An Evening Visit

[Valentina Audley]

"It would please me enormously darling!" Valentina assures the girl. She notes the girls sudden shyness around Jacob and smiles, nothing would come to pass and yet, some things can be bought to pass, by careful guidance.

"Are you feeling well enough to make it home, or should Mr Swainswick summon a cab for you?"

[Selena Ash]

"I-" a glance to Alberts. "That would be lovely, thank you," Selena smiled. "I would like to think my feet will carry me home, but on the off chance they do not, that may be wise."

[Jacob Swainswick]

"Immediately, of course."

The tinkle of the shop bell announced Jacob's departure.


It was but a few minutes' work to procure a cab; for the night was still relatively young, and traffic busy. Silvered cirrus clouds wreathed the moon, whose light limned the panes of establishments along the street; Jacob smiled to himself at the thought of the pretty lunar creature ensconced within his own small domain.

That poetic reflection was somewhat marred by the Southerly breeze, which brought on it a pungent reminder that the other side of the river was doing its usual sordid business under that same monochrome light. Swainswick whistled to flag down a dark Brougham, its driver a surly-looking fellow with large muttonchops. After a brief exchange Swainswick turned to the door of the Thimble, pausing only briefly as an uncanny howl echoed through the streets.

"Woah, Marshal," the driver clicked to his startled horse. "Those d-mned dogs, eh?" he cackled at Jacob, hawking a gob of phlegm into the street. "D-mned things won't shurrup t'night."

It was with some relief that the young man stepped back into the warm glow of the shop, in time to catch their unexpected guests' farewells.

[Valentina Audley]

Now to make as sure of things as she can. As Jacob departs Alberts politely follows him as far as the hallway, so that the young ladies can say their goodbyes.

Left alone again, Valentina smiles at the other girl and holds her hands out.

"Oh darling, you will come again won't you? It's been wonderful to see you!" She sighs with pretended regret. "Alas, the shop keeps me too busy to take calls in the day but I make what time I can in the evenings." She brightens again, "if you want to be sure of my being free, please drop by in advance and Mr Swainswick can always book that evening off for me in the diary."

She sounds happy, hopeful and just a trifle anxious. Everything a well heeled young lady saying goodbye to a new friend should be and then seems to realise something.

"My dear Miss Ash, will you perhaps permit me to call upon you one evening?"