Daniella Romero (browneyedwolf) wrote in shadowlands_ic, @ 2017-07-20 15:47:00 |
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Entry tags: | bertie eden, maggie stanbury |
Who: Maggie and Bertie
What: Breaking the news
Where: Her in-laws, London
When: right after This
Ratings/warnings: PG, mentions of violence
There were times when being a lowly trainee had its advantages. All Bertie had to do was impress Lord Black, Alpha of Black Park upon his colleagues in the Night Watch, and they assumed Bertie had been given orders by someone higher-up and hastened to post a watch discreetly outside the home of Lady Stanford--soon enough to be Lady Black. Bertie bluffed his way past Selfridge with a claim of already having an assignment - which was not untrue - and made his way to Lord Black's London residence, where he had to change very little in the way of tactics.
Being a human addressing a werewolf pack gave Bertie roughly the same status as a trainee investigator among the Night Watch. Which was to say, none at all. Thankfully, Bertie had established something of a tactical strategy for dealing with combative werewolves, particularly riled, angry ones. In order to keep the peace, it was easiest to give them another target.
They would never actually hurt Bertie--this, at least, was an instinct that Bertie felt to his bones, and it had yet to be disproved. Physically harming him, he imagined fatalistically, was much the same dishonorable act as a gentleman striking a lady...and Bertie came too often into these situations playing the role of the lady, but it seemed there was no help for it. He was the weak one, they were much stronger and faster and more capable, and while they might tear each other apart without Lord Black to intercede, they would not harm...well, perhaps it was less the part of the lady, and more the family pet. No one looked kindly on a man who kicked one of the hunting hounds.
Bertie didn't have the alpha here to calm his pack members, who were understandably agitated and not prone to thinking clearly any more than Bertie had been. They, at least, were pack-minded enough to promptly agree that Lord Black's fiance should be protected; the only hitch was in which of them would see to it.
After several minutes of pacing and snarling, which looked as though it might escalate to blows if unchecked, Bertie decided to resort to his usual method, which had not failed him yet. "You ought to stay here," he announced loudly. "I shall protect the lady. It is better that she have a trained officer of the law watching over her."
This was not untrue, but Bertie had ensured there were more experienced officers already on their way. What he needed at this moment was a werewolf from Lord Black's pack, so that the alpha's sensibilities would be soothed and the lady ably guarded from any threats.
He had one mere moments later, as the aggravated werewolves turned their attention in unison from one another to the human standing still inexplicably in their midst. Things sorted themselves out after that with remarkable alacrity, and Bertie was only shoved once into the wall, and not particularly hard at that.
Pleased with those results, he trotted off to speak with Lady Stanford.
There was no way to excuse a social visit at this hour, nor to invent some wild story which would allow the lady to leave the house without escort. Bertie thought of merely claiming to investigate reports of unrest in the neighborhood and then having a word privately with Lady Stanford, but the story would all come out sooner or later. There was no reason to lie about an attack upon a close personal friend of the lady's, nor why he would wish to assure himself of her safety. Sometimes, Bertie tended to over-complicate things.
"Betram Eden, trainee inspector," he presented himself at the door. "I apologize for the late hour, but I'm afraid I've come with an urgent message for Lady Stanford. Is it possible that I might speak with her?"
As always, the title 'inspector' tended to obscure the fact that Bertie had never mentioned Scotland Yard. There was nowhere else he could hail from, presumably, which made his position alone more effective than a lie.
Maggie tried to keep her hands from twisting over and over as she waited for Inspector Eden to be shown into the library, the Baron at her side. He and his wife had taken the news of her engagement to Luce hard, having hoped that Cousin Robert would catch her eye, and she’d had to do quite a bit of soothing ruffled feathers. But they were over the worst of it, or so it appeared.
But now came word of this Inspector that wanted to speak with her about an urgent matter. The Baron had instructed for him to be shown to the library and that he and Maggie would wait for him there, saying he wanted to be with her in case there was a problem. It had to be something to do with Luce, she just knew it. What other reason could there possibly be for an Inspector to want to see her?
"Lady Stanford," Bertie greeted as soon as soon as he was shown into the room, making the first of two bows. "Your Lordship. I beg your pardon for the late hour, but I have news from Lord Black. I do not wish to alarm you--let me say first that His Lordship is well, in good health and spirits, and has taken only minor injury. Second, that his first and only thought has been for your safety and comfort, Your Ladyship. He most urgently wished an assurance that you were well."
Bertie paused before delivering the rest of the news. "I am sorry to say there has been an incident. Lord Black encountered an unknown assailant on the way to a social event. I understand that he and his aide drove off the villain handily, but Lord Black has gone to St. Thomas Hospital to be looked over. He would..." Bertie paused again, eyes flickering briefly to the gentleman who stood next to Lady Stanford. "I believe he would very much like to see you, if you are willing, Your Ladyship, to reassure himself you are well."
Clearing his throat, Bertie finished, "If that is impossible, due to the hour, I am certain he will pay a call as soon as the morning allows."
Maggie felt herself go pale at the news Inspector Eden conveyed. Luce wouldn’t go to the hospital for a mere ‘looking over’ when a physician could do that at his residence. She turned to her father-in-law. “I must go to him at once, if it turned out to not be minor I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t.”
Soon afterwards she found herself stepping out of the house and to a waiting carriage. “Tell me truthfully,” Maggie looked firmly at the young inspector and used a tone indicating she would not be placated by generalities. “How bad is Lord Black hurt?”
When it was just himself and Lady Stanbury, Bertie felt comfortable in a way he never really did with other ladies. Lady Stanbury was going to marry the alpha; Lady Stanbury would be pack, and that made all the difference.
"Truth," Bertie promised her, holding her gaze openly for a moment before turning his head slightly to show her his neck and his respect, "I believe he's only tired, and worried about you. His arm is wrapped, but he's entirely lucid. If anything," he admitted with a small smile at the memory, "he's mostly annoyed at having been made to go to hospital at all. I think Mal--Mr Sayers," he stumbled once he'd caught himself, "must have badgered him into it. He's well-guarded now.
"As are you," he added, with a brief glance sideways that he was still certain she wouldn't miss. Her guards were discreet, but unmistakable--a member of the Night Watch standing sentry in the next doorway over, another one loitering beneath the light of a gas lamp two houses down in the other direction, and a member of the Black Park pack across the street.
Bertie cleared his throat and smiled a little again. "Although I believe he'd pretend to be on death's door itself, if it meant he could see you sooner. Your Ladyship," he finished belatedly, remembering his manners and the title he'd omitted during their private conversation.
She still wasn’t entirely certain she believed the young inspector, but Maggie accepted his words at face value. That didn’t tell her much, and she was still worried she could lose him, but it would have to do until they arrived at the hospital.
The omission of her title had gone unnoticed, as an American she didn’t have much use for it anyway. She may have fallen in love with England, but the English and their obsession with rank and title still mystified her at times. Then he mentioned her being under guard. “Am I?” She supposed it made sense, what with the attempt on Luce’s life and all. “Are you one of my guards then?”
Bertie's smile grew more genuine as he thought of the werewolves growling at his claim to protect Lady Stanford. "No, I'm only a messenger." He glanced at the carriage. "And an escort, if you'd permit me? I could sit up front, with the driver. Lord Black would no doubt rest easier if he knew you were protected in his absence."
And Bertie could well imagine his wrath, should Lady Stanford not be guarded - whatever Bertie claimed to be - on her journey to visit her affianced. The thought of something happening to her on that journey only made him more determined to stay close at hand.
“That’ll be fine, thank you Inspector.” Maggie accepted the request with a nod and moved to get into the carriage. “I’m most anxious to see Lord Black, shall we get moving?”