Lechance

The mixer was very well chaperoned, hosted at the hotel by Ms. Sheedy. There was a piano player for music, a buffet against one wall. There were tables for eating and talking, and a space set aside for dancing. Under Ms. Sheedy's beady eye.

Some of the Beloveds at the hotel had arrived early to help set up the room so even by the time it officially 'opened' at 6 pm there was a bit of a crowd of unmarried people.

Simon was on the front porch of the apothecary again, this time with a book open on one knee and a notepad in the other, writing notes now and then as he turned pages. He was still puzzling over whether or not he thought they'd come up with the best sorts of bait for...whatever sort of menace was composed of gears and metal joints.

"Do you suppose," he asked when a shadow fell over the page, "that a mechanical creature eats the way any other does?"

Hattie had spent the last two days baking, cleaning the house from top to bottom and decorating it with flowers. She'd brought most of the chairs in the house into the drawing room, set in little groups so people could talk comfortably, each with a little table to put their tea and cakes on. On a bigger table, there was a huge urn of tea and cakes and breads of every imaginable sort. Hattie had had the time of her life baking them!

The fun she'd had preparing could only be exceeded by the joy that filled her as she gazed about at the people filling her drawing room.

Santiago had acquired a new suit since the last time he'd called on Mr. Belgrave. New suit, new shoes. The chaperone, however, was the same. He sent his card up to let the other man know he'd arrived and kept his hands behind his back as he waited. He'd found something he hoped the other man would appreciate.

The main gathering hall had been decorated with swags of greens and candles, lending a soft, romantic glow to the space. Tables were scattered throughout the hall and along one side there was an elborate buffett spread. Musicians had set up unobstrusively next to the large space left open for dancing.

In one corner there was a large evergreen tree decorated with more candles, preserved flowers and fruits, strings of cranberries, small paper doilies, and ribbons and tied to tree branches. But the center of attraction was the yule log burning in the huge fireplace at the end of the hall.

Before the festivities began, Leroy made a short speech thanking the residents of LeChance for the hard work over many months, congratulating the newly married and affianced, wishing everyone happy holidays and set the party in motion.

Simon found himself very pre-occupied, still, by the news of the passengers on the train. One would think he'd move on, but it haunted him. He didn't quite understand why no one had returned, but he feared the worst. He simply shouldn't let himself dwell on it.

But dwell he did, so the person at the counter had to clear their throat to get his attention. Bad manners indeed. "I'm terribly sorry," Simon offered with a sheepish smile. "What can I do for you?"

After lunch on Sunday, Paul checked his appearance, put on his coat and hat, folded gloves into his pocket, and pried Harry away from his wife to act as chaperon again. He had decidedly mixed feelings about making a courting call upon Mr. Belgrave when his mind ran so upon James, but he'd intended to make an appointment to meet the apothecary anyhow, and therefore he had agreed with Mr. Belgrave that they would meet for an afternoon walk to the beach.

At three o' clock precisely (now having a better idea of how long it took to reach the Beloveds' hotel), he arrived in the lobby, sent his card up to Mr. Belgrave, and waited, wondering if he might catch a glimpse of James there, wondering if he truly wanted to when he was there to pay a courting call upon another man.

( Letters to Ascendants )

( Beloved )

Over a week since she'd heard the sound, and Effie still wasn't sleeping soundly. Oh, twas improving, that was for sure, but with her wedding approaching, her mind was full, and her concentration poor. And she was not wishing to be married looking like a ghost.

It was time to do something about it.

Tucking a shawl around her shoulders against the light breeze that autumn had introduced to Lechance, and requesting the accompaniment of one of the hotel's chaperones, Effie made her way to the apothecary's shop. A bell chimed as she pushed the door open, moving into the quiet, orderly interior, and she stepped up to the counter, looking for the proprietor. "Good morning?"

Santiago sighed as he pulled his coat straight. He really needed to visit the tailor soon; his best clothes were beginning to look even more worn than when he'd arrived. The chaperone gave him a reassuring smile and he bowed his head as a silent thank you. He'd sent a card up to let Mr. Belgrave know that he'd arrived and was waiting for the other man to make his appearance. He turned away from the window and his reflection at the sound of footsteps.

Wednesday daytime, and Jonas sends out personal telegraphs to the following people, either to their own residences, or addressed privately via the Hotel:
Santiago de la Vega
Simon Belgrave
Julian MacKallister
Benjamin Simoneaux
Daisuke Shimada
Missy Lee
Jonathon Stanton

The message reads:

'The Acting Sheriff of this town, Mr Jonas Wilder hereby invites you to an informal meeting to take place on this Sunday the 26th of October. The meeting will commence at 6pm in the Sheriff's Office. This meeting is to gather together a consultancy of sorts to discuss ongoing and current reports of unusual activity received by the Office.

Light refreshments will be available, and appropriate chaperones will also be in attendance.

Please feel free to bring along any persons you may feel will assist. Your help and assistance in these matters would be much appreciated.'

Jonas also talks to his staff, including new employee Leo Coleman, to inform them of the upcoming meeting, and to request their attendence also.

( Letters to Ascendants )

( Beloved )

Simon stood by a market stall, a pinch of tea held between his thumb and forefinger as he sniffed it. Frowned. And sniffed again.

When someone passed by, he said, "If I could have a moment of your time?" Then he offered he stuff to sniff. "Is that strong enough to clear your head, do you think?"

Mr. Thos. Murray begs the pleasure of Mr. Belgrave's company for a walk, at his convenience, and hopes that Mr. Belgrave will inform him of an agreeable time by return. He also hopes that this note finds Mr. Belgrave in good health, and happy.

William's new house was rather bare, but he still took pride in having its address printed on his new calling cards - which arrived almost at the same moment as the new letter from the Yenta. He was somewhat surprised to find he had been matched to a man - William was looking more for a wife than a partner - but it took all sorts to make a strong household (as his mother had been keen on repeating, generally while sighing at his father's absent-mindedness admittedly) and, in any case, he did not wish to be seen as rude, especially by strangers.

He carefully wrote out his response -

Mr J. William Freeman
requests the pleasure of calling upon
Mr Simon Belgrave
on Wednesday from four o'clock
at his convenience

- and, enclosing his card, had it delivered to the man in question. Father Marks had previously agreed to chaperone the earlier match; he would do so this time as well.

Simon had cleaned up the few broken bottles that had toppled from shelves during the earthquake. The sweeping he did now was just to clear dust out of the shop proper. He had the door open and he was whistling as the broom bristles whisked over the floorboards.

He checked before he flicked a cloud of dust outside, not wanting to spatter anyone passing by with it. Then he leaned there, against the handle, and smiled at a passerby. "Good day!"

Mr. Thos. Murray hopes that Mr. Simon Belgrave will accept and appreciate the enclosed token of his esteem in gratitude for receiving him to tea last week. He found the visit most agreeable and hopes to be granted the pleasure of Mr. Belgrave's company again in the near future.

Enclosed is a volume of herbal remedies indigenous to the environs of southern California.

Once his note had been returned, Thomas hadn't seen any sense in waiting around. After all, Mr. Belgrave had indicated a willingness to receive him on Friday afternoon, and 3 was a respectable time to call. It also meant that he would have the weekend clear to make the final arrangements to actually open his store on Monday morning.

Hoping that Mr. Belgrave would not be offended by his promptness, he arrived a little before three, and left his card at the front desk to be conveyed to Mr. Belgrave to announce his arrival, taking the chance to bespeak the services of one of the hotel's chaperones for their meeting at the same time. Then, flapping the tails of his coat neatly aside, took a seat on one of the benches in the lobby, and awaited the gentleman's convenience.

( Letters to Ascendants )

( Beloved )

Tuesday afternoon, and Hattie was at the little writing desk by the window in the drawing room, just finishing a lengthy letter to her sister Electra. She had already written to her parents several times and now it was Electra's turn to hear about Hattie's journey and arrival in Le Chance, the party and all that had happened since.

She sealed the letter and stretched, flexing her aching arm and glancing around, belatedly becoming aware that there was someone else in the room. "So much to tell!" she explained, with a smile, indicating her bulging letter. "I'm afraid I got carried away!"