[MaC] At the Fitzroys: Hodges and Braham

[Tara Kunkel]

>"Of course, Mrs. Fitzroy.  I'd be happy to fix you a drink if you wish, 
>settle your stomach before the guests arrive..."  Hodges offered 
>cheerfully, taking her hand lightly in his own in greeting.  Just then, 
>another gentleman entered the parlor.  His thoughts about her bloated toad 
>of a husband he kept to himself.
>
>"A pink gin," agreed Esme.  "That's what I'll have - a pink gin."
>
>***
>
>"Good evening, Mr ... ?"
>
>"Davis. Braham Davis," he said quickly. "And you must be Mrs. Fitzroy." He 
>took her hand gently and gave a slight bow. "Thank you for the invitation. 
>It is a pleasure to finally meet you." From his accent he was most 
>certainly American; a handsome, young, charismatic American. How he had 
>been managing to blend into the shadows was a bit of a mystery.
>
>Esme smailed at him vaguely.  "So lovely to see you," she said in a voice 
>devoid of emotion.
>
>"Mr. Davis, would you care for a cocktail?"  Hodges had assumed a position 
>behind the long table as Mr. Davis introduced himself to the hostess.

Braham turned his full attention to Hodges, "Ah, yes. That would be 
wonderful." He ponder the choices for a moment,  "Something simple I think. 
Perhaps a gin and tonic?" A bit of alcohol to take the edge off of any raw 
emotions would certainly help to make this evening go smoother.

He waited patiently for the drinks to be made. Once it was in hand, he 
resisted to urge to down the entire thing in one gulp. Certainly that would 
not help him remember the details of the evening later on. As much as he 
wanted to dull the pain, he needed to stay sharp. So he took a careful sip. 
"Excellent," he proclaimed for both Hodge's and Esme's sake. "Thank you."