[h3][color=D0D8FF][b][i]Lady Alyssana Grey[/i][/b][/color][/h3]
"I'm disappointed, Lottie," Alyssana replied, her tone gently teasing.  "You've known my brother long enough to recognize his craftsmanship."  She exchanged a few pleasantries with Charlotte, letting the bubbly woman do most of the talking, until Arsenio approached them.

"It's good to see you, Arsenio."  Alyssana didn't quite smile, but the light in her eyes brightened in genuine pleasure.  She noted with some interest the title of the book he carried, a bit young for her tastes at the lofty age of twenty-eight, but one she'd read and enjoyed as a youngster.  "Arsenio, this is Charlotte Vernell, who will insist upon being called Lottie, and this is Miss Evelyn, a friend of a friend.  Ladies, meet Arsenio."  It wasn't quite polite to omit the rest of his name, but she left speaking the rest to him, hoping he'd read into the action her continued protection of secrets that were not hers to share.  She'd known him long enough to recognize the tension in his movements, and she could only imagine what might be going through his head in response to the summons he must have received.  She spared a singularly uncharitable thought for whomever dragged him into this, and then reminded herself that Arsenio should be more than capable of looking after himself.  Not an adult, not yet, but still far more mature than he looked -- or acted.

She allowed enough time for the exchange of pleasantries before neatly disengaging from the other two women.  "You must excuse us for a little.  Miss Evelyn, if you have need of me I shan't be far."  With that she escorted Arsenio to a place where, she hoped, they would not be overheard.  It was hard to be sure, with the number of unknowns present, but most of them seemed to be otherwise occupied, or at least doing a good job of pretending to be.

"I'm sure you were kept equally in the dark about the purpose of this little gathering, though I suspect you've made a few surmises.  Here is what I would like to add to that.  Captain Kingsford may be trusted, within reason, though she is not keen on anything that breaks the law.  However she has invited several people from the Institute and Geraldine's and at least one person with definite criminal ties, so she is in serious need.  I came as a favor to her personally.  I'm glad now that I did.  This has the feel of something significant."

Alyssana looked down at Arsenio, considering.  Should she offer him specific reassurance?  No, she decided, not unless he voiced a concern.  He was easily the equal of anyone present; she wouldn't demean him so without invitation.