Tea For Two (2)

Writers: AL, Jane
Date Posted: 16th March 2009

Characters: Eliste, Reitha
Description: Eliste has invited Reitha over for tea and the two talk.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 1, day 27 of Turn 5
Notes: Riverboat Sungazer

"You could send somebody, if there's something you want. Lineal can send a couple of the men. And as his widow you probably have to make some arrangements for the cot to be cleared."

The cot could be burned to the ground for all she cared. Surely Lord Corowal would take care of everything there. "There isn't." Eliste insisted. "Everything I want is right here." She turned away from the cut out pieces of cloth, back to the table, evidently eager to switch the topic of conversation. "I think the tea has steeped enough - we should partake. Do you care for sweetening?"

"Yes please, Eliste." Reitha accepted the young woman's decision about her former possessions and went back to looking at the pieces for the quilts.

Eliste prepared the tea, asking Reitha went to stop with the sweetener then stirred until it was well mixed before passing the visitor hers. "So what have you been doing to keep yourself busy as of late Reitha?" She glanced at the woman and sipped her own tea before adding, "And if you're interested in learning to quilt, I'll be glad to help teach you."

"Oh, I can quilt - after a fashion," Reitha admitted with a shrug. "There's just too much for me to do around the hold to settle down to do such work. And why bother with all the Sungazer women making such wonderful work and willing to take commissions?"

"The joy of doing it yourself?" It did seem pleasantly ironic how Eliste just fit in with her quilting. Of course, that wasn't the only reason she fit in on the boat, but it certainly had helped things tremendously. "But I can understand the lack of time. Quilting takes quite a bit of it, especially when you're just learning."

The older woman sipped her tea. "Are you happy with young Fog? And his girls? Do they like you?"

"Happy doesn't do justice to the joy that I feel." Eliste stated sincerely, lowering her cup and smiling brightly. "Fog is wonderful, a better husband than I ever could have imagined. The girls do seem to like me, and I love them dearly."

"And ... Reitha's expression was more than innocent, "... that first wife of Fog's?"

"What of her?" Why was Reitha bringing up Marilea? Well, curiousness of course.

"She left our Hold, you know," Reitha said, her tone as innocent as her expression.

"I am aware of this." Eliste thought to say more, but kept her mouth shut. She wondered if Reitha was trying to make a point.

"I thought you might be. You wouldn't know anything about how or why? Not that any woman isn't free to leave Nettleweed Dock, of course."

"I do know." Eliste nodded just before taking another sip of her tea.

"And do you know if she found somewhere to live?"

"I do." Eliste probably knew a lot more than Reitha realised she did. After all, Eliste had been the one to help Marilea out of her situation.

Reitha smiled. "So, I need not worry about her?"

"You shouldn't." Eliste relaxed as she realised Reitha was more concerned about a possible problem than she was regarding where exactly Marilea had gone. "I don't expect her to return any time soon - if ever." And that didn't bother Eliste in the least.

"That's good," Reitha said, not specifying which part of Eliste's comments she approved of. "Now, tell me more about these two quilts."

Last updated on the March 16th 2009

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Tea For Two (2)