InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "You put your right foot in!"

Effie (lacemaker) wrote in lechance,
@ 2008-08-27 20:36:00

Entry tags:

effie gallehawk, jonathan ibis

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Effie had lifted the gloves from her pillow the night before, and carefully pressed them between clean handkerchiefs inside her bible. This morning, she packaged them up, wrote the destination address in neat script on the outside of the parcel, and requested the services of one of the chaperones to accompany her to the post office.

It was a fine morning, and a treat to be outside in precious daylight rather than using it to continue work on her next commission, but bobbins could be wound by lamp light and she was hardly overwhelmed with work. Her mind was still on the possible stitches she could use in the panels of the fan when they reached the post office and she stopped abruptly, clutching her parcel securely to her chest and stepping back when she saw someone on their way out. "Oh! Excuse me, please, I didn't...please, after you."

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lacemaker
2008-08-28 07:24 am UTC (link)

Three weeks. She calculated dates in her head, and nodded. "I shall have to be most careful about agreeing delivery dates. Thank you, sir."

And careful about ordering thread well in advance, since a delay of five weeks or more while she ordered and waited for it to arrive could be disastrous. Effie nodded her thanks, and went in, Mr. Fielding close on her heels, rather hoping that the gentleman would follow her. Even if he had just emerged from the building and had likely already concluded his business.

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	jonathan_ibis 2008-08-28 01:52 pm UTC (link)
	Chance was strange because Jon had forgotten to mail a tiny letter in his pocket to Clara, still a friend, even if she couldn't be matched with him. He followed Effie in a few steps behind, sheepishly retrieving the letter from his pocket, "We keep running into each other." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lacemaker 2008-08-28 01:58 pm UTC (link)
	"So we do." Effie smiled, delighted, as she took her place in the queue. "Effield Gallehawk, at your service." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	jonathan_ibis 2008-08-28 02:05 pm UTC (link)
	He offered his hand to shake. "Jon Ibis, at yours, ma'm. ." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lacemaker 2008-08-28 02:20 pm UTC (link)
	Taking his hand, she smiled up at him. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Ibis. Have you been here for very long?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	jonathan_ibis 2008-08-28 02:32 pm UTC (link)
	"Only a few days. Yourself?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lacemaker 2008-08-28 02:35 pm UTC (link)
	"Oh, a wee while, nearly a week now?" Frowning slightly, her brows knit together and her forehead wrinkled. "Aye, a week today." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	jonathan_ibis 2008-08-28 02:37 pm UTC (link)
	He automatically reached out to smooth her forehead, then stopped himself, "Do you like it?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lacemaker 2008-08-28 02:40 pm UTC (link)
	She blinked a little at his hand, then realised that she was still holding his other one in hers and let go, colouring gently. "So far, aye, it seems most pleasant, and the rooms at the hotel are so comfortable. And everyone's so friendly!" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	jonathan_ibis 2008-08-28 02:42 pm UTC (link)
	"We're all new," he said, amused, "We haven't the luxury of old friends to snub newcomers." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lacemaker 2008-08-28 02:46 pm UTC (link)
	"Well, no," she acknowledged. "Though that won't stop some, I spery?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	jonathan_ibis 2008-08-28 02:56 pm UTC (link)
	"Like as not." he said with a sigh. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lacemaker 2008-08-28 02:58 pm UTC (link)
	"But none I've met so far," she said firmly. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	jonathan_ibis 2008-08-28 03:44 pm UTC (link)
	"Well, who could?" he smiled. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lacemaker 2008-08-28 03:50 pm UTC (link)
	Her eyes widened slightly, along with a slightly confused smile and a hint more colour in her cheeks as she registered that had been an honest-to-God compliment. "Thank you kindly, Mr. Ibis, but a great many people, believe me." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	jonathan_ibis 2008-08-28 04:03 pm UTC (link)
	He laughed, ducking his head slightly, "No, you're too sweet, I'm sure." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lacemaker 2008-08-28 04:05 pm UTC (link)
	"And you're far too kind to a stranger." She really had been remarkably sheltered, in some way, and compliments made her, well. Not exactly uncomfortable, but warm and not quite sure how to deal with them. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	jonathan_ibis 2008-08-28 04:35 pm UTC (link)
	"You have my sister's smile," he said warmly. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lacemaker 2008-08-28 04:40 pm UTC (link)
	That was enough to lend real warmth to Effie's smile, and bring her eyes back up to Mr. Ibis' face. "Is it a long while since you saw her?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	jonathan_ibis 2008-08-28 04:53 pm UTC (link)
	"Ten years. Have you any siblings?" he asked, watching her face. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lacemaker 2008-08-28 04:55 pm UTC (link)
	Ten years was almost longer than Effie could conceive of. "Two," she replied softly. "A sister and a brother. Both back...in Scotland." She'd been intending to say at home, but Glasgow wasn't home, no matter how long she'd lived there. Not for anything she understood as a home, from the books she'd read. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	jonathan_ibis 2008-08-28 04:59 pm UTC (link)
	"Do you miss them yet?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lacemaker 2008-08-28 05:04 pm UTC (link)
	"Since I got off the boat at Ellis Island," she admitted. She hadn't had the fare for a flight, even if she'd quite trusted airships to carry her that far. "D'ye miss your sister so much?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	jonathan_ibis 2008-08-28 05:08 pm UTC (link)
	"All the time," he admitted, "But she's in a better place." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lacemaker 2008-08-28 05:09 pm UTC (link)
	Effie blinked, and went quiet, looking up at him through her lashes. Not sure she'd quite caught the euphemism. "I'm...sorry?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)