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Lady Gwendolyn Linley (lady_gwendolyn) wrote in toujoursliberer,
@ 2008-05-10 17:25:00

Entry tags:

gwendolyn_linley

Lady Gwendolyn's Political Salon
Subject: A Whig Salon
Where: Lady Gwendolyn's salon in Mayfair
Who: Lady Gwendolyn Linley, Fox and Burke as NPCs to set the scene
Warnings: None
Open to: All

As always, the doors to her salon were open to anyone who could convince the footman to let them in. Lady Gwendolyn glided from group to group, serving up smiles and coffee, but always returning to the main group in the center of the salon. That group, comprised of the more influential Whig politicians, had been debating England's response to the French Revolution for the past ten minutes and had not agreed on anything but the excellence of Lady Gwendolyn's tea cakes.

"It is the greatest thing to happen this century," Fox argued. Charles Fox, the leader of the Whig opposition, was a great, shaggy bear of a man, who had stopped paying attention to his personal hygiene years ago. "It is the greatest thing to happen to Europe! How can we, the people's party, fail to support it and recognize it?"

"Because it has gone too far," exclaimed Burke in evident exasperation. Though also a Whig, he was a more outspoken critic of the French Revolution than any of the Tory majority in the House of Commons. "It may once have been about liverty, but look at France now! They have dismantled their entire society and anarchy springs up in its place!"

Lady Gwendolyn drifted away from the main group as the footman opened the door. Charming Smile Number One, Curtsy Number Three- "Welcome to my salon."

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social_climber
2008-05-11 10:35 am UTC (link)

Harry inclined his head towards her, still smiling. "It's hardly wit, my dear lady. If I was still a boy, they'd call it cheek." He says, taking the cup and saucer that she passes to him, and then spooning in the sugar. "I must admit I've heard wonderful things about the confectionery you provide your guests. If there is a chance that I might have a scone, I would take it. But I would not risk Mr. Burke's temper." He says, lifting his cup to take a sip.

Perhaps it was wrong to attempt to work his way into her affections by damaging the reputations of others. But if it was, Harry did not spare it a thought. It was a successful way to go about things, and the exchange of information worked two ways. Even if she did not help him now, her friendship would be invaluable in the future. "Is your father not present today, Lady Linley? I was hoping to speak with him about old times."

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lady_gwendolyn
2008-05-11 10:54 am UTC (link)

"You have already terrified Mr. Fox," Lady Gwendolyn replied, voice soft enough not to be overheard, "why would Mr. Burke prove any more of a problem?" She glanced up at a footman, who impassively went off to fetch a scone.

She poured herself a cup of tea. "My father? I am afraid not. He had a meeting with the board of the East India Company." Lady Gwendolyn glanced at Harry from underneath her eyelashes. "I am sure he misses the chance to speak with you about old times, but perhaps I might be an adequate substitute?"

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social_climber
2008-05-11 11:03 am UTC (link)

"Do you not know, Lady Linley? Mr. Burke has a most terrifying temper. Have you not noticed how quickly his household goes through servants?" He enquired, eyebrow raising slightly, taking another sip before setting the cup down on it's saucer. "I have to admit, if a lowly man such as myself can frighten those two fine politicians without help, no wonder the House of Lords is terrified of the Revolution spreading. They worry needlessly, of course."

"More than adequte, I assure you. What man doesn't crave beautiful, as well as intelligent, company? And although I respect your father, I do not think him beautiful. However, I am a man of business and trade, my dear Lady Gwendolyn. If I tell you about old times, will you tell me about India? Would you think that a fair rate of exchange?"

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lady_gwendolyn
2008-05-11 11:37 am UTC (link)

Oooh, there was a good one to add to the pile. She smiled at Harry over the rim of her teacup, extremely pleased with him. "I had known of Mr. Burke's temper, but I had not known that. You are proving yourself invaluable, Mr. Fisher."

The footman returned with a scone on a plate, as well as clotted cream and a selection of jams. He wordlessly set the tray in front of Harry and withdrew.

"Thank you," Lady Gwendolyn told the servant, a little absently. "Mr. Fisher, you butter me up so incessantly you ought to be afraid that I should slip through your grasp. But yes, I agree. Here is my hand on it." She extended her slim hand over the tea-table, careful not to let the lace ruffles on the ends of her sleeves fall into the tea.

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social_climber
2008-05-11 11:46 am UTC (link)

He took her hand carefully, although not to shake, and bowed his head to press his lips gently against the soft skin, "The most pleasant deal I have ever made." He says, gently releasing her hand.

"I have to be invaluable, and interesting, Lady Gwendolyn, otherwise I would not be invited to your Salon. And, less importantly, I would be out of work." He smiles, and gestures at the scone, "Will you not join me? It would be rude if I ate but my hostess did not." He explains.

"My dear Lady Gwendolyn!" He says, voice shocked, although he smiles slightly, "What a horrible suggestion. A gentleman would never let a beautiful woman slip." He shakes his head, as if to rid himself of the idea. "Tell me about India. I must have met your father, perhaps... five years ago? Were you still in India at that point?"

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lady_gwendolyn
2008-05-11 01:45 pm UTC (link)

Lady Gwendolyn started at the feel of Mr. Fisher's lips against her bare skin. It was the custom for men to kiss women's hands in greeting, but this was- was thoroughly unexpected. And not at all unpleasant. But yes, unexpected enough to fluster her.

"I ah, yes. Some of the trifle, please, Jonathan?" Lady Gwendolyn wished desperately for her fan so that she had something to occupy her hands and hide her expression. She flushed at his next comment, still slightly off kilter, and seized her teacup. The tea was just sightly too hot and Lady Gwendolyn coughed before replying, "I, yes. I was in India five years ago. We came back just after poor Warren Hasting's trial. They accused him of all manner of mismanagement, but I never saw anything in India worth a trial in the House of Commons." Well, not much.

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social_climber
2008-05-11 02:11 pm UTC (link)

He looked at her with concern as she coughed, taking his handkerchief and offering it to her. "Are you alright, Lady Gwendolyn?" He asked, before looking to the footman who had not yet departed, "Something to soothe the lady's throat." He said, and the young man nodded before disappearing from the room.

"Nothing, Lady Gwendolyn?" Harry repeats, sounding slightly disappointed. "I'd heard some very strange things about India. But perhaps they were merely stories." He holds back a shrug, "Your father told me some very interesting tales about Tiger Hunting in the jungles. Fascinating stories, but I suppose not so for a lady like yourself who has seen and heard all there is in India? But for me, man and boy never left London, remarkable."

He picks up a scone, cutting it carefully in half. "I suppose that leads us neatly into my side of the bargain, Lady Gwendolyn? Your father and I met at a little party, held by those most deeply involved with the Company... Are you sure you would rather have trifle?" He interrupts himself, before continuing. "When he was looking for financial support for an investment of his, I forget what exactly he wished to invest in," that, of course, wasn't true, "And I helped him find several appropriate backers."

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lady_gwendolyn
2008-05-11 09:40 pm UTC (link)

She accepted the handkerchief, holding it over lips until the footman returned with a glass of water. "Yes, thank you Jonathan."

Lady Gwendolyn took the glass and drank, feeling extraordinarily irritated with herself. What was she doing, losing her composure around the likes of Mr. Fisher? She had been to Lady Jersey's routs and she had seen a little more than she had ever wanted to see of the Duke of Devonshire's menage-a-trois with his pretty, witty wife, and his wife's equally pretty best friend and hadn't so much as dropped her fan. Poot. Self-control, that was it.

"I never said there wasn't anything," Lady Gwendolyn said, sipping her water with a convincing show of innocence. "Just nothing that I thought would get him into trouble. Honestly, the Prince of Whales does worse every day. Mr. Hastings certainly allowed the abuse of the natives and everyone he liked to do whatever was profitable, but so did Louis XVI. Besides, what man doesn't take bribes?" She hesitated, glancing down at her cup of water and looked back up. "I will grant you that most men did not insult the natives so consistantly. If you are going to cut the salaries of the native princes the least you can do is make sure their wives are left alone by your soldiers."

The footman brought back the requested plate of trifle and Lady Gwendolyn neatly spooned some up. "I am perfectly contented with it, Mr. Fisher, but I thank you." Hm. She would have to move carefully here. Lady Gwedonlyn examined him from underneath her eyelashes. "Really? That was... extremely kind of you, sir."

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social_climber
2008-05-12 02:53 am UTC (link)

Harry watches her, pulling the little pot of jam towards him, and picking up a knife with which to spread it on the scone. A long time ago, in his youth, he remembered stealing a tray of scones. He couldn't have been more than seven, and he didn't get very far. Still, his crime went unpunished, and as he remembered, he'd been given one of the scones he attempted to pilfer anyway. Harry couldn't help smile at that, glancing back at her from spreading the jam carefully onto the lower portion of the baked treat.

"I could name you one man off the top of my head that doesn't, Lady Gwendolyn. Take bribes, of course." He said, reaching for the pot of clotted cream. "As for insulting natives, it seems to be something that our government is very good at doing. They've managed to do it to the Scottish and the Irish, why not try to offend those further afield?"

"Hardly kind, Lady Gwendolyn. It was a business transaction. A friendly one, but all the same, business." He replied with a faint smile, as he set the top of the scone on top of the jam and cream layer, forming a sandwich. "I try to supply those who ask me with what they need. Now, the question is, how do you eat a scone without becoming sticky, or without offending your hostess?"

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lady_gwendolyn
2008-05-12 09:23 am UTC (link)

"Oh, there is Pitt," Lady Gwendolyn said, frowning. "He never takes bribes at all. Thoroughly uncorruptable, but so terribly impersonal. I think he became Prime Minister so young he never learned to be anything else."

Ah, the Irish! "Oh, please, don't get me started on how the British government treats Ireland. It will be the most boring half-hour of your life."

She finished off her water and smiled. "You eat it very delicately, sir and know in advance that there is very little you could say or do that can offend your hostess."

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social_climber
2008-05-13 05:51 am UTC (link)

"There is always Pitt." Harry smiled slightly, "The man seems to have a habit of turning up everywhere. He knows far too much about what goes on, it isn't right for a politician." He smiled slightly, to show his words were in jest, although they were not all meant as such. Pitt did have a habit of sticking his nose where it did not belong.

"I think, Lady Gwendolyn, you are possibly the most qualified person here to talk about the treatment of the Irish." Harry says, taking a knife and deciding to cut the offending score in half. "After all, it is the British prerogative to mistreat all those they come across."

Harry nods, carefully picking up a half and biting into it, mindful of the cream and jam and creams. He managed not to dirty himself much at all, although he did reach for a napkin to wipe the corners of his mouth. "Was that acceptable, Lady Gwendolyn?"

I swear I replied to this. Maybe not. *goes crazy*

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	lady_gwendolyn 2008-05-14 01:48 pm UTC (link)
	"That is true," Lady Gwendolyn replied. "He always does show up whenever you do not want him to. I blame his almost unchallenged control of Britain in a time of war. I'm half-convinced he know everything that happens in England. Strange then, that his government should deal so badly with Ireland." She applauded. "Well done, sir! I ought to reward you for it." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

social_climber
2008-05-14 03:07 pm UTC (link)

"He seems a popular man though- at least to have earnt such a position, and to keep it." Harry pointed out. "If he wasn't liked, it would not be hard for the Lords to turn against him." He shrugs, "He needs their support to carry out his policies. Personally, I think Pitt's whole foreign policy has been poor. In Ireland, in India... and his indecisiveness in Europe is going to cause problems." He added, glancing down at the other half of the scone.

"A reward, Lady Linley?" Harry asked gently, smiling, "Can I pick it for myself?"

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	lady_gwendolyn 2008-05-17 02:24 am UTC (link)
	Lady Gwendolyn waved his reasoning away, as if it were impossible for anyone to like Pitt. "He already has caused problems. If you could be see Ireland...! And all those horrible arrests. We were all quite afraid he would arrest Sheridan, but he seems to have escaped... for the moment." She took a sip of her tea, considering. "Go ahead, Mr. Fisher. Pick what you will." (Reply to this) (Parent)

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