[MaC] At the Fitzroys: More guests arrive

[Jvstin]

On Mon, 20 Dec 2004 19:20:40 -0800 (PST), Jonathan Katalenic
<jjkatalenic at yahoo.com> wrote:
> At this point, the host of the party, Marty Fitzroy
> himself entered, with Nicola Diamond on his arm.  They
> were closely followed by Anton Barowenski with
> Marjorie Higgins.
> 
> "More drinks, 'Odges!" ordered Fitzroy.  "What will
> you 'ave, my dear?" he said, turning with an
> oleaginous smile to Nicola.  The sound of the
> doorbell ringing brought a frown to his face.  "You
> get that, Esme," he ordered abruptly.
> 
> "Au contraire," said Anton, with a little bow.  Mrs.
> Fitzroy, if you will permit ... and Miss Higgins, if
> you will excuse me ... "
> 
> Another bow and he was gone down the stairs.
> 
> "Well," said Esme faintly, sinking back in her chair.
> 
> Marty Fitzroy was scowling - clearly his client's
> intervention had not pleased him.  Then he gave a
> short laugh.  "Foreigners!" he said contemptuously,
> before turning again to Nicola.  "Now, Miss Diamond,
> what 's your poison?"  The last was said almost with a
> leer.
> 
> 'It's Douglas, you boorish ass of a man. You'd think
> you'd remember that Diamond is the one you're carrying
> on with and Douglas is the one you WISH to carry on
> with,' Nicola said, but only in her head. Remember,
> her mother had told her, a lady never corrects her
> host unless it is a matter of life or death. She bit
> her tongue and obeyed her mother's sage words.
> 
> "Oh, I never know what to order," she demurred,
> batting her heavily-mascared eyelashes. To Hodges, she
> said politely, "Anything with gin in it will do me
> just fine, Mr. Hodges."
> 
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> 
> When this group arrived, they found Hodges, the flats'
> maintenance man, solemnly mixing drinks for Nicola
> Diamond and Majorie Higgins, the post woman who lived
> on the ground floor, while Marty Fitzroy gazed
> avariciously at Miss Diamond.  Also present was the
> dark young American from Flat 11, Braham Davis and -
> as usual in the background - Mrs Esme Fitzroy.
> 
> Nicola brightened at the sight of new guests and,
> drink in hand, headed over to greet the new arrivals.
> 'Thank God. One more minute with that awful Fitzroy
> and I would have screamed,' she thought.
> 
> "Mr. and Mrs. Skeffington-Nottle!" she said warmly.
> "How delightful to see you. Come, have a drink!"
> 
James smiled at this point, more to himself than anything else.  

"Greetings to you,  Miss Douglas." James said pleasantly, turning the
smile from himself, to her.  He stepped away from the
Skeffington-Nottles and moved into the room, his hazel eyes looking
around at the gathered guests.

{Tag anyone who wants to break the ice first}