Keish-- April 5, 2004

April 5, 2004
Dear Arri,

If I were to write a novel such as The Lady in the Forest, I should certainly include someone suffering death by trousseau.
Gretel’s mother has her reading “The Bride’s Guide” and it’s certainly enough to put a person into a coma at the very least.
The society woman must have one or two velvet dresses. She must possess thousands of pieces of lace, in the shape of flounces, to loop up over the skirts of dresses... Walking dresses; ball dresses... There must be traveling dresses in black silk, in pongee, in pique... Evening robes in Swiss muslin, robes in linen for the garden and croquet, dresses for horse races, dresses for breakfast and for dinner, dresses for receptions and parties...
It even has a description of someone’s trousseau:
One of the handsomest house dresses was a black silk made in princesse shape, with transparent sleeves entirely of mordore beads, alternating with clair de lune; one side gore was also covered with this beaded trimming, while the scarf apron fronts crossed each other and were fastened on one side of the train. A bouquet of dark red damask roses with buds of the yellow tea-roses is worn at the belt of this dress.
And her wedding dress:
It consisted of an empress train and corsage of the richest brocaded white satin, with an apron of plain satin nearly covered with lace, pearl passementerie, and bouquets of orange blossoms. The lace, said to be the finest of its kind ever brought to this country, was point applique, bordered with round point, and ornamented with medallions of point de Venise. The front of the brocaded corsage was a round waist, with a wide belt formed of five satin folds fastened by a bouquet; the neck was high behind, with a standing collar, while the Pompadour square front was filled in with lace, on which was laid pearl points embroidered on tulle. Below this were the clinging satin front breadths, on which three deep flounces were laid diagonally and headed by satin folds and the beaded trimming.
These flounces began high on the right side…
Just writing it is making my eyes glaze over.  Seriously, it’s ridiculous.

Anyway.  I’m drowning in it.  And in everything that goes along with it.
For instance-- Gretel’s not speaking to her mother.  Why, you ask?  Because her mother suggested I could read palms for entertainment at the upcoming ball.  Gretel saw this as a backhanded insult, which it probably was, and told her mother so.  She slept here last night.  She’s with her father now, though, so I imagine it will all be smoothed over.
In the meantime, Imato and Gretel have been arguing.  Nothing serious, unless of course you’re forced to listen to it.  Imato refuses to settle on a second groomsman.  It’s only the beginning of April, so I’m not sure why this matters, but it does.  And the number of groomsmen must equal the number of bridesmaids, so it can’t just be Jace.

An interesting story ran in the Gazette yesterday.  I wonder how they possibly could have gotten wind that the Adya court now has its very own reflectagrapher.  It’s a good thing Master Byra was able to get Tish set up on the palace grounds quickly.  She’s going to be very busy.

Hermes just arrived.  I don’t think he’s feeling very patient.
I still haven’t made it to the horse market.  I appreciate your suggestions.  Jace says I would overwhelm something as docile as an Elcaran walking pony.  Imato says a Friesian would be the same, so I suppose that takes those two breeds out of the running.  Maybe I need a Trakehner.  Though now Jace and Imato are arguing over whether a Trakehner is the best fit or not.  Imato is actually arguing for, while Jace is wondering if an Arellan quarter wouldn’t be better.  They’ve completely lost me.  Let’s face it, I’ll probably decide based on what the horse looks like.  Imato says he’ll take me in a couple of days if I’ll help him with Gretel’s birthday present.
Jace already knew Taty wasn’t speaking to Jemond.  She’s angry enough that she wrote a long letter to Jace about it.  (Literally the entire four pages dealt with Jemond’s ungentlemanly conduct.)  Sadly even Jace is not entirely sure what happened.  He is, however, highly amused.

I don’t think you’re trying to hard to heal your father, but that we’re all trying to force it.  Over-thinking.  Maybe we should talk to Brynn.
It’s okay you didn’t answer my questions.  I don’t need the answers as much as you do.

April 6th
Gretel is speaking to her mother and sleeping at home again.  And she and Imato have agreed to put the subject of groomsmen aside for a while.  (I told them to just pick Liop.  I would vastly simplify matters.  Gretel wasn’t sure you’d want to be escorted by an eight-year-old.)
So all is right in the world again.  More or less.  My sitting room is still filled with an alarming amount of fabric.

April 7
I suppose Hermes will have to find you in Odsreq, won’t he?  Imato is extremely nervous.  You’d think he was about to be a father.
We went to the horse market today.  It was a bad day for it, though.  The weather turned again and the rain and mud made things difficult.  Only a few sellers were out and none had Trakehners or Arellans.  There were some Morabs, but Imato was unimpressed.  I thought they were lovely, but they all seemed a bit… dull.
Jace pointed out when we returned that the horse market will be better in a couple of weeks.  Some traders are coming in with Oldenburgs and Dumaines, which he and I rode to Odsreq in December.  Maybe I’d rather have one of those.
I wasn’t much help to Imato today, either.  I’m not sure what he is looking for.  He didn’t want to look at jewelry or perfume.  The booksellers stalls were closed and he didn’t want to try the book shop.
I don’t think he knows what he’s looking for either.  Mostly, I don’t think he’s going to be able to accomplish anything until we hear from you that the foal and Glory are both well.

April 8
There is no mercy to be had.  Now Gretel says we must have dresses for her ball.  She’s ordering me to spend the day looking at sketches.  Apparently I have to pick yours too.  I hope you don’t mind; she’s quite insistent.
Imato is ordering me to finish this letter so that Hermes is with you so you can send word about the foal.  I tried pointing out that you likely took Clotho to Odsreq, but he’s not listening to me.
Master Byra is reminding me (he already knows better than to order me) that we need to meet with the palace teachers soon with curriculums laid out.
Papa wants me to watch the sky with him tonight.
“Well?” I said to Jace after breakfast.
“Well what?”
“Everyone else has made some demand,” I shrugged.
He laughed.  “Yes, you do seem to be having one of those days.”
I rolled my eyes.  “And?”
“And I know better than to join the fray.”
I smiled.  “I knew there was a reason I keep you around.”
Actually I almost wish there was something he needed me to do.  Maybe it would get me out of the sitting room.  Any thoughts on what you wear to Gretel’s ball?  I think she wants us to coordinate since it’s also an engagement ball.  I’m thinking we may keep it simple.  The debate, I’m sure, will be whether to find dresses in keeping with the wedding style or something more Arellan.
Wish me luck.  I’m going to need it.
Write as soon as you know Glory and the foal are fine.  Imato may die of suspense.

Love always
Keish

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