My reputation has never been worse, so Who: Beau Rosier and Calvin Llewellyn What: Decompression When: Thursday Evening, January 4th after dinner. Where: Rosier Manor, Master Bedroom Status: In progress, available for eavesdropping.
Well, dinner hadn’t gone quite as badly as it could have. It certainly hadn’t gone well, but there was something to be said for having Viola, Victoria, and Nadine there in support. He’d been stone-faced for as much of it as he could, steadfastly drawing Tucker’s attention away from his sister. He’d only responded to provocation once or twice and Viola had been quick enough to change the subject that hopefully, it hadn’t done much damage.
The orchids had been the first. He was still sore about the destruction of his flowers and the fact that similar blossoms had apparently, mysteriously, shown up at the Belmont estate was confounding and irritating. Beau had bitten out a deflection but he knew it had been clear enough in his tone that he was annoyed which constituted a loss in the awful game they were playing across the dinner table. The second had come later, a snide comment about Llewellyn. Honestly, he should have expected it, it was an easy target. After their journal conversation, however, Beau found himself more keyed up about it than he anticipated. At the very least he’d seen the tension in his jaw echoed in Tori. It was good to know he wasn’t the only one defensive.
After dinner, Beau had stayed for the exact minimum time that politeness required in the drawing room before retiring. Slipping into the darkened bedroom he sat heavily down on the edge of his bed, methodically unhooking his cufflinks and loosening his tie. He knew that Llewellyn would be in in a moment and he still wasn’t entirely sure of how to feel about that. The intensity and honesty of that conversation had been wholly unexpected. He’d revealed significantly more of his past than he had anticipated sharing with anyone, and yet when he thought about it he found that didn’t regret telling him. Their words had been heated but at this moment he wasn’t angry either. It was strange in a way, like a breaking point had come and gone and yet he wasn't sure exactly what had passed over the two of them.
He laid the tie and cufflinks on the bed before leaning down to begin untying his shoes, glancing up only when he heard the door open.