Maud Buttons

Viscontessa of the Principessa’s Trapo by her full title, officially it is Maud’s duty to ensure that in the likely event of a female ruler then that ruler is assured of a means by which menstruation is not noticeable. In common with all such titles this was entirely made up on the whim of the ruler and carries no duties other than to be a part of that court. Born of Walloon parents but of Parquet birth, they were button makers and came to some riches and prominence when buttons became overabundant in clothing, as decoration and where still they are used in some quarters as an indication of status and role. It was as a young woman though that Maud took the craft to become a genuine enterprise, dominating and securing both the market and the supply until then, as now, the majority of buttons are produced by her house of enterprise. Her early years hard, fraught with effort and a certain amount of shadow she became a favourite of the then young Glorioso and supported her in her right to rule. Awarded the title for her services and support Maud was able to step back from her enterprise secure at last in the status being a member of the quality. This is the common tale, but titles whilst without real foundation are not so freely given and it is generally believed that that Maud was a very deep purse for Glorioso when bribes and gifts were once urgently needed. Ever someone well dressed, the Viscontessa Buttons is considered to be the richest of dandies where her quaint shopkeepers accent whilst hardly fashionable was declared ‘fashionably Buttons’ by the revered dandy Barberry, therefore in her case making it so. Known for her balls each is an event that ensures even her direst enemy to maintain their manners towards her until an invitation is secured. Amongst the quality to be excluded would require such inventiveness and daring to attend otherwise that most would consider it too troublesome and rather beneath them. Some scandal attended Buttons when on being raised to the quality it was noticed she was not married. Nor (though a woman of wit and handsome to many) did she accept romantic advances preferring instead a wider social circle. Used as a social weapon against her Buttons eventually conceded to become betrothed, albeit to a hairbrush. Being a very fine example of the kind, of silver and rare badger hair bristles, it was accepted by her peers that there were many that had taken less suitable suitors. The matter of the hairbrush being her own joke attempts to needle Buttons regarding it soon dwindled when she joined in and with better prepared wit.