JulianaAndPatriceGoShopping
From IMiA
Juliana is ready to go shopping early in the afternoon. She looks much better rested - in fact, seems energized. She'd prefer to ride down and let them send purchases up - she very much wants to be out on horseback today.
"I need the air," Juliana claims. "Too long indoors this week." Her split skirts are layered, cream underskirts overlaid in deep purple. Her shirt is cream with ruffles at the wrists and the v-shaped collar, which is plunging. The jacket matches the purple in her skirts with simple accents embroidered with black thread. She seems to have thrown off her corset (a rarity), although the jacket obviously has boning in it. Her hair has been braided about her face, and the braids pulled back and tied with a purple ribbon, leaving most of her blonde hair loose to her waist. Her boots are purple-dyed suede.
Patrice is plain next to her peacock of a sister-in-law. She's wearing a dark brown divided skirt and jacket. Like Juliana, she has also chosen a cream-colored shirt, but in contrast to Juliana's, hers lacks ruffles. The only feminine details are the amber cufflinks that hold her sleeves closed, her amber earrings, and the minimal boning--enough for decency's sake, no more, in her jacket.
The gold in her jewelry has been polished until it shines. So have her boots.
Juliana says, like she's going over her list out loud, "I need to stop by Elyssa's and see if the pieces I commissioned from her are finished - or when she thinks they might be."
"I should also talk to one of the... well, Madeline Dumas about increasing my order for their wine. If that isn't possible, perhaps the Bayles will help us out, but I was hoping for consistancy. Most people won't know the difference between the Dumas vintage and Bayle's, but the people who will may just be here." Juliana purses her lips in thought.
"And, of course, I'll want to stop and check in on Janet while I'm down there," Juliana adds. "On top of all the food and whatnot that needs to be done. Perhaps we should have a shot after every shop?"
"It sounds like a plan," Patrice says. "I'm at your disposal."
"My favorite words. We're off then." Juliana sticks her head into the hall and locates her secretary. "Cheryl, we're for shopping - do you want us to pick up anything for you?"
The secretary grins and shakes her head. "No thank you, your Grace, I'm currently well supplied."
"You're coming to the dinner, you know," Juliana says lightly. Cheryl looks bewildered. Juliana laughs. "I'll take care of everything, worry not."
"But..." the secretary stammers, uncomfortable with the idea.
"I need you there, to do sums in your head and tell me where I need to push harder. At any rate, I've already ordered you a dress, so you must come now."
"Your Grace, I don't belong at this dinner," the young woman says, finding her voice. Juliana waves her hand to dismiss the statement. Cheryl turns pleading eyes on Patrice.
"If it makes you feel better, Cheryl, think of it as a work occasion," Patrice suggests. "I promise you it won't be that dreadful. If it'll make you feel more confident, ask Edwards for a little help on how to manage things. He's had to assist Phillip through some pretty dreadful occasions."
Cheryl looks horribly disappointed in Patrice.
Patrice is, alas, unmoved.
Cheryl sighs. "Very well. Perhaps this gown will at least be modest, your Grace?"
"Modesty adds mystery, of course," Juliana says like that's an answer. She slips on matching riding gloves. "If the Duke comes home reassure him I have every plan of being back before dark, and I'm taking [the guards who aren't named yet] with us."
"I will, my lady."
Juliana heads out to the stables where she has to spend time talking to all her horses before she leaves. She chooses to ride out on "Manly" today though. Her favorite, though quite aged mare, "Rainbow," has been retired to the country.
Patrice is riding her favorite horse, Azzah. Azzah is a lovely brown mare that Patrice acquired in the shadow of Andalucia a number of years ago while conducting business negotiations there. Rumor has it that she was a gift from a lover who was high in the Caliph's favor. Patrice has never confirmed or denied the rumor, but Phillip might know. In any case, Patrice came back from Andalucia with both a horse and substantial profits.
Once they get down into the merchant district, Juliana has their and the guards' horses stabled at her favorite inn, where she seems to know the owners and the stablehands. She reassures Manly she'll be back before dark. He gives her a very 'yes, mother' look.
Patrice will notice, as they begin by visiting those merchants Juliana has selected to supply her food, that all of these merchants are known for guarding their stores and have a reputation for never providing tainted goods. Juliana starts off with honey as she maneuvers to get her way with the merchants, willing to pay more to increase some orders, cancel others, and add a few more refined items at this late date, but it is only a little more. Juliana's strong suit is negotiation, and she plays up the future business she will bring to these vendors by 'confiding' to other hostesses of good taste where she was treated well and where she was not. She does mention that the guest list has become more distinctive than she anticipated.
Juliana is fair with them in the end, but just fair enough to give them an acceptable profit margin. While Juliana doesn't appear to be overly worried about money, she does have set priorities for how she wants to spend it, and she has educated herself about the market she's working in.
There are certainly rumors that Phillip has sold off something to fund the dinner party and the later party in Southside. From what Patrice is seeing, even with the money Juliana will gather at the dinner party, Phillip is easily going to have to match contributions to pull off what she wants. That will be no small chunk of change.
Patrice is here for the company and the casual conversation. She has an eye for bargains herself, and occasionally intervenes in Juliana's negotiations to drop in some fact to Juliana's advantage, but otherwise lets Juliana handle her own affairs.
Juliana is probably less aware of the care Patrice takes for their safety. Some of the merchants' guards may be able to tell that Patrice is armed, but Juliana almost certainly wouldn't notice it. The knife she's carrying would buy them a little time if they were attacked, but they're not in Southside, where more would be necessary.
Juliana does a lot of smalltalk, kinda filling Patrice in on who some of her friends in town are. Juliana has probably mentioned a lot of these names when she lived on the estate when she and Phillip first returned to Amber, but now Patrice is here and might meet them.
"Janet is my best friend. She has been even since I first came to the City after Samuel died. James too. They'd been married about five years when I met them but they were so young - not even thirty then, I think. I'd trust them with anything. Don't be surprised if James comes up on us while we're down here. He's a big man, but he moves quickly. [casting - Emir Kusturica]. He's supposed to be letting me know about a young lady I've been worried about."
"I'll keep an eye out for him. But tell me about this girl. Is she one of your working girls that you're trying to get out of the trade?" Patrice asks.
"No, actually. She's a young pretty thing I've been hearing a lot about, with some talent in art, it seems. But every time I hear about her it is this 'that pretty young artist', 'that pretty girl with the art', and 'that pretty little thing Dane was giving a hard time.' Sounds like she's a young woman out on her own trying to make it the best she can, and there's not a lot of money in art. Well, I hardly need to tell you that, you've sponsored enough artists. I was trying to get James to find her, so I could... well, I wanted to make sure she could get by doing what she's doing, and not have to change jobs."
Juliana sighs. "But James says her landlord was killed and she went missing, and I... have the worst imagination. I'm very worried. I'm hoping... well, I'm hoping she shows up somewhere, that they can find her."
"Yes, I can imagine. Amber isn't a kind city to women alone." Patrice seems unaware of the irony inherent in her words. "So she's pretty .... what about her art?"
"I haven't gotten to see it. I'm hoping to catch a look at this mocking portrait she did of Dane while I'm down today, but I'm sure someone has taken it by now. Rumor has it she's good. Rumor also has me doing lots of things I'm not doing, so I'd like a look for myself. Although hiring her and paying her an outrageous amount of money to get her set up did cross my mind," Juliana smiles.
"I hope they find her," she adds again, and bites her lip. She really is worried.
"I do too, Juliana." Patrice offers her good-sister a squeeze on the arm. "We'll try to get a look at some of her work, and when she returns, perhaps we'll offer her a commission."
Juliana nods and takes Patrice by the arm. "So tell me," she says, leaning in and talking more softly as they stroll through town, "how much did Phillip tell you?"
Patrice smiles for public consumption. "About what, Juliana?"
Juliana grins, but it's real. "Oh, about me, the last few days, to start. I've been having... I guess we can call them 'bad dreams.' Did he mention that to you?"
"No, not at all," Patrice says, sounding surprised. "But he's very protective of you. I can't imagine him violating your confidence unless it were very important."
Juliana nods. She slows down a little, which means shorter strides for the 5'11" woman, who is thankfully wearing boots with low heels today. She stays quiet. "I dreamed we had a daughter. She was a young woman, but not to her majority yet. You were there. Phillip was dead. I was really upset. Your mother was in it too. She was worried about me."
Patrice isn't quite as tall as Juliana, but she has had no trouble keeping up with her, short strides or long. "*I'm* worried in the here and now. When did these dreams start?"
"Just after the prank at Wessons, as close as I can tell," Juliana whispers. Then not whispering, but still in a quiet tone. "I had another where Phillip had died in Aidran." She almost chokes on the sentence. "None of them have boded well for Amber or Phillip, in the short term."
"We live in dangerous times," Patrice replies, with studious neutrality.
Juliana nods. "I've been... the first dream I had when I passed out. I've never had that happen before. It has me a little... off balance, so if I say something or do something that seems a little irrational..."
Juliana smiles, "Ah, hell, you can deal with me, I'm sure. I was trying to get Elyssa Darcy hooked up with Prince Gerard in one dream. I can't wait to find a way to tease her about that."
Patrice glances about to see who might be listening and lowers her voice still further.
"Juliana, you shouldn't talk to people about this kind of thing. To say 'I had a funny dream where I was hooking you up with Prince Gerard' could be bad enough. Explaining anything more could put you at risk--"
Patrice looks around again before finishing, "You and Phillip both."
"I know, dear, that's why I'm just telling you. You're more than people. Elyssa, she's more than people too," Juliana sighs. "But you need to know. In case something happens."
Patrice pauses for a moment, and then says, "I'd like to be able to say nothing is going to happen, but I think we'd both know that's a promise I can't keep. Things are too complex right now. But your dreams may not be portents--don't assume that they are without some reason to believe it is so. Have you asked Phillip what he thinks?"
Juliana whispers about as low as she can. "It's a spell, I was seeing things. I was... ensorcelled, that's what he thinks. Certain things proved themselves out, but... a spell might do that..."
"Just, were I to pass out from all this heat, get him, or Princes Eric or Gerard, as quick as you can," Juliana adds under her breath. "Hopefully I'm done with that though."
"Yes, let's hope so," Patrice replies. She stares off into the distance, clearly lost in thought.
Next, PatricePinegar and JulianaPinegar go to see ElyssaDarcy - AmbersJewels
-- Main.LizTrumitch - 07 Dec 2004
