He's up to all the things you'd expect from a noble

The next day you, Doe and Linne all make your way back to the duke's mansion. It's far more low key this time, just a private meeting rather than a grand party. When some of the servants show you into a private study there are just seven people present - the three of you, the duke, Ariane, Chantel, a blonde girl you haven't met and Stephen, the duke's right hand man. Ariane looks worried, standing in the corner with her hands crossed in front of her. Chantel looks a little eager, the new girl is smiling like a wolf and Stephen looks resigned, like he's tried to talk the duke out of whatever is coming.

The duke greets you and says, "I hope you don't mind if we jump straight to the issue? It's hard to arrange 'quiet' appointments."

"By all means," you tell him.

"Firstly, I plan to marry Ariane, as soon as possible," he says. To Ariane he adds, "Go on, show them," in a kind, friendly tone you've rarely heard from him. Shyly, Ariane uncovers her hand, showing off the glittering engagement ring. It's obvious she's still not used to it being on her finger.

"Oh wow!" Linne cries, unable to contain herself, even though she got a chance to congratulate Ariane yesterday at the party. She bounds across the room and hugs Ariane, a bundle of excitement. Both their tails start whipping back and forth in joy.

Ariane gasps and starts saying things like, "Watch out, careful, you're pregnant," but Linne is just too excited.

The duke lets out one of his huge, deep laughs. "Ah, they're almost like sisters, aren't they? But speaking of," he turns to Chantel, "I know you didn't have a chance to talk to her last night, but Chantel is Ariane's half-sister. Separated long ago, which is most unfortunate, but together again. And this," he says, gesturing to the other woman, "is Reine, Ariane and Chantel's best friend."

"I think things worked out well in the end," says Chantel, showing she's not nearly as shy as her half-sister.

"Yes, indeed," says the duke. "Now, the nobility are not ready for the idea of a duke going through with a Valanistic wedding." This gets a slight nod from Stephen, though you imagine the duke has heard this same thing from other high ranking people too. You imagine the king probably had to put his foot down if the duke has given up on the idea. "Still, one door closes, one door opens," says Kaldrass. "People are willing to accept a duke taking mistresses."

"But you're marrying Ariane," says Linne, so shocked that she comes out of her shell.

Doe, meanwhile, puts the pieces together, looks over at the third girl and says, "Valinism allows two wives, but there's no limit on mistresses."

"Quite," says the duke. "And yes, I'm a naughty old nobleman and all that. It will affect my reputation to some degree, and so on. I don't care."

Ariane is hugging Linne, who's started crying. "Stop, stop," she whispers, "It's okay, I want this."

"Ariane has always been close to Chantel," explains the duke, "and both of them are very close to Reine." He laughs again and says, "So close that I am surely a lucky man."

Linne looks like her brain has stopped working. "But, sisters..." is all she manages to get out as a complaint.

"Ariane and Chantel are," says Reine, speaking for the first time. The blonde has a very smooth, sensual voice that screams 'trouble'. "And since I never knew my father it's quite possible I'm a half-sister as well."

Yeah, that proves it. Of the three Reine is the most trouble.

"Actually, we have something of a bet about that," the duke says. "Sir John, could you check that?"

A few moments of magical examination confirms that Ariane and Chantel share the same mother. It also shows you that Chantel and Reine share the same father.

"Ah, you were right," the duke says to Reine. "I didn't think it could be so. What are the chances after all? Though you two do have almost the same shape of chin."

As he's musing about their chins Reine jumps over to Chantel and gives her a hug with enough **** to squeeze the air out of Chantel's lungs. You almost miss it in the commotion, but Ariane whispers, "I told you so, Chantel." Linne does hear her and gives her fellow cataur a hug too.

"So," you ask the duke, "three sisters, three types of big cat?"

"That's one idea," he replies.

Reine laughs and says, "I still say I would make for a better foxtaur."

This is clearly conversational ground that's been trodden over before. The duke replies "Everyone knows what foxtaurs are like."

"True," Reine says, "but no one is going to believe that duke Kaldrass transformed his future wife and two young maids into cataurs just to keep his furniture well dusted. You'll get bored if we all end up looking the same. You've got every right to lean into it and tell every nosy noble to piss up a rope."

"If I can get hold of one of those snow leopards..." he says, searching for some kind of agreement.

"Maybe," she replies. "I have to see more than a picture in a bestiary before I agree to change into some kind of cataur. I already know what the foxtaurs and lynx catuaurs look like, but I've never seen a snow tiger."

As if you had any doubt about who's wrapped around who's finger. Still, duke Kaldrass has never smiled so much. As if he suddenly realizes he's not alone with his three girls he looks over to you and says, "Well, I have yet to decide exactly what I need. But Chantel is quite taken with tigers, like that girl Juliette you transformed."

Ah yes, Juliette. Perfectly matched to a tiger - calm and cuddly most of the time, but get her angry and she's your worst nightmare.

"I've already acquired the tiger," he adds, "as well as a fox. I've been searching for a snow leopard high and low."

"Whichever Reine chooses," you say, then correct yourself, "ahem, that is, whichever you choose for Reine, I can make the transformation work. At this point cat and fox transformations are pretty straightforward. Even if I have to do quite a lot in the case of the fox to enlarge it."

From there it only takes a few arrangements as far as timing and payment you're on your way home.

Linne keeps prancing along next to you, humming to herself. Spending time with Ariane always puts her in a good mood and this time Ariane, Chantel and Reine were all asking about her developing tummy. Even though Linne says she doesn't like the attention her tail bats back and forth when other girls want to rub her flanks.

When you get back to the tower, well out of earshot, Doe leans in close and asks, "So, the sudden request, the questions about Linne's belly - how long do you think before Ariane starts showing?"

"Noooo!" says Linne.

"Oh yes," you tell her, with a laugh. "The duke hasn't been waiting. If the wedding happens quickly then they can probably hide it, but only because most people don't know that cataurs girls carry a cataur baby for ten months rather than nine."

"So Ariane... a cataur baby... oh!..." Linne loses the power of speech and just bounds around the room burning off energy while you and Doe share a look at one another and laugh.