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Honour of Punctuality

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The cloaked woman stood outside the elaborate house, her hood drawn to shield her face. The monstrous walls made one wonder what secrets lay beyond its darkened exterior. The key had been supplied in anticipation for her arrival, but it was only proper to ask for entrance. Taking a breath, Evey rang the small bell at the door. Chimes sounding the national anthem echoed through the otherwise quiet building.

It was answered by an elderly man dressed in the formalwear implying his status. The butler issued her in with a welcoming smile.

"The Captain will be with you shortly. Please, have a seat."

No one seemed to address the Captain by his given name. Evey assumed it was because the name Fletcher had come to be connected to the Irish.

The atmosphere was cold, despite the warmly decorated room. She found herself sitting on a comfortable chair in the foyer. The walls were lined with approved wallpaper of a golden hue. A family portrait hung, neatly trimmed with a deep golden frame. It displayed the captain with what appeared to be his mother and younger brother. It looked to be taken a good few years back, as she had learned his mother had been dead at least three years now. Only a small amount of grey disrupted his dark hair. The younger man was thinner, blue eyes twinkled.

Evey allowed her mind to wander as she sat patiently. The mission was simple in the sense that there were not many complications to what needed to be done. The Captain happened to have on hand the only remaining paperwork on an institution for personality restructuring. At least, it was believed he did. All investigations had led to it. It appeared to have been shut down in the 2010's, yet conflicting reports showed its activity as late as 2021.

So the opportunity came, an engagement party for Samantha Hill and Mark Thomas, the son of the Chief in Command. It was a masquerade, with all the lavishes open to them. It was a world hidden to the general public and Evey was in charge of breaking into it.

She stood impatiently and walked further into the house. The butler had long disappeared. A clockchimed from what seemed to be a family room. There were no pictures, nothing out of the ordinary. It was furnished simply. There were some chairs, a couch, no T.V.. She assumed he probably had it set up in a more appropriate room. A box sat on a side table by the door. She casually fingered the lid. It was a deep colored cherry wood. It opened with little effort. Nestled inside was nothing special. A few seashells and candied mints.

"Sorry for the delay."

Evey jumped at the sound of the voice, letting the lid fall loudly.

"Oh, I didn't see you there."

"You weren't supposed to. Find something interesting." The man looked over her skeptically. His blue eyes narrowed. He was mid-aged. Grey flecks speckled his hair. His deep red suit was striped with thin black lines, shaping his body neatly. A mask was held in his hand, ready for the masquerade that was to begin. Yet his posture, his tone, screamed accusation. If it remained that tense, any plan would be dissolved.

"Come now, I may not be skilled at the degree of importance as this party, but I am not new to the act of escortship." Evey lowered her tone sensually and smiled. "Now…in all my time waiting here my throat's gone a bit dry and now you are going to deny me a candy after I've finally found some? Those who get the attention are those who look comfortable. You will be paying me to help achieve that but if you already are trying to accuse me of something it will make things much harder."

His expression lightened slightly in recognition. Moving closer he opened the box himself and handed one to her, offering an apologetic smile.

"I'm sorry, it's just been a very long night already," He offered the woman his arm with a mischievous smile. "And we haven't even gotten to have fun yet."

It made her sick at his implications, but she took his arm none-the-less and smiled herself.

"Now, we are going to be late but it is partially my fault. Why were you late, my dear Rachel."

Evey smiled with her reply. "I completely forgot my lipstick. I placed it on the table as I was getting ready, and I didn't notice until I was half on my way. There was a lot of rather unlady-like cursing that followed. And you?"

He chuckled in amusement and Evey praised herself for getting him to relax a little bit more. The less he suspected her of anything, the easier it would be to drug him later before bed. With a glance or two he had given, he had already shown his interest.

"Buisness, as usual."

He offered no more an explanation than that before the butler walked in, coat in hand. It wasn't long before the Captain placed his mask on andthey had started ontheir way.

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The title is in reference to a statement in the Count of Monte Cristo in which the Viscount Albert creates an appointment with the Count. "…and your word of honour passed for your punctuality?"

A.N.- I'm sorry about the chapter being slightly short, but I'm posting 2 today…does that count:D