The Evening After the Night Before

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina reclines on her sofa, idly fanning herself. Normally she'd be hemming at this point in the evening, but in order to have a clear head for the meeting ahead she's decided not to touch her sewing. And anyway, after an evening like yesterday, she figures she's allowed some time off.

Miss Wilkins is bustling round the shop front, putting it to rights after a busy day. She has her orders with regards to the night time visitor Valentina is expecting, but in the meantime, business goes on.

Speaking of the nocturnal guest, Valentina looks down at the note she received and raised an eyebrow again, in wonderment at the note's contents. Normally she'd not have entertained it, but curiosity is a powerful motivator and Valentina is feeling generous.

[Mrs K. Saunders]

Katherine sat in comptemplation whilst slowly being rocked by carriage, considering the meetings she had ahead her this evening. One of great importance for the city and future war effort against the Sword of Caine and the other... well the other. It was time to have a proper conversation with Miss Audley. Despite her haughtiness and being the source of most the absolutely deplorable gossip in the city, last night Katherine had found herself defending her. Katherine was distinctly shocked to find lthat she had done so. She had given it some thought and discovered that she had mostly forgiven Miss Audley for her past misdemeanours. Anyway there were more important enemies to worry about now. Also it was becoming obvious that they could become of use one another over the coming nights.

The carriage comes to a gentle stop and the door is opened. She accepts the offered driver's hand and alights. After giving the driver his fare and a generous tip, she walks to the door of The Silver Thimble. On arrival she takes a deep breath and steels herself, before pushing open the door....

[Valentina Audley]

The bell over the door tinkles merrily, causing Anna Wilkins to look up from the lace collars she's currently packing away. She smiles warmly at Katherine.

"Good evening Mrs Saunders. How delightful to see you again. Miss Audley is expecting you. May I take your coat?" As she talks she's put the collars away and bustled cheerily over to Katherine. Her manner is reminiscent of Jacob Swainswick and her expression is polite, opening and welcoming.

In the inner sanctum, safely out of Katherine's sight, Valentina grins wolfishly to herself. She stands, shaking her skirt gently to settle it to it's best advantage (this evening she is dressed rather opulently in rose pink silk, with fresh roses twined though her hair. Clothing is a weapon and Valentina has taken some pains with her appearance.). She pats her hair and then moves swiftly to the door, opening it and looking into the shop with her sweetest smile.

"Darling, how lovely to see you. Won't you join me in here?"

[Mrs K. Saunders]

"Oh Miss Audley, how wonderful you look this evening. That pink suits you perfectly. How it must be able to be create any dress of your dreams. I thought that Elder Collins treated you terribly yesterday, suggesting that your work was not art."

She looks around, looking for a suitable seat.

Her manner continuing open and friendly..

"Thank you for seeing me at such short notice. I am away to Southampton soon and needed to sort my ball gown before I went. Being an envoy to somewhere as far as Southampton can be a drain on one's time, you are lucky are you not that you only have to travel from Bristol and Bath for most of your envoy business?"

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina leads the way into the cosy inner parlour and gestures to a particularly comfortable looking sofa. As she does so, she's rapidly thinking over what Katherine has said. Southhampton Envoy huh? Well, it's a good role, though she'd bet a minor boon Katherine is not the same kind of envoy as she is.

She settles herself into an armchair near to the sofa she'd offered Katherine and smiles sweetly. "Elder Collins is entitled to his opinion I suppose. Though I must say I find his definitions of Art quite narrow. Still, it would, as they say, be a funny old world if we were all the same and the Elder does seem to be a charming man, doesn't he?" Her tone suggests she's heard similar opinions before and has learned to be amused by them, though possibly the lesson took some time to learn.

"Indeed, I am only the Bristollian Envoy here in Aquae Sulis. My Lady has others with ties to other Domains to fufil the role for her in those places." She laughs cheerfully. "It's lucky or I should have no time at all to attend to my sewing and then where should I be?"

[Mrs K. Saunders]

"Yes, very lucky for so many of us that you get the time. I fear that I maybe travelling even further afield with my diplomatic duties or the Prince in the next six months or so. However no matter I am here now."

She smiles brightly.

"You know I slightly feared that you would not wish to make me another dress. I know that it is silly of me but after how my husband's behaviour at my last fitting well... But no I cannot entirely blame him. I was a nervous, rattled woman when I first entered your shop, with Miss Daye and others fellow clan mates. My capture at the hands of the Sword of Caine was long and terrific. It affected me greatly and perhaps it would have been best if I had delayed my initial trip into town. Can you ever forgive me?"

She gives Miss Audley a faintly nervous smile.

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina arches an eyebrow in surprise.

Aha. The advantage of being the best seamstress in the local vicinity is that people don't tend to stay cross with you for long, lest their seams come undone. Mind you, if she were the Prince she'd probably also take the chance to send Katherine away for long periods of time. Clever of him to frame it so diplomatically. Perhaps her hotheaded dance teacher is learning....

There's a long pause as Valentina eyes her consideringly. On the one hand, she's not particularly keen to forgive uppity neonates who apparently still haven't learnt that proper apologies come with offers of boons. On the other hand... Well, if Dyonisia gives her blessing to Valentina's plan she is going to be propelled into the limelight whether she wills it or not and a reputation for gracious kindness and the ability to overlook others misdeeds is a valuable reputation to have.

"Well darling, I agree that the Sword of Caine are enough to rattle anyone and thus your behaviour is understandable."

She pauses, tilting her head slightly. No, now is the time to be generous.

"I feel I too should apologise for my behaviour. I had not realised your situation and I was ungracious to you. I offer a trivial boon in recompense for my thoughtlessness. Perhaps we can both forgive and forget?"

[Mrs K. Saunders]

Katherine is extremely surprised by Miss Audley's offer of an apology, and the trivial boon. She was about to offer one herself. It may seem like an afterthought now, but she had better show that she understands that her word as a kindred is not enough.

"Oh Miss Audley, thank you. Of course I forgive you and take the boon, you had no idea of my state of mind at that time. I was too about to offer you a trivial boon for my previous behaviour. I hope you will accept it, and then we can start over again?"

Katherine hopes that this will be an end to it all now and they can proceed to the matter of her dress for the ball. She has set her heart on a purple bustle dress, the like of which seems so fashionable at the present time. She looks expectantly at Miss Audley..

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina smiles. Business is business, regardless of personal feelings.

"Indeed darling, I do so accept. And now, let us start afresh. I believe you wish a new gown? To be ready by early October?"

Valentina is reaching for the nearest sketch pad as she speaks. "However darling, this time, let us bargain as Kindred and not Kine, yes?"

She starts to sketch. "I assume the very latest fashion? And if memory serves me, you favour purple with black accents do you not?"

[Mrs K. Saunders]

"Yes, for the ball of course. How clever of you to remember my particular colour choices. I usually add black accents to temper the purple. I am not always so sure that I can carry that vivid a purple with my colouring on its own. But my husband does adore it and loves to see me wear it. However if feel that you have a softer purple that would fit me well, then of I am open to ideas."

She closes her eyes slightly as if trying to imagine her perfect dress.

" I think I would rather a bustle than the full hooped skirt this time. And of course I am happy to make payment in a minor boon, if you feel that that is right reward for your hard work?"