(Molly) **The first thing he notices is that the room smells of tea with bergamot. Molly rises from the table where she has been writing, and comes to him with a warm smile. She's wearing her blue and white montaigne style dress, and her hair is mostly loose and weaved with forget-me-nots  MTF
* Molly 's make up is done differently, it's tough to tell how, but rather than noble and fashionable it looks sweet, girlish and makes her look younger and somehow more vulnerable.  The heavier sword belt sits lower on her hips, and looks out of place with the dress. She comes and presses a brief kiss to his cheek. Her perfume is different too.
(Molly) Good morning, liebling
(@Morgan) good morning blossom
(@Morgan) whats with the change?
(Molly) Molly smiles affectionately at him
(Molly) (Molly) The hair?
(Molly) (@Morgan) the makeup, the perfume...
(Molly) * Molly smiles
(Molly) (Molly) Do you like it?
(Molly) * @Morgan nods
(Molly) (@Morgan) I do
(Molly) * Molly looks slightly surprised,  though tries to cover it
(Molly) (Molly) In that case, I shall wear it like this more oft
* Molly watches him closely,  particularly his body language and expression to see how relaxed and engaged he is
(@Morgan) Doesn't really explain _why_ the difference though
* Molly smiles slightly,  moving further away
(Molly) I am doing as you requested, protecting myself
(@Morgan) with new perfume...
* Molly shrugs briefly, going to the tea pot
(Molly) Not so much the perfume, that is just to try something new
* Molly looks at the coffee cup in his hand, then looks at him questioningly
(Molly) Tea, with bergamot?
(@Morgan) please
* Molly pours two cups, and puts them on the table near where he is stood. She comes back nearer him
(Molly) I would like to meet the head of security today, if possible
(@Morgan) oh?
* Molly smiles warmly, but there's a hint of determination there
(Molly) I would like to apologise for my manner yesterday, and thank him for his work
* @Morgan frowns slightly
(@Morgan) he wants to survey the security of the nursery today
* Molly nods thoughtfully
(Molly) Good
(Molly) Maybe I shall send someone to invite him to breakfast...
* Molly picks up her cup, sipping the tea.
(@Morgan) if you wish. He has asked if  you'd allow his wife to stay with you while the funeral is going on... she's very noise averse
* Molly 's eyes lose some of the determination as she is distracted
(Molly) What funeral?
(@Morgan) the guards that were killed
* Molly frowns deeply
(Molly) Which guards?!
* @Morgan frowns
(@Morgan) alright... the Eisenfurst sent guards to search for the Montaigne girl... she killed them. 
* Molly looks shocked, setting down her tea cup
(Molly) Oh no, how awful
* Molly frowns
(Molly) In Innesbruck, she said she wasn't an assassin.
(@Morgan) she also said she couldn't allow herself to be caught
* Molly nods
(Molly) How many guards were lost?
(@Morgan) four
* Molly looks pained, shaking her head
(Molly) Those poor families
* @Morgan nods
(@Morgan) I've said I'll guard the jail so the guards can attend the funeral
* Molly nods slowly
(Molly) When is it to be?
(@Morgan) Tomorrow morning
* Molly nods
(Molly) Of course she can come here. Does he realise he might be putting her at risk being here with me though?
(@Morgan) I'd imagine so
* Molly nods
(Molly) Claudia will stay here with us?
* @Morgan nods
(Molly) Is the funeral likely to be noisy?
(@Morgan) there'll likely be a rifle salute at least
* Molly bites her lip
(Molly) Former military men?
(@Morgan) navy
* Molly watches him closely
(Molly) You would not want to attend?
(@Morgan) I'd rather the people that knew them were able to say their goodbyes
* Molly smiles gently
(Molly) Of course. Do you think there is anything we could do for the families?
(@Morgan) I'd imagine justice will go someway to starting the healing of the wounds
* Molly retrieves her cup and sips again
* @Morgan picks up his cup and sips it
(Molly) Given that four former navy men could not catch her, I suspect justice will not be forthcoming
(@Morgan) Oh it will. She's been caught
* Molly looks shocked
(Molly) How on Theah?!
(@Morgan) I don't want to say
* Molly frowns deeply
(Molly) Alright *her jaw tenses briefly*
(@Morgan) I'm not exactly happy that Yensid did what I could't
* Molly looks confused
(Molly) Yensid?!
* @Morgan nods
(Molly) Did she see his face and hand herself over willingly as the lesser of two evils? *she giggles *
(@Morgan) Thats just as likely as him outwitting her I suppose
* Molly laughs
(Molly) I am most perplexed, liebes herz.
(@Morgan) oh?
(Molly) Where is she now?
(@Morgan) in the cells
* Molly swirls the tea a moment
(Molly) Is she still a danger?
(@Morgan) No, I don't think so
* Molly nods slowly
(Molly) Did they search her thoroughly?
(@Morgan) I made sure she was given new clothes from here, nothing she could have something hidden in
* Molly tilts her head
(Molly) It sounds like a rather dangerous endeavour...
(@Morgan) Yensid did a good job of that
(Molly) *she speaks quietly * He was lucky. She could have replenished the seeds.
(@Morgan) apparently the wound I did to her ankle hasn't healed, its slowed her down
* Molly nods, smiling a little
(Molly) Good.
(Molly) I suppose she'll be executed then?
(@Morgan) I'd imagine so
* Molly watches him
(Molly) Does that trouble you?
(@Morgan) She shouldn't have killed those men
(Molly) Definitely not.  How did it happen?
* Molly sips her tea
(@Morgan) I think she managed to get to her target, the guards found her and cornered her in a clearing
* Molly frowns briefly. She subconsciously touches her neck where the montaigne debt collector's dagger nicked her during the attempted rape
(Molly) She found the Comte?
(@Morgan) according to Yensid, yes
* Molly looks away, eyes downcast
(Molly) Good.
(@Morgan) If she'd not killed those guards, I'd probably have let her go
* Molly looks unsure
(Molly) Even though she and her handlers are able to wreak havoc all over Theah?
(@Morgan) her handlers are still out there... 
* Molly sighs
(Molly) Nothing we can really do about that
(@Morgan) Not right now, no...
* Molly smiles fondly at him
(Molly) It is what it is?
* @Morgan nods
(@Morgan) indeed
(Molly) The families will have their justice, and that would not have happened had you not hired Yensid to find her, or if you had not injured her.
(@Morgan) They wouldn't have caught her if she hadn't been injured, so they'd still be alive
* Molly watches him, the determination returning to her expression
(Molly) I knew she was injured. If I'd tended the wound she'd have been healed by now. You are _not_ to blame.
* @Morgan shrugs
* Molly comes to him, gently laying her hand on his upper arm and squeezing softly. Her voice is quiet
(Molly) Don't do this to yourself, liebes herz
(@Morgan) it is what it is
* Molly watches him
(Molly) This isn't your fault. _She_ made that choice, not you
(@Morgan) Maybe
* Molly looks completely indecisive, frowning and biting her lip
* Molly squares her shoulders, moving to stand in front of him. He feels a brief flash of anxiety from her. She watches him firmly.
(Molly) The blame is not yours.
(@Morgan) I appreciate your faith in me
* Molly 's eyes and voice are both serious
(Molly) I have utter faith in you.
* @Morgan bows his head slightly
(Molly) But I cannot, and will not, allow you to bear this guilt that is not yours.
* Molly moves closer, taking his cup from his hands
(Molly) Let me be here for you, liebling, if not for yourself, then for me
* @Morgan sighs
* Molly reaches behind her to set his cup on the table
(Molly) *she speaks quietly* Can you do that?
* @Morgan shrugs
(@Morgan) I'll manage
* Molly frowns
(Molly) Manage to let me be here for you, or manage without me?
(@Morgan) I'll manage to not let it burden me too much blossom
* Molly takes both his hands, squeezing gently
(Molly) As always, I am here for you, however and whenever you need me.
* @Morgan nods
(@Morgan) I hear you had a nightmare
* Molly lets go of his hands suddenly, expression becoming guarded
(Molly) I don't want to talk about it
(@Morgan) Funny how thats said quite often in here
(Molly) I do not understand your meaning?
* Molly retreats to the table and takes up her teacup
(@Morgan) I said much the same about Yensid catching the girl
(Molly) I don't want to even think about it, let alone discuss it
* Molly sips her tea
(@Morgan) as you wish blossom
* Molly nods
(Molly) Thank you
* Molly looks at the letters she was writing when he arrived.
(Molly) I need to finish those a moment. Are you staying for a while?
(@Morgan) for a little bit
* Molly smiles at him
(Molly) I am glad to hear that. I should imagine Varick will be awake in a little while
* @Morgan nods
* Molly looks at the clock on the mantlepiece, which reads almost seven oclock, and spots a letter there
(Molly) Ah I wondered where I'd put that. I was so busy with Mina yesterday that I forgot the letter from Herr Dreschler
* @Morgan nods slightly
(@Morgan) what does he want?
* Molly smiles
(Molly) I haven't opened it yet
(@Morgan) he's planning to visit soon...
* Molly goes and opens it. Half way through she frowns deeply, looking annoyed. She brings it to him, handing it over
(Molly) He may as well have just written to you instead I think.
(@Morgan) oh?
* @Morgan takes it and reads it
(Molly) Dear Veisgraffin Koertig
(Molly) I will be happy to attend you in this matter. I did receive instruction for your Morgengabe (500g upon your husband's passing, as well as 20g per month into your own bank account every month throughout his life).
(Molly) It would be prudent for your husband to think now upon the matter we discussed regarding Innesbruck,  as well as the Stewardships of Innesbruck and Koln, and whether he would appoint his brother, father or his Grace the Eisenfurst to take on the responsibility in the event of his death. Also, what he would wish to happen for his ships.
(Molly) You both must establish who is to be appointed Varick's guardian in the event of you both passing. If that were to happen before a child is born within your union, Varick will become Veisgraf Sudlachenburg and he would inherit all of both your assets.
(Molly) He is able to use either Eldreich or Koertig, either is perfectly acceptable and the choice is yours and Morgan's.
(Molly) Dreschler"
(@Morgan) Cheerful
(Molly) Indeed. *she folds the letters she has written, her movements showing her annoyance*
(@Morgan) what has vexed you blossom?
* Molly sighs heavily, watching him
(Molly) I worked for days and days on the books for Innesbruck, had to repeatedly argue with Heinrich over the rents and taxes and for making sure each household got the food needed. I think about that town all the time. And yet, because I was born female, it doesn't even matter.
* @Morgan nods
(@Morgan) Do you think he'd have some sort of fit if I appointed you?
(Molly) I-... I do not know. *she looks at him with a hint of concern in her expression * would you want to?
(@Morgan) my only reservation in doing so would be the impact it might have on your safety... lets be honest, left to my own devices, I'd have just hit people until they worked together
* Molly can't help but giggle
(Molly) Maybe you need to teach me how to hit people properly then
(@Morgan) it varies person to person
(@Morgan) I hadn't given much thought to Varicks family name
(Molly) He asked me again last week, and I thought it prudent to check. *she looks around for the wax* (How close to the table is he?)
(@Morgan) (ish)
(Molly) **He can see that one of her letters is short and to Mina, the other is a little longer and to the Eisenfurst *
(@Morgan) writing to our host, blossom?
* Molly smiles with amusement
(Molly) I am indeed. I am keeping myself safe.
(@Morgan) oh?
* Molly watches him
(Molly) I am doing the one thing smart women have done to protect themselves since the dawn of time; charming the hearts of powerful men.
(@Morgan) how so?
* Molly frowns, eyes narrowed, and he picks up Kai's voice as her thoughts spill over, the tone tender "Clearly he doesn't know you well enough then, as you charmed the heart of more than one Eisen noble!"
* @Morgan frowns
(Molly) I am hoping his Grace will escort me on a tour of his private chapel
* Molly passes him the letter
(Molly) "My Dear Eisenfurst, I wish to thank you again for the kindest of hospitalities you have shown to myself and my family in our hour of need. I am so sorry that we have put you to so much trouble, and that we have been less able to spend time with you as I had wished. I am told you have a beautiful chapel within the building of the house.
(Molly) As it is a Sunday, and I know your Grace is a most devoted adherent to Theus' will, I would not impose upon you for an escort,  but I would most humbly ask whether you may permit me to see its splendour when it is not in use today? Sadly, our circumstances mean that I must miss my own church's devotional service this morning, which greatly saddens my heart.
(Molly) A brief view of your chapel would make me feel much happier.  With fondest regards, Your Dear Veisgrafin Molly."
* @Morgan nods slowly
* Molly watches him with curiosity
(Molly) Do you think it'll work?
(@Morgan) More than likely
(Molly) Good. And then I shall use my charm until he is fond enough of me that he is very resistant to whatever nonsense Alarice tries
* @Morgan nods
* Molly smiles
(Molly) Which is where the hair and make up changes come in. The more vulnerable I look, the more protective he will be.
(@Morgan) now it makes sense
* Molly smiles
(Molly) The fact that you like it is a most unexpected bonus
(Molly) So I hope to see his Grace at the chapel, and Colonel Fuchs for breakfast, and then once your father arrives, it will be his turn... *The determination creeps back into her expression*
(@Morgan) I almost pity them
* Molly giggles
(Molly) You once told me you didn't envy any man who came against my determination
(@Morgan) I still don't
* Molly watches him
(Molly) I shan't use it on you, I promise
* Molly frowns a little
* @Morgan shrugs
(@Morgan) I might enjoy that once things are... calmer
* Molly blushes, biting her lip
(Molly) I have many ideas for things you might enjoy when things are calmer...
* @Morgan blushes
(Molly) *she is quietly giggling when, as usual, they are interrupted by a knock at the door*
** Morgan has quit (Quit: This computer has gone to sleep)
** You are now disconnected