Misadventures in Overland Chapter Three

Punishments and Parties

As they walked towards the Kingsley home, Alice couldn't help but feel slightly apprehensive. Her mother's reaction to Tarrant had been alarmingly benign. She wondered if perhaps she had merely put on a show of politeness so as not to seem boorish and improper. She quietly walked up to her, and looked sideways at her. "Mother, I want to ask you something, and please answer me honestly. What do you make of Tarrant?"

Helen looked at her, and smiled. "Were you worried that perhaps I would be startled by him? Well, I cannot deny that I am a bit startled by his appearance. He is not what one would call conventional, after all. However, you wrote to me about him so often that my curiosity to meet the man overcame my caution. So to answer your question, I am a bit startled by him, but I will make an earnest effort to get to know him."

Alice sighed in relief. "Thank you, Mother. He means a great deal to me, and I would hate for you to bear a grudge against the man I love. After all, you and Margaret are the only family I have."

Helen gave her a brief hug, and then looked ahead to Alannah and Tarrant, who were conversing in quiet tones. Alannah giggled at something Tarrant said, and lightly smacked his arm. Helen frowned. "They seem to be awfully close to each other,
Alice. Are you entirely sure of their…loyalties?"

Alice smiled. "Mother, Alannah loves Ilosivic more than life itself. She would die before she betrayed him, and I know Tarrant cares for her like a brother. He lost his brothers and sisters long ago, so Alannah is able to fill a spot in his life that had been missing for a long time."

Alannah turned and smiled at Helen. "Alice is right, Ma'am. I do love Tarrant, but it is the love that a younger sister has for her older brother. Besides," she laughed, "Tarrant has only ever had eyes for your daughter."

Helen blushed. "I did not mean for you to overhear our conversation, Alannah! I do apologize if I said anything to cause offense!"

Alannah smiled. "I have heard much uglier things from the Ladies of the White Court, Ma'am. I am not at all offended by anything you said."

Helen smiled in relief, and then looked up at the house. "Ah, we've arrived. Come along, everyone, the guests have all arrived."

Alice frowned. "Guests? Mother, you're not throwing a party, are you?" She sighed in resignation at the surprised look on her mother's face.

Helen looked aghast. "Not throw a party to celebrate my daughter's visit? Why, it would cause a scandal in Society! Why, I'd never be able to show my face again."

Alice sighed deeply. "Mother, you did not have to do this. I am sure that Alannah and Tarrant would have been more pleased with a simple dinner."

Alannah looked over at Tarrant, and they both grinned madly. Tarrant looked at Alice. "No, love, I think Alannah and I will have a wonderful time at this party. After all, Underlanders love a good party. Don't we, Alannah?"

Alannah gave a grin that would make Chessur envious. "That we do, Tarrant."

Alice bit her lip to keep from laughing as she imagined what her two mad friends would do to the sensibilities of the prim and proper guests she was sure her mother had invited.

Helen smiled. "Excellent!" She walked up the steps, knocking firmly on the door. It was opened moments later by a servant. "Mrs. Kingsley, the guests are waiting in the main ball room."

Helen nodded, and then swept inside. "Thank you, Josef. Please inform them we will be there presently." Josef bowed, and left the room. Helen motioned, and Alannah, Alice, and Tarrant walked in. Tarrant and Alannah looked around in amazement at the tapestries and art that adorned the walls. Tarrant looked over at Helen. "These are quite nice, Mrs. Kingsley. Very different from what we have at Marmoreal."

Alannah nodded, and then walked over to a painting that caught her attention. It was a portrait of a woman with deep eyes and an enigmatic smile. Alannah gazed in wonder at it, feeling as though the eyes were fixed on her. Alice walked over and stood next to her. "Father bought this in his travels. It's a copy, since the real one is hanging in an art gallery known as the Louvre. It's worth a great deal of money."

Alannah continued to gaze in amazement. "It is a magnificent painting. Whoever painted it must have been a master."

Alice nodded, and then sighed as Helen cleared her throat right behind her. "Yes, Mother?"

Helen frowned at her, and then smiled at Alannah. "If you and Tarrant would care to wash before you join the party, there is a bath just down the hall. Alice, come along with me so you can greet your guests."

Alice sighed. "They are not my guests, Mother. They are yours. But I do not feel like arguing." She turned to Alannah and Tarrant. "Try not to take too long. I do not wish to die of boredom my first day home."

Tarrant laughed, and then kissed her cheek. "We promise to be as quick as the Bandersnatch."

Ten minutes later, they walked into the main ball room. They had washed their hands and faces as best they could, and Alannah had shaken the dirt from her dress. Tarrant had given her a pleading look, and she had helped him brush his coat. "Alannah, I'm really nervous. What if my Madness comes out while I'm here? I know Alice is used to it, but I still don't want anything to go wrong."

Alannah smiled, gently touching his arm. "Tarrant, just relax and be yourself, and everything will be fine. Besides, you'll have this madwoman to keep you in line." she said, laughing. Tarrant laughed.

"And if your Madness comes out? What should I do?"

Alannah allowed her eyes to flash red. "Stand back and watch the fireworks, o' course."

Tarrant grinned. "Of course. If I may be perfectly honest, I think that it may liven up the party a bit if you did allow a bit of your Madness to come out." He ducked the swat Alannah aimed at him, and then looked at the person who had just arrived. "Alice!"

Alannah turned and glared in mock exasperation at Alice. "Alice, please tell Tarrant that he is extremely childish and annoying at times." She laughed at the pout that came over Tarrant's face. "See what I mean?"

Alice nodded. "I do, but alas, I cannot change who he is. I'm afraid you will have to put up with him, same as I do." She suddenly frowned. "Mother wishes for you to come and meet Margaret and"….she spoke the next name in disgust... "Lowell."

Tarrant frowned, and his eyes flashed red for a moment. "Lowell? Isn't he the slurvish guddlers scut of a husband?" At Alice's disgusted nod, he grinned wickedly. "We would be delighted tae meet him. Wouldn't we, Alannah?"

Alannah grinned just as wickedly. "O' course. We'd be honored." She looked over to where Mrs. Kingsley stood with Alice's sister and her husband. "Alice, please take us over there."

Alice smiled, and escorted them over to where her mother stood. "Mother, here they are."

Helen smiled. "Thank you Alice. Mr. Hightopp, Lady Stayne, might I introduce my eldest daughter, Margaret, and her husband, Lowell Manchester. Margaret, Lowell, this is Tarrant Hightopp and Lady Alannah Stayne."

Margaret smiled at them. "I am very pleased to meet the both of you. I do hope you enjoy your time here."

Alannah smiled. "I am quite sure we will. This is our first time in Overland, after all, and we plan on making it a memorable event." She turned to look at Lowell, who had been staring rather avidly at her. "Good Sir, I must request that you put your eyes back in your head and your tongue back in your mouth, or I shall be forced to cause you grievous injury. I am a married woman, but even were I not, I would take strong objection to being stared at as though I were a piece of meat."

Lowell blanched. "You are very forward with your insults, Lady Stayne. I would be careful what you say. I have many influential friends, and you could very well find yourself quite ruined." He smiled smugly, but the smile quickly faded when Alannah began to laugh.

"You could not ruin me if you tried. I have no ties to this world. I am an Underlander and as such I am not subject to any of your petty feuds or influences. However, I am a close and dear friend of your sister in law, and it is her you should thank for the fact that I do not take your slurvish head off!"

Tarrant glared at Lowell. "Alannah is right. You have Alice to thank for the fact that you have escaped injury at our hands. She has informed me of what you have done in the past." He grabbed Lowell's arm none too gently and pulled him out of the hearing of Alice and her mother and sister. Alannah followed.

Tarrant glared at Lowell, eyes dark. "Naow, I want ye to listen, because I do not intend tae repeat meself. Ye are never tae do anythin' like that again, am I clear? Ye are married, and yer wife is the only woman ye should be sharing a bed with. Ye must have made a vow tae that effect on yer wedding day. Perhaps ye should consider 'onoring it!"

Alannah continued, her dark brogue coloring her words. "Tarrant, ye may be wastin' yer time. I dinnae think merely remindin' him o his oath is goin' tae have much of an effect. I propose something a bit…madder."

Tarrant grinned evilly, and Lowell blanched. "An excellent idea, Alannah. But what would be mad enough for this cheating bastard?"

Alannah looked thoughtful, and then grinned madly. "I think perhaps he could do wif a bit of…tea." She looked over at Tarrant. "What do you say?"

Tarrant laughed in elation. "Perfect! But do you have the tea with you?"

Alannah nodded, then hiked up her dress, revealing a bottle strapped to her leg. Lowell gaped in shock. "Why, you are nothing but a blatant hussy!"

Alannah unstrapped the bottle and glared at him. "Tarrant, please hold his mouth open so I can give him his tea."

Tarrant grinned wickedly and forced Lowell's mouth open. Alannah poured the contents of the bottle down his throat. "Now, it might take a bit for the full effect to set in. But once it does…"

A few moments later, Alice came over to where Tarrant and Alannah stood. She was laughing so hard she could barely breathe. "What…did…you…do?" she managed to gasp out between gales of laughter.

Lowell had wandered over to Margaret in a daze, and begun to babble, confessing about the numerous affairs and indiscretions he had committed. In between his confessions he had startled everyone by spouting bits of nonsense words like slithy and mimsy.

Alannah looked innocent, but her eyes sparked with wicked mischief. "Why, nothing. I only gave him Veritas Tea. I bought some along in case I needed it."

Alice laughed louder. "You know, this might just turn out to be a very interesting party after all."

Author's Note-If anyone can name the painting Alannah looks at, you get a strawberry scone courtesy of Thackery. Just be sure to duck.

P.S-The next chapter will focus on Stayne and the children, then I will be turning the Underlanders lose on London.