The Twins secret

CH 8 The Carters and Gossip

The orchestra was still playing, couples dancing, aristocrats mingling in clusters, wine and champagne flowed freely.

The pillar of life stood in the centre of the room, sparkling under the chandeliers light, forgotten for the time being by many of the guests as they socialised.

Mr. and Mrs Carter, a couple in their mid-thirties, had just finished dancing and were leaving the dance floor when they noticed the arrival of Lord Arvenal.

“Lord Arvenal” Mrs. Carter called out while dragging her embarrassed husband with her as she made a beeline for Orion. Many conversations stopped, eyes turning in the direction of Mrs. Carters voice.

Orion grimaced internally, plastering on a fake smile. Who is that? He asked Ariadne while waving down a waiter to give himself a couple more moments before having to answer the shrill woman making her way towards him.

That is Dorothy Carter and her Husband Isaac. He’s a partner at Gilbert and sons, though he has never handled our accounts. His wife seems to think she can change that by cornering me at every event, yabbering on and on about her husband’s business acumen and connections. If you did not sleep through all the events I attend, you would know that

Maybe, maybe not. You know I have no memory for faces and names. Especially ones of no use to me. Orion heaved a sigh Wish me luck.

The carters had reached Orion, with giant fake smiles plastered on.

“Its lovely to see you Lord Arvenal. You rarely attend social events I am surprised to see you here.” Mrs carter’s saccharine voice purred at him.

“My sister was not feeling well, she sent a carriage to collect me before she headed home to rest. It is our collection after all. One of us should be in attendance.”

She giggled in a high shrill tone setting Orion’s teeth on edge. “Oh the poor dearie, I’ll be sure to send round one of my famous apple cobblers in the morning. That should cheer her up”

Ariadne’s groan vibrated through his skull Please no, she will deliver it herself. Trust me you don’t want to try her apple cobbler it is putrid. Tell her we won’t be home or make something up. Once she gets inside, she won’t leave again till we try some.

“That is very kind of you Mrs. Carter. I will be sure to tell Mr. Sampson, our butler to expect someone from your household tomorrow. It will keep for a day or two wont it? My sister and I will be leaving first thing in the morning for our country estate. Our uncle is expecting us to go over some business”

Mrs. Carter gasped, placing her gloved hand against her plumped up bosom. “If your sister is ill, you must not take her for a long coach ride, you must leave her here where she can recuperate. Surely you menfolk can do without her hostess skills for a few days until she is well”

Raising a brow at the shrill woman, Orion let his disdain seep into his voice “Do not be insulting! Why would I take my ill sister all that way just so she can be a good little hostess? No, my sister is coming so she can decide on matters pertaining to HER accounts and HER business portfolio. Lady Arvenal is independently wealthy. I do not give her an allowance. She does not need it she is worth millions all on her own. Well billions, if you consider she owns half of the pillar of life. All of which she made for herself.

She is worth more than me, by around 7 million pounds. So do not dare to presume I care so little for her health over some frivolous thing and DO NOT insult her intelligence by suggesting she can not take care of herself or run her businesses as well as any man”

With that said and the crowd of onlookers holding their breath waiting to see what happened next, Orion  gave the couple a very curt nod before briskly walking away leaving the couple sputtering in embarrassment with apologises frozen on their lips.

HA! Business acumen. What an i***t. He needs to muzzle his wife if she is going to insult the wealthiest family in England in public. My displeasure alone is enough to ruin him. I doubt anyone here will give him their business and many that already have, will soon be withdrawing theirs.

Dear brother was that really necessary? Ariadne asked.

Well it worked Orion replied with a smirk. No apple cobbler. No more listening to her drone on about her husband. She will not dare approach either of us in public for at least a few months for fear of my anger and further embarrassment. And it annoys me seeing them insult you in any way, you know that.

Yes, I know Orion. I still think you went to far proving your point, as you said that little scene may well ruin him. But thank you, I appreciate you correcting their small-minded assumptions. Some of us do not need a man to take care of us we can do that all on our own.

Just then Ariadne saw Lily and Mr. Winters enter the room at the edge of Orion’s field of view, anything else she was going to say was forgotten. Orion had been aiming for a fellow surgeon Nicolas and his wife Ann on the other side of the room, as far away from the Carters as possible, when Ariadne started panicking all over again. Instantly he knew she had seen Lily. He paid a little more attention to what he was seeing and noticed Lily being escorted inside by Mr. Winters, her arm in the crook of his, laughing and chatting as if the events of earlier had not transpired. He was sure she had not seen them as of yet.

Well she seems fine. She’s still here and look, no straight jacket.

She hasn’t seen us yet. Don’t draw her attention. Just go over to Nic and Ann and everything should be fine. If you keep your back to her, she might not recognise you and everything will be fine.

Orion didn’t agree avoiding her Lily was the best course of action, but he followed her direction all the same.

Reaching the couple without being noticed he shook hands with Nic and gave Ann a hug whispering “from Ariadne” to which she smiled and nodded in understanding. “How are you my friend? Its good to see you and all but why are you here?” Nic asked with some suspicion.

“Well Ariadne was not feeling well. She had a bit of a shock earlier and decided it was best if I finished the night in her stead”

“Oh no, I hope she will be okay.” Ann exclaimed.

“Why don’t you both come by after the gala, I am sure seeing you Ann would lift her spirits and Nicolas you could examine her, as her doctor I am sure your worried.”

“Of course!” was the last thing said about it before they moved on to other topics. Their conversation having been just loud enough to be overheard and repeated by the gossips standing nearby, as intended.

Lily and Edward were deep in conversation with the owner of a rival newspaper, his wife and two sons when their daughter Margaret, a notorious gossip joined them.

“I hope Lady Arvenal recovers” Margaret interjected in a lull in the conversation.

“I’m sure she will be fine, probably just a headache or something mild of the likes. She seemed fine earlier.” Her mother assured her.

“What do you mean recover, Margaret?” Lily asked, had people made up reasons for her absence she wondered.

“Oh, you missed it?”

“Missed what? Edward and I took a stroll around the gardens, it is such a nice evening, a shame to waste it indoors.”

Margaret proceeded to give them all the details about Orion’s encounter with the Carters, a gleeful look on her face. Margaret loved nothing as much as being the first to recount a titbit of gossip.

“And then, while I was over speaking to Louisa, I heard Lord Arvenal ask Doctor Shaw to attend to her tonight after the gala. It must be serious if they are asking the Doctor to visit tonight instead of in the morning. I hope Lady Arvenal recovers.” The look on Margaret’s face said that was not what she hoped for. Probably hoping for something scandalous, to fuel her gossip Lily imagined.

Looking around for Doctor Shaw, Lily spotted them near the balcony on the far side of the room, a man that vaguely looked like Lord Arvenal from behind, around the right height, size and hair colour stood talking to the Doctor and his wife. The mans back was to Lily so she could not be sure.

She wanted to go over and ask about Ariadne, check she was fine but her bravery from earlier had deserted her. Had Ariadne followed her when she ran away and fallen or hurt herself in some way? Was it even possible for Ariadne to be hurt or ill but Orion not show any of the symptoms? Lily contemplated. Do I really believe they are cursed? That they inhabit the same body? Half listening to the conversation continuing around her Lily contemplated all she had learned from the twins earlier in the night.

Despite how farfetched and fanciful it all seemed she did believe them. She wouldn’t be so calmly considering the effects of damage to one on the other if she didn’t believe.

Trying to work up the nerve to approach Lord Arvenal took over an hour and by then the event was about to finish. Lord Arvenal was taking the stage for a last speech and to thank everyone for their attendance and donation. Looking up at him, he was very muscular and tall, cutting quite the intimidating figure, Lily decided she didn’t have the courage to approach him tonight and that she would make something, chicken soup maybe? and use it as an excuse to visit and check on Ariadne in the morrow.