[MaC] Even more guests arrive

[Brenda McCartney]

--- Mel Mason <goldfired at oxmust.co.uk> wrote:

> James walked away from the mirror and to the door.  Opening it, he
> looked to each side of the apartment, as was always his wont. 
> Looking
> in the direction of the lift, he smiled and gave a nod to Oswald and
> Lucinda as he approached.
> 
> "Mrs and Mrs Skeffington-Nottle, a pleasure to see you this evening."
> he
> said as he reached them.
> 
> "Shall we, take the lift together?" he offered, his voice just above
> the
> clanking of the rising lift.
> 
> 
> "Let's," agreed Lucinda with her friendly smile.  "Isn't it kind of
> the 
> Fitzroys to ask everyone to a party?  Just the thing we need to cheer
> us up 
> ... it does seem horried to have Christmas in the middle of a war!"
> 
> "Lou's missing our youngsters," added Oswald.  "They're down in
> Hampshire 
> with her folks."
> 
> He slid the iron grille door across and pressed the button for the
> fifth 
> floor.  "We should have some decent drink tonight too," he added. 
> "Theatrical types, you know.  Although I must say old Fotzroy has
> never 
> struck me as a particularly sensitive soul.  Still, can't be all bad
> if he's 
> having us all round for drinks."
> 
> The lift slowly began to ascend ...
> 
> 
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> 
> 
> > Even though he was running late, Cyril savored the feeling of
> dressing
> > formally once again.  There was a time when it was commonplace. 
> Back
> > when times were good.  The Depression and then the war had made it
> > tough to run a business.  Parker & Beaman, Ltd. had managed to hold
> on
> > so far, but only just.  It wasn't just the war that caused the lack
> of
> > help, though Florence didn't know that.  Cyril had had to sack all
> but
> > a skeleton crew to save money.  Nowadays, he was getting his hands
> > dirtier than he had since his Navy days in the Great War.
> >
> > When he was finally ready, Cyril grandly offered his arm to
> Florence
> > and they breezed off to the Fitzroy party - which was right next
> door.
> > Florence rang the bell.
> >
> 
> There was a pause, and then the door was opened by their neighbour,
> Anton 
> Barowenski.  He bowed slightly.
> 
> "Our host is otherwise engaged," he said with a slight smile.  "I am 
> performing the duties of footman.  In wartime we must all take what
> we can 
> get, it seems ...  "

"That it does, Anton.  That it does," Cyril answers heartily.  "Good to
see you instead of just hearing you for a change.  Florence loves to
listen to you rehearse."
> 
> He paused as the clanking sounds from the lift indicated that it was
> getting 
> closer.  Presently it emerged into view, and even before the iron
> grille 
> slid open they could all see that it contained James Drake and the 
> Skeffington-Nottles.
> 
> "Allow me to escort you upstairs," said Anton Barowenski with a
> little bow, 
> even as the lift began to clank its way down to pick up the next
> group of 
> guests.
> 
> "Thanks," said Oswald.  "I'm looking forward to this!  Will you be
> playing, 
> Mr Barowenski?"
> 
> The Polish concert pianist bowed slightly.  "I have been requested
> to," he 
> responded, and there was no mistaking the faint irony in his tone on
> the 
> word 'request' - the implication being that it had been more of a
> command 
> than a request.
> 
> He indicated the stairs to the upper floor.  "The party is in the
> lounge," 
> he said.  "I shall await the remaining guests."  He smiled faintly. 
> "If one 
> of you gentlemen has a cigarette to spare?  I seem to be quite out
> ... "
> 
> 
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> 
> 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.
> 
> 
> 
> 
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