Dinner and Decorating with the deGreys

[Marinette Roquefort]

Marinette had been a little anxious when she first heard that the deGreys were all coming over for dinner and to help decorate their tree. Surprise guests were not exactly her favorite thing, considering her history...but when she heard that Olivia was involved, and seeing as she now considered herself friends with two brothers, and little Olivia, she decided it would be alright. The whole house had been in a tizzy for hours as the servants hurried to get dinner prepared and make sure that dried oranges, pine cones, ribbon, and paper flowers were available for decorating, along with heating baths for each of the extremely muddy sisters (that one had given them quite a laugh). 

Now, clean, warm, and dressed, with just enough time to spare, Marinette snagged her sister in the hallway and dragged her towards the piano in the ballroom. Helene tried to protest, but once she heard it was for her birthday gift, she quieted down. Marinette pulled aside a chair and set it next to the piano before she took a seat on the bench. 

"Now, this might be a silly gift, but I learned some dancing songs for you, so that next time you decide to have an impromptu party, I can help out." She gave her sister a sly grin. "Like, perhaps tonight, with a certain sailor who you happened to invite into our home?" She giggled lightly and launched into the first song, then barely paused before beginning the second.

Once she finished that one, she rested her hands in her lap and turned to Helene. "I know it's not much...but happy Yule, Lini."

[Helene Hewitt]

Was she insane? Only slightly. Maybe...more. Maybe it was knowing she'd get a one-shot chance of a Yule to remember, for the next year she'd be spending it with another dingy husband who she didn't wish to be married to? Either way, Helene was a woman on a mission and had sent her servants into a flurry as Marinette and her returned home covered in mud and with some presents for Olivia.

After a very thorough scrubbing, Helene had finally gotten all the mud off, and was dressed in a white cotton Dress. Her hair was done in braided up do held in place with green ribbon and floral hair piece. Not too fancy, but she did look nice.

She held her tongue out as she adjusted the ribbon on a particular present, and tucked it under her arm securely. She had to go hide it still. She was walking int the hallway, wanting to ask Angus if he'd had time to do what she asked of him yet, when Mari snagged her. Seeing she wasn't going to be able to get out of this, she followed after her.

She held the present to her chest, following Mari into the ballroom, and watched her curiously as she sat down at the piano. She scoffed then, giving her head a shake. "I don't know what you're talking about." She said, but there was a slight blush to her cheeks. She listened then as Mari played for her. It brought tears to her eyes and she had to reach up to wipe away stray tears. Listening to Mari always made her cry. She played so beautifully. Helene smiled widely at her, before she reached over hugged her. "It's perfect." She told her. Placing a kiss on her forehead. "You play just like mother." Helene whispered to her. With a small smile. Their mother had been quite talented in more ways then one, and have given each of her daughters one of her musical talents. Helene got her voice, while Mari got her ability to play the Piano. "She'd be so proud of you." Helene whispered. She rested her hand on her shoulder and gave it a squeeze.

"Alright my turn!" She said turning on her heel and running from the room with a giggle. She slid on the hard woods with her stockings, having still not put her shoes on yet, but she didn't care. She ran down to the busy kitchen, hiding the present, and spotted the other one she'd asked Angus to get her. She practically shrieked in delight, and with a cackled, left the kitchen before running up the stairs and into her room. She slipped on her slippers then, and hurried to find Marinette, with a big box. "Open it! Open it! Open it!" She said bouncing up and down as she held it for Mari.

[Marinette Roquefort]

Marinette couldn't help tearing up as well when Helene told her she sounded like Maman--they both missed their mother fiercely. She hugged Helene tightly before she pulled away and scampered off, leaving a very confused Marinette waiting at the piano. She took the opportunity to dab at her eyes with her handkerchief before Helene returned with a large box.

Marinette frowned. She had directly told her sister not to go overboard...but she supposed she should have known that Helene wouldn't' listen. She hesitantly accepted the box and lifted the lid, gasping when she saw the emerald fabric inside. "Helene, you didn't!" she exclaimed, having to set the box on the table and stand up to be able to take out the dress her sister had purchased. "Helene!"

Tears welled in her eyes as she looked accusingly at her sister. "I specifically said not to go overboard, and what did you do?" She laughed, holding the gown up to her body. "This is magnificent...but there's no way I can wear this, Helene, you know me. I'm far too much of a wallflower, and this will make me..." Her face turned bright red as she imagined eyes on her. "It's too much. You're too kind to me."

[Wesley deGrey]

"Stop biting your nails." It was Olivia scolding him, who was currently seated between her father and Triston in the carriage.
Wesley paused, realizing he had his thumbnail clenched between his teeth, and he narrowed those blue eyes at his niece. "Yes, mam," he murmured in soft amusement. If William wasn't careful, the girl would turn out to be more like Anne...and no one really wanted that.

Drawing in a sigh, he leaned back against the seat; interlacing his fingers with each other as his hands rested within his lap. His foot began to tap somewhat anxiously against the floor of the carriage, wondering if this was weird or not. It was just a dinner and apparently tree decorating, so he wasn't sure why he felt...nervous? Was this nervousness? He actually didn't know.

"Why are you fidgeting?" Olivia was talking again, idly waving one of her new ribbons around in front of her. She seemed to like how it fluttered in the air.
"I'm...I'm not fidgeting." Now he was arguing with a child.
The girl stopped waving her colorful yellow ribbon to look her uncle squarely in the eye, with an expression that blatantly said, are you serious?
"I'm not," he told her, making his foot stop tapping in that instant.
Olivia giggled, "You were!"
"Will-" He was turning his blue gaze to his older brother. "I think you need to get Livi's eyes checked." Wesley was trying not to laugh, purposely pretending to ignore Olivia as she laughed again, waving her ribbon right up in his face.

[William deGrey]

"Is that so?" Will mused, grinning at his daughter's sudden giggle fit. Then he settled a pointed look at Wesley. "Why are you so on edge?"

Oh, he had an idea. He'd heard about it vaguely the night of the funeral when William had to escort his slightly inebriated brother to bed. He heard about it for nearly an hour the day after until he gave the man what information he had on Lady Hewitt. It had made him feel strange, because what if Helene didn't wish to be, well...interrupted by a loud sailor? It was rude. And yet, here they all were, going over for dinner. Olivia couldn't contain her excitement about decorating the tree.

"Come here, love. Settle down." Olivia was out of her seat now, trying to tie the ribbon into Wesley's hair but was disappointed to find that his locks were too short. She'd managed to put a pretty purple one into Will's hair earlier, but he had to tell her that it didn't match his outfit. Thankfully, the girl hadn't protested.
So, once she settled back in her seat, she turned towards Triston with a beaming smile. "Are you wearing your ribbon, Uncle Triston?" she asked him sweetly. Even if he was, anyone could tell that she was about to give the man yet another one.

[Helene Hewitt]

Would she go overboard? For Marinette? Most definitely. Someone had to spoil her. Their father surely wouldn't, and she had no husband who adored her yet to do it. So big sister Lini would. Helene grinned widely at Marinette's exclamation. "Oh, but I did." She said in a slightly maniacal tone. 

"Marinette!" Helene said right back at her. She couldn't help but grin wider as her sister said it was too much. On the contrary, it was just right. "Make you look like a princess. You are correct. It's not too much, it's just right. You deserve it Mari." Helene told her. "You will be the most beautiful lady in attendance to the Yule ball. I'm going to make sure of it." Helene told her with a firm, determined nod to her head. She could practically see it now. She reached forward taking the dress from Mari, so she could fold it carefully back up. "I mean it Mari. Consider it also a thank you gift, for staying here with me after Stephen. I needed you...I still need you." She told her. A warm smile appearing on her face as she tucked the dress into the box and then handed it back to Mari with a content sigh. "I'll always need you my sweet little sister." She leaned in to give her a quick kiss on her cheek. Amused that Marinette might be the younger sister, but she had Helene by three inches. "Now, we have a little lady to prepare ourselves for." Helene said turning to leave the room. "And her wily sly fox of an uncle..." Helene murmured to herself. She couldn't hide the small smirk that appeared. 

[Lucian deGrey]

Lucian wasn't much a social person, nor did he know the two ladies that they were visiting, so he wasn't sure why he was being dragged into this, but Wesley had insisted. And whenever Wesley asked him for anything, he never could really resist his older brother.

He suspected that Wesley was smitten with one of the ladies, which is why he was pressing him so much to go. Did he want his approval or something? Or what? Lucian really didn't know, but he'd go along, even if it was awkward as hell for him.

His brown eyes were cast out the window of the carriage until he heard his niece's voice scolding Wesley for biting his nails and fidgeting. He grinned widely, watching the two argue back and forth and he gently nudged his brother in the ribs. "Come on, Wes...You're going to argue with a little girl? You're beautiful niece? You should know better than to do that. Livi is always right." He smirked and looked over at Olivia, winking at her as if telling her he had her back.

[Triston deGrey]

Triston had made friends with Marinette, so he was pleased with the invite to her and Helene's home. He felt honored that they had thought to invite him--whether or not that was just by default because he was a deGrey. Wesley also seemed to be nervous, which only meant one thing-- He was feeling something for one of the ladies. He vaguely remembered him dancing with Helene the night of the funeral, for the majority of the evening. Had something sparked then?

He chuckled softly at the interaction between Olivia and Wesley, and then their younger brother's interference. But he didn't get involved, he'd let them work it out amongst themselves.

But when Olivia settled back down next to him and questioned him about the ribbon she had given him, he grinned and pulled the sleeve of his jacket up to reveal the blue ribbon tied around his wrist. "Of course I am wearing my ribbon, Livi. I haven't dared to take it off!" He noticed the yellow ribbon she had and it seemed she was about to pawn it off on him since it hadn't worked in Wesley's hair. Thank goodness he had short hair, too. He gave the girl a pensive look before pulling up the sleeve of his jacket of his other wrist, revealing that he had nothing on that one. "But I really think I need one for this wrist now, don't you?"

He glanced up at William and grinned, giving him a slight wink. He loved Olivia with all his heart and would do anything for the girl. He hoped his older brother knew that he'd always be there for both of them. Including volunteering himself to wear her fancy ribbons if it meant she would settle down for her father.

[Wesley deGrey]

"Of course I'm going to argue with a little girl," he replied instantly to Lucian. While the ribbon was still being waved around quite literally in his face, those bright eyes shifted to his younger brother. "I argue you with you all the time." That made him burst out into laughter, shoving him gently right back. Olivia was laughing along with him, but it was clear that she didn't really get the joke. Which was why she promptly turned her attention to the other deGreys.

William's question had him quiet. He really didn't know how to answer that, because he really just didn't know. Instinct told him to just argue again that he wasn't on edge, but he thought better of it. "It's just...been a day, I suppose." That was one way to put it. William seemed to be a little off himself, considering what had happened. Instead of letting that linger, his attention drifted sidelong to Lucian once more. "How did the chase go for you, little brother?" That sly smirk made it clear that he had his assumptions...but Luci didn't want him vocalizing those assumptions.

[Olivia deGrey]

The girl beamed up at her uncle when he revealed the ribbon. She always tried to remember to ask them all if they still wore the ribbon. Uncle Wes' pink one always peaked out from underneath that leather band he always wore on his wrist, but Uncle Triston's was often hidden by his sleeve.

Of course he still wore it. She should have never doubted him.

Those big eyes did flicker to the top of his head, wondering if she'd be able to tie it into his hair, but it was also short! Right before she could think to tie it into Daddy's or Uncle Lucian's hair, Uncle Triston was offering his other wrist. Olivia's face lit up immediately and she bounced in her seat. "I do think so!" she exclaimed, attempting to tie it around while the carriage moved. "Ta-daaaaa!" It took her a little bit, but she managed to finally do it. 

"Daddy! Do you think they have a big tree? Do you think they'll let me put something up at the top? Like a ribbon?! I wonder if they have pine cones in the tree...or birds!"

[William deGrey]

William had barely been paying much mind to his younger siblings, but he did catch Wesley's eye briefly. He'd been there today with Lord Roquefort...but Will didn't know if his brother was aware of the situation. Was it just Marinette? Had the man also threatened or hurt Helene? He wanted nothing but to tell his brothers what he had learned, but perhaps it wasn't his place to...and Olivia didn't need to hear it.

Dark eyes flickered to watch her silly antics, laughing at Triston willingly accepting the other ribbon. He was a good uncle- honestly, they all were, even if the youngest deGreys weren't able to be around as much. They loved his daughter fiercely, and she needed that positivity in her life.

First thing after Yule, he was dealing with Margery. For now, he would just ignore her because he didn't wish for the situation to ruin the holiday. He honestly didn't even know if his brothers knew what had happened at the chase today.

"Hmm? Livi was pulling him out of these thoughts to throw a barrage of questions at him. "I'm not sure, but we'll find out soon!" He knew she was getting antsy, so he prayed that they were nearly there.

[Marinette Roquefort]

Marinette raised an eyebrow as her sister insisted it was repayment for her comfort after losing her husband--but she knew better. Still, it was too late to return it, and she did need a suitable dress for the ball...

"Fine, but then I'm choosing yours. Fair is fair!"

She followed her sister out of the room, breathing deeply the buttery smell of sugar cookies coming from the kitchen as they neared it. "From the smell of things, we don't have much left to prepare! And I already dug out my plans for the evening and left what I'll need by the fireplace in the other room. Did you finish your gifts already? I was thinking of giving mine early since we're doing Olivia's." She was about to say more when movement out one of the windows caught her eye.

"Oh! I think that's them! Let's meet them at the door."

[Helene Hewitt]

Helene couldn't stop the grin from appearing on her face. Today had most certainly been the best day ever, despite the run-in with their father, and it was just about to get better. "I agree, Gretchen has outdone herself, and Alise will have her hands full..." She turned to grin wickedly at Mari. "I did! They're nice and hidden, and Angus did what I asked." She practically cackled. Helene came to look out the window and her stomach rolled at seeing the carriage coming down the drive.

She reached out and placed a hand on Mari's arm to steady herself, as nerves began to take over. Everything was fine. It would be perfectly fine. "Yes, the door! Go put that away." Helene told her, smacking her sister's butt lightly as she hurried to the stairs. She eyed the banister, and then glanced around to ensure no one was looking before she hopped up onto it. She gave herself a little scoot, and then let a frightened laugh out, holding onto the banister with both hands to keep herself balanced as she slid down it, and hopped off right before she hit the end. She adjusted her dress and then looked up at the stairs for Mari. Bouncing a bit impatiently on the balls of her feet. When she was there, Helene looked at her. "Ready? Four men and a child, what could go wrong?" She asked with a laugh, and then went to the door to meet their guests.

[Lucian deGrey]

Lucian laughed at Wesley and when he basically called him a little girl, he quickly leaned over and pulled him into a headlock, keeping his grip tight. "Oh, I'm a little girl, hmm?" He messed up Wesley's hair with his knuckles and laughed before releasing him and shoving him into the wall of the carriage.
That'll teach him.

He turned his attention over to Olivia and Triston as she gave him another ribbon. Lucian pretended to be jealous and hurt. "How come he gets another one!?" He grinned, laughing slightly.

But then Wesley was shifting the attention from his nervousness onto him, by asking how the chase went for him. He coughed as if choking on air and he laughed nervously, shrugging his shoulders. His gaze shifted downward and maybe it looked like he was blushing a little bit? "It... Uh... went fine." Lucian wasn't really sure he wanted to tell his brothers what had happened. At least not yet. Because he knew they would just tease and embarrass him about it. So he threw the attention back to Wesley. "Oh... So is that why we are coming here? Was one of these ladies the one who captured you at the chase? And you've become smitten over her? That's why you're nervous, hmmm?"
He nudged him in the ribs playfully.

[Triston deGrey]

Triston watched as Olivia worked on tying the ribbon around his other wrist. When she finished, he grinned widely and showed off his new ribbon to his brothers, obviously making Lucian jealous. He didn't immediately pull his sleeve down to cover the ribbon, not wanting to make Olivia feel like he was trying to hide it, so he kept his sleeve rolled up.

His gaze shifted over to the younger deGreys as they playfully fought and Triston laughed, shaking his head. The subject of the Hare and Hound chase came up, which caused him to smirk a little. No one had asked him how things went, though he wouldn't openly go talking about it. His brothers, well at least William, knew his feelings for the queen. Ten years ago, until she married King Edward. But those feelings had still lingered all this time, and he wasn't entirely sure why. Maybe because he knew how Edward was and how unhappy Eleesa was--that he held on to some kind of hope all this time. Yet, Eleesa remained faithful regardless of how cruel her husband had been.
Would his brothers believe him that Eleesa had chased after him?

He glanced over at Lucian and Wesley as they were seemingly teasing each other about the chase. Did they know something he didn't? Had he been caught up in his own moment that he completely missed what had happened for his younger brothers? Lucian looked like more happened than what he was letting on and then he was throwing Wesley under the carriage, making a guess in what his nervousness was contributed by.

Triston laughed and shook his head. "Alright, you two... It's time to behave now." He teased them.