A few moments ago, Celeste had been on the sofa in the living room of the family wing, held in Xander's arms and kissing him without thought or concern. His whispered apology had been met with a shake of her head and Celeste had reached up to put his hair straight. "No apologies, my pup. Not between us." Her hand was shaking, she had noticed as she did that, but then she straightened her clothing, tucking her skirt back into her blouse where it had pulled up and patting her hair back into place.
Now, they were sitting in the meeting room, still in the Family Wing of her estate. The table in the room was large enough for eight to sit around it comfortably, there was a drinks cabinet and a door to her small office in the Family Wing. There were not eight people, however, there was her, Xander and a blonde haired woman who was exquisitely beautiful. It had been her who knocked the door and had introduced herself as Lin Scotfill, Celeste's "Personal Assistant" and one of her five advisors. The others would be coming in a brief while, Lin said, but she would like to speak to the Baroness first.
Celeste had nodded and said that they would be in momentarily. Then, she had taken Xander's arm and smiled at him. "Thank you. I was not trained for this, as the youngest child of four. Mostly, it was my job to be beautiful and manipulate my husband." It was true, she considered with a smile and then had shown him the way to the meeting room. Lin had hidden her surprise at Xander accompanying Celeste well, but Celeste had spoken clearly when she introduced them.
"Lord Krome, this is Lin Scotfill, my assistant and advisor. Lin, Lord Krome and I are to be married and we have every intention of it being a genuine union of two people. I have no secrets from him." Lin nodded her head in understanding.
"My Baroness, as you say. Lord Krome, it is a pleasure to meet you." Lin's curtsy was impeccable, and she moved to pour the three of them drinks. "That being the case, Baroness Andaris, I will be frank. I am a reasonably good personal assistant in terms of organising. I can do it and do it well enough to function. However, my actual role is your personal bodyguard. My true talent is in combat and your defence."
With a glance at Xander, Celeste raised an eyebrow. The woman did not seem to be a fighter and Lin smiled. "My role as your assistant which I suggest we double up with the role of lady's maid means that I will be with you a lot. It also means that people tend to overlook me. I will die to defend you if I have to, I would ask only that you do not put yourself in a position of forcing me to." Turning to Xander, Lin spoke to him. "It would benefit my role, Lord Krome, if you would remain protective and vigilant around her. There may be situations where you act and I do not. This is because I must judge whether it is worth my cover being blown for a threat. Therefore, I suggest you have other security and consider me your last line."
Celeste looked rather surprised at the turn of events, but she couldn't really see anything but sense in what the blonde woman suggested. "That sounds sensible," she said to Xander, looking at him with a raised eyebrow.
"So, as your personal assistant, there are four people to meet. Mistress of the Nursery, who deals with public relations, Head of Staff, Chief of Security and Master of Coins. I suggest that you meet them individually at first, tonight and discuss their roles in your new position?"
It was a lot to take in all at once and Celeste nodded. "That's fine. Would you give Lord Krome and I a few minutes alone, please and then bring in the Mistress of the Nursery?" Lin nodded her head and left the room.
Once the door was closed, Celeste reached her hand out for Xander's. "What do you think? If we accept her role in that way, then she will be in our lives a lot. Conversely, I will get stabbed less." Glancing around the comfortable but not over the top room, Celeste breathed out a little. "We can do this, Xander. We can." She sounded like the was more or less trying to persuade them both.
Now, they were sitting in the meeting room, still in the Family Wing of her estate. The table in the room was large enough for eight to sit around it comfortably, there was a drinks cabinet and a door to her small office in the Family Wing. There were not eight people, however, there was her, Xander and a blonde haired woman who was exquisitely beautiful. It had been her who knocked the door and had introduced herself as Lin Scotfill, Celeste's "Personal Assistant" and one of her five advisors. The others would be coming in a brief while, Lin said, but she would like to speak to the Baroness first.
Celeste had nodded and said that they would be in momentarily. Then, she had taken Xander's arm and smiled at him. "Thank you. I was not trained for this, as the youngest child of four. Mostly, it was my job to be beautiful and manipulate my husband." It was true, she considered with a smile and then had shown him the way to the meeting room. Lin had hidden her surprise at Xander accompanying Celeste well, but Celeste had spoken clearly when she introduced them.
"Lord Krome, this is Lin Scotfill, my assistant and advisor. Lin, Lord Krome and I are to be married and we have every intention of it being a genuine union of two people. I have no secrets from him." Lin nodded her head in understanding.
"My Baroness, as you say. Lord Krome, it is a pleasure to meet you." Lin's curtsy was impeccable, and she moved to pour the three of them drinks. "That being the case, Baroness Andaris, I will be frank. I am a reasonably good personal assistant in terms of organising. I can do it and do it well enough to function. However, my actual role is your personal bodyguard. My true talent is in combat and your defence."
With a glance at Xander, Celeste raised an eyebrow. The woman did not seem to be a fighter and Lin smiled. "My role as your assistant which I suggest we double up with the role of lady's maid means that I will be with you a lot. It also means that people tend to overlook me. I will die to defend you if I have to, I would ask only that you do not put yourself in a position of forcing me to." Turning to Xander, Lin spoke to him. "It would benefit my role, Lord Krome, if you would remain protective and vigilant around her. There may be situations where you act and I do not. This is because I must judge whether it is worth my cover being blown for a threat. Therefore, I suggest you have other security and consider me your last line."
Celeste looked rather surprised at the turn of events, but she couldn't really see anything but sense in what the blonde woman suggested. "That sounds sensible," she said to Xander, looking at him with a raised eyebrow.
"So, as your personal assistant, there are four people to meet. Mistress of the Nursery, who deals with public relations, Head of Staff, Chief of Security and Master of Coins. I suggest that you meet them individually at first, tonight and discuss their roles in your new position?"
It was a lot to take in all at once and Celeste nodded. "That's fine. Would you give Lord Krome and I a few minutes alone, please and then bring in the Mistress of the Nursery?" Lin nodded her head and left the room.
Once the door was closed, Celeste reached her hand out for Xander's. "What do you think? If we accept her role in that way, then she will be in our lives a lot. Conversely, I will get stabbed less." Glancing around the comfortable but not over the top room, Celeste breathed out a little. "We can do this, Xander. We can." She sounded like the was more or less trying to persuade them both.
