From the very first moment she entered the manor house, Lady Ysbail firmly established that she was mistress of this manor now, and things would be done the exact way she wished. For two weeks after her arrival, the house was in a complete uproar. It seemed as if chaos ruled as the servants and the new mistress worked out how to get along. As the two weeks progressed, you were a little distressed to see many new faces among the household staff, while many of the house servants you had known since childhood were no longer around. When you confronted Ysbail about it, she said as mistress the running of the household was her responsibility, and you would be well advised to let her manage it.
Grudgingly you agreed to a trial, and were amazed to see how by the end of a month was up, the house was running like clockwork. As much as you might miss the old servants, the manor has never been so efficient.
The household servants speak of the mistress as am exacting tyrant, but a fair one, and they appear to have a grudging respect for her. By early spring, that mood carries out into the village as well.
There was quite a bit of friction between the two of you when Ysbail first moved in. She was opposed to many of the improvements you planned to make the lives of the peasants easier, calling it a waste of money best spent on other things. You stood fast however and, while she has not accepted your opinions, she has taken charge of all the development projects as if they were her own. She has found efficiencies and suggested improvements that were impressive in detail and impact. It appears you new wife has a head for stewardship, and much of the burden of the great plans you set in motion in the fall has been dutifully picked up by Ysbail.
And dutiful best describes her. She seems to see that she has a job to do as part of this marriage, and she takes on every aspect of that role with a quiet confidence. She is pleasant and polite enough, to be sure, but there is a cool detachment about her manner. She could not be called an affectionate wife, but the smooth running of the estate perhaps makes up for her lack of warmth.
As Spring arrives, you have one rather determined request from the lady. She fervently requires two things. One is the sum of ?3 for a new wardrobe. The other is an annual ?1 allowance so she may keep a handmaiden. She has in mind a young lady friend from another vassal knight family who would serve her has Haydn serves you. She calls not having a lady companion a disgrace that reflects poorly on you.
[OOC: She can get by with common servants. A handmaiden will cost you ?1 per year, just as a squire does.]
