Home » The Archives » Chapter 9 » Regrouping and Recouperation
| Re: Regrouping and Recouperation [message #260 is a reply to message #259] |
Mon, 23 July 2012 15:48   |
artisticrainey
Messages: 1228
Registered: July 2012
Location: Northern Ireland
Karma:
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Field Commander
Switzerland |
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A half hour before Virgil's party was to commence, Heather put on the dark red ruby necklace that came with her dress. Other than the diamond necklace she'd rescued from basement of her home, it was all she had. Looking in the mirror in her bedroom, she mused that if it had been a party put on by her mother or one of her mother's high society friends, she'd be dripping in diamonds from her ears, her neck, and on her wrist and fingers. Martha had told her over and over how the women of her circle would judge her by the wealth she wore. It was one of the things that had pushed Heather to leave her mother's influence, but it still seemed strange to wear so little when she was used to wearing so much. Surely this was going to be an entirely upscale party. Well, they'll have to simply accept me as I come. I don't think they would judge me by what I wore anyway, she thought to herself.
Heather recognized Jeff Tracy talking with a woman with perfectly coiffed, platinum blonde hair. Fascinated, Heather appreciated the black satiny floor length dress with a black pashmina wrap around her shoulders. Kat identified her as Lady Penelope. So she's Lady Penelope. What a beautiful wrap. They're so hard to get, and they're so soft and warm. I'm envious! Heather sighed to herself. First chance I get I'm ordering at least two of those. Perhaps Lady Penelope will tell me what store she purchased that from. Even with the windows closed, she felt chilled all the same.
After Kat excused herself to talk to the exquisitely dressed woman with the pashmina and Gordon continued on with his video reporting, Heather was left on her own. Looking around carefully, she eyed the wet bar. Walking over to it, passing pockets of happy partygoers, Heather met an odd looking gentleman, dressed in a tuxedo with tails.
"M' name is Parker, Miss," he said in a thick English accent. "What's your pleasure?"
"My name is Heather, Parker, and I'd like a seltzer with lemon and a little bit of sugar."
Parker bowed politely and went to put the ingredients in a tall empty glass. "Ice, Miss Heather?"
"Yes, please," she answered. As Parker put all the ingredients in a shaker, she took a few moments to study the loosely gathered pockets of people. Accepting the glass, she walked outside to the balcony to observe the rest of the party out on the patio. Gordon was slipping in and out of the small groups while firing his camcorder. He was easy to follow from her vantage point.
As she heard Kat's voice singing a tune, the bubbly aquanaut aimed the camera first at Virgil whose thick brown waves rippled in the breeze. He waved at the camera with practiced grace. "Oh, come on, Virgil! Do something--spontaneous!"
Virgil shook his head, saying something that had everyone laughing. Gordon continued on until Scott became his next target. Scott stood straight and tall with a strong, confident stance. His arms were folded and his gaze was intent on the speaker.
He looks pretty darn good in that tuxedo, too. Then again, they all do. As one of the guests that Heather didn't know left Scott's side, he suddenly turned and looked her way. When their eyes met, he smiled at her which warmed her. She raised her glass to him. He waved for her to come down. Mindful of her dress, she stepped onto the stairway with glass in one hand and her other hand on the railing.
Looking up at her, he became nervous of her tripping and Scott moved quickly to the stairway, taking the steps two at a time until he reached her. Taking her drink in his right hand, he took her hand in his left and supported her down the steps until they reached the patio. With an inward sigh, he gave her the glass back.
"I saw that alarmed look on your face. Honestly, if men didn't insist on women dressing to the nines, we wouldn't have this problem." Heather laughed.
"But then we wouldn't have any desire to come to your rescue. You ladies have to understand that we men need to feel needed."
Having taken all the pictures Gordon felt he wanted at the moment, he walked over to where Scott and Heather stood. "Mind if I cut in?" he asked. "Hi, Heather."
"Hi, Gordon," said Heather. Excusing himself, Scott went off to talk to someone else, while Gordon took over.
"You look mau-ve-lous!" he said, giving her an appreciative look. She had a strange urge to search for a pair of shears as his free hand slipped into his ginger colored hair to comb it off his face. "I love the dress!"
"I love your tux!" she responded with her most winning smile.
"Marry me!"
"Give me a call, and we'll set the date."
"I'm buying an island," he replied.
"I'm buying a bikini!"
As Gordon began to realize he had discovered a friend with a temperament much like his own, or someone who at least understood him, Tin-Tin appeared.
"Heather! I'm so glad you decided to come. I wasn't sure you would since you haven't been here that long." Tin-Tin wore an intense red dress with what looked like the brush work of Chinese calligraphy down the right side. "What is it you're drinking? It looks good."
Laughing, she answered, "Nothing but a seltzered lemonade. It looks flashy, makes everyone I'm talking to comfortable, and I don't get drunk. I save the real drinking for near the end of the party."
"Shall I take you around for introductions?"
"Right with you."
Post by AmandaTracy on 2/5/2007
  
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