Chapter 35

"Your Ladyship," William interrupted after knocking on the doors of the Master bedroom. "The first of your guests have arrived." He stated as Atali was just placing the finishing touches on Astrid's hair. It had been pulled into a bun with a braid going around it. White pearls adorned her hair which would be a stark contrast to her tea party dress. Astrid had opted for a darker color. A dark blue dress that sported a passementerie braid at the back. She finished the look with a pearl necklace and drop earrings.

"Shall we go greet our guests?" Astrid asked as she stood up. Atali was quite enthused and whispered to Astrid "Will your paramour be joining us miss?"

"Unfortunately there are other plans in motion that Sir Hiccup needs to see to. Though he has promised to take me on a romantic date as soon as he gets back." Astrid commented before turning to William. "Is what we discussed yesterday dealt with?"

"Yes Madam," William announced. "Once the Ambassadors' carriage has parked I will personally escort the individual her Ladyship mentioned. Our knights have already secured a room and are standing by to receive our guest."

"Wonderful to hear," Astrid said as she walked through the hallway towards the marble staircase that led to the foyer. "What of Mister Eret?" Astrid frowned. Over the past two days Astrid had spoken to the man briefly. She had informed him that he is more than welcome to travel to any place within the Kingdom. She would finance the cost as well as help him settle in to his new life any way she could. The man hadn't made up his mind yet as he was still rather anxious at Lady O'fair's residence within these walls.

"I have spoken to Mister Eret a few times," William confessed. "He seems rather indecisive as to his future but who can blame him after spending so much time under the thumb of that wench,"

"You're normally not one to call people names William. Especially Ladies." Astrid stopped when she said this and stared at her butler. Atali too was surprised as she had never heard the Head butler call someone, least of all a Noble, a wench before.

"Forgive my impudence but the moniker is well deserved." Willian stated. "She had on more than one occasion poured hot tea over Mister Eret's back when he disappointed her." Astrid's eyes narrowed and she growled dangerously low upon hearing that.

"Utterly barbaric," Astrid growled before she schooled her features as she descended the stairs. "Lord Deranged, Lady Deranged and Lady Mala. I'm so happy you could make it on such short notice."

"Marchioness Hofferson," Dagur said, looking dapper as ever in his black tuxedo that sported a silver vest, as he kissed the back of her hand. "Trust me, I would rather be here amongst friends than be at a social gathering where I would be stalked by daughters of Nobles ceaselessly."

"Oh come off it brother dearest," Lady Heather rolled her eyes. "You cannot make that excuse anymore after you've already proposed." She then gave Astrid a hug "Good to see you as well Lady Astrid," Heather wasn't often this affectionate so when the hug came Astrid was surprised. She was even more surprised when Heather whispered into her ear quickly that they would need to talk privately.

"Thank you for inviting us Marchioness," Lady Mala responded.

"Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials," Astrid told her sincerely as Mala tried to hide the faint blush.

"It hasn't been formally announced yet," Lady Mala uttered as she quickly smoothed out her light green silk skirt that she had accidentally fisted in nervousness. "You're the first one we've told." Astrid felt honored to hear that.

"Announcing Sir and Lady Thornston of Berk and Lady Camicazi," A knight at the door proclaimed. The twins and Cami greeted everyone. No one noticed but Ruffnut winked in Astrid's direction that the plan was to go forward. Out of the corner of her eye she saw William slip away.

"Shall we adjourn to the garden?" Astrid asked with a smile.

The gardens on the Hofferson estate were sprawling to say the least. Red and pink roses decorated the side of the house as the neatly trimmed lawn gave way to a decorative hedge maze to the left and a manicured path to the right that Astrid and her guests followed. It brought them to the fairly large pond on her estate that was surrounded by red pine trees. There was a small island in the pond that sported a blooming wisteria tree and in the distance a folly could be seen where many an aristocrat could go to enjoy the view. The area near the pond had several tables and chairs set up so that Astrid's guests might enjoy the view. Especially of the ducklings playing in the pond.

"Oh my Thor, aren't they just the cutest!" Dagur gushed upon seeing the ducklings which caused Mala to giggle. The maids that were standing by to serve them bit their lips as to not show their amusement.

"Brother please comport yourself," Lady Heather sighed, already used to her brother's love for cute things. "You cannot take any ducklings with you,"

"Right, right..." Dagur comported himself after a fake cough. As if that would hide the fact that the Commander of the Navy was cooing over ducklings.

"Sister!" A voice uttered and the group could see Young Master Edwin and Lady Anderson approaching. Edwin looked quite the gentleman in his beige tuxedo while Rosalinda sported a white chemise dress decorated with guipure lace around the edges and a sky blue ribbon around her waist. Edwin looked quite enthusiastic to join the group but Rose was somewhat unsure.

"You invited her?" Heather, who was seated next to Astrid on her left, whispered behind her lace fan.

"Please play nice," Astrid whispered back. She knew of the animosity between Heather and Rosalinda yet at the same time she had started to take on a different view of Rose's behaviour. "I'm not in liberty to elaborate but.... Things happened yesterday," Was all Astrid alluded to.

Heather snapped her fan shut and stared at Rose. "Lady Anderson," She said somewhat stifly.

"Lady Deranged," Rose began before curtseying. "I must apologize for the incident at your salon the last time we met," Rose uttered catching Heather off guard for a moment as the other had not expected an apology. "I was remiss in not apologizing sooner. I truely regret my behaviour that day,"

"I see," Heather uttered as she looked critically at Rose. She wouldn't forgive her just yet though she noted the remorse in her tone. Perhaps she would see how Lady Anderson comported herself today.

Edwin took the seat to Astrid's right while Rosalinda sat next to him. The atmosphere was tense for a moment until Rose spotted Edwin blushing and turning his face away from Lady Camicazi. It was then that Rose noted the lady's unusual style of dress. "Oh my," she exclaimed as a hand went to her mouth. "That's quite the dress Lady Camicazi!"

Astrid and Heather who were quite used to Cami's eccentric style hadn't batted an eye when she walked in sporting a dress that pushed the bounds of propriety in their society. Rosalinda however hadn't had the pleasure of spending several days with Lady Camicazi.

Camicazi had opted to wear a black taffeta dress that sported an asymmetrical light green frilled skirt atop. It was beautifully decorated with lace butterflies. But that wasn't the only defining feature as black dresses were considered only to be worn for mourning. No, the most striking feature Rose seemed to be admiring was the bare shoulders. Ladies of Nobility still wore their off the shoulder dresses with a lace or tulle collar to hide the skin. Lady Cami had forgone that whole idea and proudly bared her shoulders and skin for all to see. Even the neckline was deep giving the gentleman quite the view of her cleavage. If this were any other social gathering she'd be called a lady of the night for daring to rock the boat like this.

"My mother purchased it for me on her last trip to the south," Camicazi stated. "It is a quite popular styled dress there."

"The south is always rather hot. I can see why the ladies would adapt." Mala pointed out.

"To be fair, even we get hot here with the collar," Astrid muttered. "I wish the Nobles would be more flexible,"

"But.... baring one's shoulders," Rose muttered. "It seems so daring yet indecent at the same time," This however caused Camicazi to laugh. She put down her teacup and smirked at Rose before saying "Honey, if a bit of shoulder skin got a man going then they would hardly need to see the rest of us on our wedding nights."

"Oh.... Oooh my....," Rose's face turned flushed. "My mother would absolutely kill me if I were to wear something so daring,"

"Esmeralda is probably not the best person to aspire to," Astrid commented while taking a sip of her own tea. "We should both order dresses like those. If I were to wear one as well she wouldn't dare say something against it,"

"Really?" Rose asked animatedly. Astrid nodded while Edwin started muttering 'Oh Thor, Oh Thor,'.

"Edwin dear, maybe you should take Lady Cami for a walk and show her the grounds. I doubt she's seen the work done on the maze," Astrid smirked. She knew Edwin was nurturing a flame for her friend. Might as well be time to push them together and see how it would turn out.

Before Edwin had time to respond however a voice pierced through the balance the group had developed. Edwin flinched when the somewhat familiar voice uttered "Sir Anderson! How are you?!"

"Lady O'fair," Astrid stood up to greet the other Noble woman. "What seems to bring you here?" There was a bit of annoyance in her tone of voice when she asked that though she surmised she hid it well because the other lady didn't bat an eye.

"Why, I was lounging on the balcony terrace when one of my servants relayed to me that you were hosting a tea party, Lady Hofferson," Lady O'fair explains. "Why... I adore tea parties and when I heard my darling Sir Anderson was to be in attendance. I just couldn't stay away."

"Oh really...." Astrid raised a brow at how Lady O'fair was acting. It was a complete turnaround from how she comported herself in her office a few days ago. Thankfully this bubbly innocent lady act would not work on Edwin as he, as Astrid suspected, had his eyes set firmly on Lady Camicazi.

"Then why don't you join us Lady O'fair. It was remiss of me not to invite you," Astrid said as she noted Edwin's startled gaze in her direction. "You can sit in my brother's place while he shows Lady Camicazi around the grounds," She uttered. Edwin got the message and stood up, holding out his hand for Camicazi to take, which she gladly did so.

"Wait... uhm..." Gretchen was quite visibly flustered as Edwin escorted Camicazi. Her eyes, as most could observe, drifted to the full bosom Camicazi was proudly displaying. Gretchen's own chest was nearly as flat as a washboard.

"My excuses Lady O'fair. I had promised to escort the Lady here around the grounds. If you'll excuse us," Edwin said somewhat taciturnity before leaving with Camicazi arm in arm.

"Lady O'fair," Astrid called out as the lady in question was looking at Edwin's retreating back. "Please take a seat,"

Lady O'fair sat down somewhat more reluctantly now that Edwin was gone though she still gave a smile and nod at the other guests.

"I'll have to bid my excuses for a moment ladies and gent," Dagur said as he stood up. "Perhaps one of the maids can point me to the loo," With that Dagur hastily departed. If Astrid hadn't known what he was about to do, or rather who he was about to meet, well then she'd have probably considered it somewhat rude. She turned her attention back to the conversation Lady O'fair was having with the others. Rosalinda looked somewhat uncomfortable as Lady Gretchen assumed a more than familiar role with her. It was as if she already considered Rose family. Before Astrid could say anything on the matter Lady Heather had surprisingly jumped to Rose's defense.

"Comport yourself Lady O'fair," Heather muttered as she folded her lace fan and stared coldly at the other woman. "Neather you or the lady in question are on such familiar grounds,"

"But we are soon to be sisters, are we not?" Lady O'fair asked innocently. "The engagement is as sure as done,"

"Tea, lady O'fair?" Astrid asked as she picked up the delicate porcelain teapot.

With a deliberate tip of her wrist, she let the hot tea spill on Lady O'fair's thigh. The lady in question screamed near bloody murder as the scalding tea burned her through her clothing.

Astrid was jolted out of her fantasy when the lady held up an ornate teacup for Astrid to pour in. Astrid gritted her teeth as she was tempted to enact the fantasy. Surely Mister Eret would have appreciated the comeuppance.

Astrid however didn't even get the chance to spill the tea as two terrified screams came from the hedge maze. All the guests turned towards that direction to see both Edwin and Camicazi running for their lives in their direction. Camicazi shrieked as a bird-like reptile that sported blue and yellow scales jumped over the hedge maze and ran towards them. Mala had already pulled Heather out of her seat while Ruffnut and Tuffnut stood up but didn't panic much. Lady O'fair however shrieked bloody murder as the beast came closer to them and Astrid's eyes widened upon recognizing the creature. At least she thought she did. After what Hiccup had told her she was fairly sure.

"Dragon," She near whispered as her eyes widened while the creature was hot on the heels of Edwin and Camicazi.