Tea was a tortured meal. By now Lady Penelope had sensed that her two guests were not totally comfortable with each other. Partially blaming jet lag she released the two to their own rooms for an early night. Feeling more familiar with Virgil Tracy, from her long acquaintance with the family, Penelope took it upon herself to give a lecture.
"Really Virgil, must you be so hostile? You practically curdled the cream at the table."
Virgil had had enough of lectures. "What about you? You know how tight security has to be for International Rescue, yet you invite a stranger here who is involved in some shady business."
Penelope drew herself up to her full height and gave a withering look that bespoke of hundreds of years of British aristocracy. "The day you can dictate to me my responsibilities and my choice of friends is long and far away. I will assume that this is a temporary lapse in behavior due to your injuries and fatigue and that you will be your normal gentlemanly self by morning. Good night." She left Virgil nursing a very bruised ego.
Her approach to Marie Ryker was just as direct.
"It has been over a year since we last met. You've changed." Lady Penelope said bluntly as she watched her friend unpack in the guest room.
"People do change." The short woman said tiredly. "A year can be an eternity."
"Was it?" Penelope asked worriedly, the young woman she had known had become older, more bitter. "Was it an eternity?"
"Yes." Was the quiet answer.
The two women were silent for a moment.
"If I can help..." Penny offered.
"If you could, I would ask." Marie answered. "Being here is good, even if I do have to endure your grouchy friends." A shadow of a smile and her normal good humor shone through.
"He will not be grouchy tomorrow, I assure you." Penny smiled back.
"Then neither shall I." Marie promised.
"Good night then." Penelope left her friend satisfied that tomorrow Virgil Tracy and Marie Ryker would not be at odds with one another. "I'm good, very very good." she murmured to herself. "I wonder...." Little plots and machinations began to stir in her brain.
"Parker dear," She said as she entered the library. "I think we are going to be very busy tomorrow."
"Yes m'lady." Parker nodded.
Virgil lay back with a sigh against the mound of down pillows that graced the comfortable bed. His muscles were twitching with fatigue and he knew he wasn't at his best, physically and mentally. He wished...wasn't sure what he wished...but he was tired of being lectured and made to feel small, less than he was. Well, maybe he wasn't so polite to Miss Ryker, but she was so...annoying. With that thought in mind he rolled over and fell asleep.
Marie lay back with a sigh against the mound of down pillows that graced
the comfortable bed. Her muscles were twitching with fatigue and she didn't
know which leg hurt more. She was certainly pushing her reserves to the
edge. Meeting Lady Penny had been a godsend. A glass of water and the pain
pill sat on the night table. The same as it had been for the last two months.
In the morning, the pill would be returned to the bottle with a sigh of
relief. But, she still need it there. She wished...she didn't know
what she wished...but she was tired of being tired of being made to feel
small, less than she was. Well, maybe she hadn't been too polite to Mr.Tracy,
but he was so... annoying. With that thought in mind she rolled over and
fell asleep.