CarlisleReunion

From IMiA

It has been a day or so since Patrice arrived at Carlisle. With Edward's assistance, she has things running smoothly in the absence of Phillip and Juliana. Thus far, their absence from certain Carnival events has yet to be commented upon. Better still, Patrice and Phillip's mother has not yet discovered Phillip's absence.

It is mid-afternoon when the servants announce the return of Phillip and Juliana.

Juliana comes right down the hall looking for her good-sister.

Jules is wearing something that... isn't quite her. A little too much black, and though it is fitted, it's obvious some quick alterations have been done to make it that way. Considering the length of time they've been gone and what the servants said they left with, it must be borrowed. The material is fabulous though, it begs to be touched.

Finding Patrice, Juliana smiles genuinely, and turns to look back down the hall at Phillip. "Love, Patrice accepted our invitation. Thank goodness," she adds turning back to her sister-in-law, "because I'm days behind now."

Patrice is dressed in a white blouse and a brown divided skirt. The vulgar might call them loose trousers, but probably not to Patrice's face. When Juliana comes in, she puts the book she was reading aside and rises to meet her good-sister.

"Juliana," Patrice says, offering her good-sister an embrace. "I've been so worried about you and Phillip. Where have you been?" She holds the younger woman at arm's length for a moment, looking her up and down. "Or should I ask?"

Juliana smiles, but she is paler than usual. "Up at the castle. I had a nice dinner with Princess Deirdre last night. That was pleasant. We've got rooms up there now."

Juliana holds out a hand to pull Phillip into this conversation.

When Phillip comes in, Patrice gives him an equally warm embrace, and kisses him on the cheek. She looks him over carefully, just as she did Juliana.

Phillip looks... tired. He smiles that smile of his that says more is going on than is he going to tell. "I am glad you are here, Patrice," he says.

"I'm glad to be here for you," Patrice says, and nods, as if responding to something that Phillip had said.

He walks over to the liquor cabinet and fusses with various bottles. "Would anyone care for anything?"

"The usual, Phillip, please." Patrice moves back to the sofa and sits down, leaving room for the other two to join her. She pats the spot next to her and looks at Juliana.

"Water, darling," Juliana says unusually, and settles in next to Patrice, stripping off her shoes.

Phillip walks to his sister's side and hands her a full glass. "I trust you have kept all word of recent events from Mother?"

"Do you have to ask? She's not here." Patrice takes the glass and gives Phillip a head nod that neither Juliana or Phillip has trouble interpreting as 'sit down'. If both Phillip and Juliana are in their intended positions, Patrice is in the middle.

Juliana snorts, but it's a happy snorting sound. She tends to keep her mouth shut on this issue of Vanessa, but can't quite hold the snort in.

Patrice adds: "Edwards has been very helpful in that respect. Be sure to give him a fatter bonus than usual at Yule."

"Excellent. I think the staff will be seeing an 'end-of-Carnival' bonus, crazy as things have been and will be around here for the next while. What have they been saying in the City, these last few days, do you know?" Juliana asks, curling her feet up under her and leaning back against the overstuffed arm of the sofa.

"Oh, the usual," Patrice says airily, with a slight wave of her free hand. "Princess Florimel is the current topic du jour. Some have her the moving hand behind the Circus Extremis; others, less reliable in my opinion, have her a chief performer therein. For the rest, a marriage suggested here, a baby supposed to be on the way there, and Carnival excitement overrriding all. You know how it goes, Juliana." And she takes a sip of her drink, looking momentarily at her brother over the rim of her glass.

"I do," Juliana sighs. And then she falls silent. Either she's exhausted, or she isn't herself. She looks rather lost in thought.

"All right, out with it. If you won't talk," Patrice tells Phillip, "she will. One or the other of you, speak up."

Juliana looks at Phillip. It's *his* sister. She's not about to start a big fight with him because she's involved his sister when he wants to protect her. Juliana looks at Phillip, guarding her expression. He knows, of course, considering her own circumstances her sympathies with be with Patrice - especially considering what may be at stake.

What she says is, "You're the man, darling. You know how I feel."

Phillip sighs.

"You may have heard of the Carnival prank closing Wesson's Pub," he says to Patrice. "In fact, the situation was considerably more serious. There was a sorcerous incident that got out of control. There were several injuries and there may yet be fatalities. We were summoned to the palace as those involved are acquiantences of ours. It is my understanding that the situation has been resolved and poses no further threat." Phillip sips his drink.

Patrice tilts her head and stares Phillip straight in the eye. "Well, I suppose it's a good thing that I didn't know where you were. I can only imagine explaining why you might be involved with such a thing to mother. I thought--well, never mind what I thought. Phillip, you are being careful, aren't you?"

With Patrice's face and body tilted toward Phillip, it's not quite as if Juliana is excluded from the conversation, but it's clear that her attention is primarily on her brother.

Juliana is content to lean back and close her eyes.

"Always," Phillip replies.

Patrice drops her gaze, closes her eyes momentarily and shakes her head. Phillip feels that he has won a temporary reprieve, but only a temporary one. "Let's change the subject, then. You have fresh gossip from the Castle, no doubt. Tell me all about it."

"I do believe I blackmailed Princess Deirdre into donating a lot of money and perhaps even her presence to my cause. Which means my damn little dinner party just turned into an event," Juliana says, striving for a safe topic. She sits up. "I invited her to go to the circus with us as well. I couldn't get her to commit to that one though."

Phillip arches an eyebrow, but remains silent.

"Just as well. Delia might have a mild stroke from nerves if she does," Patrice replies.

"I've looked over your menus. Under the circumstances, we'll have to revise all the orders, preferably a few days ago. We'll do what we can, but some of Her Highness' funds may go into feeding the Her Highness has attracted. Last-minute orders during Carnival are so difficult."

"We can make it work. It will net positive, once word gets out. I was planning on inviting all the royals in residence anyway, but now that one is coming, I may even get two or three. You know, if Her Highness knows she might cause someone some nerves, that might give her incentive to join us at the circus. I think she gets horribly bored," Juliana notes, with an evil little smile, but then gets serious again. "Is Delia here? I'm so sorry we weren't here to greet you."

"She's shopping. We have a while before she's expected back," Patrice replies. "While I would be happy to prevent Her Highness from expiring of tedium, I'd rather come up with a better way to do it. On the other hand, I suppose it might be good for poor Delia to learn that Princesses put on their trousers one leg at a time, too."

Phillip remains silent.

"I'm not positive she doesn't just command them to be on, and lo, they are... but Her Highness has that way of putting people at ease if she wants to. She's very good at it. Maybe just at the party then, when there is not so much focused attention on her? I also need to check my letters. I'd sent out a load before we went up," Juliana says, but doesn't yet seem motivated enough to get up and do it.

-- Main.GingerStampley - 19 Oct 2004