[MaC] At the Fitzroys: More guests arrive

[Brenda McCartney]

--- Jvstin <jvstin at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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.

Cyril nods to James with a smile as he makes a show of escorting
Florence to greet Esme Fitzroy.  When the two ladies start talking,
Cyril excuses himself and heads to the bar.  He asks for a scotch for
himself and "something light" for the missus, then delivers the drink
to her.  He makes polite conversation while scanning the room to see
who has arrived.



		
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