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Tweak says, "K is for Killswitch"

Lord Tobias Hurst, Duke of Devon (lord_hurst) wrote in toujoursliberer,
@ 2008-08-08 21:41:00

Entry tags:

aime_laurent, antoine_laurent, beatrice_stanley, beth_downing, constance_mosley, demetri_blake, georgina_rochester, gwendolyn_linley, harry_fisher, jacques_belmont, katerina_ashcroft, marie_hardwick, melisande_auclair, nell_abbot, patience_hurst, piper, plot, rupert_aveline, sergius_petrov, slater, thaddeus_chadwick, theodore_berteaut, thérèse_du_labarre, tobias_hurst, vivian_thorpe

Lord Hurst: A Ball In His Honour
Item: An invitation sent out by Lord Hurst to many of those in the upper portion of society
Who: Lord Hurst on behalf of Sergius Petrov
Warnings: TBA
Open to: All of the nobility, friends of the Hurst family, those being blackmailed by Sergius, plus Constance, Slater, and Harry.

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social_climber
2008-08-10 05:25 am UTC (link)

Harry had swooped to pick up the shawl at the same moment as the young lady, and so it was only when he straightened up, his fingers leaving the fabric, that he saw and recognised her. "Ah, Lady Gwendolyn!" He smiled, "But I should have expected to see you here, of course. What social gathering is complete without you?" Clearly she'd wanted a drink, why else would she have come to the punch table, but her shawl had distracted her, and so, personifying gentlemanly behaviour, just as he was meant to at these sorts of gatherings, he took a clean glass and filled it for her as she re-arranged her garment.

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lady_gwendolyn
2008-08-10 07:05 pm UTC (link)

"Complete without me?" Lady Gwendolyn asked, deeply flattered. She was probably liked a compliment more than anyone else and was now quite a bit fonder of Harry Fisher than she had been before. "Why none, I hope."

And he was the picture of courtesy. She repinned her shawl and turned to accept her cup. "How have you been, Mr. Fisher? My father and I have been in Ireland this past month-" her expression tightened slightly; she had not seen anything in Ireland to make her even the slightest bit happy "-and I am afraid London is more distant than geographically speaking."

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social_climber
2008-08-11 05:33 pm UTC (link)

"And I know that all social events without you, my dear Lady Gwendolyn, are hideously dull. In your absence, most parties this last month were abandoned." He smiled, unable not to in her presence. "We are all glad you are back. Even the Tories."

Well, that explained her absence. No lover had carried her away, which was good news; it meant at least she was still a prospect. "I am sorry, Gwendolyn. Perhaps next time you go on a journey, you should take company other than your father? Enough of London society perhaps to keep you occupied?" He said, smiling slightly, "I, for one, have missed you. But I can not say I have been idle. Devil finds work, as they say..." And although Harry Fisher's thumbs had been far from idle, he had certainly been busy.

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lady_gwendolyn
2008-08-11 05:55 pm UTC (link)

Lady Gwendolyn was quite charmed and said as much. "My dear Mr. Fisher! You certainly know the best way to win a woman's friendship. You pave the way with such pretty compliments I scarcely care whether they are true or not."

She favored him with a particularly sweet smile. "Ha, invite the Devonshire House Circle to Dublin? No thank you! They would be bored to tears within minutes and Mrs. Crewe would fret herself to pieces at the lack of things to buy! There isn't an ostrich feather to be found! Only bread is scarcer." A shadow seemed to pass over her expression. "Well, Sheridan told me he worked so hard to get away from Ireland he saw no reason to continually drag it up in conversation. How have you been occupying yourself, Mr. Fisher?"

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social_climber
2008-08-12 02:54 pm UTC (link)

"Occupying myself? I am afraid business has been occupying me a great deal, my dear, and I have hardly had a free moment. Between that and my family and my ward, I am afraid I have had little peace- this ball has been my first social outing for several weeks. I feel almost as forgotten by society as you must have felt in Dublin."

"Every kind word said about you, Lady Gwendolyn, is god's own truth." He explained to her, almost sincerely. There was, as with all his dealings with prospective future wives, a pinch more flattery than usual. "And although every man aims to be as good a friend as he can with a woman as magnificant as yourself, I admit friendship is a little less than what I have been ... hoping for." He said, only realising afterwards he was perhaps a little too forward in his speech. "I mean..." He smiled uncomfortably, "Does not every man have aspirations to find and marry the most perfect of women?

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lady_gwendolyn
2008-08-12 04:36 pm UTC (link)

Well.

That was somewhat unexpected.

Lady Gwendolyn stared at Harry, feeling rather as if someone had slipped vodka into her punch. She had offers before, yes, but never one quite so obvious before, or one she was actually inclined to accept. Lady Gwendolyn looked down at her cup, feeling her cheeks warm, and put it on the tray of a passing footman. She snapped open her fan and began to wave it vigorously. "Well, I... you would have to ask my father, you know," she said, suddenly awkward. Where were her prized, carefully cultivated social graces? Lady Gwendolyn cleared her throat. "That is- exceedingly kind... and- and very prettily phrased!" Careful now- it was time to sound him out. "You know, I visited Lady Melbourne before coming. Do you know her? Quite set the fashion for ages- and oh how she knows to manipulate her circumstances! After she had a son by her husband, it was discovered they were very much in debt, so she became the mistress of the Prince of Wales- and she became a viscountess and her husband a viscount. Debts entirely forgiven too. Very prettily managed, I think. Do you agree?"

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social_climber
2008-08-14 03:10 am UTC (link)

Harry was floundering too, mentally kicking himself for being such a miserable fool as to announce his intentions quite so soon and without preparations. Not only foolish, but dangerous, should anyone go sniffing about now, with the eve of war on his hands and his mother now back and... it was possibly the worse time his mouth could have picked to have run away without engaging his brain first.

"Of course you father must be asked, Lady Gwendolyn, as is proper, but I could not speak to him on such a matter without first speaking to you. We would have made a very unhappy match should your father agreed while you thought I was a dreadful bore. Couldn't, ahm, I mean, I could not be having with that." Careful, Harry. You don't want to sound like a Hackney lad in front of an Irish heiress.

"Lady Melbourne? I have heard she is a wonderful soul. I have not had the pleasure of meeting her myself, but she must truly be the most remarkable of wives to have done such a thing to ensure her husband's happiness. Lord Melbourne is an extremely lucky man, and very happy too, I should imagine." He replied to her with a smile, one that said, or at least, he hoped it said, Ah ha. Very politely put.

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lady_gwendolyn
2008-08-14 10:44 am UTC (link)

"Oh, no," said Lady Gwendolyn, still flushed and somewhat awkward. "I- you are not a bore, Mr. Fisher, not in the least." For all love, find some composure, she mentally scolded herself.

She gave him a smile half out of relief at his opinion of Lady Melbourne. "Why, Mr. Fisher! How ton you are! I daresay you would make an excellent duke." No use beating around the bush, was there? Lady Gwendolyn had always been keen on titles. "You would be a credit to the House of Lords- providing you voted with the Whig line?"

She had said it with alarming innocence, almost as a throw-away phrase, but her look at him over the edge of her fan was incredibly shrewd.

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social_climber
2008-08-14 11:10 am UTC (link)

"I am trying my very hardest not to be in anyway boring, Lady Linley. Although they say those who try to hard almost always fail." He smiled, feeling a little better now.

He laughed then, unable not to. "A duke? My dear Lady, I have difficulty imagining myself as a knight, never mind a duke, and I doubt a man such as myself would make a very good one." He said, although in his heart of hearts he could hardly wait to get himself that title, that power and influence.

Ah. Now this was another little trip-wire she had set. "The Whig Line, Lady Gwendolyn? What other alternative is there? Our Prime Minister is a drunkard, and he's running the country into the ground. But I not need tell you of that."

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lady_gwendolyn
2008-08-14 11:45 am UTC (link)

"I daresay you could manage it, with the proper coaching and whatnot." Lady Gwendolyn waved a dismissive fan. He might laugh now, but Lady Gwendolyn was more than keen on being called 'Your Grace' and she was quite sure Mr. Fisher would succumb to the lure of a ducal coronet with sufficent exposure to the idea. "It is not so difficult after all." Careful, now.

"As you probably know, my father has no other children, so my husband would most likely become the next earl of Rosse. From an earl there is a hop up to a marquis and then from a marquis, another leap up to a duke. It might take some time, but it could be very neatly managed."

Lady Gwendolyn folded her fan and flashed him a dazzling smile. Good. He knew his way very well. They should deal famously together. "I have always admired your good sense, Mr. Fisher. It is delightful to see it displayed. I suppose I do not need to tell you I am very forgiving of anything as long as it is kept out of the house and out of the scandal sheets? It would also naturally be ridiculous of me to think a man of your business acumen could not keep me in the style to which I am accustomed."

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social_climber
2008-08-14 01:00 pm UTC (link)

"With coaching, Lady Gwendolyn, a man may achieve anything he desires. Of course, the application of the carrot and the stick works for some more base individuals, but I find that natural competitiveness has taken me far and probably will further. If, of course, it is not too arrogant a thing to admit to. But as a man without title myself, I will rely on your infinite wisdom and grace to guide me." He said with another low bow to her. No harm in piling up the compliments.

"My dear Lady Gwendolyn," Harry smiled, although his was no where near as dazzling as hers, "A man would would not keep you in the comfort and style which you are accustomed, nay, deserve, is not worthy of being in the position to provide for you."

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lady_gwendolyn
2008-08-14 01:47 pm UTC (link)

How very nicely done, Lady Gwendolyn thought, feeling quite pleased with herself and with Mr. Fisher. She held out her hand to him. "Mr. Fisher, I believe we shall suit each other quite admirably. If my father does not object, I would be quite happy to accept your proposition. Here is my hand on it."

How very much like a business transaction, or a political agreement! A little wheedling, a lot of compliments, even more thinly veiled information- and then the grand result would be published in newspapers all over, and Lady Gwendolyn would have to go buy a new dress for the occasion.

Well, there was that. It was always good to have an excuse for a new gown. There was a very pretty ivory brocade she had been saving; she might do something with that. "I suppose we are in agreement, Mr. Fisher?"

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	social_climber 2008-08-15 09:16 am UTC (link)
	Harry smiled, taking her hand and pressing a kiss to it. "I shall try my very hardest to impress your father, my dear Lady Gwendolyn. Of course, if you were to impress upon him my most outstanding qualities, perhaps he would be more willing to grant permission?" He said, although his mind was still whirling. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lady_gwendolyn 2008-08-15 04:15 pm UTC (link)
	"Oh, probably," Lady Gwendolyn replied. She paused, then said, "You do understand me, however, about the scandal sheets? I am extremely anxious on that score; you shall find me everything good-natured and obliging as long as there is no scandal. Rumors have more power than truth, you know." (Reply to this) (Parent)

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