“Samuelson Donates Large Sum to Church”
The weekly crinkled softly under my fingers as I read beneath the headline. Ten thousand pounds of a sum apparently. “All for the benefit of the disease and poverty stricken,” and likely his ego. Most of us men could give two arms and a leg without making so much as the physician’s patient list, let alone the community paper.
There was a soft knock on the guestroom door, pulling me from my thoughts. I looked up just in time for my cousin, Charles Lettington, to stumble into the room, his arms laden with boxes and clothing.
"Sorry it took so long," he chuckled, crossing the room and dropping it all on the bed next to me, "My dear wife apparently rearranged some of my storage yesterday."
I folded the paper and tucked it in my jacket with a smile, "She has you wrapped around her finger doesn't she?"
He shrugged helplessly and I chuckled. Then, turning my attention to the pile, I found a neatly-pressed tailed coat and held it up. It looked the perfect size and held the scent of fresh, expensive fabric. I shook my head; leave it to Charles to go this far. Get an idea in that man's head and there was no other fate for it but to become reality.
"I can see you've been busy," I observed.
He nodded and then ran a hand through his orange hair with a sigh, "I suppose you could say that." But then his weariness melted away as a teasing smile inched across his face, "Of course, the rest of it is your chore now."
I laughed and set the coat back down, moving to the other articles, "And you have all confidence that this won't mar your livelihood in any way?"
He only smiled, "I'll let you get dressed and then we'll decide at that ball tonight."
I had just enough time to pull on the pinstriped trousers, polished boots, and white shirt before he was back again. This time with even more little accessories.
"Where did you get all this?" I grinned, buttoning my collar.
He looked up at me, a mischevious look on his square face, and shrugged, "Here and there. But as far as you're concerned, it was purchased from a high-class tailor back in London."
"Right," I smiled, now turning to the seperate cuffs on my sleeves. The clean fabric felt unusually soft on my skin so I knew most of it must've been recently purchased. He'd obviously looked into backing up the story. And as much as I hated to admit it and as much as I knew he wouldn't, my case would be hopeless without his help.
Once the collar was finished, I looked through the various waistcoats laid out. Most were made of smooth silk and had neat designs so either choice would've been fine, but I eventually decided on a silver one and pulled it over my shoulders as Charles continued his drill.
"The ball tonight will be of vital importance to our success if we want to get this whole plan off the ground. First impressions go a long way so you'll need to establish yourself to the locals positively."
I finished with the black buttons then moved to the coat.
"In order to do this I would suggest common curtesies. Don't stand too idle for too long or they'll think you dull. But don't dance too many dances or you'll be found impudent for your type. Be polite to the ladies, professional to the gentlemen and smile often without seeming overly amused."
"So, simply put," I smirked and pulled on a pair of white gloves, "I am breath without using my lungs."
Charles laughed and handed me a top hat, "Precisely. It's all a great balancing act really. But the main principle is just to keep your common sense and wits about you. Do all that you can to maintain your reputation."
"And just what sort of reputation am I maintaing?" I asked, turning to the round mirror that hung on the wall and adjusting the hat to a perfect tilt.
"An educated, young bachelor of noteworthy integrity and an income of at least fifteen-thousand pounds."
I took hold of the pocket watch and walking stick he held out for me with a sneer; That was quite a name for a liar in debt.
The weekly crinkled softly under my fingers as I read beneath the headline. Ten thousand pounds of a sum apparently. “All for the benefit of the disease and poverty stricken,” and likely his ego. Most of us men could give two arms and a leg without making so much as the physician’s patient list, let alone the community paper.
There was a soft knock on the guestroom door, pulling me from my thoughts. I looked up just in time for my cousin, Charles Lettington, to stumble into the room, his arms laden with boxes and clothing.
"Sorry it took so long," he chuckled, crossing the room and dropping it all on the bed next to me, "My dear wife apparently rearranged some of my storage yesterday."
I folded the paper and tucked it in my jacket with a smile, "She has you wrapped around her finger doesn't she?"
He shrugged helplessly and I chuckled. Then, turning my attention to the pile, I found a neatly-pressed tailed coat and held it up. It looked the perfect size and held the scent of fresh, expensive fabric. I shook my head; leave it to Charles to go this far. Get an idea in that man's head and there was no other fate for it but to become reality.
"I can see you've been busy," I observed.
He nodded and then ran a hand through his orange hair with a sigh, "I suppose you could say that." But then his weariness melted away as a teasing smile inched across his face, "Of course, the rest of it is your chore now."
I laughed and set the coat back down, moving to the other articles, "And you have all confidence that this won't mar your livelihood in any way?"
He only smiled, "I'll let you get dressed and then we'll decide at that ball tonight."
***
I had just enough time to pull on the pinstriped trousers, polished boots, and white shirt before he was back again. This time with even more little accessories.
"Where did you get all this?" I grinned, buttoning my collar.
He looked up at me, a mischevious look on his square face, and shrugged, "Here and there. But as far as you're concerned, it was purchased from a high-class tailor back in London."
"Right," I smiled, now turning to the seperate cuffs on my sleeves. The clean fabric felt unusually soft on my skin so I knew most of it must've been recently purchased. He'd obviously looked into backing up the story. And as much as I hated to admit it and as much as I knew he wouldn't, my case would be hopeless without his help.
Once the collar was finished, I looked through the various waistcoats laid out. Most were made of smooth silk and had neat designs so either choice would've been fine, but I eventually decided on a silver one and pulled it over my shoulders as Charles continued his drill.
"The ball tonight will be of vital importance to our success if we want to get this whole plan off the ground. First impressions go a long way so you'll need to establish yourself to the locals positively."
I finished with the black buttons then moved to the coat.
"In order to do this I would suggest common curtesies. Don't stand too idle for too long or they'll think you dull. But don't dance too many dances or you'll be found impudent for your type. Be polite to the ladies, professional to the gentlemen and smile often without seeming overly amused."
"So, simply put," I smirked and pulled on a pair of white gloves, "I am breath without using my lungs."
"And just what sort of reputation am I maintaing?" I asked, turning to the round mirror that hung on the wall and adjusting the hat to a perfect tilt.
"An educated, young bachelor of noteworthy integrity and an income of at least fifteen-thousand pounds."
I took hold of the pocket watch and walking stick he held out for me with a sneer; That was quite a name for a liar in debt.
No comments:
Post a Comment