A Shopping Trip

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina listens to the girl's excited chatter indulgently. So Jacob had a tricky customer did he? She knew by the tone of the message. Of course, Anna couldn't possibly know that, which was part of the beauty of the system. Mind you... A second customer wanting a quantity of green gloves in so short a space of time? And a name that could be a Kindred? That was a curiosity...

Bidding Anna deliver the message that, at the current time they were short on darker green gloves due to a large order the preceding week and an offer of custom work if needed, she told the girl to go home after and have an early evening.

She then followed Anna a little way along the corridor, letting the girl's footsteps mask her own. Once Anna was firmly within the room she stole silently closer, neatly dodging the squeaky floorboard and ghosting up to the door. She listens with extreme care, waiting for the voices to resume before sinking into a crouch and listening through the keyhole.

She doesn't look. Looking is for amateurs. Also, it's an odd little fact but looking at someone draws their attention in a way listening does not. So she crouches and listens, aware that Jacob would give her plenty of warning if he intended to come her way which, combined with her ability to move at speed would be perfectly adequate.

[Samuel Taylor]

He nods, some of the wariness leaving his face as the young woman disappears.

"Not quite Mr Swainswick. But close enough, I was hoping you might have some suggestions for suitable garments. I will also place an order for a green shawl if I may."

Readjusting the grip on his cane a slight twist at the corner of his mouth indicates a lancing pain.

Keep up the act Taylor, you've been playing this game long enough.

[Jacob Swainswick]

"I see, sir." Swainswick touched the tips of his fingers together, a gesture mirroring his careful choice of words.

"Your reputation has somewhat preceded you, sir; I hope you'll understand when I say that, had another made such a request, their custom would not have been welcomed. We at the Silver Thimble take our reputation seriously. However, I know that Miss Audley permits certain - latitudes - where one of your estimable calibre is concerned. Rest assured that discretion is important in our trade.

"You'll forgive me, though, for the observation that such a gift would be, ah, remarkably forward under typical circumstances. Your honesty is to your credit, but, ah - I fear I would be derelict in my duty - to you as a customer - were I not to ask, whether the intended recipient of your gift would be, lets us say, shocked, or affronted, by it.

"If you wish to demonstrate your elan in a dashing fashion, why, there are some excellent new designs from Paris which skirt the avante garde - they will turn heads and cause the cognoscenti to nod in appreciation. We would be glad to arrange a fitting were you to offer such garments as a gift.

"But if I am to take your meaning, sir, and do correct me if I'm mistaken - you intend the gift to be one for a more, let us say, private setting?" Swainswick looked thoughtfully at a few of the wooden drawers in the far corner of the room. "We may have a few... discrete items." He took a couple of quick steps in that direction. "Might I ask if you know the recipient's measurements?"

[Samuel Taylor]

Taylor's face hardens, a slight flash in his eyes.

"My reputation has preceded me has it? Well, I am glad to know the Silver Thimble values its customers privacy so well Mr Swainswick"

One eyebrow raises a fraction of an inch, the hand on his cane tightens.

"Your observation is noted. I will see these...discrete items if you please. I'm afraid I cannot offer an exact measurement, however I can offer a general idea."

[Valentina Audley]

Safely hidden behind the door, Valentina rolls her eyes. Does he want to be thrown out and a constable summoned? Can he really not understand that, had Jacob not been a ghoul, he'd have been barred for life on the grounds of extreme indecency?

She ponders briefly sweeping in and pointing that out, then decides not to. She's had her fill of teaching uppity neonates just recently, by fair means or foul. Her mouth curves in a smile as she thinks that.

Also... That's the second green item he wanted for a lady. The only kindred lady Valentina can think of who is so attracted to green is... Christine. Well, well well... She'll have to think on that.

[Jacob Swainswick]

"Very well, sir." Swainswick turned on his heel and strode to the front door of the shop; an instant later the sound of the bolt being shot could clearly be heard.

"For some privacy, sir," he explained, crossing again to the fafr corner of the room. "I hope you'll forgive me if I offer two further observations, Doctor Taylor." (The drawers were slid from their shelves, and the young man set them upon the counter.) "The first is this: I would urge you to consider the benefit of a little white lie.

"We do guard our customers' privacy, sir. But, should you consider to go looking further afield, I would urge you to rethink your story. A discrete request on the behalf of a spouse will be met with discretion in response; but to claim otherwise is to invite interest, outrage, and - potentially - scandal. Now, you may consider the tattle of shop-hands to be beneath you; but these things have a way of percolating. If a reputation for vulgarity attaches itself to you, there is a danger that it may attach to any lady seen in your company. I assure you, the intimation of wantonness is not one that is relished by any lady."

The tailor didn't seem to be anything other than earnest in his exhortations. He pulled back the muslin covers of the drawers' contents as he spoke.

"Please, Doctor, if you will," he invited.

It was clear that he had more to offer on the subject.

[Samuel Taylor]

Taylor's eyes close. For several moment he is stood stock still, the only movement the slight tremor in his malformed leg.

Dammit Taylor. Play the game. Your not in the Surgery anymore, you cannot afford blunt talk.

His eyes snap open, the gleam gone. He takes several steps forward to look at the items on the table.

"I hope you will forgive the bluntness Mr Swainswick. I spend rather a large amount of time amongst the most poor and downtrodden in society. Your advice is appreciated, although I rather doubt I shall be going further afield with my purchases. It is something of a....special case."

Taylor's hand flexes on his cane, his eyes roll back into his head and when he speaks his voice is rougher, deeper.

"The Beasts know her, your lady. They seek....always seeking."

As suddenly as the change came over him, it ends. Taylor's eyes return to normal as does his voice. He keeps examining the items like nothing had happened.

[Jacob Swainswick]

Concern flashed across Swainswick's face.

"Are you quite alright, Doctor Taylor?"

[Samuel Taylor]

"Hmm? I feel quite fine Mr Swainswick. Should I not?"

His expression is curious as he tilts his head to focus his intention on Swainswick.

[Jacob Swainswick]

"You seemed to have something of a queer turn."