Re: Bertram Eden and Gabriel
At the sight of Gabriel, Bertie's face promptly lit up in a bright smile. "Oh, hello," he answered, nearly bubbling over a bit with laughter at Gabriel's subtle inquiry. He appreciated the discretion, but with both of them here for legitimate reason, it sounded a bit cloak-and-dagger, as if they had a nefarious plot afoot, or were perhaps sneaking around together. Since they were, in fact, sneaking around together - although not at this party, so far as Bertie knew - it brought a side of humour to Gabriel's question that was likely unintended.
"Nothing so serious, I'm glad to say," Bertie reported, holding up his glass of champagne. "Or I wouldn't be indulging in drinking and dancing. No, I'd meant to tell you--I'm afraid we were distracted by other matters" - those other matters being, specifically, cheese, pie, and Bertie on his knees under the table, in no particular order - "and I never said, but Mrs Linden invited me herself, personally. She said it was in gratitude for my help--you know, with the ghosts," Bertie clarified unnecessarily, lowering his voice briefly to impart the reminder.
"So I'm entirely free to enjoy myself this evening," Bertie continued cheerfully at normal volume a moment later. "I was going to ask if you had any words of wisdom about a costume, but I think it's all turned out for the best. I was right that you would be turned out well, though." Bertie let himself, just for a moment, look Gabriel over in frank appreciation. "I might have hoped for something of a more classical drape, but you wear that suit very well. No toga or chiton for you this evening?"