Oh, how you wish you were

When you walk into Aurora's study after Mary the obvious mood in the room was not marriage inclined. Aurora was sitting, not facing the other lounge and table between but facing the door and there was no where for you or Mary to sit. The door closed behind you and you head Mary gulp. Oh you did something bad, bad.

"Out of curiosity Christopher why do you think I sent Anastasia away, had Mary spending time with you, and instructed Isabelle to escort Felicaite with Delilah as chaperone?" Aurora's voice was the same neutral as ever which made this worse in more ways than an angry outburst would have.

"Mum-" Mary opened her mouth and took a half step between the two of you but retreated and shut her mouth with Aurora raised her hand

Aurora didn't speak again, just keep looking at you expectantly. It was strange, you were fully aware that at this point there is very little she could realistically do to you, but you were sure something would be done and you would not like it. Which is why you answered, "You didn't want her to learn about me outside of what you'd controlled." Aurora had commanded your presence at the first meeting and then shuffled things around to have Felicaite away from you, until she found you and Mary running forms.

Aurora blinked at you. "Try again."

"M-" Mary tried again and received another hand to shut her down.

You felt a bit upset for Mary. Seeing her so totally cowed compared to her normal self was bringing out the affection you felt for her. "You wanted Felicaite to have a relationship with Isabelle so she could act as your ambassador when she grew older."

Aurora shook her head and stood. "You have an obsession with viewing a brush stroke as a painting." She picked up a cup of tea that Lady Demise had prepared and took a sip.

"He-"

"Mary if I wanted you to speak I would have asked a question I thought you'd be able to answer."

The bit upset you felt for Mary resented that enough to speak for you, "You didn't want any of your daughters to fuck Felicaite." You hand reached out gently caress Mary's but it earned no reaction.

"And you have seen the brush." Aurora said turning to face you. "I expected Mary to do something stupid but I honestly never expected you go along with her."

Mary didn't say anything just looked at the ground and fidgeted her feet.

"That's not-" You started, ignoring the raised hand until Aurora spoke over you.

"If you can not explain why I did not want you to let Mary fuck Felicaite you have no need to talk." Aurora brought the tea back to her seat and stared at you from it.

You didn't say anything. There was a diametric opposition inside you that had to be sorted out first. On one side was you grabbing Mary's hand and storming out, on the other was answering Aurora. Neither side was winning just yet.

Mary's hand grazed yours. A finger curling around yours in comfort. "You didn't want an ambassador to return with stories of how easy it is sleep with a member of the royal family."

Aurora took a long sip, her eyes didn't look down at your and Mary's connection but you knew she'd seen it from the slight softening of her eyes. "You are almost correct. The best time to extract information from someone is when they are inside you or you inside them. Mary has proven to never be very good at keeping any part of herself closed." Mary's finger left you and she squirmed under the scrutiny. "Now you are going to tell me everything that happened, with no detail spared so I can find out just how much you let Mary give away."

Lady Demise brought a chair and put it behind you. You looked at Mary but a chair was not brought for her. You considered letting her take the seat but knew she wouldn't and wouldn't like you putting her back into the spotlight. Sitting down Lady Demise offered you a cup of tea but you shook your head. Mary was not offered one. It was a shame Aurora had a good point about letting things slip out during sex, the begrudging agreement with her in this situation made any dramatic storming out with Mary feel more silly that respectable.

You started retelling your and Mary's time with Felicaite. Though you didn't know when she started watching you you did know she'd seen Mary helping you run forms, and likely the destroyed sword stand you had a hand in. No one laughed at your joke.