Editing A Winter's Respite, Part Two

Continued from [[A Winter's Respite| A Winter's Respite, Part One]] <br> <br> <br>

Evie decided that she wanted to see the goings on from a little closer. The lock on the skylight roof was in place, but it only took her thirty-six seconds to get it quietly unlocked.  Evie hadn’t seen the lock that could have her better, but this one weren’t even close. She’d have to give a word to Miss Josephine bout it.<br><br>

She quietly opened one of the doors and slid onto a crossbeam below, only stopping long enough to wait for Char to fly in after her.  She reached up and quietly closed the skylight so as not to draw the attention of the two ladies. Evie knew enough to know that they were both pretty solid cutters when it came to the swords, but were they bloods? She couldn’t be sure. But she’d sit up here from her perch and watch a little longer before dropping down.<br><br>

Josephine was hard pressed to keep up with her friend's moves, parrying defensively far more than advancing her attack. ''I'm outclassed'', Josephine thought without rancor or fear. ''Perhaps if I could get Ezekiel to join us or her teacher Sadif ...'' The thought went unfinished as she had to look sharp to avoid Katherine's lunge. Josephine pivoted and spun and the Eldren's blade only sliced cloth instead of skin. ''That was close. Good thing we're friends''.<br><br>

Air caressed her skin beneath her shirt and Josephine felt a draft kiss her neck, chilling the sweat bathing it.<br><br>

"You can come down, Evie." Josephine spoke to the air in front of her, not daring to take her eyes off Katherine. "Although, it might be safer where you are at the moment."<br><br>
 
I need to back off a bit, Katherine thought to herself. I've gotten ahead of her with my work with Ezekiel. She let Josephine regain balance, moving around her to keep the attack from being in a straight line, in an effort to keep her thinking of all her vulnerable sides. But as Josephine recovered, Katherine froze as a chill caressed her skin and the shadow of something moving caught the corner of her vision. The katar switched rapidly to her right hand, spinning off her fingers with frightening ease. It implanted in the beam just below the girl; she had recognized that it was a girl just as the knife left her fingers. It had been too late to stop it, but just enough for her to ruin the trajectory. She cast her eyes upward in horror, her hand going to her mouth.<br><br>

"My God, are you all right?" she asked, her heart skipping a beat.<br><br>

''Bounder's balls!'' She was going to have to spend two weeks practicing if two people in the middle of a sword fight could notice her. Time to come down, she supposed. Evie put her hands on the crossbeam and flipped herself over so she was hanging and then shifted her hands to the blade stuck in the beam, letting her weight pull it out as she dropped down to the floor below. She landed gracefully, making almost no noise as she landed between the two ladies. At least she could do that right.<br><br>

She walked over to the woman who had been dueling Miss Josephine and handed out the blade to her. "This yours, miss? You seems to have misplaced it."<br><br>

"So it seems, little miss," Katherine responded.  "My deepest apologies."  She reclaimed the blade, looking it over quickly to make certain that there was no blood on it.  She heaved a deep sigh that became a smile as she noted the Frendal Dragon and the clean perfection of the katar.<br><br>

"Evie, this is Katherine. She's a good friend of mine.  Katherine, this is Evie, my partner in the business." Josephine said. "I'll let the two of you get acquainted while I bring up some tea."<br><br>

Josephine went back downstairs and stepped off the bottom tread for the large sink she'd had put in. An Erlenmeyer flask over a Bunsen burner was fine for a single cup or two, but for the party upstairs she would need something with a bit more volume to it. She lit the gas ring she'd rigged off one of the wall jets and marveled again at the advantages it had over wood. ''Just turn a key, strike a spark, and'' voila! ''fire to make your tea. Of course, if Anton were here, he'd already have devised half a dozen improvements''. Josephine set the kettle to going and gathered the requisite items for the tray. Cups, saucers, spoons. All were mismatched finds in the secondhand markets. Cream and sugar went on the tray next. Bread from yesterday's shopping and a knife to cut it. She pulled a hard cheese from her stores to go with it. She loaded the teapot with loose tea and stood in her makeshift kitchen, stretching to keep from stiffening up as she cooled.<br><br>

Evie snapped her fingers in the air twice and Char came down from his perch to sit on Evie's shoulder. She stroked his head softly and scritched under his ears. When she did that, he made a little trilling sound of contentment and Evie smiled before she turned back around to the woman that Josephine had given the name Katherine. <br><br>

"So, Miss Katherine, you're handy with a bit of steel, you are, large or small. How does one of the highups learn their way round that sort of thing?" Evie didn't see much need for formalities or opening chit chat. Josephine had done all that for her, anything else just wasted time.<br><br>

"Practice, practice, practice." She let her eyes twinkle at the slender girl, taking in her pointed ears and soft fur. She was fairly certain that the young one would slap her hand if she were to stroke her whiskers; the girl called Evie held herself with a dignity becoming a queen. "I like your dragon. I have one too. Her name is Jayshree. What do you call yours?"<br><br>

"He's Char. He's got the gold circles, you see," Evie said as she stroked around Char's eyes, prompting another contented almost purr. "But the rest of him is dark as night, like he got burned and there's a gold dragon underneath. And he's proud like a gold too." <br><br>

She tilted her head a little. "What's your Jayshree like?" She'd normally be more cautious, but Miss Josephine vouched for her....and more than that, she could hear in the woman's voice a real love for her own dragon. Couldn't love an animal and not have some good in ya.<br><br>

"Emerald and sapphire, like the prettiest of jewels mixed together," Katherine responded. "So Char is a boy? Jayshree is a girl." She held out a finger to see if the little dragon would nuzzle it, aware that a bite was just as likely. Now she regretted not bringing Jayshree. She had been selfish, eager to swordfight. But this space would be glorious for training Jayshree to practice attack and fetch, allow her little dragon to stretch her wings better than she could in the hotel. The snow had ended their playdays in the park, ended their walks. Jayshree had missed her while she was gone. She wouldn't leave the little dragon behind again and had resolved to work with her more.<br><br>

"Go on, Char, it's okay." And Evie stroked the little dragon's back as he leaned forward and nuzzled Miss Katherine's finger. "He trusts me. He knows I won't do him no wrong."<br><br>

Char looked back at her with a question in his eyes and Evie nodded. Char hopped off Evie's shoulder on to Miss Katherine's shoulder and trilled expectantly. Evie smiled. "He's a ham and a show off. If I had my rope, he'd be begging to show off his tricks. Smart as a whip, he is."<br><br>

She couldn't help but smile as she scratched under the black dragon's chin and he trilled happily. "What a charmer." She cocked her head at the girl. "So you have taught him tricks?"<br><br>

Evie nodded happily. "Yes, Miss, a few. He's my helper when I go out on my..." Evie paused for a minute. Miss Josephine might have vouched for her, but Evie didn't have no clue what this Katherine knew about Evie's nighttime activities. Last thing she needed was her saying something to some random noble and getting scragged, tagged, and dragged the next day. "...on my job."<br><br>

"Job."  Auburn eyebrow rose, but she only nodded and kept scratching Char.   "So, would you show me a trick or two of his?"<br><br>

"Yeah, miss, you know, I clean houses." ''Of their jink and possessions''. "And Char helps me get to the hard to reach places." ''Like the roof.'' <br><br>

"But I can show you a trick." She caught Char's eye and then let her eye lead to the coiled rope below and then up to the crossbeam above. "Char," she said firmly, "Tie!" And Char flew off and grabbed one end of the rope in the corner and flew up to the crossbeam where he wound the rope into a solid loop with a knot around the wood.<br><br>

"They make quite the team," Josephine said as she came up the stairs. "We could learn a thing or two from them, Katherine." More than that, she didn't say. Josephine didn't want to burden Evie with sensitive information. Her business with Evie and her missions for the Colonel were two spheres she kept isolated from each other.  Having Katherine over as a friend was skirting the boundary between the two and Josephine wasn’t entirely sanguine about the danger of overlap.  However, she was not blind to the potential Evie possessed for clandestine work. That might come later. ''We'll see what Evie thinks of it then. For now....'' "Does Char enjoy cheese, Evie? I confess, I'm not certain what to keep on hand for him."<br><br>

The Eldren clapped her hands. "Oh how very clever!" she exclaimed. "Very useful." For what, she wasn't certain, but her suspicions were that it wasn't for heavy velvet curtains. "Can he fetch? Oh thank you," she added as Josephine handed her a steaming cup. She cast an eye to the window where the snow had begun to pile up and wondered if it would be horribly improper to scoop some snow to cool her tea.<br><br>

"Yes ma'am, he can fetch." She looked over to Miss Josephine. "He is awful desirous of cheese and he doesn't get it often. Got some at your fingers?"<br><br>

Josephine had set the tray on the bench and sliced off a hunk. She put it on Evie's saucer along with three lumps of sugar and handed the girl her tea.<br><br>

Katherine sipped her tea gingerly. But after a few sips, she finally gave up and went to a window to open it and fetch some snow. A moment later, she happily drank down a gulp. "So, little princess," she asked Evie, "how much will you charge me to teach my dragon some tricks?" She came back from the window to join them with regret. The cold air had been wonderful.<br><br>

Evie took the cheese off her saucer and broke the hunk into two pieces. Then with a slight clicking sound, she extended her claws and stabbed the two pieces. Then she climbed halfway up the rope that Char had tied to the beam. Evie knew she was showing off too much, like a bloody fool who carved their initials in the wall every job. But she never got to show off what she and Char could do and now she had the chance, she couldn't resist. <br><br>

Holding on the rope with the cheese hand and her legs, she used her free hand to take the cheese. She looked up at Char, still sitting on the beam above and whistled sharply. "Char, one, two. One, two!" And then she threw one piece in the air in front of her and followed it herself, holding the piece of cheese above her head. Char made what Evie always heard as a little miniature dragon scream and swooped down, nabbing the piece in the air in his mouth and then grabbing the piece in Evie's hand with his claws. <br><br>

Evie rolled to a landing next to Miss Katherine and grinned at Char who was now settling on the floor, jealously guarding his newly gained cheese. "I don't know, miss, how much you think I'm worth?" she asked proudly.<br><br>

"Surely a shilling or two." Katherine looked at Josephine. "You are a working girl. What would you consider fair compensation for work this amazing?"<br><br>

"Nothing less than what she deserves." Josephine cast through her memory and quoted a figure she'd based on the salary of a popular stage artist she'd met on the Continent. He'd taught her a trick or two before they'd parted company. "Ten times that, Katherine, easily. Mind, I'm not an expert in such things," Josephine added. "I've noticed, however, that there is often an astonishing disconnect between true worth and what a market is willing to pay."<br><br>

"Well little princess, how does a half crown for starters do and I will have you train Jayshree. I think she will love you." Katherine smiled gently. I already do, she thought. "Is that a deal?"<br><br>

Evie looked from one lady to the next with an incredulous stare. ''People really paid that much jink for someone to do what she loved doing? They must have more money than brains''.<br><br>

Finally, she said, "Half a crown, miss, is a startle and a pleasure is what it is." She would've done it for free, but Evie knew better than to say that, else Miss Katherine took her up on it. Half a crown would be a huge addition to her fund, and she wasn't so empty upstairs as to turn it down.<br><br>

She stuck out her hand. "Nobles shake on things or I am supposed to do one of them curtseys and a bow?" She had no idea how to do one if she was supposed to. But life had taught her that being willing to fake something usually was better than actually knowing it.<br><br>

The girl had a way of making her smile. "We can shake on it if you wish." Katherine proffered a hand.<br><br>

And Evie took the offered hand and shook it firmly. "I had ain't never a job before meeting Miss Josephine and now I have two. God's got a way of leaving you spun around and dizzy, ain't he?"<br><br>

Josephine remained silent, watching the back and forth between Evie and Katherine. True to her nature, Katherine had been enthusiastic and generous and true to hers, Evie had regarded everything with suspicious reserve until she’d sized her opponent up. The street thief was no pushover but she was not averse to making coin where she could, if the risk to her integrity were not an issue.  ''All to the good. She’s a beautiful girl and talented.  Some would take advantage of her, no matter what she looked like''.  Aloud she said, “He does. There’s a reason the world spins and I have no doubt it’s merely the way He provides the momentum.”<br><br>

"Yes he does," Katherine agreed gently. "Yes he does." She turned her attention to her friend. "Well then, Josephine, shall we work at throwing knives since I've opened that door? Do you throw weapons Evie?" she added, curious to know the answer.<br><br>

About the only thing she threw was a bag of coin out the window for Char, but Evie had no plans to mention that. "Never a blade, miss. I figure if I needed to, I'd be in a pile and be looking for the out, if you know what I mean."<br><br>

"Fair enough, little princess. Shall we bore you by making you watch or," and she paused, her eyes twinkling, "would you like to learn?"<br><br>

Josephine rose from the floor in one smooth motion and set the burlap bags to swinging. She eyed them critically, thinking that though the sand provided a good weight to the action, the burlap left much to be desired as to durability as a target. ''Nothing's perfect, Jo. You can fidget with them later''.<br><br>

She smiled at Katherine with a raised brow.<br><br>

"Since you two are guests, I believe you should go first." Josephine stepped out of range and leaned against a column to watch.

"If Miss Josephine thinks it’s okay, I suppose I could give it a go." Evie shrugged a little. Miss Josephine seemed to have very defined ideas on what Evie should or shouldn't be doing in her employ.<br><br>

Katherine looked pointedly at Josephine's throwing blades. "May we?" It occurred to her that she needed to have her own made, but for now. She gave an inward shrug. She would be rude and borrow them.<br><br>

"Of course," Josephine said, answering both queries and pulling her knives from her harness, she gave them over. In truth, she was curious to see how much Evie could do. She'd urged the girl to caution while working with her, unwilling to encourage anything rash. However over the past month of their association, she'd managed to develop a feel for the girl's limits and tonight would be a good opportunity to measure them a little. ''The conditions here are a damned sight safer than on the streets. And ten times more forgiving''. <br><br>

It was, she reflected, one of the burdens of a field officer, one her father had once explained to her. It had been an academic exercise until she'd hired Evie. Now Josephine keenly felt what her father must have and hoped she would never have to experience finding her agent dead and know that she was the cause. ''Don't borrow trouble, Jo. Evie's a smart girl. She'll watch out for her well being as well as you, even better than''.<br><br>

Aloud, she said, "The floor is yours."<br><br>

Katherine tossed the knives gently to test their weight and then planted her feet. Taking a centering breath, she let loose with the first and then the second, planting them firmly in the bag. "I'm going to have to get faster with these," she remarked as she went to remove her efforts. Pushing the bag gently, she returned to stand out of the line of fire and gestured for Evie to try.<br><br>

Evie walked over and picked one up. She wasn't sure how she felt about it, if she was being straight with herself. But the weight of it felt comfortable in her hand. She picked up a second in her other hand and stood staring at the bag for a minute before she threw the first. <br><br>

The blunt end whacked the bag and clattered to the floor. She had never tossed anything before where the spin mattered. She grumbled a curse under her breath, stared at the bag until she was pretty sure she had stared through it and unleashed the second knife, which stuck into the bag with an unpleasant thunk. Evie could almost hear it plunking into someone's cheek and she grew a little queasy.<br><br>

Josephine watched both of them carefully, hoping to pick up a trick or two from Katherine and also keen to observe what Evie did. The outcome was pretty much what she suspected with Katherine--the Eldren woman was a touch too fast for her to follow in the flickering gaslight. ''Perhaps during the day. It gets rather bright in here then''. When it was Evie's turn, however, Josephine saw the girl hesitate before picking up the knives and when Evie stared at the bag, Josephine started a slow count in her head. She'd gone up to fifty when the first knife flew and bounced off the target. Evie's expression on sinking the second knife, though quickly suppressed, confirmed something Josephine suspected from their first meeting. She pushed off the wall and said nothing about it. She didn't want to put Evie on the spot in front of a stranger, even if that stranger might fast be turning into a friend. She merely smiled and gave her a nod.<br><br>

"My turn." Josephine chose her spot and threw, once, twice, and sank both knives into her intended targets, one bag each, on opposing swings. She eyed their angle critically, then pulled them and rejoined the others. "I think I need something other than sand. I was certain my blades had a horizontal trajectory going in."<br><br>

Katherine made a face. "What other than sand would do?" she asked. She glanced to Evie for support and was surprised to see the disconcertment in the girl's expression. The girl was clearly unhappy with throwing knives, stood watching Josephine's effort with a bit of stern regard. Smiling, she said, "Evie, you'll get better with practice." But deep inside, she was certain that wasn't it.<br><br>

"Of course, miss, ain't nothing done right that you ain't done over and over." She would just have to look at it like a game. If Miss Josephine wanted her to throw knives (''do you think she'll be having you kill bags all day, Eglantine Varney?''), then Evie would become the best knife thrower there was, because she didn't know any other way. She picked up another knife and threw it in the bag, making that horrible sound again. But this time she didn't let her feelings show.<br><br>

She watched Evie throw and then the red-headed Eldren frowned, looking over to Josephine. The girl had clearly winced when the knife went into the bag. She hit it squarely this time tho', a native talent showing. But so did a native aversion. Katherine cut her eyes to Evie as the girl went to pick out her knife from the swinging bag, mouthing ''"Unhappy?"'' to Josephine once she had her gaze.<br><br>

Josephine gave Katherine a minute shake of her head, accompanied by drawing of her brows. ''Not here''. She hoped Katherine understood and smoothed her expression before Evie saw the exchange. Aloud, she said to Evie, "That's very good. It took me over a week to land my first knife into a target. William despaired of my ever learning the knack. I suspect most days he would rather ''I'' were the target and during most performances, I was. In a matter of speaking," she added. "I was the girl in spangly tights on the wheel and he was the thrower."<br><br>

"I don't get it." Evie shook her head and her left hand unconsciously moved up to rub her ear. "Why would he be throwing knives at you? Is that like sword practice and you were supposed to catch?" Every time she showed up at Miss Josephine's, she learned something else that she didn't know that it seemed like she oughta. She knew she wasn't stupid and she also knew that Miss Josephine wasn't trying to make her feel that way. But navigating her world seemed a lifetime's work.<br><br>

Katherine laughed out loud. "Spangly tights? Oh heavens, Neecy musn't know. Ever." She tossed the knife lightly in her hands, flipping it in the air playfully before sending it flying into a moving burlap bag. The next failed utterly, clattering loudly against the wall. Katherine colored and then scampered off to retrieve both weapons. "I will owe you a knife in just a bit," she announced with a merry grin. "I about sent that one through the window. I allowed myself to become a bit cocky." Her expression went from light to dark in an instant, a solemn smile pushing the grin from her lips. "I suppose this isn't a game, is it, Josephine? Catching swords and all?"<br><br>

Josephine laughed quietly and shook her head. "When I was about your age, Evie, I ran away and joined the circus. I did a little bit of this and a little bit of that, but I was William's assistant on stage. He was the knife artist of the troupe." True enough, as that sort of thing went. William was a lot of things, she knew, and throwing knives to the astonishment of the crowd was only one of his talents. "I was perfectly safe. The blindfold covered his eyes, but couldn't prevent him from looking beneath it along his nose. The next time you see this act performed, watch how the thrower tips his head back to look."<br><br>

"I've never been to the circus, miss."<br><br>

"Then one day you shall go. I have an in," Josephine grinned, her tone perfectly serious. If things went as she hoped, Evie might very well meet William and his troupe. But that would depend on Evie. ''Don't count the chickens before they're hatched, Jo. It's far too early to tell how all this will end''.<br><br>

Evie shrugged. "Just never had the chance." ''Or the jink. Always more important things to do''. She wondered if her mother had taken her to the circus. She couldn't remember going, but she also didn't remember much of her time with her mother. She was pretty. That much, at least she remembered.<br><br>

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." Josephine shrugged, echoing Evie. "But mostly, it was interesting times. I was never bored." Josephine flipped one of her knives in her hand and sent it quivering into one of the timber columns holding up the rafters. "What I was, was tired. And hungry. And sore. At least for the first few weeks until I toughened to it."<br><br>

Katherine listened to the conversation with interest. She already knew much of the story, had met the characters, but it was always interesting to listen to how a tale was told to another. However, at the words hungry and sore, she realized that something like dinner would be wonderful. She would be sore tomorrow, but she was delighted by it. Not at all ladylike; she'd have to work to act as if nothing was ailing her around the servants. She raised a finger for attention. "Dinner sounds pleasant. Could I invite you both back to the hotel to share dinner with me and Ezekiel?"<br><br>

Evie wasn't one to turn down food, but she also didn't want to inconvenience either of the ladies. She liked them both, somewhat to her surprise and she knew she wasn't the type that ate dinner at a hotel. "I don't think I have the right clothes to wear, miss. And who's Ezekiel?"<br><br>

"My husband," Katherine clarified. "I'm certain then, that we can send word to have him meet us somewhere else. If you wish. I don't want to impose myself on you. I've just become aware that I'm a bit peckish."<br><br>

"I think dinner is an excellent idea." Josephine pulled her watch from her pocket and consulted the time. "It's not too late. And I think I have just the thing to fit the occasion."<br><br>

On that remark, she strode to her steamer trunk and opened it like a book. Inside was a kaleidoscope of colors and textures in the way of clothes and equipment. There were drawers fitted into the trunk and pulling one open, Josephine pulled out a stack of clothing in sombre colors of black and grey, with the white of underlinen and a shirtwaist adding a bright note to the bundle. Turning, Josephine smiled at Evie and said, "All the world's a stage, Evie. And at times you must dress your part. These should fit. You can change behind the screen. There's a sink back there if you want to wash up a bit. Katherine and I will wait for you." <br><br>

Josephine put the clothes into the street thief's hands and gently pushed her for the corner where the screen stood waiting. It was a test, of sorts, but Josephine felt Evie had the brass to tackle it.<br><br>

Evie got herself behind the screen and slipped out of her worn clothes, two minutes work. She looked down at her naked body and frowned. Flat as a walking plank. She was going to look silly in these clothes. It took her a while to get it all figured out, but she managed okay. It wasn't like she had never worn a skirt. But it had been at least since she started doing second story work. Skirts got in the way.<br><br>

She pulled on the stockings and then slid the short bodice jacket on. She walked out from behind the screen and said, "Ain't this like lipstick on a pig?" as she made a face to indicate how foolish she thought the whole endeavor was.<br><br>

"No, little princess," Katherine countered gently. "I will be proud to have you as a dinner companion." She looked at Josephine. "You will have to help me put my hair back up or else I will be the one refused entry at the Savoy. Do you think that she can wear my cape against the cold?" She was beginning to regret leasing her home to the French catwoman. The Savoy, while sumptuous and most pleasant, was proving too public for her tastes. Putting back on her skirt and coat would not be a problem. But mussed hair would be.<br><br>

"Will they serve me? Being a beastie, and all?" If she was by herself, getting rejected wouldn't have mattered half a twig. But she sensed it would be an embarrassment for Miss Katherine, if not for Miss Josephine. And they were, after all, paying her a fortune and a half. Evie felt she owed it to them to at least not be a blight on their finery.<br><br>

"We will eat in my rooms, Evie. I will serve you if necessary," Katherine stated firmly. She had been gathering the combs and pins from where she had hidden them out of the way, moving towards Josephine to kneel in front of her so that she could fix her hair back to a semblance of proper.<br><br>

As Evie busied herself behind the screen, Josephine pulled out a pair of boots from her trunk and a young woman's frock coat. A proper hat suitable for the weather came out next and these she laid at the foot of her bed next to the screen. She nodded at them now, directing Evie's attention to them. "Please let me know if the shoes fit, Evie. I might have another pair that would do if they do not." And with another nod and a smile, Josephine set to putting Katherine's hair to rights. Years of practice gained from working backstage made short work of that task and in minutes, Katherine's red hair sat pulled into a simple but becoming twist. It would certainly be respectable enough for the carriage ride to the hotel and a trip up the stairs to her private rooms. Once there, she could take it all down by pulling a single comb. She leant down and hugged Katherine's shoulders.<br><br>

"There. Done." She straightened and pulled a skirt and shirtwaist from her stores and tipped her head toward the screen. "If you would grant me five minutes, I can be ready to go."<br><br>

Evie slipped the boots on and they fit okay, she decided. Tweren't the kind of things she'd be wearing out on a job, but for dinner, she supposed they'd be fine. She put the hat on, making another face as she did so. Her ears folded up underneath and felt strange confined underneath the cloth. She shifted the hat this way and that but couldn't make it any better. Char lay in the corner of the room, sleepily staring at her with only one eye open. Having devoured his cheese, straight to the nap he went, skipping out on the whole need to be presentable. <br><br>

Katherine nodded as she rose to her feet and went to pull on her skirt, bodice and coat. If the doorman recognized her cloak over Evie, then so be it. One had to start somewhere with being eccentric. One day Flora was going to visit and the magic holding her changeling looks at bay would succumb to the curse. The Savoy would hardly refuse a Baroness, especially a Dashwood. She smiled as she fastened the last button and ran a smoothing hand over her clothes. All her exercise and the work of their adventures had made her a bit more firm, trimmed some of the baby fat from her. She didn't want to completely lose her softness; Ezekiel enjoyed it so. But it had given her room in her oldest winter clothes to hide Ezekiel's pants and shirt underneath.<br><br>

She watched as Evie played with the hat, fidgeting with it and went to her with the cloak. "This might be a bit more comfortable to hide your ears, little princess," she stated matter of factly. "If you want it."<br><br>

"I ain't no princess, miss, that's for sure," she quickly proclaimed as Katherine walked over. She quickly swapped the hat for the cloak though. Definitely better than the hat, she thought. She turned to Katherine and quietly said, "Thank you."<br><br>

The Eldren bowed slightly. "My pleasure." She then called out to Josephine, "What time is it? I did tell Robert to come back again in two hours. I think he was rather annoyed that I came back without him so I would not like to return home without his help again."<br><br>

Josephine stoppered the sink and stripped to the skin as she waited for it to fill. A change of linen waited in a basket below and she pulled them on after she sketched a hasty bath with a washcloth. She heard Katherine's query on the time and fished her father's watch from her jodhpurs. <br><br>

"Almost nine," she said through the crack between the screen panels. "I'll just be another minute." She flew back into her clothes and reentered the room with her hands busy putting her hair to rights. The braid circled her head like a crown from ear to ear and very little had escaped it. Josephine pulled her wool women's coat from her trunk next, and her fur muff and hat joined it. Josephine glanced down to check her boots--no time to button into a ladies' pair, alas--and looked up with a bright expression. "Shall we?"<br><br>

"Yes. Robert should be downstairs now. He would rather be waiting than be late." He would have Ginger blanketed against the cold, patiently sitting outside until Katherine came outside. She was glad that they were leaving a bit early. She did not like the idea of Robert or Ginger waiting too long for them. She followed Josephine down the stair and glanced back at Evie. "Do you want to bring Char?"<br><br>

Evie looked over to where Char was sleeping. She didn't want to disturb him, but she also didn't want to leave him alone if he were to wake up without Evie around. She walked over and picked him up. He didn't even bother to move, just leaving himself as a dead weight. "You lazy sod," she said playfully as she draped him over her shoulder. <br><br>

She nodded to Miss Katherine. "I think I'm ready now." Of course, she was more nervous than she was before most of her jobs, but she could handle it.<br><br>

Katherine merely nodded as they descended to the first floor. Tightening her coat around her, she opened the door and went outside into the darkness. Robert was indeed there, Ginger blanketed against the gently falling snow. He tipped his hat and opened the door, helping Katherine, Josephine and Evie into the cabin with gentle strength and quiet efficiency. The lap blankets were still warm inside although the outer sides were cooling. Katherine handed them to the women, tucking herself in as Robert started to shut them in.<br><br>

"Savoy?" he inquired before shutting the door and nodded curtly as she gave him a nod and smile. A moment later they were away.<br><br>

Josephine took care to lock up before joining her friends inside the carriage. The neighborhood was on the border between the very respectable and the sketchy—a quality she actively sought out—and while she felt her immediate neighbors were trustworthy enough, she could not say the same of passersby. ''Why tempt them?'' She waited until the carriage was underway before relaxing against the cushioned seat with a sigh. "I should like to see the Savoy again. I had quite a lovely time there when I last visited." It was before they'd left for Ireland and she well remembered how Katherine had jinked Bertie's tail over the shopping bill. It brought a smile to her face, even as she remembered Ezekiel relenting and paying the bill once his wife's point had been made.<br><br>

''Gilded cage'', came Katherine's unspoken response. Had she really begun to change that much? ''I would not survive the life that Josephine and Evie had and have'', she reminded herself. She was indeed fortunate in so many ways. And in being so blessed, she would try to share it as well as she could.<br><br>



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