Post by Aislin of Port Legann on Feb 3, 2008 16:08:03 GMT -5
Aislin knew she should have been suspicious the moment she had received word from her mother-in-law, especially as the woman had made no attempts to communicate with her after she had cut all ties with her former-husband’s family and run off to sea. However, when she received a letter Meghan of Port Legann regarding the family’s upcoming visit to court and how she dearly hoped her only daughter would join them, the young merchant captain had agreed.
Aislin quickly realized her mistake when shortly after arriving, she found herself cornered, alone and helpless, in the sitting room of her family’s quarters by Lady Meghan. As she sipped at her tea, the younger woman wondered at the fact that after facing bloodthirsty pirates and raging storms during her years at sea, nothing terrified her more than her mother-in-law. It was as though the older woman was an imposing figure; quite the opposite, really. Meghan of Port Legann was petite in every sense of the word, from her short stature to her small, lady-like hands to the corseted waist Aislin was sure could be encircled by a garter. No, it was the way that her mother-in-law oversaw her family and household with an iron fist that struck horror into the bravest of hearts.
As the older woman stirred sugar into her tea, she turned her attention to her daughter-in-law. “Aislin, you know that you are the closest thing that I have to a daughter of my own,” she began, her voice soft and sweet. “And as such, I simply want you to be happy. You can’t enjoy having to work so hard just to feed and clothe yourself, especially among all those dreadful commoners-“
“My sailors are good men,” Aislin interrupted, setting her tea cup down with a sharp clink. “I’m proud to work beside them and honored that they respect me as their captain.”
Meghan waved a daintily gloved hand dismissively. “Of course you are,” she replied. “But you’ve played sailor for five years, now, and I think it’s time for you to settle down. Your father and I have endured your little fancy, but we have decided that enough is enough and it’s time for you to remarry.”
The young merchant captain shot to her feet. “I am not just ‘playing sailor’, as you put it,” she replied indignantly. “I am the captain of a fine vessel and a fearless crew. I’ve lived through dangers and struggles that you can’t even imagine.”
The older woman sipped at her tea nonchalantly, as if her daughter-n-law’s protest was nothing more than a child’s temper-tantrum. “That may be, but now it’s time for you to put all that behind you,” she remarked calmly. “You are still a member of this family, and it is time you placed the good of others before your own selfish whims. As you know, Justin is not yet married. This is mainly because most father’s don’t want their daughters… influenced by such a wild sister-in-law.”
Aislin let out a snort of laughter. “Of course,” she replied. “It’s my fault. The fact that Justin is a bumbling oaf incapable of running even a simple shipping business was never even considered. Besides, if I’m so wild, who do you think will marry me? I’m sure you’ve heard the rumors. I’m a whore who gallivants about in men’s clothes and sleeps with half of her crew.”
“I have already made arrangements for that,” Meghan replied. “I have already sent for several dressmakers. With proper clothing, some face powder, and that horrible hoop out of your ear, you will seem as much a lady as any other here at court.”
The younger woman leaned on the table, her face inches away from her mother-in-law’s. “I am no meek, quiet slip of a thing for you to mold,” she hissed. “I am no lady. I am Captain Aislin of the Lioness Rampant, and you have a better chance at taming the sea herself than breaking me.” With that, she straightened, put on her battered leather tricorn, and left, slamming the door behind her.
Aislin quickly realized her mistake when shortly after arriving, she found herself cornered, alone and helpless, in the sitting room of her family’s quarters by Lady Meghan. As she sipped at her tea, the younger woman wondered at the fact that after facing bloodthirsty pirates and raging storms during her years at sea, nothing terrified her more than her mother-in-law. It was as though the older woman was an imposing figure; quite the opposite, really. Meghan of Port Legann was petite in every sense of the word, from her short stature to her small, lady-like hands to the corseted waist Aislin was sure could be encircled by a garter. No, it was the way that her mother-in-law oversaw her family and household with an iron fist that struck horror into the bravest of hearts.
As the older woman stirred sugar into her tea, she turned her attention to her daughter-in-law. “Aislin, you know that you are the closest thing that I have to a daughter of my own,” she began, her voice soft and sweet. “And as such, I simply want you to be happy. You can’t enjoy having to work so hard just to feed and clothe yourself, especially among all those dreadful commoners-“
“My sailors are good men,” Aislin interrupted, setting her tea cup down with a sharp clink. “I’m proud to work beside them and honored that they respect me as their captain.”
Meghan waved a daintily gloved hand dismissively. “Of course you are,” she replied. “But you’ve played sailor for five years, now, and I think it’s time for you to settle down. Your father and I have endured your little fancy, but we have decided that enough is enough and it’s time for you to remarry.”
The young merchant captain shot to her feet. “I am not just ‘playing sailor’, as you put it,” she replied indignantly. “I am the captain of a fine vessel and a fearless crew. I’ve lived through dangers and struggles that you can’t even imagine.”
The older woman sipped at her tea nonchalantly, as if her daughter-n-law’s protest was nothing more than a child’s temper-tantrum. “That may be, but now it’s time for you to put all that behind you,” she remarked calmly. “You are still a member of this family, and it is time you placed the good of others before your own selfish whims. As you know, Justin is not yet married. This is mainly because most father’s don’t want their daughters… influenced by such a wild sister-in-law.”
Aislin let out a snort of laughter. “Of course,” she replied. “It’s my fault. The fact that Justin is a bumbling oaf incapable of running even a simple shipping business was never even considered. Besides, if I’m so wild, who do you think will marry me? I’m sure you’ve heard the rumors. I’m a whore who gallivants about in men’s clothes and sleeps with half of her crew.”
“I have already made arrangements for that,” Meghan replied. “I have already sent for several dressmakers. With proper clothing, some face powder, and that horrible hoop out of your ear, you will seem as much a lady as any other here at court.”
The younger woman leaned on the table, her face inches away from her mother-in-law’s. “I am no meek, quiet slip of a thing for you to mold,” she hissed. “I am no lady. I am Captain Aislin of the Lioness Rampant, and you have a better chance at taming the sea herself than breaking me.” With that, she straightened, put on her battered leather tricorn, and left, slamming the door behind her.