Dear Inkdrops,
I am glad you liked the last epistolary.
Back to Bill and his drama in London, there is a temporal overlap with the last chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own BSG.

May 1804

Beautiful New Faces - Part I

Bill Adama

While Bill knew this separation from Laura was for the best, a part of him really hoped she would be back soon, hopefully with the understanding that the two of them should be together. Permanently. Because by God, he couldn't deal with that emotional chaos anymore - The pining, the vague regrets, the missing, and the low anger that accompanied it all. The affection and attraction and introspection and a lot of other things ending on -tion he didn't want to think about.

He had also quickly figured out that London and life in general without Laura had become dull, very dull indeed. He missed her insights at parties that he had to attend, he missed her conversation, and yes, he also missed their activities that involved less talking and less clothing. He could hear her comments in his ear when he chatted about politics with the gentlemen or about art with the ladies. He wanted to know her opinion on Pitt's second administration and what she thought about Napoleon, the new French emperor. Of course he could simply ask, the letter he had already composed was laying uselessly on his desk, only his signature and seal were missing. But he couldn't bring himself to send it. Maybe he was too traditional, or too proud. Or maybe he was scared. What if she didn't want it? Could he stand a permanent rejection?

So he stuck to parties, to Kara's delight, and more wine and brandy than was likely good for him. Saul appreciated the company at the club for sure, just as a couple of the other men he soon became friendly with. These weren't real friendships though, he knew this, but it was enough to keep him busy and entertained most nights. Nevertheless, their jovial, often vaguely or very sexist conversation couldn't fill the real void his red-haired friend had left. The gentlemens' bickering about their wifes, comments about lovers and misstresses, and complaints about their children made Laura's and his troubles seem dramatic, profound, and utterly conventional at the same time.

He soon found out that his increased presence at the club came with unexpected consequences - teasing about his wifelessness and perceived celebacy, which were only kept in line by the fact that he already had an heir, something that a fair number of the men desperatedly lacked. However, he noticed that more and more companions started to mention their daughters around him, whether it was to attract Lee or himself, he couldn't quite say. Alas, while he himself had no intention to get attached to a mere girl, he knew Lee wouldn't be too reluctant. And despite his position at the military, he could very well use the money of a fortunate dowry.
Thankfully, the one and only Richard Fitzwilliam seemed to have disappeared to Scotland, he wondered vaguely where he had gone and whether the sole prospect was chasing skirts or something of deeper purpose. With his standing and connections, both options seemed equally likely. In any case, he was glad not to have the living reminder of Laura close to him in London.

Via Kara he found out that Laura had invited the Agathons and Dittons to Caprica Manor for the summer, which made his daughter pout for at least two days, already fearing boredom without her friend. Well, she had coped before Violet Agathon, so Bill saw no reason why she shouldn't do so again. At least Charlotte Valerii had proved to be agreeable company, and if he wasn't mistaken, Karl Agathon very much thought the same. Nobody else seemed bothered though, so Bill wondered whether they didn't mind or whether they didn't want to see what was going on right under their nose.
He was just watching them from across the room at another one of these balls that recently seemed to morph into one another, leaving less and less of an impression, when he saw Mr Valerii coming towards him. Great, now he would have to make polite conversation, but at least it wasn't the Cains, who seemed to pop up everywhere nowadays, like weeds.
Next to the host there was a stately older man, severly looking with a grey moustache, who seemed to look at everything with a a faint air of distain. It was nobody Bill was acquainted with, but he had the feeling he had seen him around somewhere. People were moving out of the way, but despite the two mens' impressive statues, Bill was sure that was not the reason by any means. People were staring at their female companion with unabashed surprise and fascination, and in many cases not only a bit of envy.
The stranger had an angel on his arm. There was no other way to put it, he pondered, as he regarded the woman who seemed to glide over the floor. Her delicate, doll-like face was framed by golden curls. At the same time her big eyes seemed to take in the room just to stop and lock at his face. She gave him a breathtaking smile, making him wonder whether she had confused him with someone else. He certainly didn't know her, he would have remembered her for sure.

"Commander, may I introduce you to Mr Benington and his wonderful daughter, Mrs Charles," Mr Valerii started.

Bill bowed, giving the three a polite smile. He had heard of Mr Benington, mostly due to his devout Anglicanism that frequently was a topic of discussion among the men at the club. There had been mentioning of a pretty daughter, but he had not expected a beauty like that. She must have been in her late twenties, he supposed, if the developing smile lines around her eyes were any indication, and was visibly wealthy. Her dress was cut like Laura's had been in spring - therefore the latest fashion - and she wore an intricate necklace made from pearls and gold. Whoever her husband was, he certainly had money to spoil her, so probably landed gentry or even aristocracy.

He had expected her to wander off soon after the introduction in the seach of amusement, but instead she stayed, listening intently to the mens' conversation. Mrs Charles seemed attentive but quiet, answering agreeably and wittily if talked to, but not contributing much else if not asked directly. Bill could see her relationship to her father was very different from his and Kara's, while he was obviously doting on her, Bill didn't think he would accept any disobedience from her. Mr Benington seemed very severe, certainly lacking humour, he was nobody the commander would want to be around more than absolutely necessary, but Mrs Charles seemed to be a master in running interference. He distantly wondered what Mr Charles must be like and cursed Laura not being here - she likely would have known everything and anything there was to know about the younger woman.
What was clear even to him though that she presented the picture of the perfect daughter and wife, it made him wonder how much of it was true. After all, he had recently found out how much trouble perceived perfection could bring a man.

"Are you unfamiliar with London assemblies?" he finally asked her lowly while her father was busy discussing a matter of trade with Mr Valerii.

She smiled a bit tightly.

"That is a matter of perspective, I fear. I have visited them before, but not in a long time, so I feel I am out of practice, if I am honest," she told him.

The woman seemed a little lost then, even though she did a good job in holding up appearances. Bill nodded.

"Understandably. These events can exhausting. Will you be staying in London for longer?"

"Yes, I have decided to settle in Town again, indefinitely."

He didn't miss the use of "I" instead of "we" - so maybe there was no husband in play? Could she be widowed? Realistically, it was possible, especially with the war as a constant companion. His heart ached for the young woman.

"Then I hope Town life will suit you."

"Oh, I am sure it will require some adjusting, but I excel at that," she declared cheerfully.

They fell into easy conversation and he was positively surprised to find in her someone interested in arts and literature and with a keen intellect for economy. While she certainly held back and he sometimes had to prod for it, her opinions, when given, were mostly well thought-through and yet laced with an earth-shattering belief in goodness that touched something in his heart.
He didn't dance with her that night, and neither in the week to come when they met again at another party. This time, she was alone, confirming his thesis that she was either separated from her husband or widowed. Once again Lucy Charles was a vision in her blue dress, and Bill was aware that probably all the men and a few of the women - especially Miss Palmer, if he wasn't mistaken - were utterly aware of that fact. For the first time, his thoughts started to sometimes drift away from reddish hair and greenish eyes, making him curious to know more about the stranger.

So, he used his most reliable source - Ellen - to find out whatever there was to find out about her. Which was surprisingly and disappointingly little.

Lucy Benington had been the star of her first season and the following ones, until she had decided to marry a trader from the Midlands - against her parents approval. He became quite rich though, which explained her dresses and jewlery, unfortunately he also was quite dead now due to an unfortunate bout of pneumonia. Privately, Bill wondered how much Mrs Charles' own intellect had contributed to the development of the business. He could imagine quite a bit. There were no children now, but Ellen didn't know whether there had been any at some point. Being good Christians, her parents had agreed to help her re-integrate into London society, now that everything in the Midlands seemed to be too bleak without the late Mr Charles, even after she had come out of mourning. Alas, Mrs Charles was not living with them, but had her own lodgings as a wealthy young widow which opened up a lot of opportunities and also a lot of attention.

In some respect, she ressembled Laura quite a bit - the inner strength, the independence, the education, wealth, and good manners, and, even though it was shallow, the beauty.
However, there were also things in which Lucy Charles was the exact opposite - she was much younger, seemed sweeter, softer, and kinder, maybe even a bit naive, in a way less hurt by the world, and most of all, she wasn't afraid of commitment. She had risked the wrath of her parents for a man, whereas Laura - well.

For some reason of all of the men Mrs Charles had singled out Bill for her attention. She was gravitating towards him, or at least she always seemed to find him whenever they went to the same party. At some point of the evening she would end up next to him for a bit of conversation, sometimes under the hawkish eyes of her parents, but less so as London got used to the "golden rose". While he didn't quite think that he deserved it, he would have lied if he said he didn't feel flattered, especially since he had a very handsome and much younger son who would be - in his opinion - the far more conventional match. Additionally, she was quite good company, someone sensible to talk with, something he severely lacked nowadays.

If he had been honest with himself, he would have known she was also a distraction, but right now he was too caught up in said distraction to have any intention to worry about that. It felt too good not to constantly hurt, not too constantly worry. And, after all, there was nothing to say anyway. Nothing beyond a couple of conversations, a couple of calls.

Meeting Isabelle Agathon was surely very awkward, he could all but see the way her brain was working as she greeted first him and then the woman next to him with a polite smile that seemed just a little bit cooler than it had been a couple of weeks ago. Bill couldn't quite blame her for her solidarity, but also wondered not for the first time what Mrs Agathon's own opinion on Laura's love life was. Well, in any case his redhead would hear about his new friend now, he supposed. It made him a bit smug, if he was honest, another feeling he didn't want to look into too closely.

"Oh, she's lovely!" Mrs Charles exclaimed as they were out of earshot, and yes, maybe she really was a little bit naive. Or rather, she really wanted to find the best intentions in everyone. Laura would have figured out every trace of reluctance before Mrs Agathon had even opened her mouth, Bill was sure of that.
"Do you know her well?" the woman now wanted to know.

He nodded.

"We are acquainted. My daughter is a friend of Mrs Agathon's own children." For some reason he nodded over to where the rest of the family stood. "The woman on the right is Mrs Ditton, Mrs Agathon's older daughter, with her husband."

"Oh, I know her!" Mrs Charles said, "I saw her a couple of days ago. You know, when we met at the theatre and got refreshments together? Her dress was just gorgeous, I had half a thought to ask for her tailor on the spot. She looked at me as if she knew me though, with a slight frown, but I am sure we have never met."

She laughed a bit self-depreciatedly. Well, Bill could more than imagine why Isabella Agathon had frowned when he had seen Lucy Charles on his arm at the theatre and now he was really certain Laura knew about it.

"Are the rest also family?" Mrs Charles ripped him out of his thoguhts.

He hummed.

"Indeed. Next to Mrs Agathon, that's Karl, her son, and then Miss Agathon. Oh, and next to Miss Agathon my own daughter, whom you already know."

"Of course," she replied, "of course I recognize your daughter." She sounded earnest, as if it was important for her to point out that she knew it. "And I think she looks very becoming tonight, Commander."

There was no doubt the compliment was sincere, and Bill had to agree, Kara did look quite striking indeed. He wasn't quite sure what it was, ob there was a glow about her recently that made her stand out more than she had ever before, despite her continued reluctance to give any man more attention than utterly necessary.
Bill gave Mrs Charles a small grateful smile that morphed into something bigger and honest as she smiled back. She really was a fascinating person.
He finally danced with her that night, enjoying the way the candle light was flickering over her hair and down onto her cheeks when she turned this way and that way to the music. And if there wasn't quite that spark he knew there could be when their fingers touched, who was he to complain when big, soft blue eyes were staring up at him.

Random Regency Fact:
The second administration of William Pitt the Younger went from May 1804 - Jan 1806.
Napoleon crowned himself emperor on the 18th of March 1804.

I never specified the political positioning of Laura and Bill (Whig or Tory, so I try to include both), though that would be fun for another project :).