Post by Clara Delamara on Mar 2, 2016 19:28:03 GMT -5
She was not trying to provoke a fight with her cousin, yet she was not so hard of heart that she cared to see Rik so visibly unhappy. True, his first venture had gone poorly, yet they were both young enough that Clara felt sure another love, a more appropriate love, would find her cousin when the time was right.
After a moment, she spoke quietly, "We have a very large family, Dederik, and despite what Ra says, we have time. You are putting yourself under so much pressure that I feel you don't necessarily need. You have potential marriages for Cassandra and for Alexa. That is an excellent start, but you are also engaging in business with other families. For scarcely two months' work, cousin, that is beyond commendable. Take a breath, take some time to let yourself heal from the hurt and the disappointment." Her eyes were calm and concerned both as they met his. "The family is not likely to go to pieces in the next few weeks, I promise you that, despite... well. It isn't going to happen."
She'd cut herself off in an effort to be discreet and not put Rik in the middle on that one point. Resuming listening to what he said, Clara frowned darkly at her cousin. "What makes you so absolutely certain that you cannot? That is like saying you'll never set foot on a ship again. You're being somewhat foolish, Dederik. As for compelling people to do things, that is reality, cousin. Life is full of the unpleasant and distasteful, but that does not mean it shouldn't be done. Ra will get over it and so will you. So will all of us. You may be the head of the family, but you are not the only one in this family. Honestly, stop being such a boneheaded man!"
Rolling her eyes, she crossed her arms and huffed out a breath. Dealing with Dederik was starting to feel a great deal like dealing with her sisters, leaving her wanting to knock his dear head against something in the slim hopes of knocking sense in while she was at it. Turning her look back on him, Clara promptly corrected him. "The future can wait in some regards, Dederik. There is no deadline on you or the family. In fact, if I thought you'd go, I'd tell you to go back home and take your ship out on a brief journey to let the sea breeze clear your mind out."
At his mention of the ladies, she waved it off, clearly frustrated and a bit irritated.
Dederik Delamara