Pink champagne on Ice

[Gwendolyn Vane-Tempest]

It had been some times she was at the Humphrey Mavis Estate, and Countess Adinbury was pleased by the change of scene and the breadth of attendees. She rarely attended any sort of Muggle ball these days, her husband and family were so engrained in magic life, that with the exception of a few select court events, usually where Charlotte would be present, and society events were her absence would have been notable, she attended mostly magical events, and balls. It was an odd realisation that she had quite clearly chosen her allegiances and it wasn’t where she would have suspected.

Fitzhugh had rather happily stowed himself in a conversation with a rather drab member of the house of Lords whose wife was a particular bore, and Gwen wasn’t in the mood to suffer her simpering and excused herself to sidle up to a lady with whom she was only a little familiar, and who she rather liked the idea of getting to know a little better. ’Well My dear Miss Sleptova, I see you are taking rather well to your hosting responsibilities.’ her smile was Gwen’s usual calculated, cat like grin, like at any moment she might begin to purr in satisfaction with herself. However, it was genuine, she didn’t know Miss Sleptova well, and as a future new member of the nobility it was of interest to Gwen to get the measure of the other.

Gwen had been at events like this her whole life, nobility, and it’s trappings were not a heavy burden for her to bear and generally she wore her self assurance like a heavy coat, comfortable and assured of it’s fit and suitability.


Dress

Invitational – we talked about recon but this seems kinda perfect @’Eva Sleptova’ @'ELLORY PENDERGAST'

  

[Eva Sleptova]

The only bad thing about being the hosts future daughter-in-law was that she'd have to attend the event for longer than she would otherwise have to. At some point during the evening, a common friend to Eva and the Humphrey-Mavises had arrived with her husband, with a dress whose embroidery seemed to be moving to the rythmn of the music and she'd commented that the ball at Lytton's was doing that to clothes. Eva had then remarked that it sounded lovely and that she wanted to drop by later on and Lady Esterwick had made a not so subtly asked her if she was going to leave Frederick alone.

She'd excused herself to get a second cocktail, when a woman she vaguely recognized as a fellow magical member of the nobility approached her. Be it her spoiled mood, or the way that woman smiled, but Eva felt very on-guard about the interaction. Had she overheard her and Lady Esterwick's 'conversation' and come to make a jab at it?

"Oh, if you see me relaxed it is because I am relieved of them, Lady Adinbury," Eva commented with a reserved but friendly smile. "Lady Esterwick is the hostess, not I." As if the uppity Lady Esterwick would even allow her to co-host with her. "Are you enjoying yourself?"

wearing

  

[Gwendolyn Vane-Tempest]

Gwen smiled, as Miss Sleptova gave a most diplomatic answer, she would do very well in the shark tank that was noble life. While the H-M’s were nice people, and permissive by noble standards, there were others who would give her hell for not being born ‘one of them,’ Gwens own mother had been subjected to some rather passive aggressive treatment from some quarters when she had married her father. She gave a light laugh, and her cat like eyes flicked to the current Lady Eastwick who stood talking on the other side of the hall. She too had married in as a commoner without rank or title to recommend her, a marriage of true affection and fitting personalities – but sometimes Gwen thought the woman rather overcompensated and her behaviour towards those ‘beneath’ herself was sometimes evidence of it – or that was Gwens opinion at least

She turned her eyes back to the future Lady Eastwick, and soon to be Lady Corcrest. ’I would enjoy the respite while you can’ Gwen said, her voice lowered between the two women, ’One day all the strife and headaches of such events will mean they offer more aggravation than enjoyment.’ that was true enough, Gwen tried to avoid any and all requirements to host balls simply because of the social anxiety they generated. She’d prefer a hunting party , or whist weekend, any day. ’Have you set a date for your wedding yet Miss Sleptova?’ she asked, both women well aware that the Lady Eastwicks demanding influence would abate – at least somewhat when the two held equal marriage stations, even if their noble stations were still ajarred. Gwen had experienced a similar sensation with her own husband, it was astounding how much aggravation one could avoid simply by saying ‘I do.’

  

[Eva Sleptova]

A social creature by nature, Eva didn't view hosting as a tiring activity. She was enough of a social butterfly and a control freak to enjoy it. Pet's coming out garden party had been hard work and it had pushed Eva's own wedding back a few months, but she hadn't regretting taking up the challenge of hosting it. In the end, everything had gone smoothly, even if Pet hadn't seemed to enjoy it as much as Eva would have liked.

Lady Adinbury was trying to be nice and helpful with her words but Eva, being suspicious of her already, couldn't help but wonder if this was a subtle jab about her not being capable enough. Lady Esterwick had told her, on numerous occasions, that being a hostess wasn't easy, especially when you had to worry about both wizards and muggles. The Humphrey-Mavises were known as somewhat anti-social by muggle society, but Eva would still have to acrobat in that social scene. That would mean having to adopt an intricate tale to conceal her magical nature.

"We are thinking about sometime in the winter," Eva replied. They could have married in August, hadn't it been for Pet's coming out. Eva didn't like to rush things, even if there were times when she could be Freddie's wife already. "I've always found winter weddings to be rather charming."

  

[Gwendolyn Vane-Tempest]

’How lovely’ she said, ’My sister had a winter wedding, it was very festive’, Miss Sleptova had not been engaged to Frederick when her elder sister had been married. The H-M’s had been in attendance of course, it had been a rather nice affair with lots of themed staging and ice sculptures. It hadn’t been to Gwen’s taste but then her own wedding had been simple, as simple as she could make it without inviting the consternation of society. The church, the dress, and the wedding breakfast had been most of the requirements.

’I can recommend a good dressmaker and warn you off a certain hair stylist’ she said, rolling her eyes. ’I thought I would hire in a new girl, french rather than my usual maid – you know something different for the day of’ she had her glass of champagne refilled by a passing waiter and took a drink before snapping open her fan to cool her face. ’my hair was a disaster when she was finished, a veritable birds nest-I could have been crucioed her on the altar of the Abby, in front of the archbishop and I there isn’t a jury in England who would have found me guilty.’ she was of course exaggerating, but her hair had been a mess until her own maid had put it to rights.

The speed of Gwens fanning increased, she felt horridly warm, the party was far too crowded and as a rather snooty looking Dowager gave the women stink eye Gwen shot a faux simpering smile back. ’It’s a shark tank Miss Sleptova,’ she used her fan to gesture to the room of nobles and their families. ’all they need is the faintest whiff of blood in the water.’

  

[Eva Sleptova]

"How horrid!" Eva commented at the hair tale. She didn't comment on the dressmaker offer. She'd already secured a Lytton gown for that occasion, thanks to her father's offer. She didn't think that Lady Adinbury would have anyone better to suggest, or anyone that Eva didn't already know, if they were that good.

Their conversation had been pleasant enough, until Lady Adinbury suddenly got all serious and solemn for some reason. Eva's eyes widened as she started going on about sharks. Now, it wasn't unusual for more experienced people to warn those with less experience to those, but that had come rather out of the blue. Was Lady Adinbury trying to scare her?

Well, she was succeeding. Eva was a bit tipsy, making her vulnerable and she had had that unpleasant interaction with the Countess! "That's good to know." Eva commented awkwardly, shifting her gaze around the room. She suddenly felt rather self-conscious, as if she was being stared at. Did Lady Adinbury know of some... mean-spirite private joke about Eva amongst the nobles?

  

[Gwendolyn Vane-Tempest]

Given that her own wedding had been of significant interest at court, what with her fathers muggle connections, she hadn’t been able to wear a magical gown for her wedding, and Lyttons, the current go-to for magical dresses hadn’t been established the lace for her own dress had been designed by William Dyce, and the dress itself had been made by Mary Bettans – it had been something of a triumph for her mother to secure the design and services, despite their age at the time., but the Countess had been rather making a point at the time.

’I apologise Miss Sleptova for my moroseness, there is a reason I spend more of my time in magical society than at court,’ she explained with a small smile at the other woman. ’I don’t much care for court society and take little enjoyment in it.’.


She cleared her throat, and broadened her smile, as she placed a hand on the other woman’s arm, ’You however, have connected yourself to a fine family, one of the finer ones I should say.’. She took a sip of her champagne, ’and I wouldn’t take the Lady Eastwick to heart – there is something peculiar between mothers and sons, everyone with an elder brother experiences it sooner or later –no matter how old they get they will always be a little boy in their eyes’ she added – her own mother had been the same, she had been very harsh with her brothers wife, up until the day they married, as though testing her fortitude and resolve. ’It shouldn’t surprise me if she was making sure you were up to the challenge, you will simply have to show her you are.’

  

[Eva Sleptova]

Lady Adinbury was making it sound like the British aristocracy consisted of cannibals and satanists. Eva was feeling anxious about entering that world, but she was also a firm believer of every social scene being difficult, to someone who was too weak to handle it. All people were like sharks. The only difference with the aristocracy and the magical upper class society was that Eva knew how to handle the latter. She held a good position in the latter. She was the daughter of a popular Hogwarts professor, she was friendly with many and she was known for being a party girl and a fashion lover. In the English court, however, she was just some random Russian girl who got lucky by finding herself a titled English husband.

She smiled as Lady Adinbury spoke about Lady Esterwick, less awkwardly this time though she was still feeling growing anxiety over it. What she described sounded very much like her own father's feelings about Eva. God, Freddie had been a hero with putting up with him in order to win her hand. She only fully realized how difficult it must have been for him until she had to start dealing with his mother, which was after they were engaged.

"I don't suppose you have any advice to give me on that?" Eva asked politely enough, fanning herself slightly. Lady Adinbury seemed keen on educating her on the hardships of life! And, Eva would never admit it, but she wouldn't mind receiving some advice. She didn't really have anyone else to turn to. Ustinya, she supposed, might have some experience about marrying into a family that hated her, but there was no way in hell Eva would ever use her help.

  

[Gwendolyn Vane-Tempest]

She had little doubt that Miss Sleptova would do well among the nobility, she was pretty, petite, and had all the necessary diplomacy and tact needed to survive, if not thrive –she had no doubt that the Viscount wouldn’t have picked a woman who wasn’t made of the right metal for the job.

Gwen smiled, ’Never let them see you sweat.’ she told Eva, but then her face softened, ’and remember that it’s worth it,’ she pointed to where the Viscount Corchrest stood across the room with other gentleman. ’for him, that if you love them, and they love you, that’s more than most people get in this life, and there is almost nothing that can’t be borne with the right partner’ she said honestly, her face losing its usual cool, detached, and practiced smile for the first time this evening, as her eyes found Fitzhugh where he sat with a few of the muggle nobles drinking whiskey. He laughed at a joke told by one of his friends, and caught Gwens eyes, flashing a smile and a nod in her direction, she smiled back.

With a deep breath she turned back to Miss Sleptova, ’You might want to kill his in laws, you might want to run away and join some gypsys, some days you might want to kill him, but all in all its worth it.’ she acknowledged. 'Are your family happy with the match?' amoung muggles many families would have sold a child into slavery to marry another into nobility, but Wizards, and Foreign ones at that could be less impressed by a title that represents fealty to a monarch who until recently had been very distant to the magical world. 'I do hope the viscount passes muster?' she joked.


@'Eva Sleptova'

  

[Eva Sleptova]

Eva didn't like the sound of wanting to run away from her husband or wanting to murder him. She blissfully believed that they were a love match and that it would remain as such until the day they died. Suddenly, however, she remembered all those books she'd read over the years, where a previously loving couple grew apart. What if that happened between her and Freddie?

"They wouldn't consent to our marriage if they weren't," Eva replied. Were they actually happy, though? Her father had shown her how he felt about Freddie. Eva had had to give up her inheritance to be allowed to marry Freddie. Pet supported it, she supposed.

"I think I am going to get myself a new cocktail," Eva suddenly declared. Her mood had been spoiled - she needed to clear her head a bit.