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Her mother looked over to see how Alegra responded to the compliment and, noting that her daughter had smiled and looked away bashfully just as she'd taught her to, smiled even wider. "Yes," she sighed, somewhat dreamily. "She certainly does stand out, doesn't she? Yes, she certainly does."

Alegra shyly murmured, "Mother..." Of course, on the inside, she wasn't half as shy. She knew she was attractive, and it didn't really matter to her except in instances where she had to exploit the fact. Just as Vaughn was doing, her little charade was more for her mother's benefit than for anything else. In fact, the woman appeared incredibly delighted, no doubt noting that her daughter had yet to do anything frighteningly unladylike in front of her most affectionate suitor, as he still seemed to find her no less than the most lovely in the room. Alegra was hiding her own amusement at the very prospect. "Oh, if only you knew... she thought, and her mother mistook her amused smile for a sweet one.

Her mother was practically radiating her euphoria now, and quickly glanced to check and see if Catherine, who shared her namesake and had a daughter that was a friend of Alegra's, was watching. Noting in satisfaction that she was, and quite enviously at that, the woman seemed to puff her chest out a bit more, resembling a preening bird. "Yes, well, I've always been told she looks like me. Except for that hair. Goodness knows, she received that from her father..." To her credit, she really was a mildly attractive woman, and younger than most mothers. She stood quite a bit taller than Alegra with wheat-colored hair, and a bit stockier. "Oh, yes, I'm having a marvelous time! And it does me good to see the two of you enjoying yourselves so. Alegra has had many suitors, I'm sure you know, though I can't say I've ever seen her quite so content with one..." The older woman wryly thought that it was, in fact, the truth.

Be on her best behavior, he said? I'm always on my best behavior, she thought rather smugly. She was more than aware of all of the glances she was getting after he'd had his mouth so close to her ear - not that that was the first time such a thing had happened. Alegra recalled with no enjoyment the first night they'd met, in which she'd found herself in that position twice and had been no less than annoyed each time. But, whereas those times she had remained entirely impassive, this time she let a pleased little smile take over her face and a dash of color to her cheeks. "Only if you are," she murmured back.

They approached, and her mother looked over at them. The woman could not have appeared any more pleased to see them coming over together, arms latched and all, and her eyes belied a self-satisfied twinkle, as if they had paired up as a result of her extraordinary matchmaking skills. At his greeting and declaration of contentment at seeing her again, her face lit up in a blush much like her daughter's. Of course, in her case it was real, but to Alegra's credit, it looked no more authentic. "Oh, how you do go on," she chortled. "Yes, it is lovely to see you again, sir! And I see you've found my Alegra, as well. I trust the two of you are enjoying yourselves?"

Alegra snorted. He really did only think of one thing, didn't he? Typical man, she thought decidedly. Of course, most men were a lot more secretive about it, but in her opinion, that was worthy of less respect than being open about it... though in a decidedly less rude way than Vaughn was. Not that he would care who respected him or not, she thought ruefully. "I think I'm all right," she said dryly. It took her a moment before she replied to his next question, as she wasn't entirely sure if she ought to tell the truth, then decided she should. After all, even if there were others in the family that possessed the ability, she would not have wanted them to be subject to the same blackmail she was. That would simply be cruel. To lie about it and put them in such a position would be even worse. "I'm the only one," she said honestly. "It managed to skip Drake and went to me instead."

He wanted to know how he died? Alegra bristled, and several emotions ran across her expressive face like snapshots. First, annoyance that he could be so callous about the matter. Then, rueful, as she wouldn't have expected anything less. Resignment, considering that he would probably blackmail her into answering him if she refused. Anger that he would do such a thing like that, rueful again, and then she finally landed on an emotionless, hollow expression. There was no point in keeping it from him; it wouldn't be worth it. But she couldn't help but wish - and that made her laugh internally - that the man who was asking about it cared just the slightest bit. "We don't know," she said flatly, but again, honestly.

She couldn't help but grin a little. It wasn't every day she could tell someone about the ability without consequence - after all, if he reported her, she would be killed for it. While he might receive a handsome reward for his service, that would be much less interesting for him. Instead of responding, she did exactly what she promised never to do. One moment she was there beside him, the next she was just over a yard in front of him, the faintest shine of silver existing in her silhouette where she had been for the barest of moments - her namesake. "I can," she confirmed, regretting the action in the slightest because of the fatigue it brought with it. However, she was still on her feet, and still too excited to let it steal away too much of her energy. She ignored his comments about blackmail - the idea was inconceivable, and she was certain he knew it - and continued.

"That wasn't to say they cared for each other, however. He felt betrayed, and she felt as if he had only cared for her title. To establish as little contact between the two as possible, he built an entire second half to the estate, which she was to live in. He cared enough to want her to be comfortable, but he wanted nothing to do with her. They had two sons, fifteen years apart, and the latter died before he was four years of age. She killed herself out of anguish, and realizing that he had come to depend on her, he followed within a year." The entire thing seemed silly to Alegra; she could not imagine any man would be worthy of killing herself should she be forced to exist without him, though there were certainly men - or rather, one man - that she would die for in his place if given the option. "It was passed down, oldest son to oldest son, ever since then - along with the ability, which has yet to leave our blood for even a generation, though at most there were only two brothers who had it at the same time."

Alegra was the slightest bit put out by his lack of enthusiasm, but also knew that he was probably doing it on purpose, a fact that placated her. Regardless, she wasn't going to let it affect her. With his answer, she continued, "Well, after that, he decided to make something on his own. He still had ample funds as an inheritance, and he became a knight - a rather egotistical one, at that - and all the while, he was staying at an inn, as the estate was slowly being built." She paused, gesturing to a room and commenting, "That's your room, but we'll finish the tour first." She then continued on, "Of course, he wasn't the only one staying at the inn. There was another, a young woman that claimed to be nobility, and he found himself incredibly taken with her." Alegra knew that this was more the history of him than of the estate, but as far as she was concerned, it all pertained to the matter. If he wasn't going to listen, so be it; she still enjoyed telling it.

"He began courting her, and even asked her hand in marriage when the estate was nearly finished, but a couple of weeks before they were to wed, he discovered that she was the daughter of a craftsman and a peasant. He was furious, of course, and out of spite, told her he was going to have her hung for impersonation and deceit of a knight. However, she had something on him, too. He was the first of what was to be a long line of males with the ability to 'blink,' as we call it - well, until now..." She broke off and frowned, considering the fact that she'd just admitted what was a huge felon in Camelot. Of course, her father was dead, Drake didn't have the ability, and she'd only hinted at her own, so she supposed it wasn't so bad; after all, he was already blackmailing her, he could do little else with further dirt on her. And she doubted he cared. "Magic wasn't banned at that point, but his was a secret, the reason he was so esteemed a knight. To give it away would be to give up his advantage. So, they married anyway to keep each other silent." She paused again, this time to point to gesture to a large, open room. "Upstairs parlor," she explained.

Alegra grimaced and wrinkled her nose. He certainly had a point; the man's behavior was about as abnormal as hers was. And, as ridiculous as it was, equally if not less detestable through society's eyes. She couldn't help but take a moment to bitterly consider this. What kind of world was it where it was more acceptable for a knight to stand by and watch a young woman be attacked by bandits - offer her up to them, even! - than for a woman to dress up as such a knight? And, at least in her opinion, she was a much better knight than he was - he was that in title along, as far as she could tell, and did nothing to maintain the stereotype. Then again, she was a noblewoman in title alone, too.

"True," she sighed, and fell silent as she thought about which servant to provide him with. Not one of the children, as they needed their sleep and she was not about to wake them in the middle of the night. None of the older ones for the same reason. Any around his age would probably be disturbed by his politeness or overly curious, and she most certainly didn't want them testing him. A teenager, then. She simply had to choose one. Her thoughts diverted instantly, however, when he asked about the history of it, and her eyes seemed to light up exuberantly. "I know the history," she announced with a shockingly excited smile. Alegra loved a good story, and the estate history certainly was one. Of course, she thought plainly, he may very well change his mind about wanting to know once he saw her elated reaction, but she could not help but hope he wouldn't.

"I'm sure you'll acquaint yourself with them," she said dryly. He'd probably spend the next morning making polite chat with every servant he came by. All of the estate would decide before breakfast was through that he was a truly perfect knight and that their own Lady Alegra was so very lucky to be able to spend time with him, and oh, wouldn't it be nice if they married? Her stomach churned at the thought. "However, you'll do so by the normal means," or so she rather desperately hoped, "as they can't help undress you. You may choose among the male servants, however, to decide which one you'd like assistance from."

His declaration that he would meet "her" was overshadowed by his use of the word days. Alegra nearly staggered. Days?! More than one?! She would have to bear his insufferable presence, his no-doubt constant blackmail and mockery, for days now? "Wonderful," she groaned aloud. Well, perhaps he'd make himself useful, or at least amusing. At his question about how many chambers they had, she shook her head. "I don't know," she admitted honestly. "Mother probably would. I've never paid much attention. I have my own room, and that's enough." The size of the estate wasn't worth paying much mind to, in her eyes. She lived there and it more than suited her; that was more than what she needed, the details were reserved for nobility who liked to brag about it.

Alegra sighed, trying extremely hard to be patient with him - which wasn't going so well, considering that he was probably annoying her on purpose and patience had never been one of her strong suits. "We do have female servants," she explained slowly, as if speaking to a small child (and, in her mind, that was precisely what he was acting like). "However, none can assist you in the removal of your armor. The male servants do that." She was rapidly feeling more and more tired; more mentally than physically, really. He was an exhausting person to try to deal with, and if she had her guess, he probably did it entirely on purpose. Sadistic bastard.

Though she was quite certain that he was only allowing her mother to remain asleep to gain something by it, Alegra couldn't help but be just a touch grateful - if she roused her mother in the midst of the night, she'd have an absolute fit, which would increase tenfold when the presence of a young knight was announced. His next statement served to both prove her point and diminish her previous fears that he would instead choose to "stop by" at a random time to introduce himself. "Very well," she agreed, already thinking about which bedroom would best suit him. Their "finest" room was actually toned in lavenders and rose pinks, and she briefly considered awarding it to him (after all, that was what he'd asked for, right?) before changing her mind. He'd destroy the room or make her life more difficult for it. The blue room was nearly as nice, the only difference being that the ceiling had been paved two years prior as to the lavender room's one. "Follow me," she said, and began leading him up the marble center stairwell.

Though she understood exactly what he was referring to, she still daringly announced, "I am servant to no will but my own." There were things he could use against her to persuade her to do as he asked, but in the end, the decision would be hers, and it would be based on what best suited her will and life, not his. She would nothing for him out of sheer kindness, and was beginning to wonder at how she had been so considerate as to wonder where he would be staying the night. Of course he would decide to stay on his own - silly, foolish her for thinking otherwise. He was much more than stepping on her nerves by this point; he seemed to be slicing them apart with his blade, and she was having so difficult a time not fighting back.

"There are no female servants in the house available to assist you." He could not be allowed anywhere near the only one with any experience, though even then, the girl was still not terribly capable; she fumbled a lot, and Alegra was certain his armor would be even more complex, if not simply larger, than her own. "I'll show you around beforehand, then introduce you to Mother, and then I'll send a servant in to help with the removal." She didn't bother commenting on his last statement. Of course she would not be offering herself up; she was far from stupid.