A Strict Household

Writers: Bree, Eimi
Date Posted: 28th December 2005

Characters: Miralani, Penryn
Description: After her arrival at Garnet Valley, Miralani takes a few moments to meet her brother's Steward.
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 9, day 5 of Turn 3

Penryn set his hidework aside with a sigh. _Finally_ that was done. For a moment at least. He could steal a few minutes to eat lunch before reporting to the new Lord Regent to brief him on the next year's herd projections, surely. The had just brought his first bite to his mouth when there was a knock on the door. **Shards, what now?** he thought as he put his fork back down. "Yes?"

The woman who entered his office gave him a polite curtsey and a friendly enough smile, but there was something very aloof in her demenour. "I haven't had a chance to meet you yet, Penryn, though I saw you shortly after my arrival. I don't mean to interrupt your meal... but perhaps you could spare a few moments for me?"

He stood as soon as recognized the sister of the Lord Regent walk through the door. "Yes ma'am, of course. Please have a seat. Can I get you anything?"

Miralani shook her head and sank gracefully into a seat, folding her hands in her lap. "Please sit, Penryn. I've heard from my brother that you have been performing the duties of the Lord Holder, the Steward and the Headwoman all by yourself in the past month. You must be very skilled to have managed... I admit I expected to find the Hold in a state of some chaos." "We held on as best we could." He took his seat and inwardly sighed as he remembered just how close to chaos the whole Hold had come. "I'm sorry things are not nearly as organized as I'm sure a true Headwoman would have assured."

She shook her head. "We're hardly unreasonable, Penryn. No one could have expected you to manage everything on your own. But there are some things that need a woman's touch, so until my brother can find a suitable Headwoman to take over, I'll be taking care of the domestic issues of the Hold. That should leave you men free to do the sort of things that need your attention." "It is most appreciated, ma'am." It would indeed be a big weight off his shoulders to have a woman in charge of things down in the kitchens and storerooms. "It has been quite a handful. Organizing the drudges proved to take much more time than the work parties I'm used to."

Miralani nodded and gave him a friendly smile. "I think we'll get along well then. If you have any special needs or requests, please let me know. I ran a strict household for my husband, and I intend to do the same for my brother." "He is most appreciative, I'm sure." Penryn ran through his head the things that needed to be done. He had meant to write a list but just hadn't found time. However, Miralani seemed more than capable to use her own eyes and experience to decide what needed to be done. "There is one thing, actually.
We need to take a complete stock of everything, and unfortunately I do mean _everything_. Our last Headwoman was... less than honorable. It is rumored that things had been going missing."

"So I have heard..." Miralani nodded shortly. "What about the Headwoman's assistants? Are they experienced enough to help take charge, or will I need to oversee all the details?"

"Ryalane is... in no position to help you at the moment. She and her husband were attacked by the murderer and she is still recovering from the injuries." His heart still ached for the Headwoman assistant. To not only lose her husband, but to also be injured in such a heinous way...

"Ahhh. That's unfortunate. I'll see that she has what she needs, then...
I'll need your records from your previous inventories, of course. It's the only way I can compare what is there with what should be. But that will have to wait a few days... at least until I've gotten the drudges back on schedule."

"Yes, I understand." Penryn had not been looking forward to that task. It was going to prove a ngithmare, he was sure. "I will ask Ryalane about the second set of Records. I seem to remember that she was asked by the Steward to keep her own set. I will find those and bring them to you within the next day or two."

"Thank you, Penryn." Miralani stood as gracefully as she'd sat, smoothing her immaculate skirts down. "I won't keep you from your meal much longer, but I wanted to introduce myself. I look forward to a long working relationship with you. I think that between the two of us, we can keep the Hold running smoothly for my brother, don't you?" Her smile was confident.
"I'll handle the womenly concerns, and you can take care of the rest."

Penryn stood and gave her a respectful bow. "I am very pleased to have you here. Welcome to Garnet Valley, ma'am."

Last updated on the December 29th 2005

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A Strict Household