A Change of Business

[Valentina Audley]

Oh good grief. She'd forgotten the effort training a new ghoul up to standard took. Was it really worth it? She asked herself as she took in the dejected countenance before her. Critically she assessed him again, softening slightly as she gazes on the handsome face and well cut suit.

Give him time she reminded herself - it took Helen much longer to grasp some of her duties and in the end she'd have a good pair of hands to leave the Kine orders in. A pretty pair of hands as well, her gaze lingered on his hands for a moment and she wondered idly how they'd look taking off his shirt, would his long fingers slip the buttons through the crisp cotton confidently or would he hesitate and take his time... And she then scolded herself for getting distracted. There would be time for play, later. Attend to business first.

"Do sit down darling, you look so very tall from down here.." She smiles at him, her tones softened and pats the pouffe in front of her.

[Jacob Swainswick]

"Yes, of course."

The request presented something of a quandary: the pouffe being positioned rather close to the sofa. He couldn't very well move it backward; one slight was one too many for the night. He made to sit facing her, fidgeting minutely at first, since their relative arrangements would require him to spread his legs in a frankly obscene fashion. What are society's mores, to one such as her? he thought, and then, but she has such an easy grace. In truth, the manner in which she artfully pushed the bounds of propriety was more intoxicating than the occult secret that she'd confided to him.

In the end he settled for a rather side-saddle pose, twisting from the waist to attend upon his mistress.

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina suppressed a giggle as she watched his dilemma. It did more to improve her mood than the contrite looks of earlier and she leans back a little, the smile on her face widening a little as he settles himself.

"Now then darling, in addition to your day time duties, there are some things we should go over for once the sun has set..."

She pauses, both to gauge his reaction and to weigh up her words carefully.

"Some of our night time visitors, will, regrettably, not be here to buy from us. How good is your memory?"

[Jacob Swainswick]

"Good enough, Miss Audley."

A realisation began to dawn. Some of our night-time visitors...

I'll be otherwise disposed tomorrow morning, she'd laughed, the first evening when they'd met. That had seemed by chance: Smith had introduced him as an earnest and ambitious young man seeking a suitable position. Her conversation was delightful: intelligent, challenging, stimulating. At the time, it had left him more determined to make something of himself. That it was an interview, he'd only realised after the fact. Later, when she'd told him the truth, he could not view her as a fiend or a she-devil: she was many things, a far deeper enigma, but not that. Dangerous, certainly. He could hardly deny her magnetism: she was seldom from his thoughts. A creature of the night, the penny dreadfuls might have it; but hardly Satanic. Did she shun the daylight? But if she could exist, why, then -

"There are others," he said. Not a question.

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina smiled, pleased at his quickness.

"But of course darling. I should be all on my lonesome otherwise, would I not?"

She absentmindedly smoothed out her skirt as she thought.

"Amongst our kind there are various, families, if you will. I am of the family identified as the Rose." She gives him a side long glance.

"We are known for our love of pretty things and obviously as those best at the social graces, though of course we should not say as much about ourselves to the other families. For the next few months I have offered that any of the Rose who need to contact the others may use this shop to leave messages at. None of these messages should be written down, unless they are handed to you as a letter or you are specifically requested to do so, so I shall need you to be able to memorize such messages until such time as I am here to receive them."

She leans forward a little.

"It is important to note that you will likely not be able to tell those of the Rose from any of the other families and therefore you must be unfailingly polite to all visitors after the sun has set. With that in mind, those of a scruffy disposition are not to be admitted to the shop, under any circumstances."

She laughs, remembering her trip south of the river.

"Further more there is... An unusual set of garments in the third drawer from the bottom in the fourth cabinet along on in the workroom. I require them to be cleaned, but not in association with the shop. Are you with me so far?"

A few instructions slipped in there, time to see if he could keep up with the meanings behind the polite phrases.

[Jacob Swainswick]

"I am, yes. I'll attend to those tomorrow."

His gaze flicked down in thought. When he looked up, the quirk of her eyebrow seemed to invite the question.

"Without wishing to interrupt, Miss Audley: those unsuitably attired - will the withholding of an invitation suffice? Are there other precautions one might take, that won't give offence to our wanted guests?"

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina has a momentary vision of the shop bedecked in silver and religious ornamentation and giggles.

"Regrettably not darling. You should, for all attempts and purposes treat them as much as you would any other unsuitably attired person calling at the shop after hours. That is to say, politely but disdainfully unless you have good reason to do otherwise."

Her smile turns momentarily darker. "I shall be sure to tell you if you have good reason. With that thought in mind, should a Mr George Williamson call, no matter in what finery he attires himself in, he is not to be admitted. You may accept a message from him but that is the limit of your interaction with him." She pauses briefly then adds "should he refer to me by any name other than Miss Valentina Audley you may claim not to know who he is talking about."

She looks down then back at him, concern for him written across her face, her eyes as large and appealing as she can make them. "I shouldn't like for you to be sucked into unsuitable company darling and Mr Williamson and his companions are most definitely unsuitable company for a fine young man such as yourself. You must promise me to tell me as soon as you possibly can if any one like that puts in an appearance here."

[Jacob Swainswick]

"Of course, I swear it."

Jacob's heart quickened. In part that was for the look his mistress favoured him with as she declared her concern; but also the thrill of this new situation. He felt on the threshold of an initiation into a deeper mystery.

"I shall not fail you with my attention to these duties, Miss Audley.

"If I may make so bold, though - you mentioned an unpleasantness earlier. Are these new arrangements somehow related? If there is any further way I could be of further assistance - you must consider me at your service, of course."

[Valentina Audley]

Very quick indeed. Valentina hoped his discretion was as good as his deductive reasoning but decided the question merited an answer of sorts. Better to have him thinking this over than other seamstresses employment.

"Indeed darling. Things have been somewhat strained between my family and some of the other families of late, though we are of course, working to rectify the situation. It will take some little time though and until things are on a more even keel, more care needs to be taken."

She smiles gently at him.

"Which reminds me. Darling, again for your safety I really must ask that you only go out in the day time. Now you are aware of those who conduct their business in darkness there could be some little trouble for you, until I have spoken with others about your employment." She hesitates, then turns the beseeching eyes on again.

"And you will be careful even in daylight, won't you?"

[Jacob Swainswick]

"I'll take the utmost care."

He stood, quickly, pacing to the centre of the room, favouring her with his most serious look.

"I will, of course, do as you ask. Ah! My own safety has to be of a secondary consideration, though, Miss Audley. If things are as strained as you intimate, would it not be better if I were to accompany you? That is," he added, quickly, blushing slightly, "in the capacity of a manservant or somesuch."