[h2]R O W E N A[/H2]
[hr][hr]
Rowena watched as the rest of the people Adrianna had contacted began to filter into the library. She greeted Alexander Amidale fondly as he entered, murmuring a quiet "well, of [i]course[/i]" to him as he moved away. Next came Arsenio, who appeared to be, well, a [i]child[/i]; Adrianna had been kind enough to inform Rowena of his true nature, although Rowena was not entirely sure about the idea. 

Alas, the Supreme Commander had approved, and so Arsenio was here. [i]Damn that man to hell,[/i] Rowena thought to herself, dryly. 

Rowena stood up and meandered her way over to Adrianna, who gave her a questioning look. 

"How's your cousin?" Rowena asked cheerfully.

Adrianna paused. "I-[i]what[/i]? Rowena, what are you talking about?"

Rowena plowed on ahead, ignoring the incredulous look that Adrianna shot her way. "What's his name? John? Jackson? Jacob! Captain Chesterfield."

"Rowena, what does my cousin have anything to do with-"

Rowena resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Adrianna had never been particularly [i]perceptive[/i] to these sorts of things. [i]Nobody would ever accuse Adrianna of being[/i] stupid. [i]But she's very oblivious when it comes to...balls. And tea parties. And gatherings, of any kind.[/i]

Rowena shrugged nonchalantly. "You seemed bored," she answered, giving the book spread across Adrianna's lap-the book that she had not looked down at once for the last ten minutes-a pointed glance. "Honestly, my dear. Do you even [i]try[/i] when it comes to keeping up...appearances?" This last sentence was said so quietly that only Adrianna, with her razor-sharp hearing, would have been able to make out the words.

Understanding flooded Adrianna's gaze. [i]There we go,[/i] thought Rowena, satisfied, as the captain closed the book and set it back on the shelf. [i]Really. You would expect that someone as finished as Adrianna would be better at acting. But no, she's so obvious that any random person would have been able to tell that she's waiting for people. Heavens above. I don't know[/i] how [i]our teachers at Madame Geraldine's ever had the patience for this.[/i]

Adrianna cleared her throat. "Well, um, Jacob-that is, my cousin Captain Chesterfield-he is...well, I suppose." 

Rowena heard the hesitancy in Adrianna's voice. She knew that what had transpired between them after the ball where Adrianna caught Rowena flirting with Jacob weighed heavily on her mind; you didn't need to be a mind-reader to know [i]that[/i].

"That is good to hear," Rowena replied, pleasantly. She pouted playfully. "You know, Captain Kingsford, I do very much wish you'd let me talk to him more at that ball. Your cousin is so very [i]fascinating[/i]."

Adrianna did not deign to reply to Rowena's teasing, instead turning towards the door and muttering something that sounded suspiciously like "oh, shove off" under her breath.

For what felt like the twentieth time that night, Rowena resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

Adrianna was looking at the door. Rowena followed Adrianna's gaze towards the entrance, where Elodie LaVerre had just walked into the library. The younger woman approached the two of them, greeting them politely and curtsying. When she asked about a "conversation", Rowena suppressed an exasperated sigh.

[i]Really. First Adrianna, now Lady LaVerre? I swear, it's a wonder how some of these people were declared properly finished. No subtlety at all, I tell you.[/i]

Nevertheless, Rowena let Adrianna return the greeting in the reserved way she had before smiling winsomely at the other woman. "Why, Lady LaVerre, I am simply [i]delighted[/i] to see you here," she said pleasantly, knowing that Adrianna was relying on her to...take care of this. She gently took Elodie by the arm and began walking in the direction of her previous perch. "I [i]do[/i] have so much to tell you, darling. There's simply [i]so[/i] much that has happened. Come, let's find somewhere to sit."

Rowena discreetly examined Elodie's gown as they walked. It was a dark, royal blue silk, with buttons going down the front and subtly ruffled at the wrists. Like Rowena, Elodie's figure favored a narrower silhouette, and it appeared that she had taken advantage of that fact, although Rowena wasn't entirely convinced that this detail was intentional. Elodie didn't seem like the person to favor voluminous skirts or the cage crinoline. Or bustles.

Overall, it was a simple, elegant affair, although a tad [i]too[/i] simple for Rowena's tastes. The cut was also a bit on the conservative side, and Rowena favored gowns with a more, ah, [i]modern[/i] cut, one could say (and she was [i]certainly[/i] not a conservative individual, when it came to fashion). The combination of the straight collar, bows, and high neckline were almost reminiscent of a gentleman's cravat, giving the ensemble a slightly more masculine look.

Of course, Rowena had to consider whether Elodie was armed or not. Elodie was not carrying a fan, nor was she carrying a reticule or wearing a chatelaine. so Rowena could immediately rule out a wide range of weapons. Of course, there [i]was[/i] the fact that she could have something under her skirts, or up her sleeve.

[i]I suppose it doesn't matter that much, anyway,[/i] Rowena thought to herself, wryly. [i]She's probably the strongest of us here, if we do not count Adrianna. Though Adrianna has always told me that she is more fast than strong.[/i]

They reached a quiet corner of the library, by a couple of bookshelves. Rowena could still see the entrance, but she and Elodie could not be seen from the front doors. Still, Rowena would be careful. This was a rather [i]sensitive[/i] topic, and, well. It would not do for anyone to overhear. In fact, Rowena would have liked to not even speak of the details of Elodie's involvement in Adrianna's investigation, but alas, the other woman did not seem to share her...sentiment.

Rowena gave her a warm smile. "Really, Lady LaVerre. I simply [i]cannot[/i] express how wonderful it is to see you here," said Rowena, choosing her words with an exacting care. "How is your father? Well, I hope?"

Rowena paused, delicately. "You mustn't worry about the proceedings in Ravensford, my dear. The honorable captain and I have everything done. You know, all the paperwork and stuff." Rowena laughed lightly. "Lady Zhang-Langridge has always been a bit picky about her paperwork."

Out of the corner of her eye, Rowena could make out the other people walking into the library. She opened her mind, slightly-not enough to read anybody's thoughts, but enough to gauge the general mood of the room. There was curiosity, and a bit of apprehension, and expectancy.

[i]Alright. So far, so good.[/i]