eponymous_rose

The scene where Cordelia sits Kou and Drou down to talk about Kareen and Mark. SO MUCH LOVE FOR THESE CHARACTERS. Um. Yes.

THAT SCENE. Oh my goodness, I love Cordelia's matter-of-factness so much, and she brought out the couch and Kareen is just amazing and gah. Also, this scene is beautifully written and very quotable, so I shall quote it:

Da said, "I want Kareen to be safe. Well. Happy. Financially secure. Is that so wrong?"

Tante Cordelia's lips twisted up with sympathy. "Safe? Well? That's what I wanted for my boys, too. Didn't always get it, but here we are anyway. As for happiness . . . I don't think you can give that to anyone, if they don't have it in them. However, it's certainly possible to give unhappiness—as you are finding."

And also:

Tante Cordelia's brows rose. "Is that how you see marriage? As the end and abolition of yourself?"

Kareen realized belatedly that her remark might be construed as a slur on certain parties here present. "It is for some people. Why else do all the stories end when the Count's daughter gets married? Hasn't that ever struck you as a bit sinister? I mean, have you ever read a folk tale where the Princess's mother gets to do anything but die young? I've never been able to figure out if that's supposed to be a warning, or an instruction."

And especially:

"Kou, I wouldn't have encouraged this relationship if I thought it was unsafe for either of our children."

He looked back. "You? I know you! You trust beyond reason."

She met his eyes steadily. "Yes. It's how I get results beyond hope. As you may recall."

And then the ending of the scene, which made me all gleeful:

Kareen took a breath, for courage, dipped her hand into her bolero pocket, and drew out her Betan earrings, the pair that declaimed her implant and her adult status. With a little push, she slipped one into each earlobe. It was not, she thought, a declaration of independence, for she still lived in a web of dependencies. It was more of a declaration of Kareen. I am who I am. Now, let's see how much I can do.

KAREEN YOU ARE SO WONDERFUL. And can I just say how much I love that this has always, always been about what Kareen wants? Mark loves her, unconditionally, and in most stories we'd be seeing how hard it is on poor Mark that Kareen's parents won't let her see him, but in this particular story the focus is rightly on how stifling the whole thing is for Kareen. And the ideal solution's not a matter of happily-ever-after, of weddings and betrothals, because that wouldn't be fair to either of them. It's a matter of Kareen being with Mark, but not having to commit, while she finds out just who she is. It's a learning process, taking a step forward into what will certainly be a difficult situation, but taking that step with both eyes open.

Add to that how awesome it is that Miles is being taken to task for his plotting and scheming with regards to Ekaterin, and this book has to be one of the most, well, mature fictional explorations of love that I've seen in a long, long time. I am pretty dang impressed. And now I should read the last few chapters.