The waiting carriage receives Arrus and Beatrice, still arm-in-arm. They settle across from one another as the coachman guides them away from the Admiralty traffic and its watching eyes.
A shaded lantern swings above papers concerning Cornwall’s coastal proposals. Their seals and annotations remain undisturbed, though Beatrice’s amused attention lingers on Arrus instead of the documents.
The Broad-Shouldered Court Woman
There they are, your precious proposals, patiently awaiting judgment while their author enjoys being admired. Shall I be jealous of the papers, or merely suspicious of your priorities?
The carriage rolls through the crowded street at a measured pace. Publicly, their linked arms and shared carriage proclaim an alliance; privately, the closed curtains grant them room to test its warmer possibilities.
The Broad-Shouldered Court Woman
Before supper becomes too comfortable, I want the plain account. Which proposal matters most, and which man will try to claim credit when it succeeds?
Beatrice reaches for the nearest memorandum but does not open it. Her gloved fingers rest upon the folded page while her gaze remains fixed on Arrus, inviting an answer rather than supplying one.
✓ Quest Accepted
Establish a mutual romantic understanding with Beatrice Halewick
“I will respond to her subtly flirtatious energy with an equally matched level of transfixed attention on her every movement while my words betray the thoughts behind my reserved stillness across from Beatrice in the small space of the carriage. "Fear not, my lady. There are no proposals written by any hand -even ones so fair as yours- that could ever steal the attention that every moment of your presence commands... I will tell you plainly, the answer to any question you may wish to hear. But speak it, and the answers will race from my lips to gratefully meet your ears on their behalf." I will then subtly playfully bite my lower lip as if daring her to decide between imagining my lips tracing the edges of her sensitive ears or hearing the answers she seeks. The gaze in my eyes cannot hide the restrained desire in them to seduce Beatrice recklessly, and tempt her willpower to resist her own carnal thoughts in the private confines of a long carriage ride.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Intrigue, rolled -2)
Arrus Gandon
Fear not, my lady. No proposal written by any hand, even one as fair as yours, could steal the attention every moment of your presence commands. Ask, and I shall answer.
Arrus watches every movement of Beatrice in the carriage’s confined space. He bites his lower lip with playful deliberation, his restrained desire making the invitation behind his words unmistakable.
The Broad-Shouldered Court Woman
You offer answers with a confidence that makes the questions seem almost dangerous. Very well. Which proposal matters most, and whose ambition must be watched most carefully?
Her gaze drops briefly to his mouth before returning to his eyes. The papers remain unopened, while the carriage’s private silence gathers around the contest neither of them now pretends is merely political.
The Broad-Shouldered Court Woman
And understand this, Master Gandon: if you continue looking at me as though supper were an afterthought, I may answer your daring by making your intentions public enough for London to discuss.
The warning is softly delivered, but its cost is plain. Beatrice has accepted the flirtation and now holds the power to turn their private warmth into courtly gossip, should he misjudge her.
The Broad-Shouldered Court Woman
Now answer me plainly, captivating envoy. Which matter deserves your full attention, and can you keep your composure long enough to explain it?
✓ Quest Accepted
Secure Beatrice Halewick’s counsel on Cornwall’s proposals
“"If it pleases you, my lady, I will endeavor to keep my composer for only as long as it takes to satisfy your curiosity, and not a moment longer." And then, to briefly surprise her with wild daring, I will suddenly lunge forward onto one knee pressed up against the bulwark of her knees beneath the layers of garments of her dress against an able man's broad chest and gently take her gloved hands in mine. "For then I fear I will be unable to resist my own curiosity, and seek it's fair satisfaction..." I will read her reaction carefully, making sure that it is creating the correct kind of thrill and pleased excitement, "In truth, you are secretly in the company of a truly scandalous yet reformed pirate and a wild man..." and then hold up the proposals for her to select and grin mischievously again, "Ask away, my daring lady, and we will seek satisfaction together."”
SUCCESS (Mediocre Diplomacy, rolled +1)
Arrus Gandon
If it pleases you, my lady, I will keep my composure only long enough to satisfy your curiosity, and not a moment longer.
With sudden daring, Arrus lunges forward onto one knee against Beatrice’s knees and gently takes her gloved hands. He watches her face closely, measuring whether surprise has become delight.
Arrus Gandon
For then I fear I shall be unable to resist my own curiosity, and seek its fair satisfaction.
Beatrice’s fingers tighten around his, and her breath catches before a pleased smile overtakes her warning expression. She does not withdraw, though her raised brow promises that boldness will be remembered.
Arrus Gandon
In truth, you are secretly in the company of a truly scandalous yet reformed pirate and a wild man.
Still holding her hands, Arrus lifts the proposals with his free hand and offers them for her selection, his grin mischievous. Beatrice laughs softly, plainly thrilled rather than scandalized.
Arrus Gandon
Ask away, my daring lady, and we will seek satisfaction together.
The Broad-Shouldered Court Woman
Then remain precisely where you are, scandalous envoy, and let me choose the question that best tests both your courage and your proposals.
She selects the memorandum concerning patrol routes without releasing one of his hands. The carriage continues toward supper, while their private game now carries a plainly delighted consent.
Quest Complete
Establish a mutual romantic understanding with Beatrice Halewick
Skill Upgrade: Diplomacy Mediocre→Fair
“Does Beatrice appear more pleasantly excited than anxious by our playful, risque behavior, and our close, intimate proximity while we maintain physical contact and I begin to answer her questions?”
YES, AND MORE (VeryLikely, rolled 3)
Beatrice’s pleased excitement plainly outweighs anxiety. Her gloved hand remains clasped in his, and her brightened eyes linger on his face while the patrol memorandum rests between them.
The Broad-Shouldered Court Woman
Your composure is admirably brief, Master Gandon. I find the danger of your attentions considerably more entertaining than alarming.
She turns the memorandum toward the lantern, still holding one of his hands. The teasing warmth in her expression settles into keen professional interest without surrendering its intimate pleasure.
The Broad-Shouldered Court Woman
This route proposal matters most because it joins patrol coverage to reliable coastal reports. Quill will seek credit, but the Admiralty clerks will recognize whose observations made the scheme workable.
Her thumb brushes once across his glove before she opens the folded page. Beneath the patrol figures, a senior clerk’s notation requests Arrus’s direct testimony at tomorrow’s restricted review, giving his counsel an immediate official hearing.
The Broad-Shouldered Court Woman
There, my daring envoy. You have gained more than my attention. Tomorrow’s private review now requests your testimony, and I shall see that no ambitious rival speaks over you.
“I will slowly close the distance between our faces as she reads, increasing the intimacy of our dialogue, casually resting a hand gently on her thigh while answering, "I do not trust Martin Quill any more than I trust him to act in his own interests. However nothing seems impossible to achieve in the halls of the Admiralty with the help of such an extraordinary woman, in command of both beauty as well as wit enough to be welcome in the presence of such exacting men, who must fall helpless to your powers of reason as easily as they must fall for you by a mere glance and irresistible smile. And, naturally, I find myself asking the obvious question: could anyone truly blame them?" And if she smiles or laughs at the humor, I will move in even closer to her face until we are practically nose-to-nose, giving her every last opportunity to deflect or evade the touch of my impending lips to hers, while slowly closing my eyes in anticipation of communicating like lovers, without words.”
SUCCESS (Fair Diplomacy, rolled -1)
Arrus Gandon
I trust Martin Quill only to serve his own interests. Yet with such an extraordinary woman beside me, even the Admiralty seems conquerable. Who could blame its officers for falling to your wit, beauty, and irresistible smile?
As Beatrice reads, Arrus slowly closes the distance, resting his hand gently upon her thigh. Her smile answers the compliment, and she makes no move to retreat.
Arrus Gandon
I find myself asking the obvious question.
Arrus moves closer until their faces are nearly nose-to-nose, then slowly closes his eyes, leaving Beatrice every opportunity to deflect. She instead meets him halfway.
The Broad-Shouldered Court Woman
No, Master Gandon. No one could blame them. But if you kiss me, tomorrow’s clerks will notice exactly how generously I defend your proposals.
She kisses him warmly, then remains close when it ends, her gloved hand at his collar. The triumph carries a price: Beatrice’s public impartiality is now vulnerable to courtly gossip.
The Broad-Shouldered Court Woman
So, captivating envoy, you owe me a flawless performance tomorrow, and perhaps a convincing explanation for why my judgment remains sound despite your distracting methods.
Quest Complete
Secure Beatrice Halewick’s counsel on Cornwall’s proposals
Skill Upgrade: Diplomacy Fair→Good