Myshuno! 2012 - piece 22
Title: Secrets and Indiscretion.
Prompt: If the glove fits. (fuzzy_spork)
Rating: PG.
Spoiler rating: 8/10.
Summary: Sophia and Bertie argue.
Notes: I've not actually heard the phrase "if the glove fits" before, and so have taken it as an American idiom of "if the cap (or shoe) fits, wear it." Sorry if that's not what it means, but that's what you're getting. Also, fairly high spoiler rating because it contains the first proper reference of a future storyline.
Word Count: 947
Sophia looked over at her husband as the carriage pulled up outside their house. He hadn’t said a word to her on the journey home, and she could tell by the set of his jaw that he was mad at her. Properly mad, not the fun pretending to be mad mood the two of them often indulged in as an aid in their most intimate moments.
He didn’t even look at her as he helped her down from the carriage, let go of her hand as soon as he was able to and stalked towards the house, leaving her to pay the coachman. Sophia glared after him; he really was angry with her and she was determined to find out exactly why.
She found him sulking in his study. “You are angry with me,” she stated.
He whirled round to face her. “No Sophia, I am not angry with you, I am bloody furious with you.”
“And what, pray tell, have I done to deserve your ire?”
“You know full well. You are impetuous, you are often thoughtless, and because of that, you speak of things you should not, to whom you should not.”
Sophia gasped. “You think me indiscreet?”
“I know you are indiscreet.”
“And just what is my supposed indiscretion today?”
“I overheard you speaking about our suppliers with a rival busi….”
“I was speaking to your cousin!”
“My father’s cousin!” pointed out Bertie.
“He seemed interested in our stock,” continued Sophia, ignoring him, “and asked where we had procured such fine wares. I was wary at first, but once he said he was your cousin, I saw no harm in letting him know we used only the very best suppliers.”
“And yet in doing so you may very well have handed him the ammunition needed to ruin us.”
Sophia turned away from him. “You are being needlessly melodramatic.”
“Am I? Do you not recall what his brother did to this family.”
“His brother?” She turned back to look at her husband, and as she did so, the parts slotted into place. She glanced over at the photograph her husband kept on his desk, and as always the one absent face jumped out at her. She swallowed. “Of course I do, but is not Timothy his brother too? And you like him well enough.”
“Cousin Timothy is an honourable man, whom has very little to do with his brother. Cousin Alfred however…” he ran his hand through his curls. “His business empire is impressive. He owns the pre-eminent chain of grocery stores in and around Simdon and he is, by all accounts, always looking to expand. It is my fear that he will seek to harm this family through his contacts and business acumen.”
“You do not know that. Besides, you are being ridiculous. Whoever heard of one man being able to bring down another’s business?”
Bertie looked at her. “As yoyu know, My grandfather was a very well respected businessman. When I took over the running of his shops, I was approached by another well-known businessman who asked me if I wanted him to continue to grind Grundstrom and Son Exports Ltd down to the worst possible selling prices. It turns out that Grandpapa had used his considerable influence to bring that business to its knees and keep it there, because of how Mr Grundstrom treated Aunt Alexandra.”
Sophia felt the blood drain from her face. “You have no reason to suspect that Mr Legacy will do the same.”
Bertie gave her a level look and she had the feeling he had been keeping things from her. She said as much.
“I have heard nothing but unsubstantiated rumours, but that is enough for me to be uneasy,” he admitted.
“You should have told me.”
“Yes, I should have and I apologise.” He sat down on the settee. “How much did you tell him?”
Sophia thought for a moment and took a seat next to him. “Very little if the truth be told. Only that we have good relationships with some of the best wholesalers in Simdon, and that the musical instruments we sell are of the finest quality.”
Bertie nodded. “Maybe you were not as indiscreet as I had feared. The instruments will certainly not cause us any problems; the opportunity for our manufacturers to claim the patronage of Papa and Emmi means very few would ever dream of severing their relationship with us. As for the wholesalers, many have been dealing with Beth’s Books since the day Grandpapa bought it. I am, perhaps being a tad over-dramatic about the whole thing.”
Sophia moved closer to him. “Am I forgiven?”
“Not quite. I am still angry with you. You really should learn to think some before acting.”
Sophia gave a little snort. “You love my impetuous nature. I would not be the same without it.”
“I love everything about you Fie, but that does not stop me thinking you the most irritating and vexing woman of my acquaintance.”
“If the day ever comes when that ceases to be the case, then I will know you no longer care for me my galling man.”
He gave a soft snort of amusement, before he remembered he was angry with her and turned his look into a glare. Sophia suppressed a smile. He had forgiven her completely, even if he would not yet admit it, and perhaps they could put their argument to good use once the children were in bed. And as for his concerns over his father’s cousin, he was being far too much of a doom monger wasn’t he? Surely? The thought that he wasn’t, nagged at her for the rest of the day.
Prompt: If the glove fits. (fuzzy_spork)
Rating: PG.
Spoiler rating: 8/10.
Summary: Sophia and Bertie argue.
Notes: I've not actually heard the phrase "if the glove fits" before, and so have taken it as an American idiom of "if the cap (or shoe) fits, wear it." Sorry if that's not what it means, but that's what you're getting. Also, fairly high spoiler rating because it contains the first proper reference of a future storyline.
Word Count: 947
Sophia looked over at her husband as the carriage pulled up outside their house. He hadn’t said a word to her on the journey home, and she could tell by the set of his jaw that he was mad at her. Properly mad, not the fun pretending to be mad mood the two of them often indulged in as an aid in their most intimate moments.
He didn’t even look at her as he helped her down from the carriage, let go of her hand as soon as he was able to and stalked towards the house, leaving her to pay the coachman. Sophia glared after him; he really was angry with her and she was determined to find out exactly why.
She found him sulking in his study. “You are angry with me,” she stated.
He whirled round to face her. “No Sophia, I am not angry with you, I am bloody furious with you.”
“And what, pray tell, have I done to deserve your ire?”
“You know full well. You are impetuous, you are often thoughtless, and because of that, you speak of things you should not, to whom you should not.”
Sophia gasped. “You think me indiscreet?”
“I know you are indiscreet.”
“And just what is my supposed indiscretion today?”
“I overheard you speaking about our suppliers with a rival busi….”
“I was speaking to your cousin!”
“My father’s cousin!” pointed out Bertie.
“He seemed interested in our stock,” continued Sophia, ignoring him, “and asked where we had procured such fine wares. I was wary at first, but once he said he was your cousin, I saw no harm in letting him know we used only the very best suppliers.”
“And yet in doing so you may very well have handed him the ammunition needed to ruin us.”
Sophia turned away from him. “You are being needlessly melodramatic.”
“Am I? Do you not recall what his brother did to this family.”
“His brother?” She turned back to look at her husband, and as she did so, the parts slotted into place. She glanced over at the photograph her husband kept on his desk, and as always the one absent face jumped out at her. She swallowed. “Of course I do, but is not Timothy his brother too? And you like him well enough.”
“Cousin Timothy is an honourable man, whom has very little to do with his brother. Cousin Alfred however…” he ran his hand through his curls. “His business empire is impressive. He owns the pre-eminent chain of grocery stores in and around Simdon and he is, by all accounts, always looking to expand. It is my fear that he will seek to harm this family through his contacts and business acumen.”
“You do not know that. Besides, you are being ridiculous. Whoever heard of one man being able to bring down another’s business?”
Bertie looked at her. “As yoyu know, My grandfather was a very well respected businessman. When I took over the running of his shops, I was approached by another well-known businessman who asked me if I wanted him to continue to grind Grundstrom and Son Exports Ltd down to the worst possible selling prices. It turns out that Grandpapa had used his considerable influence to bring that business to its knees and keep it there, because of how Mr Grundstrom treated Aunt Alexandra.”
Sophia felt the blood drain from her face. “You have no reason to suspect that Mr Legacy will do the same.”
Bertie gave her a level look and she had the feeling he had been keeping things from her. She said as much.
“I have heard nothing but unsubstantiated rumours, but that is enough for me to be uneasy,” he admitted.
“You should have told me.”
“Yes, I should have and I apologise.” He sat down on the settee. “How much did you tell him?”
Sophia thought for a moment and took a seat next to him. “Very little if the truth be told. Only that we have good relationships with some of the best wholesalers in Simdon, and that the musical instruments we sell are of the finest quality.”
Bertie nodded. “Maybe you were not as indiscreet as I had feared. The instruments will certainly not cause us any problems; the opportunity for our manufacturers to claim the patronage of Papa and Emmi means very few would ever dream of severing their relationship with us. As for the wholesalers, many have been dealing with Beth’s Books since the day Grandpapa bought it. I am, perhaps being a tad over-dramatic about the whole thing.”
Sophia moved closer to him. “Am I forgiven?”
“Not quite. I am still angry with you. You really should learn to think some before acting.”
Sophia gave a little snort. “You love my impetuous nature. I would not be the same without it.”
“I love everything about you Fie, but that does not stop me thinking you the most irritating and vexing woman of my acquaintance.”
“If the day ever comes when that ceases to be the case, then I will know you no longer care for me my galling man.”
He gave a soft snort of amusement, before he remembered he was angry with her and turned his look into a glare. Sophia suppressed a smile. He had forgiven her completely, even if he would not yet admit it, and perhaps they could put their argument to good use once the children were in bed. And as for his concerns over his father’s cousin, he was being far too much of a doom monger wasn’t he? Surely? The thought that he wasn’t, nagged at her for the rest of the day.