Bann Emmaline had given her young sons as little forewarning as possible about the arrival of the Wyland family. Mathieu wasn't a problem of course, lovely obliging child, but Lukaer stubbornly continued to dodge every attempt to socialize him. Credit where credit was due, he was actually quite good at it; a clever boy, Luka had begun to notice the subtle little cues around him that heralded company. The way their cook prepared larger quantities of meat in advance for example, or how the servants only aired out the guest rooms a day or two before someone would be sleeping in them. She could be absolutely certain that no one had breathed a word to her sons about imminent arrivals, yet usually by the time a carriage pulled up Lukaer had already vanished.
Today seemed quite promising, although arranging this particular visit had been a trial. Given the sticky mess dealing with Bann Reynold could be even on the best of days, the whole issue had only grown more complicated when she'd insisted that the Wylands bring along their youngest boy. A bastard he might be, but that made him no less a ten-year-old boy than any other, and that was the only specification that mattered. Besides, there was a lesson to be had here. Her boys would have to know someday how to navigate this breed of tricky social politics, so they might as well be introduced to the concept earlier rather than later.
"- an honor to have you and the children, of course. We're so pleased you've come." Not 'your' children of course, lest she offend Elisabeth. Emmaline smiled convincingly at Reynold and his wife, lying through her teeth as she lead them into the room where her husband would by now have rounded up the two boys.
If she had ever butted heads more frequently with any man in the Bannorn besides Bann Reynold, Emmaline would be shocked. The man was boorish, opportunistic, and a womanizer to boot by all accounts, to top a long list of characteristics she found repugnant... but to snub him wouldn't be right, no matter how much she might dislike him (and his cold, irritable wife) personally. This visit wouldn't merely be about the children, but also attempting to rebuild long-burned bridges between their families. At the very least, well... as they say, good fences make good neighbors. Bridges, fences, whatever it took to get Reynold to cooperate for once in his life.
She smiled much more effortlessly as she stopped beside her husband, touching him on the arm in thankful affection. Both children stood at attention beside him, she was pleased to see. Mat seemed his cheerful self and Luka looked about twenty years years older than his ten and somber as a Chantry brother, which wasn't much of a departure from the norm.
"I don't believe either of you have met my husband, Piers?" She gestured next to the other couple by way of formality, introducing them to her husband even though he certainly already knew their names after going through the trouble of preparing the household to host them. "Bann Reynold Wyland and Lady Elisabeth."
"Pleased to meet you," her husband echoed, bowing smoothly.
She glanced down to the children next, noting how shy and rigid the young blonde boy seemed compared to his precocious half-sister. It was obvious they didn't let him out much, which made the hassle of this whole affair suddenly seem all worthwhile. If nothing else was accomplished here she would at least make certain that this wide-eyed little boy had just as nice a time in her hall as his sister.
"Boys," she said, smiling kindly at her two young guests while she addressed her own brood, "Meet Eileen, and Ordhan. They'll be staying over for a while, and I expect you to be on your best behavior. Eileen, Ordhan, our boys Lukaer and Mathieu."
She heard her husband's faint chuckle beside her and spared him a curious glance. His face creased with silent, knowing laughter, he flicked his eyes significantly to where their children stood- or, rather, child. Singular. Emmaline barely stopped herself from sighing.
"I hope you'll excuse Luka," she explained delicately, attempting to ward of Lady Elisabeth's evil eye. "He's quite- shy. It takes him a while to warm up to strangers."