Chapter 43 #2
Mother looked at him steadily for a long moment, then she cleared her throat.
“I’m sure you’ve already been warned that there is a great appetite for gossip.
Would you prefer to give them somewhere to focus, or will you be ducking comment?
And do you have a version of your biographical profile you’d prefer ready? ”
“The profile is on my desk in the library, in the labelled folder.” An easy question, honestly. “As to the gossip, I suggested to Matty we might arrange a room at Bourne’s or something of the kind this afternoon.”
“That would do, yes.” Her gaze moved to Matty, “Not sharing a House, though of course the Den would be accommodating under the circumstances.”
“Or the Arthur.” That was the club for officers, and both Claudio and Matty qualified. “Not that we’d want to put them to that sort of trouble. Plenty who would prefer to keep their quiet.” His voice got a slight edge to it, and he took a breath to modify it. Or try to.
Mother simply nodded. She was not, he realised, becoming defensive, and that was going to gnaw at him for ages.
It would likely require deconstruction with Gabe and Orion, and likely Isembard and Thesan as well.
“I hope you slept well? If you need a Healer, of course, I’d be glad to escort whoever it is from the warding. ”
“No, quite well, thank you.” Claudio considered his words and selected them precisely. “It was not a physically demanding challenge, it turns out.” He didn’t offer to talk about it more with her.
To his utter surprise, she did not pry. Instead, she looked back at Matty, and then cleared her throat. “I asked my son some weeks ago if he would introduce us. He set a condition I had not then met.”
Matty stood tall, and he sounded utterly steady. “Claudio mentioned that to me, of course. I’ve found he is quite insistent about making certain I have all the necessary information at my disposal to make my choices.”
Mother blinked, something in that utterly not what she expected.
Then she took a breath and came closer before offering her hand.
“Good morning. I’m Silvia Warren. Do call me whatever you’re comfortable with.
Welcome to Auctoritas. I’m sure Claudio has made you feel at home, but please let me or our housekeeper know if there’s anything you need. Now, or any future visit.”
If it were not for the fact that Claudio desperately wanted to know what happened next, he would have required a fainting couch. He focused on Matty, who certainly had some idea of just how many rules of etiquette Mother had just utterly ignored.
He took her hand, shook it, and then said, “Matthew Lawson, Magistra Warren.” That was a nice touch.
That was the title Mother had fully earned as an alchemist, not one brought by marriage, but also not relating to the Challenge or Council.
“Claudio has been an entirely thoughtful host, besides the other considerations.” He did not add any ridiculous comment about being glad to make her acquaintance that was certainly not true.
Claudio considered the information before him, and then said carefully, “May I ask what brought this on, Mother?”
“Something I saw last night.” There was a faint quaver in her voice, the sort of thing that no one but Claudio or his father would have noticed and that Claudio absolutely wouldn’t comment on.
“Would you have time before Wednesday for a conversation at Dinas Emrys? I’m sure you have a number of other things already arranged or in your diary?
” Her voice was entirely neutral, verging on pleasant. Claudio contemplated the options.
“Today for the gossip, and well. I do want a little to get my feet under me properly. Matty, you’re welcome to stay the night again if you like, but Mother, you have supper plans, still?” She nodded. He knew that those weren’t something she wanted to rearrange.
Claudio considered the options. “Gabe and I have arrangements to talk through things, then there’s the Materia meeting, and I’ll need to discuss who will be taking my place.
That’s part of the conversation with Gabe and Doyle first thing tomorrow.
Matty and I normally go for a drink after, but perhaps a little later in the evening?
Half six or seven, depending on the timing of supper?
” He was not certain whether the pub would be a good idea, but they could sort out the location of the drink later.
Mother considered for an instant. “Seven. If you’d meet me at the doorway, I’ll key you into the warding while we’re at it.
Or if Gabe would prefer the honour, come up earlier in the day for that.
” That was a fascinating comment as well.
Clearly, they would be going upstairs into the Council spaces.
Claudio made a mental note to rearrange what he packed in his satchel tomorrow, as well as his pockets and other accoutrements.
A good reason to spend the night here, then.
Much easier to do it without rushing that way.
Matty glanced from Mother to Claudio and back again before he said, “That would work well for me. Should I expect you later in the evening, then?”
Claudio said firmly, “Yes, unless I let you know otherwise.” He managed it before Mother could get a word in. She waved a hand agreeably. Or at least, that would be how Claudio would read it if it were anyone else.
Then she inclined her head. “I won’t keep you. Tiberius was late leaving this morning?”
“He had permission. He wanted to catch me and let me know he’s going out for a long chat with Minerva this afternoon. I’ll figure out a time to see her, but Electra’s been quite clear about the gossip on her end. To the benefit of the library roof, apparently.”
Mother’s mouth twitched up. “Just so. Tomorrow, then, if I don’t see you otherwise.
I expect to have a few more appointments here and there, if I can set them up.
Matthew, do have a good day, around the annoyances of the public demanding details.
And Claudio, you did well.” She didn’t give either of them time to come up with something to say, just nodded once and disappeared.
Those last three words hit Claudio like a cannon, and now he did sit down before his knees went out.
Claudio waited until he was certain she was out of earshot and then said. “That was not at all what I expected. You all right?”
“Mmm. Yes.” Matty looked after her. “You? Is she?”
That was an excellent question, and one that Claudio was not entirely sure how to answer.
“I—” He gestured. “I don’t think she’s ever said that, right out?
Not in decades. And I don’t know about her.
But I do know that Mabyn was expecting to see her today, and that should be...
” Well. It would have to do. “Tomorrow?”
“First, lay out the strategy for today. Is this something we can get Orion and Hypatia to help with? Would they? And then let me think about tomorrow after the meeting. Might want to pop in to check with York about what he’d prefer.
And get another change or two of clothes, if I can do it without people spotting me. ”
“I can arrange that.” Claudio let out a long breath. “All right. How about a walk around the estate, get you sorted with the portal, and then we can figure out what else we’re doing?” He certainly needed a chance to settle his nerves.