[MaC] More speculation in the lounge

[Margaret Dean]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Pruehs, Ree M." <rpruehs at Itctransco.com>
To: murder_at_christmas at gamera.cc
Subject: RE: [MaC] More speculation in the lounge
Date: Tue, 28 Dec 2004 10:42:01 -0500

> 
> > > >  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, one 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?"
> >
> > Marion gave him a curious look.
> >
> > > > "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.
> >
> > Marion raised an eyebrow, but made no other response.
> >
> > > > 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."
> >
> > "I'm not sure that's such a good idea, Vangie," said Marion, then 
> > added diplomatically, "It might upset Sweetie to have strangers 
> > in the flat."
> 
> "Nonsense," Vangie said. "He likes people."

"He thinks they're delicious," Marion murmured to Oswald, under her breath.


--Margaret Dean
  <margdean56 at operamail.com>

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