Elizabeth was hard at work setting up an experiment for their newest steam vessel when thin tinkling of the old brass bells on the front door summoned her attention to someone entering. Chester was near by, too, to observe the proceedings, "I'll get it, dear, you keep working, but don't start without me."

"Alright," she replied in a sing-song voice, as she continued to work the wrench in hand. 

A moment later she was done setting the last pressure gage and was ready to get started on the test when Chester returned with a letter in hand. "It seem's we've been invited to a party," He said as he motioned with the letter in hand, "A messenger was at the door, seems like this is an invitation to confirm our previous conversation with the Captain."

"We'll have to make sure we attend then, wont we?" Elizabeth replied as she turned the knob on the gas boiler, turning it up to start producing steam.

"Only if you really want to. This... summons... will delay our own project," He replied, stating the obvious.

"Perhaps, but we have been asked to assist in a sensitive matter by the heads of state, as such we [i]should probably[/i] make an effort to be there, who knows, there may be a time when we need a favor in return, no?"

The water was boiling now and the steam was working its way through the pipes, the periodic gages jumping as the pressure hit them. Once the pressure reached a certain level Chester reached over a flipped a switch on a smaller mechanism that began pumping bellows, compressing the air down to higher pressures before put it into the experimental steam vessel. With each stroke of the pistons a small puff of steam was released. The gages were starting to whistle from the pressure they were experiencing. 

"Time to step behind the curtain, shall we?" Chester said, gesturing for Elizabeth to lead the way. There was a heavy steel sheet wall, with Brick behind it to support it, with a thick pane of glass for a window, that was reinforced with a thin lattice of wire to reinforce the glass.

The gages all screamed in discord now, none of them agreeing on a pitch or a tone. Through the window they could see that the new vessel was starting the shutter and dance around on the pipe. The gage there, the final gage, was a bit special in that whatever the highest pressure experienced was, it would stay in that spot until reset. They watched as it climbed, slowly, past their previous records. Once it peaked Elizabeth pulled on a chain the flipped a valve closed on the tank, stopping any more pressure from entering it while Chester reached over to turn off the pressurizing pistons. The whistles came to a slow stop as the pressure was let off. Elizabeth turned the knobs to shut off the gas from behind the protective wall. They waited for a few minutes there, watching for the signs of a rupture or a leak.

It seems as though they made progress....

The day of the event the couple dressed to match, she in her red silk with black brocade corset on a mask to match, too, her large heavy black skirt in bussels behind her. He in his black suit, black vest, black hat, and red silk shirt. He wore a cape with matching brocade to his wife's corset and a mask that matched as well. They produced their invitations at the door as they made their way inside. They went through the pleasantries and niceties required for such events, greeting the host and well-wishing the birthday girl. They even took the opportunity to dance, too. They hadn't danced in what felt like ages. Elizabeth smiles brightly as Chester counted through the steps. He was a certified genius, he could calculate his way through anything, but he struggled to relax and just.. dance. The song ended, they bowed to one another, turned with the rest of the dancing crowd and gave a polite clap to the band and then swiftly made their way off of the dance floor before the next song began. 

"Shall we join the others in the library?" Chester said, gesturing toward the library hall. Elizabeth nodded and took Chester's offered hand, her silk gloved hand seemed especially delicate this night. Once in side they found a nice chase to sit on and awaited what was to come next.