[MaC] More speculation in the lounge

[Pruehs, Ree M.]

>  Nicola, who was busy scooping the various and sundry items 
> back into the 
> bag, began apologizing: "I'm terribly sorry, Mrs. Fitzroy, it 
> was my idea. I 
> know it's the height of rudeness to go through someone's bag."
> 
> Her husband took a step towards her. "Leave that!" he ordered.
> 
> Nicola turned to look at Marty Fitzroy with a look of utter 
> disdain and 
> contempt. She fastened Esme's handbag and held it out to the 
> woman. "Pay no 
> attention to that wretched man, Mrs. Fitzroy. Here you are, 
> darling, and 
> again, I'm so very sorry."
> 
> Esme seized the bag and clutched it to her.
> 
> Arabella stepped towards them. She had had rather enough of 
> Marty Fitzroy 
> bullying people, especially his wife. No wonder the woman was 
> so nervous. 
> "Really, Mr. Fitzroy," she said, in the voice of the Countess 
> she had been 
> for so many years, "that is hardly the tone to use after your 
> wife has just 
> swooned." Turning to Esme, she said, in a softer tone, "My 
> dear, under the 
> circumstances, it's a wonder more people aren't feeling faint."
> 
> "I'll not be spoken to like that in my own 'ome!" roared 
> Marty Fitzroy, and 
> he took a step towards Arabella, his fist clenching.
> 
> "Is there somewhere else you'd =prefer= to be spoken to in 
> such a manner?" 
> Vangie inquired, her voice frosty.
> 
> "Now Mr. Fitzroy, I'll not have this behaviour in this 
> building." Hodges 
> moved to step between the feisty dowager and the boor. The 
> old man was still 
> spry enough to make trouble for a brutish thug that 
> threatened a lady of 
> quality!
> 
> James couldn't let the elderly man take the brunt of the 
> brutism of Marty.
> 
> "Marty." James said. "Hosting the party or not, there is no 
> reason to be 
> rude. Especially to the fairer gender, and especially given 
> what's happened. 
> Sit down."
> 
> He looked at Marty intently.
> 
> "Have we missed much?" said a voice from the service door. It 
> was Oswald 
> Skeffington-Nottle, with Marion Mauberley by his side.
> 
> Marion was still looking pale and tense, but in command of 
> herself. Her 
> glance, however, went immediately to Anton Barowenski.
> 
> He was still sitting on the sofa, once hand to his head, 
> looking pale and 
> shaken.
> 
> "Nope, a fainting spell and some fuss over Mrs. Fitzroy's handbag, an 
> innocent enough mistake," Michael offered.
> 
> "You taking the lead again, old chap?" he asked with a wry 
> smile. "I think 
> Lucy's already pushed my name to the top of some list."
> 
> Oswald shot him a swift look.  "Miss Mauberley is an old 
> friend too," he 
> said.  "In somewhat less ... ah ... ambiguous circumstances.  
> How is Sandra 
> these days?"
> 
> "Only Mr. Fitzroy behaving boorishly," Arabella said, holding 
> her ground. 
> Although she was quite short, she planted her feet, in their 
> sensible little 
> flats, as if she was not only massive, but capable of taking 
> on all comers.

Vangie, though not a large woman by any means, snorted in agreement and
took a firmer grasp on her clutch purse.
 
> Marty glowered at her, but turned back to the bar.  "I've 'ad 
> a shock," he 
> muttered.  Perhaps he intended that to act as an apology.  "I 
> was very fond 
> of Nola, I was."
> 
> Esme, seated on the sofa, gave a high-pitched giggle and 
> clutched tighter at 
> her bag.
> 
> "Shock," Oswald mouthed at Marion.
> 
> Marjorie casually poured a drink for Fitzroy after James was 
> done with the 
> gin bottle. "Oh relax, Mr. Fitzroy... here." She put the drink on the 
> counter.
> 
> "Then again, the last time I offered someone a drink to cool 
> down they were 
> killed..." She started to giggle at the macabre joke of the situation.
> 
>  "Drink," Oswald mouthed again.
> 
> Aloud he said, "Now, Miss Mauberley and I were planning on asking Mr 
> Barowenski a few questions.  Perhaps ... is there anyone here 
> who speaks 
> Polish?  It might assist Mr Barowenski."
> 
> He glanced around the room.  "And perhaps we need to deal 
> with those people 
> who are quite rightly very upset ... Should we adjourn 
> somewhere else? 
> Several somewhere elses, if necessary."

"I think that would be a very good idea," Vangie said. "May I offer my
flat as one of those somewhere elses? It's only one floor down."