GiulianAndElissaAtTheFashionShowIn the hallway of his suite, Giulian Anderon stood precariously balanced while Peterson eased a drab driving coat over his evening clothes. He'd just come from the main house, where he'd gone to wish Renalda good luck; his younger sister was going to be one of the models for the fashion show. She would be traveling to the Nest in the family carriage, but Giulian would be driving himself. Himself and Elissa. He grinned, irrepressibly, at the thought, and slipped a hand into his breast pocket to make sure the two tickets were there before buttoning up his coat. He wondered what Elissa would be wearing. Giulian himself favored a conservative, well-tailored style, in Anderon colors: jacket of a deep maroon, with a narrow trim in black and silver, white shirt and black trousers. His cufflinks were in the form of tiny silver owls, and a garnet stickpin gleamed in the snowy folds of his cravat -- not the high, intricate neckcloth favored by the previous generation, but a softer, looser style. "Thank you, Peterson," he said as the manservant handed him his crutches, then opened the door for him. His curricle waited outside, groom in attendance. Giulian caught up a white pasteboard box that waited on the hall table, snagging it by the silver ribbon tied around it, before heading out the door. The box occupied the seat beside him as he drove the light carriage out of the gates and onto the street outside. He urged the horses to a smart trot; he didn't wish to be late. Most of the daytime traffic had cleared, so he made good time to the neighborhood known as St. John's Wood, and the townhouse there that Elissa had recently purchased. In the past few days he'd been getting regular updates on her progress with the place -- over coffee at the Uni campus, over dinner once or twice. Now, as he drew up in front of the building, he could see for himself that it looked better already, with the boards off the windows and curtains there instead. The door looked freshly painted, too, or perhaps it had just been scrubbed. Leaving the curricle in Danton's care, Giulian climbed down and went to the front door. He tried the bell-pull first, to see if it was working. Soft chimes rang through the house with a gentle melody that was pleasant to the ears. "Coming..." a soft voice called from inside as the soft clicks of a lock opened up. The door opened slowly and Elissa moved into the doorway. "Giulian... Oh, you look wonderful," she said. She smiled warmly and stepped forward. She wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning ever so lightly against him, as she pressed her lips against his in greeting. Giulian returned her kiss tenderly, then pulled back a little and with a smile requested, "Let me look at you." Laughing, she twirled away from him revealing the rich maroon and cream dress. The waist was high and snug just under her breasts, showing off her upper curves before falling into a long cream lace skirt with a maroon underlying skirt. The top was the same rich cream and lace, with delicate lace and beadwork along the scoop neckline that curved above her breasts. The sleeves fell down to her elbows where they were gathered before a fall of lace circled around her forearms in an open fan while a dart of maroon silk was laced through the upper sleeves. Dark maroon slippers covered her feet. A lacey circlet of pale gold and rich garnet jewels circled her throat and hung from her ears. Chocolate brown hair filled with lighter honey highlights was scooped up high off her neck and curled into a loose twist. She left tendrils to fall down her neck and her face, framing her soft skin and face. She added a single comb covered in the same red jewels and pale gold in her hair to give it a little sparkle. She stopped the twirl back in front of them, her expression soft and a little hesitant that she chose correctly. She wanted to be gently connected to him, but not completely. She glanced over at the gloves and cloak that rested over a nearby chair. "Do I look all right? Should I change into a different color?" "Don't change a hair," he told her, his dark eyes aglow with admiration. "You're perfect, Elissa." She smiled at him, stepping close again to press another light kiss to his lips. "You are perfect too," she whispered against his lips. "Come in. Come in. We have a few moments. Would I need gloves?" she asked, twirling away and moving to the chair to pick up her things. He moved in after her, at her invitation. "Until it's time to eat, drink, or shake hands," he agreed. Giulian himself was wearing heavy driving gloves at the moment, but had his lighter evening gloves tucked into a pocket for when they were needed. "This is the first time I've actually...attended a function that I didn't have to sneak in on my own. I don't want to make a foolish error or mistake... Let alone have my mistake harm you." She looked back at him, the worry still darkening her eyes. "Tonight shouldn't be too difficult," he assured her. "We're just part of the audience, after all. The focus will be on the models, and the presenters. You mainly have to nod and smile when you're introduced, remember people's names and titles, and make pleasant conversation." He grinned. "About the weather, possibly. Avoid religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin." She glanced back at him and smiled. She picked up a small, matching purse and tucked the gloves just inside after checking the other contents. She swirled the cape around her shoulders and clasped the frogs together to close it. "You are making this sound way too easy," she said, stepping closer to him, laying her hands on his forearms, instead of his hands to not upset his balance. "Great Pumpkin?" she said and laughed, with a shake of her head. Giulian laughed too and said, "That's an expression Rosalor uses -- Lady Bahlmis. I assume it's some Old Earth literary reference. She says it means one's own personal hobby-horse or pet cause -- a subject you can't be rational about, that tempts you to rant or proselytize. Not suitable for a social gathering, in other words." "I will do my best, I promise." "I'm sure you'll do magnificently." He leaned forward to place another light kiss on her lips. Then he murmured, "Let's go, before I lose my ... motivation." She kissed him back, leaning closer towards him. "Hmm... Motivation as if we truly must put in an appearance tonight," she murmured. "Well, I must," he said a little ruefully. "If I didn't show up, Renalda would never speak to me again." "Just don't leave me...completely alone. I've never been one for crowds as I often kept to the walls or doorways." "I won't," he promised. "And some of our friends will be there. Renata, Harry--" He paused on the verge of saying Sasha's name, but hesitated. It was quite likely that Harry would be bringing Sasha, but Harry hadn't actually said so. "Romeo's one of the models," he went on, "and I believe Dev's helping out backstage." She stepped back, looking into his eyes. She let out a long breath and nodded. "Let's go." He led the way back out to his curricle and climbed in, then extended a hand to Elissa. The white box with the silver ribbon was still lying on Elissa's seat. She followed him to the curricle and stopped when she saw the box with the ribbon. She shifted the box to the side and settled in the seat. "Giulian? What's this?" He smiled over at her as he gathered up the reins. "Something for you. Open it." Elissa looked over at him and smiled. "Giulian... You didn't have to get me something..." she whispered, flushing a little as she picked up the box. She carefully undid the ribbon and lifted off the top, peering inside. It proved to be a florist's box, and inside in a nest of tissue paper was a corsage of white lilac, tiny white rosebuds, and baby's breath, with a background of ferns. "I wasn't sure what you'd be wearing," commented Giulian, "so I played it safe." "It's beautiful," she said as she carefully lifted it up and looked at how to attach it to her outfit. "Lilacs and rosebuds are my favorites. I also adore lilies." She leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Thank you." She smiled at the beautiful corsage. Her fingers lightly touched the velvety soft petals of the tiny rosebuds. It was her very first corsage. "There should be pins in the box somewhere," Giulian told her. "At least, that's what the florist said." "Oh..." Elissa looked in the box and picked up the two pins. She set the corsage against her dress and poked the pins through the corsage and her dress to hold it in place. "There... I got it." She set the top back on the box and retied the ribbon. She intended to keep the corsage in the box as a reminder and memory of this day. "It looks lovely," said Giulian, again sparing a glance from the horses and the road to lavish on Elissa. "Lovely and sweet, like you," he added in a softer voice. She smiled back, reaching out to place a hand on his closest forearm, not quite daring enough to place it lower. She leaned back against the seat as she watched him. "This is a wonderful night and it barely began... This is the first time anyone has given me one." She leaned back towards him and placed another kiss on his cheek. "You are handsome..." She carefully pulled out a tiny rosebud and fern from the corsage without ruining it and stuck it in his buttonhole. "There... Now we match..." Giulian smiled as if he liked that idea. "This is the first time I've had anyone to give one to," he told Elissa, before returning his attention to the road. Attention was needed, for they were approaching the Nest now and there were quite a number of other carriages headed the same way. Giulian was familiar with the route and maneuvered them easily into the stream of traffic entering the carriageway, perforce slowing the chestnuts to a walk. At the entrance, footmen stood ready to help passengers to alight. Giulian turned to speak to Danton, his groom, riding behind, to tell him when the show was scheduled to end and the curricle would be needed again. As the carriage in front of them drew off, he reined the horses to a halt. A footman hurried over to help Elissa down. Looking around, Elissa turned to the footman and let him help her down from the curricle. She nodded in thanks to him with a smile as she fixed her cloak. "Thank you," she said in a low voice and moved around, patting the noses of the horses. She then waited for Giulian to swing down. Lord Giulian was well enough known at the Nest that the footman did not bobble at being handed Giulian's crutches first. Once down from the carriage, the next obstacle Giulian had to face was the marble steps leading up to the entrance. Going up stairs wasn't nearly as bad as going down, and he'd had a lot of practice, but his progress was still noticeably slower than that of a person with two working legs. Quiet and patient, gray eyes warmly watching his progress, Elissa stayed with him through every step. Not in a hovering or helping position, but that of his companion. She stayed to his pace, not making a big deal of it, but she didn't want to leave his side. Once they were inside the great doors, more servants descended to take their wraps. Giulian carefully transferred his impromptu boutonniere from his driving coat to his evening jacket before allowing the outer garment to be carried away. Then he said to Elissa with a smile, "Well, let's see who's here, shall we?" Unbuttoning her own cloak and passing it off to one of the servants with a smile, Elissa twitched her sleeves back in place, and brushed her fingers against the corsage to make sure it was in place. She turned to him and let her eyes move and dart over the room. She reached out her hand and lightly squeezed his forearm, revealing only a tiny bit of her fear of entering a crowd, not sneaking in. Nodding slowly, she turned and looked back at him, her eyes and face calm as her fingers loosened their grip on his forearm. "I'm ready. Let's go in..." But as they entered, they were forced to blink at the profusion of lanterns that had been arranged to give the etchers busily sketching the arrivals the best possible light. And Giulian at least realised that the likeness of him and his companion were being rapidly captured by half a dozen hands. A young man with floppy black hair, an oddly old-young face and a pressing manner was waving a notebook and a pen almost under their noses. "Lord Giulian! Mr Guppy of Aquila Awake! Do you or your lovely companion have any comments for us?" Giulian favored Mr. Guppy with a smile of disarming and dangerous sweetness and replied, "Just tell Uncle Josh I said hello, Mr. Guppy." Elissa hid a small smile against his shoulder as Giulian brought up the reference to his uncle and helped hide who she was. She decided to just remain 'the lovely companion'. As they moved past the representatives of the Press and into the hall, Giulian murmured, "I apologize for that. I should have realized..." He led the way toward the tables, keeping an eye out for friends and family. He hoped that meeting his parents didn't turn out to be a greater ordeal for Elissa than facing the minions of Aquila Awake! "It is all right, Jules. I can handle the attention as much as I can handle the shadows of life. I'll follow your lead and we'll decide later how to handle things. Will your...family be joining us?" Elissa asked as she also looked around, her fingers gently squeezing his arm. "They should be here already," Giulian responded. "They left Anderon House about the same time I did, and didn't have as far to come. Of course, they'll have gone round to drop off Renalda wherever the models are foregathering." "Will this be all...right? Me here... with you?" she asked, looking at him. "They'll have to get used to the idea sometime," said Giulian. "It never pays to be hole-and-corner with Father anyway. Besides," he smiled at her, "it isn't as if I'm ashamed of you. Quite the contrary. Why should I want to hide you away?" Reaching out, Elissa smiled and grasped his hand with hers. "I'm a citizen, like your mother was. Though my past is...somewhat darker than hers." She looked down at their hands and back up to him. "Thank you for saying that, for meaning it." She lifted her hand up and caressed his cheek, not caring about hiding the caress. And then, through a parting in the crowd, Giulian saw his mother, seated, with Gallfrey sitting beside her, talking quietly to Rosa, who was seated on her other side and wriggling with excitement. Behind them and standing was his father, talking with Lord and Lady Lagoran and Lord Decuma Maun. As yet, none of them had seen him. "Ah, there they are," he said. "The whole tribe at once -- well, except for Renalda. And I don't see Jack, either. Shall we?" He turned and headed toward where his family was gathered. Nibbling on her inner lower lip, Elissa nodded. She followed him towards the place his family were gathered. She slowly straightened out her body and head, not letting her fears get the best of her. She soon reached Giuilan's side, placing just enough room between them for the swing of his crutches. Since his father was engaged in conversation, Giulian decided to greet his mother and the children, first. "Good evening, Mother, here we are. Rosa, Gallfrey, did you save us a place?" Then, turning his head slightly to indicate Elissa, he went on, "Mother, may I present Miss Chatham? Elissa, this is my mother, Lady Anderon, and my sister Rosalor and brother Gallfrey." Seeing mother and son together, it was easy to tell where Giulian got his coloring and dark, expressive eyes. Elissa greeted the family with a smile and respectful nod of her head. "Good evening, Lady Anderon, Lady Rosalor, Lord Gallfrey," she said. "Miss Chatham," said Bea Anderon, with a polite smile, extending her hand towards Elissa. Elissa gently took the lady's hand in a polite, careful grip. "Chatham?" croaked a voice. It was Lord Lagoran, and he looked from Giulian to Elissa with dark, malicious pleasure. "A name one doesn't hear too often in these circles." Delan turned and looked at his son, a long, calm, unsmiling look. Giulian returned it levelly, with just a hint of challenge. "I agree. One often does not hear such a thing. Perhaps it is time to change such things," Elissa said after releasing Lady Anderon's hand. She looked towards the Lord Regent and smiled with a nod and polite curtsey. "My Lord Regent. It is an honor to meet you this evening," she said. "And an unexpected one," said Delan. His tone was mild enough, but Bea looked up at him swiftly, and then at Giulian, her expression troubled. "Decuma, my dear," said Nira, "We should say our hellos to the new Lord Windhaven. I believe he must be the gentleman over there. Will you escort me?" She gave her sweetest smile to her husband, and then to all the others assembled. "If you will excuse us ... Perhaps we shall have an opportunity to speak together later." "I hope so, Aunt Nira," said Giulian. "Decuma," he further acknowledged his cousin. With a graceful rustle of her skirts, Nira moved away on Decuma's arm. "Jules, dear," said Bea, "I'm afraid we were too late to be able to get so many seats together -- those have been reserved. But Rosa found some others too -- closer to the walkway." "Yes," said Rosa. "And I put programmes on them so no-one should take them." She smiled up at her big brother and his friend. "I'll show you..." "No, Rosa," said Delan. "Stay with your mother, my dear. I shall escort Jules and Miss Chatham." Elissa glanced at Giulian and then his father. She heard the rather mild, polite tone, but was not sure exactly what it all meant. "We don't want you getting lost in this crowd, Rosie," Giulian seconded his father with a smile. "Elissa and I will come over at the interval to compare notes, shall we?" He then turned toward Delan, prepared to go along with him to the saved seats. Delan maintained a meditative silence as he showed them where the seats were -- excellents seats; Rosie had chosen well. Then he gave a polite bow. "If you will excuse me." He was moving away, back to the others, before they could respond. Elissa's eyes widened just slightly as she looked at the Lord Regent moving away from them. She looked back at Jules and leaned closer. "All right. What was that all about? You know him better than me," she whispered to him. "This a good thing or bad?" "I'm not sure myself," Giulian said, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "It may be no more than an 'I don't care to discuss this right now'." "That sort of does not sound promising, Jules," she teased as she looked back at his father. "I don't know whether to tremble in my shoes or laugh." She looked around and saw Dean Gallfrey seated at the table with a few more people coming up to her. "Do you wish to sit or mingle?" "Let's sit," said Giulian, with a tiny sigh. "They are good seats, after all, and I wouldn't want to lose them. We can bustle about and meet people at the interval," he suggested. Elissa turned and looked at him. She carefully pulled back his seat, wanting to help him as always, but not as if he was helpless, just as a companion who cared for his comfort. She settled in the chair next to him, reaching out and caressing his lower jaw with her fingers. "Darling, are you feeling all right?" she whispered. "Perhaps...we could leave just after the interval... If you think we could get away with it." "No, I'm fine," he said, sounding surprised. Then he grinned at her and teased, "Why, what would you rather be doing?" She chuckled warmly and tilted her head just slightly. "Oh, I'm sure we can come up with something." She dropped her hand to cover his. She smiled at him and then looked around. "Oh... There's Dean Gallfrey. She's with a tall man and an older lady. I think they're the Bahlmis family, but I am not certain." "What, you don't recognize Talaren when he's all dressed up?" queried Giulian with a chuckle. "And yes, that's Lady Bahlmis." She chuckled and shook her head. "No, I didn't. Your new partner," she teased. "Oh, she is lovely. I have seen her from afar." Giulian nodded thoughtfully. "She is, in her way. I've sometimes wished I could have known Rosalor when she was a young woman, or even had her as a professor. She taught at the Women's College, you know, before she became Head of House. But of course, that happened before I was born." "Who else is here?" "You probably know my aunt Nira, Lady Lagoran, at least by sight," noted Giulian. "That's Lord Lagoran with her, and my cousin Decuma -- Harry's half brother." "I saw her during the... inquisition into who should inherit the title of Duke. She was there that day." Elissa looked at the lady talking to a handsome man and soon joined by a younger couple. She looked at Giulian. "Part of me feels that you are not...too fond of your cousin." Giulian looked a bit wistful. "He and I used to be closer than we are now," he admitted. "Before he went offworld. Then he was away for five years, and since he returned we haven't seen much of each other. But we were good friends once." She glanced back around and saw the face of Lord Lagoran. "He does not like me or my family... Though I do not remember any dealings my family had with him." This time Giulian made a wry mouth. "I don't think Lagoran likes much of anybody. But then, of course, the feeling's mutual..." "Has it been worse since your aunt married him?" she asked in a low tone. "I don't think anything could make Lagoran worse," said Giulian. "Certainly not Aunt Nira. If anything, she's lent him a certain air of respectability," he added with a grimace. "I don't think he liked a citizen being here in the face of nobles. The whole...mixing thing." She glanced back at the lord in question, part of her mind memorizing him in case she ever came across him. "That's probably true," conceded Giulian. "He's proud." "Which can sometimes or most of the time make people arrogant and ruthless over those they perceive as lower than they are." She reached her hand out and rested her fingers on the back of his hand. For some reason, it thrilled her that she was able to touch him freely. She was able to touch someone and they appreciated it, welcomed it. His hand turned under hers to clasp it as he went on to say, "That certainly describes Lagoran. He's a conservative, too, so you're right, he wouldn't tend to look too kindly on nobles fraternizing with citizens." "Which means us. Possibly even Harry and Sasha, if they are not careful. Do you need to be as safe as Harry? Though it appears we will have the answer to that if your father speaks to us." "Possibly ... but no, my situation is quite different from Harry's," said Giulian. "Speaking of whom -- isn't that Harry over there? I thought perhaps Sasha would be with him, but..." His brows drew together as he watched Harry approach Decuma, and abruptly realized who the young woman was talking with his cousin. His grip on Elissa's hand tightened unconsciously as he saw Harry turn away. "Jules... What is it? What do you see?" she asked, placing her other hand on his. She turned to look at what he is looking at. "Trouble," Giulian said succinctly. The direction of his gaze indicated the little tableau of the two Ducal candidates and the one young woman, whom both of them could recognize as Sasha Matisse. She turned to see the same discussion -- or argument -- that he was watching. "Oh no. Should we ask Sasha to sit with us?" "Her or Harry," Giulian half-agreed. Continuing to look in their direction, he tried to catch Harry or Sasha's eye. "It appears they both have their assigned tables. Why would they sit so far apart?" Elissa said, leaning towards Giulian. "I wonder what... your cousin had to say to her. Neither one looks pleased with their sitting arrangements." "I'd hate to think they had a fight, but that's what it looks like," said Giulian. "If they just did it to blindside the Press, I don't know why Harry would have that look on his face." Elissa nodded. "Exactly. First suspicious and then very upset. They were so...close that night we all saw each other." "They seemed that way," Giulian agreed. "They've seemed that way for a while, in fact. And it must be recent, or presumably Harry wouldn't have invited -- I suppose he did invite her? He isn't with anybody else. Though I don't suppose there's any reason they couldn't have come separately." "Could...." She looked at him. "Could he be protecting her from something? Or...someone?" Giulian shrugged. "From gossip, perhaps. I don't know who she would be in danger from." As if finally realizing he was being talked about, Harry slowly swiveled his head and his gaze. Upon seeing Giulian and Elissa, he gave a plaster smile, and a respectful nod of the head. Catching Harry's eye, Giulian tilted his head and raised a brow, a mute invitation to join them. Harold looked pensive for a moment. Quietly, he rose from his chosen table and walked over with mechanical motions, finally taking one of the seats at the table that they selected. "Giulian. Elissa," he said, with small nods of the head. "Harry," Giulian greeted him in return. "Hello, Lord Harold," Elissa said, cautious of their surroundings. "It is so good of you to join us. We did not wish for you to sit alone." Harry nodded quietly. "Will Renata and the rest of your family be turning up?" asked Giulian. "I think most of us are going to turn up. It's a rather singular and important event," Harold said in muted tones. |
