[MaC] Arriving at the Party ... Arabella and Esme

[Mel Mason]

>> Braham could not suppress an amused chuckle. "Strong woman," he said to 
>> Fitzroy jokingly. His eyes never left Marjorie's back as he spoke. After 
>> a moment he realized he was staring and turned back to his host.
>>
>> "By the way, what is the emergency? Nothing too serious I hope."
>
> "Oh, no..." Arabella assured him. "Mrs. Evans and Mrs. Mauberly got stuck 
> in the lift. I'm told it happens occasionally... They don't seem to be 
> injured at all, but I imagine it's inconvenient and, as I said to Mr. 
> Fitzroy, disconcerting." She saw Pamela enter with Philip and smiled. Her 
> daughter looked completely appropriate for the occasion and the time... 
> unlike one or two of the women there. She saw Mrs. Fitzroy, looking 
> nervous, and it occurred to her that Mrs. Fitzroy invariably looked 
> nervous. "If you gentlemen will excuse me," she said with a smile, and 
> crossed over to their hostess. "How kind of you and your husband to 
> entertain us all. It's a great relief to have such an occasion so close to 
> home."

Esme started.  Sitting in her corner, she had been reading a letter that she 
had pulled from her handbag, it seemed.  When Arabella spoke to her, it 
fluttered from her fingers to the floor.

"Oh ... it's all Marty's doing," she said nervously.  "He thought it would 
be a good opportunity to meet ... to meet ... well, all the people here. 
War is bringing us closer together, that's what Marty says."

Esme didn't looked particularly overwhelemed by the proespect.