Keira Adams (keiraadams) wrote in shadowlands_ic, @ 2017-09-07 13:12:00 |
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Entry tags: | cassius corbet, gabriel allen, keira adams |
Who: Keira, Cassius and Gabriel
What: Cassius is a cruel man and wants to toss the Mer overboard
When: 27 August, 1888
Where: On the barge
Warning: PG 13
Keira had been pleased when she’d received notice that her baked goods were wanted for a party. It was a huge order to fill, but she worked in her shop during every free time she had, baking. There were tarts of all kinds, pies, breads, little cakes and much more. It had been a little daunting to get everything to the boat where the party was to be held, but she’d managed and had gotten everything in place.
Once on the ship, she’d had three women from the Sisterhood helping her, she set the women off with trays to meander through the guests and offering the food. She, herself, stayed at the buffet like table where her goods were placed and handed them out to guests as they came to her.
Things were going well and being out on the water had her smiling more than usual, her eyes shining. She tilted her face to the sky and closed her eyes in a little prayer of thanks. She felt more grounded here, as if there was nothing to go wrong. When her eyes opened and she tilted her head back down, she caught sight of Gabriel Allen and smiled even more. She had been so busy lately, that she hadn’t seen him since her visit to his home. She could still feel his kisses and the way his hands on her felt. She wondering if she would get a chance to talk to him, though she didn’t make hopes for it. He was a guest and she was, at this moment, an employee of the man who threw this party for his fiance.
A movement to her left had her turning her head and the smile and the shine in her eyes evaporated and fear took its place. Coming towards her, and looking quite unhappy, was the man she’d had an altercation with, the man she’d pickpocketed. The vampire.
“You…” she said and took a step back as he came towards her.
Cassius had been enjoying a pleasant day out on the Thames, surrounded by peers and acquaintances and within sight of his radiant future bride. The drinks had been excellent, the poets had pleased Una, the sun was actually shining on the water, and all had been right with the world.
And then this.
"Mrs Adams," Cassius replied shortly, jaw clenched. "I could ask for an explanation, but the truth is that I don't care. Whatever you are doing on this barge, you will cease it immediately and retire from this company."
He didn't know who'd let her on--if she was a guest of Una's, then he might have to smooth over some feathers, but he would rather beg forgiveness for a misunderstanding than seek permission to evict Mrs Adams from the gathering. Una might suddenly decide to keep her as a pet, and then Cassius would have her underfoot to be tripped over at every turn.
Although he would privately admit that if Una turned her into a dog, she would at least have a lovely red coat.
“What? No…” Keira was shaking her head, her hands rose to chest height and palms out. She continued taking steps back each time he advanced, doing her best to not cause a spectacle. “I’m not doing anything...I mean I am but it’s not what you think,” she sputtered, quickly looking around. “I’m…” she stopped, realizing she didn’t have to answer to him. “No,” she shook her head. “You are quite the bully, sir,” she glared at him, even if her insides were shaking. “And I am not going anywhere!”
Cassius stopped, amazed by Mrs Adams' admission. "You are doing something," he echoed, still flat and unamused. "But not picking pockets this time? Are you stalking me, is that it? You're a member of a league of spectacularly incompetent assassins, perhaps? Or is it some marvelous coincidence that a pickpocket making her living on the street turns up at a gathering of some of the wealthiest and most influential persons in England? I think not. I don't know what your game is here, but it's finished. Leave, if you please; and if you don't please, I shall have you escorted regardless."
“Oh yes, I’m stalking you because you are just soooo exciting,” Keira sighed. “I’m not doing anything illegal here and I did not know you’d be here,” she said. “But I don’t owe you an explanation nor anything else,” she said, her tone telling him she wasn’t about to explain to him anything. “I am not going anywhere, either. What are you going to do? Toss me overboard?” She could swim, of course, so he wouldn’t be getting rid of her that easily. “Just let me be, sir. I’m not causing harm.”
"You didn't know I'd be here," Cassius echoed, disbelieving. "Mrs Adams, do you even know where you are, and what social function you are attending, uninvited? Clearly not. And you'll forgive me if I don't trust your word that no harm is being done here."
He advanced again, not quite within reach of any weapon she might bring to bear, but herding her toward the barge's rail, from whence she could enjoy a swan-dive into the river. "I wouldn't need to toss you overboard," Cassius gritted out. "I can simply call over the constables to have them do it for me. Don't tell me you can't swim back to London perfectly well, little fish, we both know better than that."
Remembering Kessinger standing with his massive arms folded by the rail, Cassius decided in a moment of inspiration, "And if you need encouragement, I'm sure I know someone who can give you a push in the right direction."
Kessinger had offered water features and spectacles, after all. A small, narrowly-focused wave carrying away a flame-haired mermaid sounded like an ideal spectacle to Cassius.
“Why would I know or think you’d be here?” Keira asked with her own disbelief. “You never gave me your name, I don’t know who you are,” she shook her head. “And yes, I do know where I am, what social function this is and who it is for. And yes, I was invited,” she said snidely. More like she was hired, but she wasn't telling him that.
She backed up steps as he advanced, it was like a dance they were having and with each step back the more frightened she became which angered her. His last threat of going overboard was the last straw and she stopped and actually took a step forward.
“This is enough!” She seethed. “I will not be bullied by you or any man ever again,” she said, her brown eyes flashing. “I am sick and tired of men thinking they can just wave their hand around and I’ll obey and do whatever it is they please. You, sir, are just a damn bully and I’ve had enough!” She crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him. “I have done nothing wrong here, nor will I and I will not explain myself to you!” Her body trembled with fright and anger, knowing that he could hurt her in a matter of seconds, but she held her ground. There was little else she could do unless he actually did want to go overboard.
Gabriel had decided it was nearly time to go by Keira’s table for a proper hello and a fruit tart, but what he stumbled across was a rather more tense situation than he’d anticipated -- Keira, her color high, and her body shaking, nearly backed against the rail, staring daggers at Lord Ravensworth of all people, who likewise seemed quite perturbed.
He knew Una far better than Cassius Corbet -- the two circled in similar waters, and were friendly enough, but he knew he had limited social capital with the vampire, and was on slightly uneven ground to begin with due to his history with Cassius’s fiance - something he hadn’t advertised, because he wasn’t an utter idiot, but Cassius wasn’t an idiot either.
He could hardly bear to see Keira in such a position, however, and cleared his throat a little.
“Pardon,” he said, carefully, with a nod of deference to the host of the party. “Lord Ravensworth, whatever seems to be the matter? Mrs Adams, are you quite alright?”
He knew full well what the circumstances were -- Keira’d told him she’d pickpocketed a vampire. Apparently, she had expensive taste, and her worlds were colliding in an unexpected fashion -- something he could certainly sympathize with. He was hoping a bit of an interruption, and the fact that he indicated he knew both parties would diffuse things somewhat.
"Mr Allen," Cassius replied, turning a distinctly unimpressed look from Mrs Allen to her apparent acquaintance. "Is this person a...guest...of yours?"
He knew that incubi often ran in a variety of circles, but street-urchin and petty thief was below what he'd expected of Gabriel Allen. Someone of Mrs Adams' station was often run off by the constables anytime she might try to linger in a better neighborhood. At least now he had confirmation of her name--or at least that the name she'd given him was one she also gave to others.
Oh God! Now Gabriel was there and her embarrassment went up. If possible, her face reddened even more. “Mr. Allen,” she greeted him with a small nod of her head. “I am...no,” she shook her head, being truthful. She was always honest with Gabriel, especially after revealing all of her secrets to him and he to her. “I am not alright. This...gentleman,” she waved her hand at the vampire. “Wants to toss me off board,” she explained. “All I am trying to do is cater my baked goods, which is what I was hired to do, and he thinks that one wronged situation makes him my judge and jury and am apparently not welcomed.”
Gabriel caught her eye briefly before turning to Cassius. “Mrs Adams owns a tea shop -- Hidden Treasures,” he said. “I’ve known her for a year now. She makes an uncommonly good cuppa, and rather lovely cakes as well, which I’m sure your guests have been enjoying. Lord Ravensworth, I do hope any disagreement you’ve had previous won’t color an otherwise lovely evening.”
It was at times like this that Chiara’s edicts were more than a little inconvenient. Were she more open among these particular circles, it would’ve taken a wink and a nod to dispel things, but she had her reasons, and he didn’t want to cross her on that count.
Cassius didn't like to take his eyes off Mrs Adams, but after a moment he tore his gaze away to address Allen. "I would never doubt your word, so I shall have to treat this as a case of mistaken identity. I mistook this woman for a street thief who stole my belongings, refused to return them when asked, attacked me with a parasol, and threatened to stake me through the heart over a pocketwatch."
Cassius turned a cold expression back to Mrs Adams. "Perhaps the fault is mine, for not calling the constables and having her arrested. She must be plaguing my mind still. Since you are clearly not she, I will leave you to your tea cakes. I hope you will not offer them to the Baroness; she has a delicate stomach." And if Cassius saw Mrs Adams approach Una, he would not be so lenient as he had been. He did not have to be judge and jury to declare her unwelcome at his own party.
"Good evening. Mr Allen," Cassius added, with a short nod of acknowledgement, and left them by the rail.
Keira frowned as the temper of the vampire was turned down a notch. He was walking away, mistaken identity she did not believe and they both knew it. When he said she’d threatened to stake him, she opened her mouth to protest and then closed it. She had pointed it at his heart, she believed, but that had not been her intent. What was his game here, she wondered. Would he come back for her later when Gabriel was not near. He may have walked away, but she feared him more now than she had before.
She turned to Gabriel and looked up at him, confusion written across her face. “He’s not mistaken about who I am. We all know that. He was the man I told you about, who left the bruise that was my fault rather than his,” she said with a shake of her head. “Who is he?” Both of her hands rested on her stomach as the nerves of what had happened swirled about. She was still shaky but at least she knew she wasn’t in danger at that particular moment.
“He’s saving face,” Gabriel replied, his voice low. “That’s Lord Ravensworth, the man whose engagement party you’re catering.”
He paused, and looked over at Keira. “He meant what he said -- I’d steer clear of his fiancee, the Baroness -- blonde curls, tartan split skirts. You… you attempted to stake him?” He said, his voice dropping even lower.
He knew there’d be a cost to stepping between them and diffusing the situation -- Cassius Corbet valued his pride -- but at least it’d give Keira some time to talk to Chiara, and perhaps bow out of this a touch more gracefully.
“...I’d recommend providing your services gratis for the evening,” he added, “...along with a rather nice note of apology for the ‘mistaken identity’ causing a pall on the occasion. And Chiara should hear of it, too.”
The moment Cassius’ name left Gabriel’s lips, Keira’s face went from being red to losing all color and going a ghostly white. “Oh my….” the words were a mere whisper as she leaned back against the railing they were standing at, suddenly feeling very ill. “Oh my god, Gabriel,” she murmured, her eyes staring off where Cassius had gone. “He was Lord Ravensworth? I’ve just….not once but twice! I didn’t try to stake him, that hadn’t been my intention, but yes I held my parasol at his chest.” She felt like crying, but that wasn’t going to happen right now. Instead she nodded dumbly to what Gabriel was saying. “I didn’t know...God I didn’t know!” She shook her head. “I’ll do all of that.” Then she looked up at Gabriel and realized he’d come unknowingly into a mess. “I’m so sorry Gabriel,” she said quietly. “You shouldn’t have stepped in and I would have dealt with whatever came,” she wasn’t worth the mess of being her acquaintance or friend. “Is there a way off this ship without going for a swim?”
Gabriel wanted very badly to comfort her, but he couldn’t linger -- and seeming overly familiar might make for a larger mess for them both to wade through later. “Dearest,” he said, quietly, “it’ll be alright. For now, keep to your post, and try your best to pretend as if everything’s normal, and once the ferry boat comes back from its trip to shore, I’d get on it and make sure he notices you leaving. Don’t admit to anything, but be profusely apologetic all the same, try your best to avoid any further encounters -- and let Chiara take the next steps. The Sisters will protect their own. She’ll smooth it over.”
He looked over at her, his eyes flashing concern. “Deep breath in, slow breath out, my darling Mrs Adams, and chin up. We’ll talk later, yes?”
Keira took a breath in and let it out slowly. She needed to recompose herself. She may not be high class like others, but she did know how to act like a lady. She also knew that Gabriel needed to go and mingle and not cause eyes to focus on him talking so long to her.
“Go,” she nodded her head. “I’ll be fine. Thank you for coming over,” she looked at him and started to move towards the tables her cakes sat on. She would talk to Chiara and would write a note and when the ferry came she would leave. “We will definitely talk later,” she smiled at him.