Geoffrey of Tournamine was dressed in warm and proper attire for a meeting he considered very important. He had been invited and he had to admit to feeling a bit anxious. Not that he suspected that Earl Arundel was going to change his mind. Not with the investment he put into a future son-in-law. But more because he didn't know these ladies minds or hearts. Not truly. Because this was all rushed.

He presented himself to the guard that likely knew he was expected, and was given leave to enter.

The tent flap is opened for him, and the Earl greets him with a friendly smile.

"Sir Geoffrey! Strong showing yesterday, good on you! Come in, have a seat, tell me of your adventures."

That was a good sign. He moves in and offers a hand clasp to his potential father-in-law with a returned smile. "I'm glad to see you again Earl Arundel. Thank you for saying so. It had been a few years since my last joust, so I'm glad it didn't completely leave me. Though I may have forgotten some of it after that unseating," he chuckled at at that. He may have been down in the moment, but he had bounced back quickly apparently.

He finds a seat. "My adventures? I have not had too many. When I squired as a boy, I spent time in Ireland. But since then I've traveled back and forth between Brittany and London. Most of my time being in Brittany. I lead my men to assist with keeping the countryside in Brittany free of ruffians and criminals."

"I rather meant what you've been up to the past couple days, but you're a busy fella. How can I help you?"

"Ahh. Thought you might be trying to get to know my past a bit better," he says with a chuckle. "But no, I've mostly been meeting new folks and trying to get a handle on things after the shake up."

"The shakeup..." his expression darkens a little. "Not my favorite subject. In fact, I had Giles de Braose in here yesterday night asking after it, and our place in it. Very exciting stuff, I'm sure, but troubling, too, in its way."

"It was certainly unexpected. Although I can understand why some see it as an injustice while others look at the opportunity. You are concerned that he may make a habit of unconventional and unpredictable behavior?" he asks, curious at the true concern.

"That, yes. Also, there are unintended consequences to this sort of thing, especially the sale of a title. People won't forget that whoever buys Northumberland bought it, rather than earned it. And it's not hard to assign the weight of that to the other Earldoms. He bought Northumberland, why can't I buy...London, perhaps? Nichole tells me it's all over camp that the de Clares want to buy back Strongbow's lands in Ireland."

"It's true, that there will be a stigma associated with it. But selling it is not so different from a landed title being given to a 2 year old child in my mind. Which happens as frequently as a soldier drinks ale. The difference is that people choose to respect blood over money, which is right. But in terms of management... the man that buys the land likely has the sense to make good use of it while the child may grow into an imbecile."

He shrugs.

"I certainly won't apologize for trying to seize an opportunity to get ahead that is neither sinful or illegal. Besides, if Richard were not in a selling mood he'd likely leave the title in the care of someone he trusted. Someone who may have similarly done nothing to earn it other than be friend of the King being rewarded for loyalty. And I imagine that if anyone wants to buy land back that was taken they'd have to convince the owner to sell. If they lost once to the current lord, it doesn't bode well for them to try and force the issue."

"And if the current holder is Prince John?" William asks. "Strongbow's death was an opportunity to King Henry, but I am not sure that King Richard cares over-much for what happens in Ireland, and who happens to hold which piece of ground. But it is plain to everyone the looks that he gives his brother. I should not like to be in Prince John's shoes if that issue is raised."

"I think that in the current state of the world. If they tried to force the issue with Prince John they would be dealing with an angry church. And if they tried to do so without Richard's blessing, he'd likely set them right and charge his brother cripplingly for the military assistance and to recoup costs from the crusade," he says. "He may be selling Northumberland, but I doubt he wants to sell it to the Lion. He'd likely take a smaller but reasonable offer so he can at least continue taxing that Earl in perpetuity."

"I agree with that. He'd surely like to. The question is whether he's willing to tell the Scot to suck eggs. I think in the end he will, but if there's no stomach for it in the court, he might let it go."

Well, if someone not a Scot does end up with it, they will have some angry neighbors." If such a thought bothered him, he didn't show it.

"Probably would want to learn some Scottish too."

"Yep, although the Scots that matter seem to have mostly learned to speak French. Their kings have married good Norman ladies a couple times, now. Enough for the culture to stick."

He smiled. "Speaking of marrying good Norman ladies..."

"It seems to be in style this season," Geoffrey replied with a smile of his own. "You have spoken with Lady Nichole and Lady Matilda then, I take it?"

"I have, and while at first there was a little reticence among the ladies, in the end Matilda was able to help Nichole see what it is she truly wanted."

"So you'll have a wild one on your hands. Good luck to you."

He nods and smiles widely as the wheels immediately start spinning. He knew some concerns and hopes she held already, and was not going to pressure her with children right away. But he was certainly also thinking about how he might endear her and warm her to life with himself. God willing, she would be the mother of his children, but he was not marrying a breeding mare. He wanted a partner and he would encourage that wildness in her.

"Thank you. And I look forward to spending time getting to know my future in-laws. I would call on her this evening to discuss this happy news."

"I think she'd like that, sir." He nods firmly. "I do think she would."

"For now, though, got any good stories that will help prepare me for the trouble I've gotten myself into with Lady Nichole," he asks with a smirk.

"Well, there was this one time when she was just a girl when I had to fish her out of a canal. See, there's a tradition of canal-jumping with poles in Norfolk, and Nichole being Nichole, there was no power on earth that was gonna prevent her from giving it a try just as soon as she could work a pole. Long story short, pole snapped, girl went into waist-high mud, and made sure the whole neighborhood bore witness to her distress."

He chuckles. "Good times."

Geoffrey laughs at that with a warm smile. "So... she's going to be participating in the swimming race I sponsor for the town during the Festival of Fire then?"

"Almost definitely. She's always been in search of a thrill."

"Well, I'm not one for sitting around. I like to keep busy and I love excitement, so I'll give her plenty of opportunity for that," he says with a nod.