Leah Allen (leahallen) wrote in shadowlands_ic, @ 2017-12-29 21:32:00 |
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Entry tags: | gabriel allen, leah allen |
Who: The Allens
What: An overdue exchange of information
Where: Their home
When: December 15, 1888
Ratings/warnings: talk of violence, otherwise low.
Gabriel set down his ink pen and yawned, standing to make his way over to his daughter’s place on the sofa and stretching out beside her.
“The holidays really are quite exhausting,” he said, grinning. “I’m thinking we might have to take a holiday from them after all is said and done. I’m nearly finished with correspondence -- but heavens, there are far too many parties to choose from, and I’ve had all I can of goose and figgy pudding, and we’ve still two more weeks of this nonsense. Who’s that from, then?” He asked, looking over at a smartly wrapped box and Leah’s accompanying pleased expression. “One of your many admirers?”
“‘Nonsense’ is it?” Leah retorted, not buying his claim for a second. “You know you love the parties.” She’d long known he took advantage of the season by sampling more of the ‘food’ on offer at the parties than what was put on the dinner table. This year she planned on doing the same when the opportunities presented themselves, thanks to Una’s glamour and a few tricks she’d picked up at Miss Lydia’s. “And a holiday sounds nice.” Maybe she could convince him they should visit Naples after the new year. Assuming she’d completed her first assignment by then.
She looked up at his question. “It’s from Archie Curtis.” Opening the wrapping with care she gasped at the contents, and soon lifted out an exquisite pair of opera glasses.
Gabriel paused, and could feel a slow twist in his stomach and a tightening of his shoulders.
It was expensive.
Expensive and familiar.
He’d been deliberately giving his daughter more of a free reign since she’d decided to circulate more widely -- free reign and what he figured was some much-needed privacy, and as he hadn’t been hovering (and Captain Curtis seemed rather taken by the young Bakst witch besides), it hadn’t even occurred to him that there might be a connection between the captain and his daughter that extended beyond their slight connection through him.
It brought him up short, in a way the captain and his… cousin tended to do, and he looked over at Leah, his expression careful.
“I don’t think I knew you two were quite that well acquainted,” he said, trying to keep his voice light.
“We met a few times.” Leah replied absently, focused on the beautiful opera glasses than paying attention to her father. “He offered me a position with MPC not long ago and I accepted. It’s rather hush hush but a good way to get started, and you can’t get more future focused than the airship business.” And women couldn’t afford to be too picky about professional opportunities that came their way outside of the traditional realms.
“Leah,” Gabriel exhaled, looking at her, astonished, concern (and perhaps a small spike of what might’ve been fear) written over his features as the blood drained from his face. “You… I…” he swallowed. “You need to tell me what this work entails,” he finally managed. He reached for her hand, taking it in his. “Please,” he added, a little belatedly.
Leah turned away from examining the opera glasses and toward her father, equally astonished at his tone and the pale expression on his face. He hardly ever acted this way and she didn’t know quite what to make of it. “What on earth has gotten into you?” It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him it wasn’t any of his business, but decided that this time she would honor the request. “It’s nothing dangerous papa, it isn’t as if I’m working on the factory floor or anything of that sort. I’m merely to observe a certain man and learn as much as I can about him to report back to Archie.”
He raised her hand to kiss her knuckles in assurance, his heart still pounding in his chest. “It could very well become dangerous, depending on the man,” he said, quietly, “...and your employer will most certainly require care. Have you met Mrs Linden?” He asked. “Archie’s cousin?”
A reassuring smile was her response along with a chuckle. “I’ve seen the women he has on his arm, I’m not worried about any danger from him.” If Miss Lydia’s had taught her anything it was how to judge men and make them feel special. She was confident she could seduce her way out of trouble if it occurred. “I’m not supposed to make contact with him anyway, but observe from a discrete distance.”
“Once, at the final interview.” Mrs. Linden seemed a bit dubious on the whole thing as far as Leah could tell, but she’d gone along with her cousin’s decision to hire her. “Why?”
Gabriel knew that men could get dangerous if cornered, and those who were truly desperate wouldn’t hesitate even if their target was a young and beautiful woman -- he’d seen first-hand the lengths MPC’s competitors would go through, after all.
But that took a backseat to the more immediate concern.
His thumb brushed over her fingers as he sighed -- she still wore the ring he’d given her, the one that linked them together, and that gave him some peace of mind.
“I’m glad you’re taking some initiative, dearest,” he said, “and it’s laudable, truly. I hope this venture goes well for you. But I ought to… I’d like to encourage a healthy degree of caution when it comes to Modern Prometheus, and Mrs Linden,” he said, carefully. “First of all, Modern Prometheus is under a great deal of attention these days -- and as such, it draws danger to it from men who would look down on such progress, and I’ve seen first-hand the destruction such danger can lead to. And secondly, she is not the sort to be crossed, and can be rather… single-minded when it comes to her company. If you decide to continue your employment once this task is finished, and work in support of her and her aims, never giving her a moment’s worry, she shall be a stalwart champion, and I believe she would go through great lengths to give you opportunity. But please…” his voice grew soft, “...please, my dear, I would caution you against ever dreaming to work for a competitor, even if the offer should be rich indeed. It wouldn’t be worth your while, believe me.”
Leah’s brow furrowed as she listened to the stream of words coming from her father. He’d always been ready and willing to give advice, and help wherever possible. This time felt and sounded different.
If she didn’t know better she’d say Gabriel Allen was scared. And she couldn’t recall ever seeing him scared before.
“Papa,” she pulled their hands down and held his tight in her own. “What aren’t you telling me? Does this have something to do with what happend at the factory?” It was the only thing she could think of, but even then he’d only been gone a day.
“It is,” he replied, looking over at her.
He sighed. “I witnessed the fire, and Mrs Linden was… concerned about my discretion. So she took me aboard an airship bound for Constantinople, against my will, and until I convinced her I was significantly greater hassle dead than living…” he frowned. “It was a close thing,” he said, a little shortly. “We have an understanding now, and assurance of your safety is part of it -- I am not in danger any more from Mrs Linden, and expect she would take care with you. But it is a delicate balancing act, and I would not have you walk into that den unprepared.”
His frown deepened. “...I would have told you sooner, had I known you were thinking of getting closer involved,” he added, quietly.
“Well I didn’t know there was anything I needed to know, did I?” Leah retorted, pale faced after her father’s confession. She still thought MPC was a great opportunity, but now there was this complication to consider. Frowning, she pulled away from her father and stood up to go look out the window. Should she back out now or follow through?
“I’m sorry, princess,” he replied, his voice low. “I didn’t want to worry you unnecessarily, and as far as I’m concerned, it’s done and settled. Mrs Linden and I have an agreement, one she’ll abide by. And Captain Curtis, by all accounts, is a straightforward sort -- but his loyalty is to Mrs Linden first and foremost, and you would do well to remember that the lady will not be crossed lightly.”
“Well of course it is.” Leah turned and gave her father a rather old fashioned look for that comment. “She’s his family. I wouldn’t expect anything less from him. I’m more worried about whether Mrs. Lindon thinks it’s done and settled, after all she nearly decided to kill you.” She wasn’t sure what was so special about Archie’s cousin, but her father was definitely scared of her. “I’m not planning to learn all MPC’s secrets and go work for a competitor.” And she didn’t have the technical education to understand everything anyway. Business information maybe, once she was trusted enough.
But if she got to that point why would she want to give information to MPC’s competitors?
Gabriel frowned. “I suppose we ought to all sit down and have a civilized tea, to clear the air some -- but I do think it’s mostly water under the bridge. I just couldn’t bear the thought of you walking into a delicate situation unprepared. You are the heart of my heart, dearest, and it would ruin me if you came to any harm.”
He shrugged. “And I know you say that now, but those competitors have deep pockets and are highly motivated. I wouldn’t want you swayed by your natural ambitions given our friend Mrs Linden would have a… a disproportionate response.”
“Well forewarned is foreamed.” Leah quipped, giving up her pacing and coming back to the couch. “A tea putting everything out in the open just so everyone knows where the other stands might not be a bad idea. Once I’ve finished my initial task for Archie we should set that up before we do anything further with MPC. I don’t want any misunderstandings or people keeping each other in the dark ‘for their own good.’ That just seems to be a way for people to get hurt.”
“Too right,” Gabriel replied. “I think including you as a part of any discussion of our mutual futures would be of great value. And my darling girl,” he added, taking her hand, “I… I am doing my best, to give you your independence, to let you spread your wings, to have what we share be more of a partnership as you grow into yourself, and at the same time…” he frowned a little. “I suppose for lack of a better word, I want to protect you from the world, keep you safe, and that’s quite hard to let go of.” He looked over to her, evenly. “I erred on the side of caution by not telling you what happened in full, and by doing so, I could’ve hurt you even more. Can you forgive me?”
“Of course, Papa.” Leah squeezed her father’s hand and let go so she could reach up and pat him on the shoulder. “I know it must be difficult for you to ‘let go’ especially when society tells us I should be wrapped up in cotton and kept safe by my father or husband. It hasn’t been the easiest transition, and I appreciate you stepping back the way you have. But if we’re to be ‘partners’ then I need you to tell me when there’s potential danger even if you want to protect me from it.”
Gabriel extended his hand take Leah’s once more, and gave his daughter a solid handshake. “Agreed, my darling.”