Leah Allen (leahallen) wrote in shadowlands_ic, @ 2017-07-20 16:03:00 |
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Entry tags: | gabriel allen, leah allen |
Who: Leah, Gabriel, and NPC Lydia
What: Things come to light.
Where: Miss Lydia's
When: Backdated to July 11th.
Ratings/warnings: PG, mentions of sexuality.
Leah’d been back at Miss Lydia’s since the night before. Like it or not it was her best available option for a regular food supply until she could make alternate arrangements. The time she’d been home had been spent getting a membership in her own right at the Osiris Club, attending a few summer parties hosted by human friends, and some society galas. It was all progress toward her goal, but it wasn’t going to eliminate the need for the Music Academy overnight.
And so she’d returned, planning to be there for a few days and then returning home. At least now she wasn’t confined to the academy and could more or less come and go as she pleased, but in the end it was a business and ‘Vicky’ would be expected to make money. The first night back her father had agreed to steer clear to let her get settled back without the awkwardness of having him about the place, but Leah expected she’d run into him tonight at some point.
“Vicky?” There was a rap of knuckles on her doorframe and Leah turned in her seat at the makeup table to see Georgie standing in the doorway. “Miss Lydia’s askin’ for you, said to see her in the office.”
“Thanks Georgie,” she told the other woman, one of the few she thought of as something close to a friend in the place. She finished putting on the last of her makeup and stood up from the table to make her way to the office.
It’d taken the society papers, of all things, for Lydia to finally crack the mystery of the new girl’s hold over her employer.
She’d taken to reading them a little closer than she might, because she’d found his odd behavior at the Academy worrisome of late, and his lack of communication to her about it incredibly unusual, and it was a small scrap of information she might have as to what might be weighing on him -- a possible engagement, perhaps? A former lover blackmailing him? Something involving the young Miss Vicky herself? And there it had been, staring up at her, plain as the nose on her face.
‘...Mr Allen and his daughter Leah were in attendance, with Miss Allen in a delightful peach organza frock and a crown of similarly colored roses…’
She’d swore then, and clapped her hand to her forehead. “You are a fool, Lydia Jenkins,” she said, frowning. “An utter fool.”
And now, ‘Vicky’ was back for a few days, and Gabriel was noticeably keeping his distance once more, otherwise she would’ve spoken to him first. It was so painfully obvious, now that she knew, and as the young woman came into her office, she stood abruptly and nodded in what might very nearly be a bow if you squinted at it, and sighed.
“Miss Vicky,” she said, crisply, “I am glad to see you’ve decided to come back to us for a few days. Would you care for any refreshment?”
Leah blinked at this unexpected behavior from the Madam and stopped herself from taking a step back. Miss Lydia had always been polite towards her, officially, but the older woman had clearly been disappointed to see her return yesterday. Now she was calling her Miss Vicky and offering refreshment? The sudden change was jarring and she wasn't sure how she ought to react.
“If it isn't too much trouble, ma’am.” Leah said, coming in the rest of the way. “Georgie said you wanted to see me?” Better to assume everything was business as usual until told otherwise.
Lydia poured the young woman a cup of tea, and offered a plate of biscuits, and sat, frowning, before sighing again. Heavens above, she’d been blind -- she could see hints of her employer in the girl’s generous mouth, in the curve of her brow, and in the ease with which she moved -- a grace she’d assumed had been due to their being of a similar ilk, but which was due to something far more closely associated than mere species.
“I am quite afraid that we got off on the wrong foot, you and I, and that it is entirely of my own making,” she said, quietly and precisely, smoothing the fabric of her dress. “You see, I can be most… protective of my employer’s reputation and well-being. I owe him a great deal, and believe him to be among the best of men, and I was concerned about the hold you appeared to have over him -- one that I am now aware was entirely a figment of my own imagination. As a result of my concerns, I did not grant you the benefit of the doubt, and treated you with suspicion. I apologise for my lack of courtesy to you during your initial stay here -- a courtesy I should have granted you as a matter of course, deserved by any who choose to work here.”
She looked up at Leah, a wry, apologetic twist in her mouth. “I would never do anything to put the reputation of the Allen name at risk,” she said, hoping the girl would catch her meaning. “I very much hope you know that, Miss Vicky. And if you’d forgive my overzealousness, I would appreciate the opportunity to start afresh.”
She knows. Leah could feel the blood draining from her face as the other woman talked. The biscuit she'd taken out of politeness now tasted foul instead of sweet, but she forced herself to swallow as she furiously thought about how to respond.
Lydia was clearly devoted to her father, and they had the desire to protect the family name in common if nothing else. Leah took a deep breath and mentally reached for calmness, losing her composure would help no one here.
“I appreciate that, ma’am. I think I can safely say I very much want to keep the Allen name free of any hint of scandal.”
Lydia saw a flash of horror on the young woman’s face, and she frowned in sympathy and dismay. “Please understand me,” she said, quietly, her voice low, twisting her hands in her lap. “I would do anything for him -- and that duty and obligation extends to anyone he would hold dear. And I would protect the family name with my life. I swear it.” She shook her head. “I… I’ve overstepped. Forgive me.”
She sighed, slipping back into the practiced calm of her station that she’d built up over years. Trust was earned, and Leah needed assurance that she would maintain the fiction. “Vicky, dear,” she said, practically, “you successfully made it through your probation, and your comportment throughout was perfectly acceptable. I am willing to move forward in good faith, and treat you as I would any other who’ve done similarly.”
“I appreciate that, ma’am.” Leah responded cautiously, still reeling a little from the implied revelation that Lydia knew her true identity. “You were only doing what you thought was your duty, how could anyone begrudge you that?” She had no idea just what her father had done to earn such fanatical loyalty from the Madam, but clearly he had done something. “Mr. Gabriel is the best man I know, I’m glad to know someone is looking out for him here.” Wouldn’t all daughters feel that way about their fathers if they had a good relationship with them?
“I didn’t come here looking for special treatment because of my...association with Mr. Gabriel, it’s important that while I am here I’m just another member of the Academy. I don’t plan on this being a long term arrangement, but while I’m here I don’t intend to stand out any more than necessary.” She reached for her tea cup, pleased to see her hands were free of the tremors that surely would have been there a few minutes earlier.
“I understand completely,” Lydia replied, taking a sip of her own tea. “And Vicky, as much as I care for Mr Gabriel, and I do very much, I also care for the safety and well-being of all my employees. And I count you as one of them, for as long as this arrangement continues to suit your purposes.” She nodded briskly. “I expect you to notify me when you plan to come by, and that you’ll do me the courtesy of two weeks’ notice once you decide you no longer wish to work for us.”
“I think I’ll probably be here two days out of every week, but I’ll make sure you’re informed in advance when that will be.” It seemed a perfectly reasonable request to Leah, on both counts. “And of course I’ll arrange for two weeks notice when the time comes, barring unforeseen events.” She planned to be just another employee, but if something happened that brought their association into the open then obviously she would have to deny everything and possibly leave the country.
“Naturally,” Lydia replied.
She would’ve continued, but just then, Gabriel poked his head around the door. Upon seeing both of them sitting there, and the expression on Lydia’s face, he entered and shut it behind him, raising an eyebrow.
“Good lord,” he said, quietly. “I really can’t keep anything from you, can I, my dear?”
Lydia averted her eyes at that, and Gabriel sighed and shrugged. “Well. It is what it is, and I trust you’ll keep it close. Are we all settled, then?” He asked, looking over at Leah.
Leah shrugged as well. As he said, it was what it was. “I suppose so. I do have a question though.” She turned her attention back to Miss Lydia. “I understand you had your suspicions, but what was it that let you put everything together?”
Lydia nodded, resigned, and pulled out the clipping of the society paper. “I don’t usually look for mentions of you,” she said to Gabriel contritely, “but as my suspicions were raised… I hadn’t been aware that you had a daughter. I was already thinking of Vicky as a focus of my concerns, the timing coincided with her leaving, and the description of the dress complimented her particular coloring.”
She frowned a little, quiet. “I am sorry,” she said. “But I don’t think many others would connect the dots as I have, and those that would, would most likely be entirely within the sort of circles that already require a certain degree of secrecy…”
Gabriel waved a hand. “Lydia,” he said, gently, “thank you for sharing your deductions with us. It helps prevent such issues in future. Truly. No harm done.”
“Yes,” Leah reached out and touched the other woman’s hand. “Thank you. For coming to us first, and your loyalty.” She still was wary of Lydia, to a degree, but it was obvious that the other woman didn’t intend to try and blackmail them and seemed truly distressed she’d made the connection at all. Her father trusted her, and Lydia seemed devoted to him. That would have to be enough for now.