Argento’s ninth (eighteenth in earth years) Birthday came and went Thursday, the thirteenth, and he’d already received his father’s gift, if you could call it that. You had to commit a fairly serious infraction to be cut off; the Arch-Baron was keeping up appearances and maintaining his own reputation as much as any sense of love or attachment to Argento with his “gift.”

A signet ring that allowed him to access Symmonnette accounts at the Empire bank and two letters. One explained that Maria and Priscilla couldn’t attend the gathering, and a personal letter was sent to Argento. He’d read him and burned it afterward. All he would ever say to Frannie about it was things hadn’t changed with his father, and they never would.

Everything was set up the day before in preparation for Isabella and the kids arriving that morning of the fifteenth. An extensive breakfast was to be served when they and the Prenticits arrived. Frannie came out, all ready and made up; she’d heard word Matt would be attending and wanted to look her best. Endive stood guard, ensuring no one dug in before the guests arrived.

Isabella, Benny, Penny, Pingo, and Tony showed up first. Frannie was not pleased to see Tony. Ginny would be even less so when she saw him. She had been furious to hear Tony had referred to her as “the worst job he ever had” and was holding a grudge over that.

Francine found it hard to believe her sister, niece, and nephews needed protection here in her own home or that Tony could provide it, but she decided not to start a fight over such a petty point. Boilspell, the porter, took their things up to Cinnamon’s old sitting room, which had been turned back into a guest room. Tony was bunking with Argento, to Francine’s utter horror.

The Prenticits arrived next. They’d installed themselves in their accommodations and came right over. Harlane, Amalie, Lucien, and Gen made the trip. Their Mother, Rosalind, stayed behind with Josephine. The twins, Lucien and Genevive, were only a year younger than Ginny, so they had also been allowed to go. Ginny must have had Mirage stationed as a lookout because she appeared in the Atrium, as she often did, precisely when they arrived and were being announced. Today, she was debuting a new look. She’d tested different versions all week and finally settled on her favorite version that morning.

Her hair was tinted red, pulled back, rolled, and formed into dramatic swooping horns. With thousands of fine tiny braids and twists wrapped in, giving the horns intricate textures. Below the hair horns on full display for the first time in public, Ginny’s ears were undeniably bat-like in shape and texture. The effect was immediate: ohhhs, a couple of errant claps, and both Lucien and Harlane’s eyes were glued to her. Drawing them like moths to a flame

Tony couldn’t help but pipe up, both trying their best to ignore him.

Lucien echoed his older brother’s sentiments while Tony rolled his eyes, frustrated Francine and Ginny were giving him the cold shoulder. Amalie grabbed Frannie’s attention as soon as Isabella walked away.

Frannie and Amalie Prenticit weren’t exactly the best of friends before last week. They had only met in passing, but she had to try and widen her social circle, especially since many of those she previously called friends would likely not say the same about her now.

Francine tried to ignore the condescending tone she detected creeping into Amalie’s comments and pressed on.

Francine was surprised, and Amalie loved having all eyes on her. She told the story loud enough to capture the room’s attention, even pulling Tony back around. The story legitimately brought Amalie and several others to tears.

Thankfully, this being a luncheon meant other people started showing up around eleven; the Countess Rappaport was the first to arrive, bringing her son, Oliver. She spent about ten minutes complementing Neisha and

Oliver ran along but didn’t want to interrupt when he saw Ginny talking to Harlane. Genevive Barkridge was next to arrive; she was sent along in a coach. The Duchess Barkridge was a busy woman, and Viv was a hearty girl. When she employed the knocker, she rattled the door. Genevive Barkridge wasn’t one of Francine’s best friends either, but she was one of the few to write or show up at the party, so maybe, in fact, she was.

Reginald Acier and Lulubelle Merton arrived not ten minutes later, at almost the same time. Lulu skipped out to the group happily while Reggie tripped on a stone and landed face-first in the atrium garden, spinning his knee and getting bits of plants and dirt in his mouth. The older boys all laughed and traded a few crude jokes behind their hands. Always keen for an opening to manhandle one of the boys, Viv trundled forward and picked him up by the collar.

Unfortunately for Reggie, the final guests, Matt Trellingbill and Granta Hyporthian, arrived just in time to see him crying about the scrape on his knee. Francine and Granta practically ran over poor Reggie, zipping off to greet Matt and Ginny, respectively. The swishing blonde hair, his sparkling green eyes, his firm, proud stance, her heart went like the drums from the Parade,

Matt lost his train of thought when he saw Francine’s makeover for the first time, and Frannie blushed. She’d been so worried that he wouldn’t like it.

Matt and Frannie looked over at Neisha, who was hovering in the doorway, watching everyone mingle but not conversing with anyone. Her body language said everything, causing the two of them to giggle. Tony had gotten a couple of hours to talk with Frannie, and it was clear she was giving Matt her undivided attention, so he fell back. At least on the bright side, Harlane was occupied. Tony was instead drawn into conversation with Oliver, who seemed eager to have someone new to talk to.

Granta had a conversation with Ginny and Harlane until lunch.

Several people brought gifts for Argento’s Birthday, like Matt, Granta, Oliver, Viv, and, oddly enough, Lulubelle Merton. Argento was always happy to receive a gift, but he had never met her or the Mertons, which made him wonder why they would care. It was, all in all, a nice reminder that even though things had changed, he and Francine still had friends.

Things finally calmed as everyone was seated for lunch. Gerdie and Shringle, the cook, brought food in, and all quieted as they commenced eating. Of course, the odd anecdote, question, and occasional giggle still passed across the table, but for the duration of the mastication, things were kept down to a dull roar. Having noticed Matt’s interest in her new look, Francine made every effort to display her best qualities.

Frannie saw Matt was paying rapt attention to her, and she thought he even blushed a little.

Frannie let out a light, lilting giggle and touched his arm. He definitely blushed at that, and to her relief, laughed too.

Tony, annoyed to be getting the back of Francine’s head most of lunch, turned to his left and spent the time answering Oliver’s many questions, trying to focus on him, chattering away. Oliver had little interest in trying to break into Ginny and Harlane’s conversation; he was enthralled by Tony’s colorful descriptions and carefree bravado.

Lunch was a lovely cold Early spring vegetable soup served with charcuterie and early fruit salad. Chocolate ice cream appeared for dessert, and it was a big hit. The dishes were nearly clean when they were taken away.

After consuming two dishes of ice cream, Lulu started to build up speed and altitude with the amount of energy she was releasing.

Lulu gestured wildly with her arms while she spoke and hopped off to practice her comedy routine, her puffy pink dress flouncing around her when she finished.

After lunch, there was a bit of entertainment and socialization. Neisha had already levitated the Harp and Harpsichord down from the music room to the performance platform the day before. Each person was allowed to go up and do something to impress or entertain. Most of the girls chose a musical skill. Ginny kicked things off with the Harpsichord, asking Granta if she wanted to accompany her, known for her fine angelic voice. It was a hard act to follow. Bringing several in attendance to tears with their rendition of “Call or Be Called.”

Azure insisted she and Frannie go. Next, Frannie didn’t want to sing acapella, especially after that, and her harp skills weren’t up to par with Ginny’s playing, so they went up together as well. Also remembered as a big hit of the afternoon, Adoptive Mother and daughter, making music together. Azure was quite skilled with the harp, something her Mother had insisted she learn. “It’s a noblewoman’s instrument,” she’d said, knowing her daughter was destined for greater things.

Francine had a strong, clear voice, even if it wasn’t as notable as Granta’s. No one could deny that the Eidruian Imperial anthem was currently popular and a favorite of Azure’s in general. Francine Tried not to look down at the audience. She focused on the words and the music. Frannie did her best to look serene and patriotic. When they finished, and she looked back at Matt, he was clapping and cheering her the loudest, giving a flushed salute at the end. She was soaring.

The rest took their turns. A number of the boys, and Lulu chose comedy, Lucien coming out as the victor of the jesters. Harlane showed a variety of knots and how to tie them, a safe but innovative idea, especially since it actually interested Ginny, who immediately replicated his work with impeccable manual dexterity. Tony and Matt groaned at the ease with which he seemed to capture his paramour’s interest.

Reggie mustered his courage, shook off the embarrassment of his entrance, and instigated a mock bout between himself and Matt. It was another hit of the night and a winning move for Reggie. Embarrassing Matt, who was older and more experienced, but let his emotions get the best of him. Reggie’s win drew Viv’s attention. She, in turn, challenged him to an arm wrestling contest, leaving her the final winner of the night.

Last up were Amalie and Oliver, a surprise pairing. Amalie played the Harpsichord, and Oliver danced; Amalie made a minor mistake, but it threw Oliver off, stumbling on the platform’s edge and tumbling off. Azure saw it happening and dashed forward a couple of feet, grabbing him right out of the air. Everyone screamed, including Oliver, who was safe but shaken. He lay on a sofa in the parlor until his Mother returned for him.

Isabella had already taken the little kids away for a nap while everyone milled around, chatting about school starting and waiting for parents to arrive. As friends departed, the house started to quiet, and the mood shifted. Once the last guests from town left, Tony and Harlane’s voices could be heard over their respective families.

First feigning civility, then masking their hostility, until finally, the accusations started to fly.

The story continues in chapter Twenty one:

CH 20~ Party Down

Second Chances Can't be Ignored

Argento’s ninth (eighteenth in earth years) Birthday came and went Thursday, the thirteenth, and he’d already received his father’s gift, if you could call it that. You had to commit a fairly serious infraction to be cut off; the Arch-Baron was keeping up appearances and maintaining his own reputation as much as any sense of love or attachment to Argento with his “gift.”



CH 20~ Party Down

Second Chances Can't be Ignored

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K.B. Silver

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CH 20~ Party Down

Second Chances Can't be Ignored

This is an Exclusive Story for supporters of .css-13w9qce-Text{display:inline-block;color:var(--text-accent);}K.B. Silver

About the Creator

K.B. Silver

Comments

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Keep reading

Shared Warmth

This is an Exclusive Story for supporters of K.B. Silver