]

Grand Duke Sakarias frowned as Lady Alice spoke to him and his family. The Gosataborgian monarchy may have been a young one, but the Grand Duke was a strict adherent to the rules of courtesy and respect. Lady Alice had just broken one of the first rules, dating to speak to the Grand Duke before he could address her. Even if they were their hosts, the Barbond held a mere dukedom, while he was sovereign of a free grand duchy.

Prince Ragnar, noticing Alice’s look, bit his lip, holding back a small cruel laugh. If the Scottish heiress thought that seduction was going to win him over or get him to be wrapped around her finger then she was sorely mistaken. And her mess up would win her no favors with his father or mother. At least she had gotten the curtsy right. Even when a woman wore trousers she was expected to curtsy in Gosataborg.

“Lady Alice,” Grand Duke Sakarias said darkly, looking down at the young woman. “I presume?”

[Great Hyruke]

Alice had to consciously hold her smiled as she rose up from her curtsy. She could see in both Prince Ragnar’s response and Grand Duke Sakarias’ that she had made a mister. But a mere tumble didn’t mean that one had to fall. Alice too had the benefit of her parents.

The Duchess of Garmouth was quick to run to the aid of her daughter. Not literally. Mary was far too graceful and elegant to ever run anywhere. She instead descended down the stairs and made her way to her daughter’s side, dropping into a brief elegant curtsy before putting her hands on Alice’s shoulders.

“Oh, do forgive my dear Alice, Your Royal Highness. She has been so excited all day. We’ve been eager to have you here, we so rarely get such distinguished guests. I assure you, it is well worth the trip. The waters around Garmouth are perfect for sailing and the Laliberté and the Iomana are both such lovely vessels. The Laliberté belonged to my father.”

Mary said the last bit with not so subtly hinted imperious tone. Mary was not one to mention the fact that she was amongst only less than a half a dozen women who could accurately say that they were the the daughter of an emperor. Though of that small group, she was not the single daughter whose father was still alive. But that wasn’t the point. The Grand Duke of Gosataborg may act high and mighty, but he would remember who he spoke to.

[Gosataborg]

Grand Duke Sakarias inhaled and his wife, Mathilde, squeezed his hand gently. Having taken a breath, the Grand Duke looked at the tall and stately Duchess of Garmouth and presented her with a tight smile that didn’t quite reach up to his eyes. This was part of the reason he had wanted a Princess for a daughter-in-law. The youth of the Vasta Dynasty meant that in many regards it was not respected. It was too new, and didn’t yet have a natural air of regality behind it. Even this woman, who’s father’s empire no longer existed deemed it necessary to remind him that she came from a long lineage of royals.

An infusion of foreign royal blood would give the Vasta some legitimacy amongst its fellow royals, and since his son, in his pickiness, had refused seemingly every Princess on the continent, then perhaps a daughter of a Princess would do.

“Of course, Your Imperial Highness. It is pleasure to be your guests. A bit of sailing will do us wonders I am sure, though I was not aware that we would be taking two boats, are we not to all sail together?”

[Great Hyruke]

“Oh, well not all of us,” said Mary with a small smile. “We thought it best if we spilt up, better forge the social circles of you will.” The Duchess of Garmouth squeezed her daughter’s shoulders gently. “You and Her Royal Highness will be joining my husband and myself on the Laliberté and we thought it best if we leave the children to get to know one another in the Iomana. Don’t worry. Kit and Alice are excellent on the water and with navigation.”

[Gosataborg]

Prince Ragnar but his lip, annoyed at being referred to by the Duchess as merely one of the children. Ragnar was closer to thirty than he was to eighteen. He was by no reasonable measure a child. He let his eyes drift over at his fellow ‘kids’, linger over them. The Grand Duchess frowned while the Grand Duke at the least tried to maintain a smile to the Duke and Duchess of Garmouth.

“Well, so suppose that won’t be too bad, though it will be a bit uneven.”