Paul's excitement increased at the feel of Sophia's hands working at his belt.  But she was having a difficult time with it -- there were three, after all, holding up his sword scabbard, daggers scabbard, and finally his pants themselves -- and he was getting increasingly anxious to be deep inside her.  He swept her up in his arms, carried her to the bed, and playfully tossed her into the middle of it before rapidly finishing what she'd begun.  

A moment later -- after using his toes to push his boots off -- he stepped out of his pants and undergarments and pulled three layers of clothing from his upper body in one movement.  Suddenly, he was standing before Sophia stark ass naked, his [i]manhood[/i] pointing anxiously her way.

(OOC: I am unsure of how much more can be in an open thread.  I will send you a PM to take about this further.)

.............

Olivia's inquiry about Lady Eddithia caught Lars entirely off guard.  He wasn't a man who was easily left stunned or speechless, but in this case he was both.  He looked to Olivia with wide eyes, then after a moment turned his back to her and strode casually toward the window that looked down upon Portston.  

He should have expected questions about his mother-in-law, what with her son's recent return. Why hadn't he?  Well, never mind: the important thing for Lars was to head off his daughter's curiosity about the Duchess without making it [i]appear[/i] as though he was trying to head it off.

"I ... I didn't know how to tell you this, my daughter," Lars finally said, deciding to go with the standard story Noble's in power used to [i]stay[/i] in power when it was not their right to do so.  He turned and looked to Olivia, feigning an expression of devastation.  He dropped his gaze, drew and released an anxious breath, then -- even managing to conjure up a bit of wetness in his eyes -- lied to his daughter. "Lady Eddithia ... she has passed."

He faked some more devastation in his breathing and tone, then continued, "The Priest said she was sick ... more so than usual, for several moons.  They did their best, but...  They tell me she went quietly and peacefully ... in her sleep, six days ago."   

Lars felt a tear break loose and allowed it to descend his cheek for Olivia's benefit before he turned away to hide a feared smile.  He moved to the window and looked far beyond Portston, in the direction of the mountain monastery which was the still-very-much-alive Eddithia's prison-home.

"I only heard day before last andwas going to tell you last evening," he continued his lie, "But with the excitement of Lord Paul's return ... and what with not being able to locate you--"

That, of course, was a [i]dig[/i] intended to make Olivia feel guilty about sneaking out of the castle.  He finished, "...I simply forgot."

He turned to face Olivia, a second hard-forced tear streaking down a cheek.  "Please forgive me, my daughter.  If you wish ... we can venture to the monastery day after next ... to pay our respects, and lay the Duchess to rest."

[I]Day after next...[/i] Lars thought.  That should be enough time for Crone to slip out of Westrock and make the trip ... to put the old woman out of the Count's misery...