Thursday 27 Apr
Lady C is apparently missing.
Tattvick came into the shop to say that she was looking for Lady C
because Princess Gabbriella and her mother and friend were in the
drawing room on a call. Wilamina went in to change so she could
play hostess. Well, I say "went in". It was really more
like climb the drainspout to her room. I went through doors to
get there. She needed some help getting changed. Tattvick
and Patsy usually help, but I stepped in since Tattvick was still
looking for Lady C.
When we arrived at the drawing room, the duchess was looking through a
cupboard trying to find more wine. Hmm. My fan doesn't say
what to do with nobility looking for wine in odd places. Luckily,
before I could get too flustered, Graves showed up with a trolly
(including a chilled bottle of wine in addition to the usual tea
items). Graves is such a lifesaver!
There was some odd sniping between the various people. But it
was, luckily, a fairly short call. I didn't have to do much
beyond smile and nod.
Just as we were heading back to the shop, Monsure Berry arrived with a
message for Lord C. Since we were already dressed for it (and the
Monsure is on the approved list for Wilamina to recieve), we went back
to the drawing room. Wilamina wanted to give him a hug.
Hmpf. It turns out that in addition to the message, he had a gift
for Wilamina (from Admiral LeCock). Actually, it was delivered to Lord
C (to be more appropriate). Seeing as how it was another swivel
cannon, Lord C gave it to her.
The last appointment was Miss Pinker who had arrived to meet with Lady
C to make decisions about the ball on Sat. She was a little put
out that Lady C forgot about the appointment.
Shortly after tea, Lady C and the clockwork carriage showed up with a
mountain of shopping. She showed up in the lab and planted a big
kiss on Lord C's face then asked about the detectors. She never
did answer where she had been. Then Lord Greyminster showed
up. Since they were behind by now, he and Miss Pinker took Lord
and Lady C off to make decisions about the ball on Sat.
Tonight's Wilamina enteratinment was a reception. No dancing this
time.
Friday
Today's event was a tea party. Blessedly uneventful.
Saturday
It's ball day. Wilamina was trying to get me to dress up more
than the governess look I was asked to wear. It didn't help that
Henry brought home jewelry that doesn't match anything I own.
After breakfast, Wilamina showed off a new fan that Mr. Voach
sent. As Lady C was admiring it, Wilamina noted that the silk had
an edge on it. Lady C proceeded to accidentally cut through the
side of a book case. A 1" thick book case. George
immediately caught the book case.
Fan. Envy.
Anyway, right after the fan incident, Lady C said that Wilamina was
wanted in Lord Cs study. I was asked to join them. Lord C
gave Wilamina some jewelry gifts as well as a zacharias-shultz pendent
watch. They are using tonight as her official coming out.
And then, to my utter surprise, they gave me a gift. I got a
dozen hair stick knives―6 in the shiny gray and 6 in the matte
gray. If I was into that sort of thing, I'd wear all of them
tonight! I may keep a couple extra pairs in one of my pockets...
Lady C also got a fancy tiara that matches the necklace that Lord G
gave her. It was very pretty.
There is a little part of me that does want to dress up and dance with
my husband and revel in the fact that I went and turned posh. Not
only do I not need to worry about where my next meal is coming from, I
get to choose the meals each day. Additionally, I can have
drinking chocolate any time that I desire it. And I can provide
meals for others should I desire. And employment! I even
get a monthly allowance that is alllllll mine! (and Agatha seems
certain to make sure I get it!). But I also have a duty to my
employer and the people who made all this possible. And I also
don't want the attention that dancing at the ball would likely
bring. So I'll go as a governess. In the shiny gray dress
with matching hairsticks.
later
Wow. All those posters and flyers about Mr. McDaniels and a
reward? All Wilamina's idea. Sir Simon is angry because
it's causing much more work for them and is distracting the police from
looking for the autonite. Aiee.
Later
it is very late. The ball was quite the success. Lord C was
going to start off the dancing with Wilamina, but Lord Grayminster cut
in and took the first dance. He's looking a little more frail
than Christmas, but I'm glad he joined the dancing.
Wilamina had several friends whom she talked books with between
dances. The most common had something to do with a german book
about migrating somethings. I was happy when they started talking
about it in German.
Mrs. Gregson came over to talk to me while Tobias was dancing with
Wilamina.
Then Henry brought over a couple of old friends. Or at least the
one he introduced Vladamir seems to be an old friend. When they
asked to be introduced to Wilamina, I consulted the fan and suggested
that Henry should introduce them to Lord C and let him do the
introductions.
Tobias came over to ask if anyone needed something to drink. He
was so kind and attentive! Then Mrs. Gregson started railing on
Tobias about not dancing and meeting girls and then his job. I
was trying to figure out the best way to try and diffuse the situation
(the fan, unfortunately, did not go into nearly enough detail).
Mrs. Frazer commented that she didn't have anyone to dance with and
Tobias immediately offered to dance with Mrs. Frazer.
Suddenly, the room got very chilly. I know it wasn't just me
since Agatha commented on it as well. Mrs. Frazer started heading
over to where Lord and Lady C were with Henry and his friends.
Soon it seemed like all of our party was heading that way. Since
Wilamina started heading that way after the dance ended, I also started
going that way. Luckily, Vladamir and Mrs. Frost must have
decided to leave because they were gone when we got there.
As we were heading back to the dance floor, there was an announcement
that the next song would be a Carpanian waltz to honor the
princess. Mrs. Frazer told me to go dance with Henry. It
was a lovely dance!
Then we heard Agatha arguing with Tobias. Again. I
suggested to Henry that he should go ask his sister to dance so we
could introduce Tobias to one of Wilamina's book club. But then
Tobias said, loudly, that if she wanted him to propose to someone, he
would. And then stomped off. I'm not sure exactly what
happened because I suddenly had wilamina tunnel vision. I'm assuming
that since I didn't hear anything else, that the situation was
difused. Henry and Tobias dissappeared. I think I heard
that they went to the card room. Mrs. Gregson wasn't best pleased, but
she seemed to at least stop muttering.
And wilamina danced.
Sunday
Dawn comes awfully early when
you've been out late. And a habit is difficult to break.
And the babies wanted feeding.
Since I was up anyway, I went out the shop with Wilamina when she went
out. She handed me a cup of tea as a restorative.
Proceed to People
shooting guns
This page copyright 2011 by Jeri Lynn Cornish. All Rights Reserved.