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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 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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