[MaC] At the Fitzroys: More guests arrive

[Jvstin]

On Tue, 21 Dec 2004 19:06:46 -0800 (PST), Brenda McCartney
<windeaglebjm at yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
> --- 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.  

James gives a nod in return.  "Good to see you here, Cyril." he says, 
and smiles as he introduces Florence to Esme.

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.