Better than you had hoped

The whole next day is indeed filled with all the work needed to make sure one of Linne's outfits is up to snuff. You do have extra help though - after that display last night both Sarannis and Vellemia are determined to help. By the time the sun sets you, Doe and Linne are all done up in fine clothes. Sarannis and Vellemia are both tired out, almost slumping into chairs when they finish the last touches for Linne.

When you arrive at the duke's mansion the guards allow you in and the three of you are announced. That immediately draws attention since people are almost always announced in pairs. Besides, everyone knows exactly who you are. Though there are a few dirty looks there are also a number of raised glasses, particularly from a few people that attended your wedding and reception. Apparently it's become something of a legend.

Your trio soon attracts all the wrong types of company. A few young nobles who are a bit drunk but interested in whether you'd be willing to help them. They're interested in 'taking in' a centauress, a cataur, a foxtaur, etc. One of them is even drunk and bold enough to admit he'd be happy with any of your wonderful girls. Although it's in poor taste, this kind of thing is expected at this point. You don't want to be too harsh or negative. After all, every new 'taur is one more 'taur normalizing their existence.

But these few drunken 'taur admirers can't hold a candle to the next group to approach you. Baroness Amara Vencillan, her former maid Uma and her mount, Evran. Yes, the only other noble (so far) to look at your example and decide that a Valanistic wedding was just the thing. The baroness has taken quite a lot of the attention off you, Doe and Linne.

After all, you, a mage and a bachelor, marrying a pair of girls, one a **** the other... at least somewhat a **** or captive as well. Yes, that's normal. That's reasonable? Expected? Everyone knows mages can be shady and you married them for almost good reasons. Now you get the reward of sleeping with two sexy women. It all makes sense to the average noble.

But baroness Vencillan? A young widow who's husband died years ago. A woman with the freedom to choose almost any man? Able to create a potentially amazing alliance through blood? Absolutely scandalous when the baroness announced that she had married her lovers in a small ceremony. Heads spun, wineglasses were knocked over. Marrying a centaur?!? Then there was the maid, how did she fit in?

Perhaps the baroness wanted a way to have children without suffering through the pregnancies herself? That idea lasted until people who had attended the wedding let slip that the baroness had allowed Uma to marry Evran first. Her noble belly would host that centaur's children? Totally scandalous.

You're sure Amara has a kink for this kind of thing. You're not sure exactly what that kink is, but she's looking outright radiant as she sweeps around the floor of the party. Uma's putting on a brave front, which means it's Evran who looks most nervous. That makes sense in a way. Until not long ago he was a soldier, then a captive, then a centaur. Now he's suddenly married his rider and become a noble in the process. So many changes in so short a time - he's probably on the lookout for when the curtain drops and someone yells "Surprise!"

"Good evening, sir John," the baroness says. She makes the words smooth, delicate and yet also flirty. After what she's done she hardly needs to maintain any real decorum. She'll always be one of the nobility's black sheep, just like you. "I'm so pleased to see you brought Linne tonight," she continues, walking over to take Linne's hand. Your cataur is flummoxed, not having had to deal with any nobles for months, let alone one who outranks her.

"I would love to get together later," Amara says to Linne. "I want to hear about any tips or tricks you might have found." As Amara says that she pointedly places one hand on her own belly. You don't say anything as she glides off to talk to someone else. Perhaps some people would miss it, but if Amara did that so publicly it was intentional. You bet the reason she had you make Uma infertile with your magic and the reason she decided to be the second wife, against all convention, was that she was already carrying Evran's child. If she's lucky it's a human baby.

"Oh, I, um, yes, I would love to," Linne calls out after the baroness. Uma turns back at Linne and gives her a very warm, welcoming smile before skipping ahead to catch up to her wife.

For some time you walk about, talk, eat some of the appetizers and sample a little wine. Finally you see the duke stride down the grand staircase, Ariane and another human maid close behind. He has to greet everyone, but before dinner he's able to come and see you. Ariane is beaming and you can tell it's only with the greatest restraint that she doesn't leap over and give Linne a hug. The duke welcomes you with all the usual pleasantries, including introducing the new maid. Her name is Chantel and she's Ariane's long lost half-sister.

No wonder Ariane is smiling like that. The duke makes some comments that are all polite and correct, but boil down to the idea that he'd rather like to meet you for a private chat later. You have little doubt what that will be about. You also start to wonder - if the duke decides he wants both these sisters and does the same thing you and the baroness have done it will send shockwaves through the whole upper crust of society. You're not entirely sure you or the country are ready for that, but you might not have a choice.

The party does drag on, as they normally do. Dinner is lovely and Linne slowly gets more comfortable with being around people. Especially with both Ariane and Chantel shepherding her around and distracting her. The sisters are both amazed at how she looks, how small that belly is. All their complements have Linne blushing, but her tail is wagging too so you know she loves it. A few other noblewomen stop in and chat with the trio. They rarely stay for long, but it gives Linne more confidence.

After the food comes the important announcement, as is tradition. Not too many people are surprised when the duke tells you all that he has been a widower now for some years and that he's decided to welcome Ariane into his heart. He doesn't mention Chantel, which means a lot of people clap enthusiastically. Like you they were probably worried about what the peasants might think of another noble snatching two women for himself.

A lot of people are breathing sighs of relief, glad he's just marrying a cataur and a lot of wine helps the news go down even easier. On the way back home you start to wonder what the duke has in mind. Certainly his comments to you suggest he's got some ideas. And he's a man who prepares well in advance.

All those thoughts are swept away when you get home. It seems Sarannis and Vellemia were worried about you, so both of them have been pacing and staring out the window, waiting for you to come home so they could see that Linne is okay. It's quite sweet. When Linne starts explaining what happened at the party Vellemia ends up drooping in her chair, all that worry draining out of her and allowing weariness to catch up to her. Sarannis ends up carrying her up to bed.

At last you end up in your room, alone with Doe and Linne. You're all tired, but before you go to sleep Linne gets some ear rubs until she admits that she had fun and that she wants to do this again.