"No no no no no."
"This is starting to become a theme with you isn't it Agent Carbonell? You might want to avoid that when Howard arrives, he'll start butchering Shakespeare in an attempt to be humorous."
Darcy glared at Agent Carter and the long fancy dress bag she had draped over one arm.
"Well may be if you didn't keep giving me bad news then I wouldn't have to protest as much. Huh, ever thought about that?"
"Am I going to have to handcuff you to that chair as they do your hair and make-up?" the British woman asked smirking a little.
"Is there a third option?" fired back Darcy, but she still took a seat in front of the ornate vanity table. "That doesn't involve me going to a party full of 60's celebrities as Stark's obscenely young date? You originally just billed this whole situation to me as 'dinner' and 'investigating'."
They were in New York City, in a rather fancy town house. Apparently, from what she had surmised based off the comments of Peggy and the two women Peggy had hired to do her hair and makeup, Mr. Stark had given? lent? this house to Peggy years ago. If this was one of his 'small' 'spare' residencies, Darcy hated that she was excited to see what his real house looked like. She also wanted to avoid ever seeing his home. She didn't have much time to ponder the question though, since the two ladies that Peggy had introduced as Mary and Linda were already poking and prodding at her face and hair.
"Why is that dress white?" she asked when she was finally able to get a glimpse in the mirror as Peggy could be seen in the background removing it from the bag. "White is not a good color for me."
It might not have been a good color for her but it was pretty. A strapless shimmery white floor length gown was carefully placed over a chair. There was a almost mess like covering in black and white that appeared to drape over it. So at least it wasn't completely white in the end.
"Unfortunately, you, nor us had a choice in the matter. The invite Howard received stated strictly black and white. It should be a most classy affair."
"Oh joy, well you have clearly picked the right girl for the job. We all know I just ooze class."
Peggy was laughing in the background as Darcy heard her rummaging around in another bag.
"Well I'm sure this will help with that…" Peggy finished as moved closer to hand the hair dresser a small black and white mask glinting with crystals.
.
.
.
"What the hell is this?" Darcy muttered into Howard's ear as she pressed in closer to his side as he helped her out of the back of the limo. Lights, cameras, and shining shimmery rich people surrounded them. She was suddenly very thankful for the custom made dress Peggy had supplied for her and the expensive jewelry that Howard had given to her to wear during the drive over. She had a feeling she was wearing more than what her college degree had cost her in clothing and jewels. It was a disturbing thought. The stunning handmade filigree mask covering her eyes and brow were surprisingly comfortable, her shoes less so. Howard helping her up and offering his arm was a welcome relief.
"Might want to read the paper more often, darling." He whispered back. "It's being heralded as the 'party of the century' already. Now smile for the cameras." He ordered as flashes went off around them.
The street was well lit and the side walk leading up to iconic Plaza Hotel was sectioned off and covered to protect the arrivals from the misty rain that fell. Police officers could be seen keeping crowds of loud gawkers well away from the area. People were calling out names of actors and actresses and singers that Darcy recognized by name but were mostly way before her time.
Howard, much as Peggy had predicted, had been more than willing to give Darcy a bit more information on the ride over to the Hotel. Truman Capote was throwing this massive party in honor of someone whose name Darcy promptly forgot. In an effort to impress and simultaneously piss a lot of people off for no reason other than it was a Monday and he could, the author had invited the most random assortment of celebrities, politicians, random small town doctors, and lots of young pretty women for a masquerade party.
Howard was really killing two birds with one stone with this party. A number of guests were rumored to have questionable ties to things S.H.I.E.L.D. liked to monitor and Howard got to rub elbows with rich young starlets and business men. Apparently, Howard had been growing more and more distant from these sorts of events over the last few years and people were starting to talk.
It sounded like the party list had been so selective that Darcy wasn't even sure she was going to be allowed in the door, even if she was hanging off the arm of the infamous Howard Stark.
But security checked them over, quicker than many of the other arrivals it seemed, Darcy had a sneaking suspicion that some of the guards might also work for Stark in some capacity since she thought she had glimpsed a hand gun under his jacket back in the limo. But they gave the both of them the a-ok to move further into the Hotel and Darcy didn't question it where they could hear.
Now it was Howard's turn to lean closer and talk quietly into her ear.
"Have you read 'In Cold Blood' by any chance, Maria?"
"Heard of it, fell asleep during the movie Capote, so not my idea of entertainment."
"Movie? Never mind, doesn't sound very interesting. Ah, good. Me neither, we'll wing it if anyone asks." Darcy looked over at Howard who smiled back at her like they were sharing some great secret. She guessed in a way they were.
He had put on a mask too before leaving the limo, but he clearly did not find it as comfortable as she found hers since he kept using his free hand to fiddle with it.
"So what? We'll just claim to have loved it, and been so speechless that we couldn't possibly give more insight into the book than that…"
"Brilliant plan. Works for me. Unless you can talk intelligently about his other works?"
"I couldn't name any of his other books if you held a gun to my head and threatened to shoot."
"Speechless pandering to the masses it is." That earned Howard a small laugh and Darcy could feel the tension in her shoulders ease ever so slightly.
"What about Frank Sinatra?"
"What about him?" asked Darcy as Howard steered her forward, nodding occasionally to people he knew as they went.
"Seen any of his movies?"
"Ocean's 11? Is that out yet?"
Howard smiled at her. He seemed to smile at more at her than he smiled at the few other people she had seen in interact with since she first was questioned by him. She had a feeling it wasn't a normal expression for him.
"Not a half-bad movie. You lucked out, Maria. That movie is actually a few years old now. And I know you have to have heard some of his songs on the radio the way you are obsessed with music. Anyway, he's tolerable company at times and I know he's supposed to be attending."
"Do you mind if we get ourselves a few of those glasses of champagne before throwing me to the wolves?" asked Darcy as she looked around at the lavishly decorated party.
"Your plans keep getting better and better tonight, Maria."
