Grand Hall: Rhinorth Manor, Cairhien

The Grand Hall of the Rhinorth Manor sparkles with elegant beauty and rich sophistication. Ancient, handwoven tapestries in vivid colors hang on the walls, depicting hunts on horseback through the woods and long-forgotten battles. The smooth wooden floor is polished to a high sheen, making it perfect and inviting to the many dancers who come to parties here. At the far side of the room is a long, oaken table, each leg carved to represent a horse rearing. It is lined with chairs, the seats of which have been covered in green and embroidered with the House crest. Along the sides of this cavern of a room are forest-green upholstered sofas, looking formal and stiff, with curved wooden legs and matching tables.

Expensive looking vases filled with fresh roses accent the room, adding a sweet scent and the sense of summer here. The afternoon sun streams in through the delicate stained glass window at the far end of the room and sends beams of color across the ballroom floor.

Two staircases wind down from the upstairs where the family's personal rooms are, and several hallways lead to other parts of the house.

Contents:
Talbryn
Trivan
Evard

The summer heat presses down on House Rhinorth with a heavy hand, crushing the crisp servants dresses and starched shirts into wilted sweat dampened limpness. Windows are opened to catch the slightest breeze and let in droning lazy flies, an occasional buzzing wasp and of course, the sound of slow moving carriages and passers muffled by walls and a bit of cistance.

Ignoring the heat though a bead of sweat defies him and trickles down his face is Trivan, pacing back and forth with a bit of a brooding expressionon his sturdy face.

From the garden comes Gaylwin in one of her much lighter summer dresses thin and flowing about her body to combat the scorching heat of summer. Reverberating in her hand is a small fan which she uses to cool her face and keep sweat from maring her pretty features.

The hall is just a cross roads right now, as Talbryn is coming in himself, from the entrance to the manor, in the company of one of the Ostlyn Ladies who he's been seen with a few times recently. He too is sweating lightly from the summer heat, but still seems jovial. As they walk in he's saying to Lady Ailanelle, "Have you been to Rhinorth Manor before? Perhaps my cousins will be about today."

Ailanelle shakes her head as she enters, feeling a tiny bit tentative... and then angry at herself for feeling so. She straightens her posture. "No, I've never been here before." Considering Nella only arrived in the city shortly after Talbryn himself, that should have been obvious. But she gives Tal's hand a squeeze. "What I've seen of it so far has been impressive." She smiles and smooths back a lock of her fiery red hair from her eyes. It's mostly down, in fact. The only nod to official "custom" being one lone coil of braid atop her head to indicate her noble birth. Otherwise, she doesn't seem to have wasted much time to proclaim it, though her clothing, if plain, is certainly of good quality and flattering to her appearance.

Trivan turns on his heel almost abruptly as the entrance of others is heard, interrupting his chain of thoughts. He smiles expansively toward his relatives and bows with precision that has a faint hint of military about it. In a deep rumbling voice he speaks. "Welcome and good day to you. It is nice to see two such lovely flowers who have not bowed and drooped from this...stiffling heat. And good day, cousin."

Still fanning her face with the small hand held fan Lady Gaylwin looks up and to the other main enterence as two others join the bodies in the room. The soft thin fabric draping over her body where it can though it does stick here and there because of the sweltering heat. her face brightens and she bobs her head in greeting. "well well well, it would seem that we have quite the busy house this afternoon. Good day."

Talbryn smiles pleasantly, intelligent blue eyes cheerfully relaxed. "Good day to you also cousin," He answers Trivan, giving Ailanelle'a hand a little return squeeze, subtle, yet perhaps obvious even that the pair of them are holding hands. Tilting his head towards Gaylwin, he adds, "And to you Lady Gaylwin. Have you met Lady Ailanelle Ostlyn?" Tal is dressed for riding, as if he has been, or will be later on horseback. Rumor has it that he and Ailanelle ride together frequently. He smiles over at Ailanelle then, reassuring?

Ailanelle nods to both the new Rhinorths. Ah. So *this* is the Lady Gaylwin. Interesting. Someone who is as much feared in a social setting as she is - though for COMPLETELY different reasons. And that makes her smile as she nods to the Lady. "My Lady. It is a pleasure to meet you." She turns to Trivan and nods to him as well. "You also, my Lord. Oh - and believe me, I'm quite capable of wilting. I just have no time for it. Perhaps later it will catch up with me." She chuckles, impossibly dark eyes glittering with amused mischief.

As ever Gaylwin observes other women with a careful speculative eye, measuring them against some personal scale that no one ever seems to fully match up with. "Lady Ostlyn, the pleasure is all mine to be sure. I trust that my cousin has kept you in good company of late? Should he not you just come see me." Her smile is wide as she smoothly slips to Trivans side her long thin heels taping lightly on the wooden flooring with each step.

Trivan gives a chuckle that rumbles around in his chest before exiting. " Was debating just how much trouble would be in with Gaylwin if I moved my desk chair and a lamp down to the wine cellar where is cooler though may have to beat my way in through the cobwebs"

A passing servant rolls her eyes and gives a little smirk before murmuring to Evard "Cellar is the cleanest room in the house. Dust it twice a day when it is hot like this, we do, oh, yes, nice and cool down there. Might just have to find some polish and work on the racks a few hours." She passes out of voice range as she finishes chattering to Evard.

Trivan continues as if he did not hear the servant though the corners of him mouth twitch in a slight smile. "But come evening, would be seeking the fresh cooling breeze out the garden so likely well enough where things are. Come, sit for a while and will have some wine punch brought in, yes?"

Talbryn chuckles softly himself at Gaylwin's advice to Ailanelle, and retorts in good humor, "Cousin, when have you ever known me to treat a single soul ill?" he too catches the servant's murmurings for a moment and his eyes light with slight amusement. "Lady Ostlyn, this is my cousin, the Lady Gaylwin, and of course, Lord Trivan, one of my other cousins." He completes the introductions and then nods, "I would favor such an idea on a hot day like this one. Shall we then?" His question to his companion.

Ailanelle chuckles a bit, letting everyone's words float around her, taking them in. She seems unconcerned entirely by Gaylwin's assessment, if that's what it was. What others think of her has never made much of an impression upon her. That's perhaps, the reason the rumors have whispered that she was shipped off here by her father to get her out of the way of some of her younger sisters. Not because the suitors preferred her. Oh no. But rather, because she terrorized them. Several of the young men left the Ostlyn estate in the country sporting several broken ribs for their troubles. Some of those young men might have been horrified to learn that the Ostlyn Hoyden had been seen in Cairhein and may have taken extended "leaves of absence" from the city to avoid coming into contact with her. She nods now at Talbryn's suggestion, fully willing to follow where he leads, here in his own home.

The fan in Gaylwins hand works vigorusly to keep her cool and composed as people are introduced. Retracting as she often does from time to time into a silent fashion letting others guide the conversations. she smiles and nods her head to Trivans suggestion as well letting him know of her agreement. her brow does raise slightly as she looks at him having caught some of his words on entering the Grand Hall.

Trivan listens to the flow of conversation for a moment, smoothly signaling Evard though it does not seem to be necessary, he is already heading after the refreshments. Trivan heads over toward some chairs set where a crossbreeze gathers what coolness is available. "Your sister, Leah Ostlyn was our guest here for a while during the recent turmoil. You will have to see how nice the parting gife from your family looks in its setting in our garden when it cools off enough to enjoy it out there.

Talbryn leads Ailanelle by the hand in following Trivan towards the gathering of chairs, rising his eyebrow in curiousity at what this parting gift might have been, and giving the red haired lady a subtle sideways wink. The heat is truly oppressive some days. He ought to do something about that some day. His engineering mind sort of spins that thought to the back where it can coalesce into something more definite without much intervention in his pleasant visit with his family and companion.

Ailanelle offers a genuinely warm smile to Trivan as she nods. "I will do that, my Lord. I know how grateful my family was to have been offered sanctuary within your home. You were very generous to have done so and we will never forget that generosity." THAT is something she feels strongly about, it would seem, being quite protective of her younger sister. She follows Talbryn to the chairs and seats herself when the others do so, her hand finally (though perhaps, reluctantly) slipping from his so that she can clasp her hands together in her lap.

Gaylwin crosses the room to one of several soft chairs. She takes deliberate care to straighten her dress while she crosses her legs and lets her raised foot dangle daintily. She reaches up to her hair and brushes back a strand that has fallen out of place. "It looks as if you two were out riding?" She starts the conversation in another tangent throwing that out to either Talbryn or Ailanelle

Trivan is perfectly comfortable with Gaylwin leading the topic along, perhaps 'too' comfortable with it. He sits calmly yet listenign attentively while Evard soon returns and serves the punch that had been requested.

Talbryn reaches out to take two glasses as Evard brings the tray around, one for himself and one for Ailanelle, which he offers her, perhaps not content to have Evard be the one to give it to her, just a small subtle thing, right? Leaning back then and taking a sip of the cooled punch, he nods, "Oh, yes, we were planning on taking to the saddle a bit later, after the heat of day has cooled somewhat." If there is some master plan to Gaylwin's remark about their riding attire, Talbryn does not seem to notice it, beyond mere social context, and that is comfortable enough for him.

Ailanelle accepts the drink from Talbryn with a warm smile and a grateful little nod of her head, fiery hair swaying against her shoulders. She turns back to Gaylwin at the mention of riding and nods at Talbryn's response, adding to it, "We thought we would wait for things to cool. It's better for the horses that way. But there's nothing like the wind in your hair on a warm day..." She chuckles.

Gaylwin slips her long fingers and painted nails around the stem of the goblet when Evard is closer and the guest has been served. Her mind whirls as it ever does about hidden meaning and subtlties. Little gestures by no means missed such as the reluctance of parting touch, an unspoken kindness here and there, the stolen looks and all. "Getting away from the prying eyes of the city and all it's inhabitants is something that many nobles seem to wish to do frequently." She reaches down and plucks at a tiny fiber that to her seems out of place pinching it between two nails and letting it go to the side of the chair.

Talbryn takes another sip of his punch, eyes resting on his socially adept cousin momentarily over the rim of the glass, perhaps having caught something in her words this time. He's never been known in the family as a great suitor, fop, dandy or woo-er of women, being far too absorbed in his scholarly pursuits once the 'imprisonment' of his childhood had been escaped. Yet small indications do indeed seem to indicate this is a very -close- friendship with Lady Ostlyn. "I cannot recall if I have ever seen you on horseback cousin, do you ride? Perhaps escaping the city might be to your liking as well." He suggests with a tilt of his head.

Ailanelle nods at Talbryn's words. "The peace and quiet of the countryside can be very healing if you allow it to be. But then, riding is a favorite pasttime of mine so perhaps I'm a little biased on the subject." She chuckles.

Gaylwin wriggles her foot at the ankle nodding down with her head to her choice of shoes. "Well I must admit to not having the proper dress for such rugged activities." Her thin right brow raises ever so slightly. "There are more than enough things in the city and the palace to keep any woman entertained for a long time to come." She at long last quenches her thrist with a drink of the punch, once again returning her other hand to the fan and oscilating it infront of her face.

Trivan lets the general flow of conversation roll around him. A few times he makes a faint little 'sniff' sound about riding. "Some like horses, and some thingk they are adequate means of transportation or a good tool but not the most reliable of sorts." Tone of voice implies he is one of those who might think that.

Ailanelle almost guffaws at Gaylwin's comment, so thinly veiled. The corners of her lips twitch. But she doesn't give in to the temptation. Nor does she try to retort, preferring instead to neatly sidestep the entire issue. "Many women find their entertainment within the city and the Palace, yes. I confess, living at the Palace, I find it far more interesting to be *out* of it than *in* it." She chuckles, her gaze turning to Trivan. She offers a shrug. "To each his or her own, my Lord," she replies with a pleasant smile. She's in a *very* good mood today and it will take quite a lot to dampen that mood.

Talbryn of course thinks of HIS horse as a friend and confidant, but then.. he has his reasons. He swirls his punch and smiles over at Ailanelle next to him briefly, before adding another comment to the current discussion, "Sometimes entertainment has nothing to do with what one needs, cousins. Do you never seek a moment of silence to be at one with the world, and -feel- your place in it?" he shrugs then and says, "But perhaps such is the romantic view of a wandering pair of feet."

Certainly not meaning any slight to Ailanelle, Gaylwin smiles and nods her head, "the grass is always greener in someone elses yard my dear. I grew up and spent most of my years in the countryside at our families country estate. To be away from there is a release." She looks between those present. "Lord Hargraves has asked me to be social secretary for the Palace....something that should prove interesting."

Ailanelle oh's? "What sorts of things does a social secretary do? It must be quite an honor to be asked to do such a thing by the Prince himself." She smiles, offering Gaylwin her due. However she managed it, it was obviously quite a feat. And besides - focusing on that takes the conversation AWAY from what women should and should not do. Well. Mostly, anyway.

Trivan lets his glance flick back and forth between the two women and like most men under the circumstances, clears his throat and crosses arms over his chest giving his cousin a "women' type glance. "Better you for the social things than me. Speaking of social, Myana's 'friend' called on me not many days past. You were not here Talbryn so could not invite you in for the conference with him."

Talbryn looks briefly blank as Trivan suddenly hops over to speaking of Myana, presumably more to him than the other two, and then the light goes on in his expression. "Friend..Ah! You mean Lord Caedan I presume?" His mouth flickers gently with some humor at Ailanelle's diverting the topic away from the social standards applied to women. Hoyden she may be, but she can be crafty too. This makes him smile into his punch as he takes another sip, just simply enjoying it's cooling merits. "Yes, I have met him. What was your impression?"

Gaylwin strums her fingers on the edges of her cup of punch as the conversation swirls around from topic to topic. "I have not met this 'friend' of hers yet that I know of. what was it that he wanted Trivan?"

Ailanelle allows the question of what a social secretary does, drop for the time being. The conversation seems to have shifted topics and far be it from her to drag it anywhere on her own. She merely takes a quiet sip of her punch and listens to the others speak since this topic seems near and dear to their hearts. Myana is Talbryn's sister. Ah yes. She remembers now...

Trivan keeps his expression unchanging though Gaylwin may recognize what is behind the pleasant arraneement of his features. "Was about to ask yours." He comments blandly but his glance seems to include all those present, avoiding bringing too intimate a family matter up publically yet gleaning what information he can.

Gaylwin leans over to speak more softly to the other woman in the room. sometimes women just have to stick together in rooms of testosterone. She mutters to Ailanelle, "A..."

Ailanelle senses "Gaylwin leans over to speak more softly to the other woman in the room. sometimes women just have to stick together in rooms of testosterone. "A social Secretary sees to social events sponsered by the palace.""

You sense Ailanelle nods back as she receives the definition she was after. "Would that mean that you would plan the balls and such at the Palace? It seems an enormous amount of work, though I imagine the rewards for it coming off successfully would be just as enormoous, hmm?" She chuckles.

Talbryn finishes his punch and sets the glass aside, raising an eyebrow as Gaylwin starts whispering to his companion. Now was he on a macho kick? To Trivan he says, choosing his words with a certain care, "I have met him only once, cousin, and to the eye, he seemed civil enough, of good enough resources.. and generous, perhaps to a fault. All else, I would need to more contact with him to delve."

Ailanelle leans a bit closer to Gaylwin to nod as the other woman speaks to her. She asks her another soft question and then chuckles a bit.

Gaylwin smiles most mischieviously at the womans chuckle. She mutters to Ailanelle, "yes it... does... hidden rewards." Lifting her eyes up to look at her brother and cousin, "Isn't he a commoner?" There is a hint of disapprival in her voice at that comment.

Ailanelle senses "Gaylwin smiles most mischieviously at the womans chuckle. "yes it is a big task, however it does have it's hidden rewards." Lifting her eyes up to look at her brother and cousin, "Isn't he a commoner?" There is a hint of disapprival in her voice at that comment."

Evard comes in with a quick note and comment to the head of the house. trivan looks it over gravely and nods his head, "If you all will excuse me I have some sudden business I need to attend to." He quickly rises and exits the room after a bow to the guest of the family.

Talbryn's eyes are curious, but not intrusively so as Trivan has to take his leave rather suddenly, leaving him with two now whispering women. He motions to Evard to refill his punch politely, and then turns to Ailanelle and Gaylwin, "It was my understanding he was not of exceedling high standing, but noble nonetheless. Am I mistaken?"

Ailanelle nods to Trivan before he heads out. She knows such things happen often to Heads of Houses. She returns her attention to Talbryn as he speaks to both herself and Gaylwin. "Lord Caedan? I know nothing of him." She shrugs. But then again, Nella is NOT one to involve herself in city politics. Well. At least not usually.

Gaylwin shrugs her shoulders slightly and takes in the information. "I will have to do some inquiring on the man as soon as I can. Since it appears that so few of us know much about the man." Again her mind starts to whirl with variables as to how the man and his standing affects that of their house in the eyes of everyone else in the nation. Position and power do so worry this woman.

Talbryn smiles, "If you do, I'd appreciate hearing what you discover Gaylwin. I was about to, but then my time became absorbed in another direction." he takes the glass as Evan returns with a fresh punch for him, nodding politely to the man, though he does glance towards Ailanelle's glass to see if she perhaps has need of another as well. Just a quick glance, discreet, yet suitable for a gentleman friend to be of such courtesy.

Ailanelle appears to be taking it slow with her punch. She still has about half a glass-full so it's unlikely she'll need a refill just yet. She smiles at Talbryn as she catches him looking though, then returns her attention to Gaylwin. Throughout the discussion, she remains silent. There is nothing she could offer even if she were of a mind to speak - but she knows nothing of this "Caedan" fellow, so all she can do is look between the two of you as you discuss it. Still, she appears to be quite content to do so, her thumb rubbing idly at the glass in her hand.

Gaylwin takes one last sip of her punch and then uncrosses her legs and rises to her feet. "Lady Ostlyn it has been a please to meet you. Perhaps some time you and I can sit down together when the men are not present and speak on womanly things. I appologize that I need to depart as well."

Ailanelle nods to the Lady Gaylwin as she rises at the same time. "It has been a pleasure meeting you as well, my Lady. Thank you for your hospitality." She smiles.