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Tweak says, "duck duck duck goose!"

Harry Fisher (social_climber) wrote in toujoursliberer,
@ 2008-07-17 23:42:00

Entry tags:

anna_manzoni, harry_fisher, mary_roper, nell_abbot, pg-13, plot

Meeting Mother Dearest
Subject: Meeting Mother
Where: Harry's townhouse
Who: Harry Fisher
Warnings: Probably some language so PG-13
Open To: Anna, Nell, Mary perhaps

It was a bloody awful night. Rain lashed at the windows, and the wind howled down the chimney, as if attempted to blow out the fires set in their grates. It was the sort of night the world and his wife deserved to be tucked up warm inside, away from the battering elements, with good company and good booze to keep their mind off of the wet and cold beyond.

That, at least, was how Harry Fisher thought of it, with a hot cup of coffee in his hand as he surveyed the weather from the window, taking a swallow of the hot liquid, turning away from it after the moment and moving back towards the chairs and settling down again in front of the fire, next to Nell, smiling at him. "Bloody horrible night." He said, to the boy, only draped in a wrap after their earlier activities. Harry was more glad than he could say than Nell was here with him now, and not out there trying to find punters or a warm bed of the night. Nell deserved somewhere warm, somewhere near to Harry. "Bed-time soon." He added, draining his cup and setting it down on the table besides them, "You look like you could do with a rest."

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ex_little_st99
2008-07-24 05:17 am UTC (link)

Nell took a sip of the brandy, slightly disappointed to see it was a small glass rather than the usual half tumbler he was used to, but he understood the deception mattered more than his want for liquor. It was hardly the first time he’d dressed up like this to help Harry.

“Yes, we did. Lord Hurst is a very nice and his house is so large. I’ve never seen a house like that in London. We had a lovely evening there.”

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darlinganna
2008-07-26 12:29 am UTC (link)

Anna blinked in surprise when Nell admitted she'd hardly been outside London and cast a reproving glance at her son. Honestly, no wonder the girl looked so plain- some country air would do wonders for her. Surely her son wasn't that taken with the sickly look. "Only twice outside the city? Shame, dearest. You really ought to take the waters at Bath sometime. It does one no end of good to be out of the city from time to time."

She smiled though, as her thoughts spun a number of ideas all of them more than amusing. "Of course, Harry. Don't you worry, we'll find a way to be a family again. Properly this time." For a moment or two, anyway. She wasn't enamored of the fact he wasn't already railing against his sister- that was one thing that really had to be fixed somehow. Mary wouldn't leave him, she was such an idiot over her older brother. But Harry had a better head on his shoulders and a more circumspect nature. That could be managed...

"Lord Hurst?" She paused as she tried to recall that name. "I don't believe I've met him... Is it more impressive than Lord Mountford-Miles'?"

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social_climber
2008-07-26 07:23 pm UTC (link)

"Nell and I might venture to Bath at some time later in the year, mother. But we rarely have the time, I'm afraid, with business as it is here. If one wants to keep ahead of the game, one has to be in London." He said.

He shrugged, "I am sure everyone will be themselves, mother. How effectively that can be moulded into a loving family until is something I shall be very interested in seeing." He told her, glancing at Nell to make sure the boy hadn't down the small measure of alcohol too quickly. That was the last thing Harry wanted now, for Nell to get tipsy, but it wouldn't have looked right for him not to have offered his mistress a drink, not when everyone else had had one. It had been too much to hope, of course, that Nell would decline such a kind offer.

"Lord Hurst is the Duke of Devon, mother." He explained, although perhaps their was a faint hint of a tired sigh, "The cousin of the Prince Regent. A much more impressive title than that of the Mountford-Miles'. They are country bumpkins in comparision." He said, leaning back in his chair. "But any title's a title." And he hoped that he'd have his own soon enough.

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darlinganna
2008-07-27 02:17 am UTC (link)

Business? Yes, she really did need to discover exactly what business her dear son was in... She gave him a troubled look. "I do hope you are only referring to me, Harry, and not to any trouble between yourself and your sisters."

She paused at his explanation of Lord Hurst but shrugged, as enough time in the courts of Russia and Italy had somewhat worn away the novelty granted by titles. "Perhaps, but titles and connections hardly guarantee anyone an impressive home or fortune. Nor does it guarantee manners, charm or any other diverting characteristic. Truly, you should meet some of the Russian princes and then speak of country bumpkins with grand titles. Some of the greatest noble families in Italy hold no titles. The Manzonis among them." The Orlavs had had titles aplenty, but Cesare's fortune had far outweight the allure of continuing to hold any of those unweildy Russian words next to her name.

She tilted her head and regarded Harry curiously, momentarily forgetting about Nell. "It is a pity you never met Cesare. I expect you would have liked him very much." Anna sighed. He might have adopted him even. Although trying to picture Harry as a patrician in Italy was perhaps a bit too close to comedy. No, Mary would do far better. Anna watched her son very closely as she spoke of titles. Could it be? The sweet little thing had taken after her after all. She smiled.

"Regardless, darling, you ought to perhaps refrain from speaking quite so harshly of Lord Montford-Miles. He was a dear friend and hardly a bumpkin."

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social_climber
2008-07-27 04:47 am UTC (link)

"I don't know, mother. There's not been any trouble yet that I've noticed. Mary certainly hasn't brought any home, and Ann can manage for herself." He said. "I'm sure Mary thinks she can manage for herself, although I've yet to see any proof that she can."

"I think you've spent too long in foreign parts, mother. A title grants access to the court, and thus to the Prince Regent, and anyone with an amusing wit or good with words can earn his fortune in favours." He told her, hand still stroking over Nell's knee. "And while in Russia and Italy a title may not be the be-all and end-all, over here in England it is still a very appropriate thing to have. And near impossible to achieve for someone born in a Hackney ditch."

"Maybe I would have liked him, mother. But I never really understood what you saw in most of my step-fathers. Even those that were never officially step-fathers. But speaking of the Mountford-Miles, you aren't the only one with friendships in that particular circle."

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