Mayflower's Entrance
It can be a great mystery how some are allowed the luxury of flaunting the rules while others are held to a frigid standard. But it is a universal law
that if people like you, you will receive grace for all your quirks and shortcomings. Societal laws are meant to be broken when they are inconvenient because the forebearers of such laws are dead and their descendants don't understand why it's essential to their existence. They follow the tradition because it was how their father raised them to behave. And so, they can be waved when they get in the way of your friends or inhibit the potential of a prospering society. Being liked or beautiful, or more importantly if someone thinks you are liked and are beautiful, you can get away with more mischief. (If you don't believe me, just considering children. If they were not so cute a lot more of them would end up in rivers before the pharaohs could have gotten involved.)
that if people like you, you will receive grace for all your quirks and shortcomings. Societal laws are meant to be broken when they are inconvenient because the forebearers of such laws are dead and their descendants don't understand why it's essential to their existence. They follow the tradition because it was how their father raised them to behave. And so, they can be waved when they get in the way of your friends or inhibit the potential of a prospering society. Being liked or beautiful, or more importantly if someone thinks you are liked and are beautiful, you can get away with more mischief. (If you don't believe me, just considering children. If they were not so cute a lot more of them would end up in rivers before the pharaohs could have gotten involved.)
It is why many who saw Mayflower brazenly enter, take a drink and mingle with all the confidence of a celebrated peer, they afforded him a certain amount of grace. They reasoned that such a man surely had to be someone of importance if he could shirk the pleasure of appearing before the royal family. As he watched the dancers, he approached one of woman who had made such a spectacular display before the royals. Surely, he must have good taste as well.
Yuko also made an interesting acquaintance with the young Remallia Ulbrinter. The girl bore a striking resemblance to the portrait of her ancient matron, which now hangs in the study. She had the platinum-straw colored hair, bronze skin and evergreen eyes. She was currently employed in the studies of magic, piano and flute, and had just debuted as the heir of Ulbrinter House. She was conversational, curious and pleasant. Yuko was notably careful in her dispensation of information regarding her people, a point Lindion would have been proud of if she had been close enough to eavesdrop.
As Lindion went to dance with Arthur, she noticed that she had no dance card. This was very improper and awkward for a woman to not have such a useful utility for meeting fine gentlemen. She went and informed the closest servant, who returned with the Majordomo who quickly remedied the problem. Lindion was delighted I'm sure of the clear, crisp family crest on the book. She handed it to Arthur who, with some confusion, handed it back. The book was full. Written in the margins in a clear hand was the name of Duke Inglemeijer. Pushing down the voices and various thoughts of her own, she danced with Arthur, asking him questions about the other families her and gleaning whatever knowledge she lacked. Near the end of their dance, she asked Arthur why she was invited as his guest. She knew why, but women often ask questions to things they already know the answer. She passed this curiosity off as her being ignorant of Mary and would not have accepted if she had known the girl was already selected to come. Arthur replied that Mary was upset for other reasons. Lindion pushed to know why she had been invited, and Arthur passed it off as part of their arrangement to help Lindion climb the social ladder. Lindion thought this not completely truthful, event carefully confront Arthur about the changes in his demeanor, often indications of one trying to hide something. Arthur flatly refused to answer at this point. Lindion could tell he was not offended but had nothing more to say.
The first part of our evening wound down to a close, as Lindion performed aura readings on certain members of the aristocracy as she exchanged pleasantries, Telmage and Yuko spun around the dance floor in a wonderful display of footwork and style, and Mayflower mingled with everyone, intentional to gauge the political mood, mention his name several times and leave a most charming impression upon them.
Thomas' Reckoning
Roald asked Thomas how the meeting had gone with Jacqueline Parsons, the former leader of the Spring-Heeled Jacks. Thomas replied that he had been busy that day and unable to meet with her. A more observant person might have noticed the small ways in which Roald received this news. Thomas realizes that something must be up, and soon realizes the worst has come to pass. Roald pulls out an oily cloth with something bulky concealed inside. Sliding it across the top of the table, part of it falls open revealing an electric pistol with something dark red splashed across its surface. Thomas recognized it as the one belonging to Jackie Parsons. Roald informed Thomas that Jackie had been brutally murdered.
I will admit some surprise at Thomas' reaction. Most men would have realized their mistake and found some way of rectifying it. But Thomas did not fully understand the situation. Perhaps his recent elevation into the life he had always aspired had caused him to grow bolder. Thomas deferred, claiming the path of excuse and assertiveness. He stated that given recent events it would be best for them to merely part ways. Roald is a cold bugger. I couldn't decide if he wanted to throw a knife at Thomas or boil him alive. I'm exaggerating. He already had cooked his goose. Roald relented and granted Thomas' desire. Instead, he gave him two final tasks to perform. The first task was for Thomas to go to the Parsons residence and inform Benjamin Parsons (Mrs Parsons husband) of his wife's activities, gain his cooperation in exchange for their silence about her sordid affairs, and claim all her inventions used by the Spring-Heeled Jacks from the workshop in the back of the house. The second task caused Thomas to choke a little, for he was to pay back all his markers by the end of the week in the form of the tidy sum of £500. Roald then slid the platter of food into the oven, removed the apron, donned a rather sporting coat and left. As he passed by Thomas he said, "You should try the main dish. Its Pigeon." I don't know if Thomas caught onto the significance of this statement, but I fear it was a bad omen.
As Thomas left, he bumped into Lady Vyse in the company of the man named Lamb. Thomas made some excuse and left them to continue their rather stirring conversation regarding perspectives on marriage and the making of home. They eventually followed Thomas to the ballroom again and joined in another dance. Thomas reached Mayflower as he was engaging Gareth Zulpair on the topic of the monarchy. Thomas politely waited until he could pull Mayflower away and they two began talking.
Dancing with a Duke
Yuko and Lindion both noticed Duke Inglemeijer as he appeared among the guests. I don't need to tell you which one would have very much enjoyed a dance with the Duke. She politely greeted him, bantered away whatever crude remarks he made and offered him her dance card. He accepted but filled in a later time to join her on the dance floor.
Lindion stood resolute against all her inclinations to flee and hide. She accepted his invitation to dance and was surprised by the agility of the dwarf. As they moved in a synchronized fashion, the Duke poked at her wardrobe, wheedled at her sense of self-worth and prodding her eccentricities. He even made reference to her injuries, though he did not indicate how he knew. Lindion eventually warned the Duke that this treatment was unnecessary and if he wanted something, he should just say it plainly. The Duke told her that he wanted to test her limits and push her. If she aspired to hold positions higher in society, she would need to know how to navigate them. Her attackers would not reveal themselves, preferring to stab her in the back. The dance came to a close and the Duke excused himself, telling her that if she wanted to know more, she could find him in the smoking room.
Lindion retreated into the nearest sideroom to collect herself. It just so happened to be a small lounge, comfortably furnished with leather chairs, couches and a large fireplace. These small rooms were usually reserved for the gentlemen to smoke after they had had their fill of dancing, to conduct business or just escape the noise. It goes without saying a few younger couples snuck away to enjoy a few moments together as well. It was not long before the door opened and Lindion flung a pillow at whoever was entering. It just so happened to be the Duke. "I hope you've fully recovered yourself" he said as he lit his pipe and sat down. Lindion was bursting with questions, but she really only needed to know one; why her? The Duke informed her that her very presence at this party was by his hand. The city was in need of change, and the people who could change it were not more vain, petty nobles. Newhaven needed authentic people who would actually alter the fate of the city for good. But the Duke saw flaws in Lindion, things people would use and manipulate. He would support Lindion to the Council if she would trust him and do all that he instructed. Lindion, to her credit, saw the form of help as a string that someone could manipulate later. She declined the help of the Duke for, rise or fall, she would do so on her own terms. I should comment that this would not deter the Duke. There were larger things at play and the Duke was stubborn when he set his mind on a course of action.
Excusing herself, Lindion stood and turned to leave. She had reached the middle of the room, glancing at the sofa and the glass display case set against the wall, when a heavy groan reached her ears. It had come from somewhere behind the sofa. She went to investigate and found the distasteful and disheveled form of Telmage, waking from some stupor. It might have had something to do with the knot on the back of his head. He stood, exclaiming something in a less civilized tongue. At this moment, the display case behind Lindion exploded into a billion tiny shards of glass, peppering the occupants of the room.
It was rare that Lindion experienced the overwhelming presence of any of the voices in her head. But Tryloxal assumed control as there was a deep sense of danger. Suffice it to say, he was "running" the show from here on out. A mere microsecond before the case exploded, she leapt across the back of the couch, tackled Telmage and dropped behind to safety of the furniture. I will note the expression on Telmage's face as he stared up at this women pressed against him behind, while they lay on the floor behind the furniture. Not many men find themselves in these positions, but if it was going to happen, it would happen to people who are not intentionally trying to end up locked in a broom closet with a handsome man or straddling a man awkwardly while nearly dying from mysterious circumstances. Fortunately for Lindion, she wouldn't remember this. Lindion fled the smoking room as Duke Inglemeijer came huffing forward. She might have noticed what he said in dwarvish, but Tryloxal was in charge now.
A Gift
My favorite part of the evening was upon us now. It was customary at this point in the evening for the hosts to bestow a gift on their guests. One year they gifted a pin which people wore for months afterwards. One particular season brought a bounty of delicious fruit from far lands, a magical display of pyrotechnics as the guests drove home. But this year, what was supposed to be a hand painted crest, family sigil, or monogram in a highly detailed and delicate painting, was hijacked by what would be known as one of the greatest pranks at any Bridgerton Party. One person cried out suddenly, holding aloft a jewel. Many others followed suit, holding matching diamonds which flashed vibrantly in the light. Of the dozen or so guests, Lindion, Lady Vyse, Mayflower and Thomas all found these jewels hidden on their person. I will note that Mayflower and Thomas' were a bit different. Mayflower found a note with the script "The good you do in the dark is still worth doing" scrawled across it. Our Thomas noted that his gem was significantly bigger than the rest. He might have also known, if precious gems were his forte, that this particular stone could have funded his experiments for many years.
Yuko noticed she was one of the few who had not received one of the gems. A point she made to Telmage who was standing next to her. You are likely confused right now because I just said that Telmage was in a smoking room recovering from a blow to the back of the head. These two facts are both true. For Telmage was in the smoking room and was in the ballroom standing next to Yuko. There are two possible solutions; one of the Telmage's was a cunning illusion while the other was a true form, this was some kind of witchcraft, or Telmage had a twin who was collectively romancing the young Yuko while they swapped places with each other in order to further a secret agenda and profit from a long illusion in which to confound a rival illusionist who was attempting to prove that he was better at the craft and would thus create a lifelong struggle which would test the sanity of both sides in the grand game of wizardry. Of course, this last one makes for good stories, but would be very complicated and require at least 3 feature length moving pictures to thoroughly explore this complex trope to a satisfactory conclusion.
In reality, Telmage had been supplanted by a sinister force, masquerading as Yuko's close friend in order to get close to her. As Yuko watched with growing excitement the fake Telmage told Yuko that he would give her something from the Royal family. Gripping her neck and with a flick of his wrist, a blade flashed in his hand as he drove the blade down into her neck.
I waited among the breathless guests, as they waited to see who would be leaving this party as my party gift.
