Who: Ben, open What: Ben is obliged to attend something social When: 20th February Where: One upper-class function is pretty much like another Status: Incomplete, open.
Ben had been in attendance for a couple of hours and, by now, the slight smile on his face was beginning to ache. Still, given that he was supposed to be there willingly, he kept up the facade.
Actually the need to be there was genuine. Ben picked up a refreshed drink and turned back to surveying the crowd. The Military were fairly well represented - and so his "services" were discreetly required anyway. It was somewhat amusing, he thought, that in a society like this one, so much was tolerated and even accepted so long as it was dealt with discreetly. But what Ben was more interested in was the presence of the McCloy family. Mrs. McCloy seemed to have made a beeline for Lt. Col. Something-or-other... Harrison! That was it. Obsequious little shit, had turned up in his best dress bib and tucker only to be pounced on by the aforementioned lady who, seemingly slightly the worse for drink, was haranguing him percussively - no doubt with regards to progress in the search for her son.
This, while amusing, also had Ben on alert. If she was giving him that much hassle then the man would surely be pulling out as many stops as he could to investigate Aidan's whereabouts. There was no discreet way of getting close enough to them, and it was just loud enough that Mrs. McCloy's words couldn't be made out, even if her voice carried. Still, he could try for a slight approach.
McCloy's father was nowhere near his wife. Wise man, Ben thought. He'd disappeared along with three or four others almost an hour previously. Ben didn't know them by name, but he guessed that they were either business colleagues or prospective contacts. Events like this one generally included some form of business meeting or other during the night, and rooms were often set aside for just this purpose.
Aidan's brother was there also. He looked... well, Ben could almost sympathise with him if he was honest. The poor man looked like a fish out of water, acting as a personal waiter to his wife as she chatted and giggled with other women who were clearly her set. He was no more a social animal than Ben, so far as he could see. He looked as though he'd sooner be walking barefoot over hot coals than having to be social with his wife's friends and acquaintances.
Ben himself had been approached by a couple of women who recognised him as a doctor, but he'd had practice enough over the years to extract himself with a few gracious words and a polite smile - plus, he'd put his wedding ring back on just for the occasion. It felt odd on his finger now, since he hadn't worn it for a few months, but he was grateful to have it at times like this.
Nodding to another doctor of his occasional acquaintance, he moved slowly and seemingly aimlessly through the gathered groups of people.