I was thinking about Cordelia and Alys (as you do) and I realised that because of circumstance (social standing, security clearance), Cordelia and Alys are each other's most appropriate confidant. But I don't know that I think they are actually suited for oen another in personality and such.

Like, when Cordelia arrives on Barrayar, Alys would be the best person to ask questions of (what did he mean by that, so and so did this thing what does it mean). But they also have huge differences, not just the culture they grew up in. Cordelia is married, Alys is a widow. Cordelia is raising a disabled son, Alys' son is healthy. While I don't know they would out-right resent one another, I don't know if either would feel completely comfortable venting and bitching about things that the other could reasonably resent.

I suppose each woman is mature enough to give it a try - if the other called up and said 'omg this thing is driving me nuts' she would listen and make agreeable noises.

But would they be good friends? Would they truly enjoy one another's company and seek it out for any purpose, not just 'society rules dictate I must hang out with you and not someone else.'

Not that either one would feel required to follow social rules. But with all the family secrets and security, and the ease of just finding someone to connect with - it'd be easiest to turn to one another. Of course the books don't really show either woman having friends, or a life outside their children and husband.

Which means what I really want is for someone to write a story or two. ;-)

Do we know their names, or their ages with respect to one another? All I can find is a reference to 'Flowers of Vashnoi' where they have 2 sons and 1 daughter, but I've not read that novella and despite knowing I should I'm hoping someone can just tell me?

It's basically one throwaway line in a story, but if we have canon names I'd prefer to use them and if not does anyone have any feelings about what their names might be? I know that apparently the Vorbarra family doesn't name the sons after the grandfathers, but otherwise I got nothing.

Thanks all!