Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (cont'd)

Anneke was playing a game of cards with her elder children in one of the sitting rooms. She sat crosslegged on the floor, Oscar cradled in her lap as she pursed her lips at her hand. Lyra sat to her right with an excellent poker face, and Anneliese was on her left with a look of dejection. All four looked up as Ky entered, and Anneke smiled.
"Hello, Ky! Care to join us?"

"Ma'am!" Ky returned the smile and bowed in acknowledgment. Her gaze flicked from the lady, to the children, then back to Anneke. "I, um... his lordship requested that I let you know that you have received a rather important visitor."

"Oh?" Anneke's brow furrowed. "Who might that be? I don't recall us expecting anyone." Lyra, too, looked up in worry.

(I'm gonna hit the hay for the night. I will return on the morrow!)

(Night! Sleep well! Glad we're back at this ^-^ )

Ky hesitated, not quite sure if Loquitur wanted his children to know or not. He had said to tell his wife that they had 'an unexpected guest' not to tell her that it was his sister.

But, then, she also wasn't about to disregard the lady's wishes, and she'd asked directly.

"The Lady A...sh?" Ky said uncertainly, suddenly realizing -- mid-sentence -- that she didn't know which surname Cecily used. "His lordship's sister, ma'am."

There was a pause as Anneke stared at her. "Cecily?" she said finally. "But that isn't possible."
"Aunt Cecily's here?" Lyra frowned. "Why?"

“I… I don’t know, ma’am,” Ky admitted. She looked back at Lady Anneke. “From what I gathered, it seems that she left Lord Ash’s company rather abruptly. Ma’am.”

"Oh, gods." Anneke rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "How'd she look?"

“Um… a bit… frail,” Ky admitted, choosing her words carefully, even the truth was that Cecily looked like hell. “I believe his lordship is escorting her to the infirmary to asses her health.”

"Good, good." Anneke rose reluctantly, scooping Oscar into her arms. "Mind taking my place? I expect Tomhas will want me to see to a couple things in preparation for Cecily's stay. It's not a difficult game, don't worry."

“Yes ma’am, of course.” Ky dipped her head respectfully and obediently stepped forward, but her heart sank. She didn’t want to be here — playing games — when there was something this interesting happening in the keep. But she certainly wasn’t going to argue.

"Thank you so much. I owe you." Anneke swept out of the room, skirts flaring.
Lyra gave Ky a tiny smile. "We can help you through it, Ky. It's pretty easy, like Mother said."
"You've just got to alternate colors downward on these four piles," Anneliese said, pointing to four piles of cards surrounding a face-down deck. "Lord cards go in the corner, aces are low. The goal is to run out of cards."

Ky offered a smile on return, sitting down criss-cross where Lady Anneke had been sitting. She picked up the hand of card. “When do you draw?”

"Only when you can't play. Then you play as much of your hand as you can." Lyra paused. "Aunt Cecily really showed up out of the blue like that?"

“Yes ma’am,” Ky answered, looking up from her hand of cards. Somehow, it felt like there was less pressure, now that the secret was out. “She said she wanted to surprise your father.”

"Uncle Gaius must be half mad with worry by now," Anneliese said gravely. "Aunt Cecily isn't supposed to travel without a proper escort."