In the quiet of mid-morning, the senior of the de Bellefeuille sisters quietly arranges items on the mantle – little knickknacks she has acquired during her adventures. A broken Eeee goddess statue recovered from Saskanar stands next to a sanguine tinted metal rose. She considers the placement of these and other pieces carefully, arranging and re-arranging as necessary.

Down the hall, Elise hears the heavy thud of the brass knocker against the front door, and then the sound of the door opening as one of the servants answers it. Moments later, a light rapping at the open parlor door and a cleared throat signals the arrival of the butler, awaiting the Lady de Bellefeuille's attention.

The knocking causes the poodle to pause. She puts down the statue she was holding without taking time to arrange it properly and then walks off toward the door. Dressed in a very modest form of Temple robe, one reserved for those who wish to show Temple support even in their off hours, she opens the chamber door. "Who has arrived?" she asks.

"My lady," the sedately uniformed Rottweiler begins, bowing. "A messenger from the Lord haut Glas. He sends his calling card, and is desirous of an interview with you. Is there a message you wish to send in return?" The middle-aged Gallee offers a small cardboard rectangle to Elise, with the haut Glas name and address printed in flowing script across it.

"I suppose I should ask what this is in regards to, though I probably need not ask … ," responds the snow-white poodle. She takes the card into her hand and examines it for a moment.

The Rottweiler ducks his graying muzzle in silent understanding. "The messenger did not specify, but I would venture to guess that the matter regards your sister, Katherine. The Lord haut Glas was in her favor some months ago, though no longer, as I am sure you are aware."

Elise wrinkles her muzzle faintly in disapproval. "I would imagine meeting with Lord haut Glas would only be polite. Mm," she sighs softly, "tell him I accept, though I will send word of a time later."

A slight quirk of one eyebrow is the only hint of reaction from the Gallee servant, but he says only, "Very good, my lady," before bowing again and departing.

Lord Dominic haut Glas, a poodle whose white fur has been styled with the same respect for tradition as his home, rises smoothly as the Lady de Bellefeuille is shown into his formal parlor, furnished in a masculine style with leather-covered sofas and wing chairs. One wall features a handful of well-maintained hunting trophies, while near the fireplace an intact stuffed monster – quite likely of Krozite origin – rears on high legs and growls, silently and eternally, at the guests. "A pleasure to see you again, Lady de Bellefeuille," her host remarks, extending his hand towards hers.

Elise casts a curious glance at the stuffed monster for a moment before she holds her hand out to meet Lord haut Glas's. She awaits to see what approach he takes in greeting, and so does not move her hand toward a hand shake or otherwise, preferring to just let her hand be there."Greetings, Lord haut Glas. It has been … some time has it not? Well, no matter," she greets him.

"Some years, I fear. You've been a long time away from Rephidi – on important Temple business, I am sure – but your absence is nonetheless our loss," the male poodle replies, before taking her hand and leaning over to brush a kiss over the air above her knuckles. As he straightens, he releases her fingers and gestures vaguely towards the sofa and chairs. "Won't you have a seat, my dear?"

"Yes, the Guard does tend to keep me rather busy with this and that." The lady poodle moves over to one of the chairs and settles herself into it, careful to arrange her robes so as to not wrinkle them. "I see you have been busy, with these ah … monsters? Terrible things, those monsters. I never realized how many there are in the world."

He waves his hand in dismissal. "A relic of my youth, pay it no mind. I really should get rid of the thing, but my mother was curiously fond of it, First Ones protect her soul. I cannot quite bring myself to move it." Turning briefly to the servant who showed Elise in, he orders in a low voice, "See that refreshments are brought directly," then returns his attention to his guest, moving to the other unoccupied chair to resume his seat.

"It is important that one follows the directions of one's ancestors, I believe. As the First Ones guide us, so do those close to us. I find tradition important," mentions Elise idly as she gazes about the room. "The Temple is full of history and tradition."

Lord haut Glas smiles at the guest's observation. "I am pleased to see we are in agreement in that respect, Lady de Bellefeuille. Our times are merely the culmination of all past achievements – if we do not respect them, how can we respect ourselves?" he asks rhetorically, then folds his hands loosely before him.

"Yes, we do seem to share that as an interest. I do not doubt we could speak hours on history, the Temple, and our ancestors. Although I would imagine you have asked me here for other reasons," says the lady poodle. She shifts her head to the side, tilting it slightly.

The noble poodle nods in sober assent. "As you say, my lady." He pauses before continuing, choosing his words with evident care. "Might I inquire … has your sister, Lady Katherine, ever spoken of me to you?" While he speaks, a servant enters, bearing a tray of biscuits and pastries,as well as a xocholatl service and a glass decanter of cognac. The maid pours a glass of cognac for Lord haut Glas, then looks silently to Elise for direction.

The white furred female poodle gestures slightly to her left, to a stand beside her seat signaling she would like something to drink. "My sister has spoken of you, yes. Though I would say it is in none too positive a light," she answers him.

The servant quietly pours a cup of steaming brown liquid for the guest, placing it as directed, then departs with a quiet curtsy, while her master continues. "Ah." He sighs. "I had feared as much. We were quite close at one point, but no longer. I had hoped for quite a different conversation with you… " He waves a hand in dismissal, and sips at his drink. "Perhaps you might shed some light on her sudden distaste for me, my lady?"

A soft laugh escapes the lady poodle and she reaches her hand out for a glass. "My sister does indeed share with me her reasons, though I must admit I do not always hear them. I am a busy woman, and I believe she knows best where her interests lie. I can only imagine she found what it is she is fond of in her most recent suitor," she explains with a hint of amusement.

The Lord's austere expression darkens a shade. "Ah, yes. The good Lord de Ayde," he murmurs. "You have met the man?"

"Yes I have," replies Elise. "I take it you have as well? Quite the silent one, Lord de Ayde. It would require an interrogation to get the man to speak of himself."

He responds with a brusque nod. "Indeed I have. And if he keeps quiet about himself – well, I would hazard that his reticence is not without cause." He pauses.

Elise raises and eyebrow. "Are you implying Lord de Ayde is anything but modest in his silence?" she asks.

After another sip from his cognac, Lord haut Glas shakes his head. "Lady de Bellefeuille, I have no wish to play the part of the jealous lover, casting aspersions upon my rival because I refuse to accept that I have been spurned." He exhales, and has another taste from his glass. "And I fear the more I say, the more deeply I entrench myself with that role. Nonetheless… "

"Oh, I do believe you. Some would have taken that chance to speak against Lord de Ayde in an effort to gain my favor against him," says Elise. She takes up her glass and holds it in front of her, not sipping just yet.

"Whether Lady Katherine accepts me or no, I would still hope – for the sake of your family line and Rephidim tradition, if nothing else – that she find a good match. I am sure you feel the same." He sips slowly, considering his words again. "I know that she will not listen to me in regards to this matter … but I trust you will give the subject more level-headed consideration than she is, I fear, presently capable of."

"One might think you do not find Lord de Ayde to be a good match, and again, I must wonder if there is a reason for this." The lady sips of her drink casually before holding it just so before her. "As of present, I have no reason to doubt Lord de Ayde."

Haut Glas starts to respond, then shakes his head. "My lady, your pardon, but I do not trust myself to speak clearly on the subject of … Lord de Ayde." His jaw tenses as he speaks the name, and the liquor at the bottom of his glass trembles. "I fear to mix fact with suspicion and innuendo, and thereby harm my case rather than further it." The canine leans forward, his dark brown eyes serious as they meet Elise's. "I can not ask you to rely on the bitter words of a rejected suitor, my lady. But, please, for the sake of your sister … make some inquiries of your own regarding de Ayde's family and bloodlines. If you find naught there to be concerned of – " He shrugs, leaning back once more. "Then forget about me as your sister has. But if you do find certain … issues … troubling, then I think it well that you have been warned."

The snow-white lady poodle carefully sets down her glass upon the stand, and the folds her hands together in a most serious fashion. "I had wondered," she states simply. Her gaze shifts toward a window and she looks up across the passing clouds of the sky beyond. "It was explained to me, that some time ago there was a curious exchange of title in the de Ayde family. It bears further research."