Thank so so much for you lovely reviews, they motivate me so much!
Now after a longer break a longer chapter :)
Merry Christmas!
Also, I had to correct a mistake I made in the last chapter and changed Commander Valerii to being in trade as Hong Kong only became a British Colony much later in the 19th century.

Disclaimer: I still only own my OCs.

Trigger warning: Period typical racism.

April 1804

Dinner and disasters - Part I

Laura Roslin

The day of the dinner came and Laura was as equally curious to meet Commander Abraham Valerii than dreading to be in the presence of Lord Adar and Admiral Cain and his wife. Well, at least some certain friends would also be there, though for some reason the idea of Lord Adar flirting with her in front of Bill made her uncomfortable. She knew that he knew what she did and why she did what she did, but still she had no real clue what he thought about it.
She had never asked him, if she was honest with herself, she was afraid of the answer. Laura was too proud a woman to change for anyone, especially a man, but she also did not want to know that Bill silently disapproved of her in any way. So, as a solution, she simply didn't ask. In some quiet moments she wondered how long this self-deception would work. But Laura Roslin had become a master of pretending and deceiving over the years of her life, so she supposed she could keep up her composure in front of herself until Bill would move on to a younger woman. Because he would. Unmarried men always did. That was simply how the world worked and Ms Roslin had learned to work that to her advantage. It took some adapting, now that she wasn't as young as she once had been, but there were still options. Many options.

Tonight's dress was of a rather beautiful colour, it ressembled the cheeks of a peach and was just as soft. As most of her dresses, it was embroidered with golden flowers. Maybe she should get something made in another design soon, people would talk about her lack of creativity, but roses were pretty, one could decorate them with rubies to make them look more expensive and they went well with "Roslin".
She wore her hair done up in a low chignon, partly exposing her neck. Two embroidered ribbons decorated the style with some curls still framing her face. In these times and with the current fashion, it was really a blessing to have hair like hers, other women had to sleep with curlers at night or burn their locks with curling tongs. Her hair did it all by itself.

"You look stunning Madam," her maid commented and Laura gave her a gentle smile before inquiring about her carriage for the night.

Felix Gaeta had the horses already standing in front of the door, two impressive dove-grey mares, Laura's newest indulgence, and his lady was grateful about it. It wouldn't do being late on this occasion. The drive was short, a valet opened the door in front of her host's house. When she had already reached the entrance door, she heard horses whinnying in the street. She turned around and saw that just after her, another carriage had arrived and one of the horses had obviously decided to pick a fight with one of hers. Laura's keen eyes discovered the other vehicle to be in very good condition if slightly out of style. While her own coachman tried to quickly get the horses out of the way and to the other side of the street, the other driver opened the door of his carriage, helping out someone Laura knew all too well. She waited on top of the stairs until the three had made their way up to her.

"Your horses don't know how to behave," she commented in place of a greeting, though there was no bite in her words.

"Your carriage blocked the way," Bill responded in the same way, "good evening Ms Roslin."

He bowed slightly.

"Good evening Commander. Lieutenant," she curtsied in front of Lee, " I am glad to see you Miss Thrace. Shall we go inside?"

They made their way through the door, only in restrospect Laura noticed how much they must have looked like a perfect family to an untrained eye: The Commander and his fashionable wife, both a matching age, with two adult children. She quickly excused herself before Richard would find her in this company, get any (probably not totally incorrect) ideas and take this as his cue to make the evening and her life in general much more disagreeable. She could feel Bill's confused look on her skin but that was a price she was willing to pay. Mingling with the crowd, Laura did what she always did - Tending to her spiderweb of connections and trying to stay out of the Cains' view. Suddenly, she was just standing besides a window, talking to some hotshot politician, Laura heard a general intake of breath, a sound she knew only too well - that was the sound of scandal. She couldn't see the entrance of the room, but somebody must have walked in, causing that hushed talk.

Then, Lord Adar's voice boomed over the wispers.

"Mr. Valerii, I am so glad you are finally here. And you brought your daughter!"

Laura had known that man long enough to hear the undertone behind the friendly words, his voice was full of venom. But what had the man done? As discreetly as possible, Ms Roslin pushed past two ladies that were blocking her view. Then she understood.

While Valerii was a broad-shouldered gentleman, standing proudly in the room like a rock in the sea. Even though he was dressed in British fashion, his looks betrayed some Southern European heritage, he was a handsome man with a strong jaw, dark eyes and unruly black hair that had a brown shimmer in the candlelight. The young woman on his arm, apparently his daughter, was definitely related to him and still, in a way, completely different. Her flattering blue dress was also cut after the latest London fashion and her hair was just as dark, but even though it was neatly pinned up Laura was quite certain it was slightly sleeker. She was shorter than her father by at least a head and her skin had a bronze undertone, not even close to the paleness that was so fashionable in London these days. One could have said she had skin like an Italian maid! The most extraordinary feature however were her eyes, not round but rather shaped like almonds. Laura had never before met someone with these looks in real life, only extremely exaggerated pictures in pamphlets and newspapers. The stranger was one of the most stunning women she had ever seen, beautiful in an unconventional way. While her father exchanged forced pleasantries with the host, Laura expected Lady Adar to do her part and introduce the daughter, but nothing happened. Nevertheless, the girl kept her chin high, taking in her surroundings, until she was finally led to the side of the room by her father. A moment later, the room exploded again, people turning towards each other again, some even openly pointing at the newcomer. London's gossip mills would run furiously tomorrow, Laura was sure of that. What a poor girl!

"Well, that was unexpected," a voice commented next to her, "I bet not even you saw this one coming."

She only hummed in response and Bill chuckled.

"You should let yourself be introduced," he remarked.

While the woman had already been entertaining the thought herself, she still looked at the man in surprise.

"Pray tell Commander, why should I do such a thing?"

A small touch against her hand made her understand that he wanted them to move out of earshot of the other guests. In a more secluded area, partly shielded by heavy red curtains, he looked at her again, a twinkle in his eyes.

"Because firstly, you are curious. Secondly, the father might bring an advantage, especially if he is grateful if you helped his daughter. Because it is the right thing to do, for a third point. And," he made a meaningful pause, "because you like to demonstrate your power in shaping the public opinion."

"William Adama, are you calling me a show-off?!" she tried very hard to sound insulted but probably failed.

"Perhaps my lady. So what do you say?"

"I guess you have figured me out pretty well at that point. Though I resent relying on Lord Adar for being introduced."

Her eyes scanned the crowd until she saw their host close to the bowl with the red sweet punch. She gave Bill a court but friendly nod before squaring her shoulders and walking over to the other man. Richard spotted her weaving through the crowd towards her and a small smile blossomed on his lips, a smile that once upon a time at made Laura's heart not race but at least warm up. Now, there was nothing of that sort, only annoyance.

"Lord Adar," she greeted him as sweetly as possible, "I was wondering whether you would be so kind to introduce me to the guest of honour and his daughter."

The man bowed lightly before offering her his arm.

"Of course Ms Roslin, I am just too happy to assist." His voice dropped into a sultry drawl and it took all of Laura's willpower not to flinch.

"So what is it I hear about you and the Commander? The two of you seem to be such good friends. Or are gratulations in order?" the Lord inquired casually.

Laura sighed exasperatedly.

"Don't be ridiculous. We are good friends, just like me and the Agathons are friends. The Commander is a respectable, intelligent gentleman and I do enjoy conversing with him, as him and I are both intetested in the same philosophers."

She knew she would strike a nerve there as for all his good breeding, Richard had always negected his studies and therefore never been able to keep up with her wit.

"Good, I am glad to hear that," he answered, "a woman like you, such good breeding, so much poise - Someone like you would be wasted on the likes of him, don't you agree?"

"Neither is this your concern nor has it any importance for the realitay because I have, as you very well know, no intention to marry at all," she simply answered, happy that by now they had met the Valeriis. Hopefully, this would protect her from more inquiries of that kind.

Both father and and daughter looked curiously at the expensively dressed woman when they came to a stop.

"May I introduce my dear friend Laura Roslin?" Adar asked rhetorically.

"A pleasure." Valerii bowed, "if I may say, I have alerady heard about you and was really curious to make you aquaintance."

She curtsied and laughed. "You are very frank Mr Valerii, but that is alright. I know my reputation preceeds me, I don't know whether for the good or the bad."

"I am not particularly interested in rumours myself, MS Roslin, you are therefore free to shape my opnion of you," he answered, "I have found gossip to be dangerous and often simply incorrect."

'I bet you do, with a daughter like that,' Laura thought, 'she probably has been the centre of gossip for all her life.'.

"I am glad to hear that," she smiled, hearing Lord Adar scoff quietly behind her back.

"So this is my daughter Charlotte," Valerii motioned towards the girl who executed an impeccable curtsy but kept silent.

'Maybe she doesn't understand us', Laura thought, 'who knows how she was raised?" On the other hand, her manners and appearance so far were proof of a priviledged upbringing.

"A pleasure," Laura smiled.

"Thank you Madam," the young woman answered. She had a light accent, but Laura found it sounded rather sweet and agreeable.

"This is a wonderful dress you are wearing Miss Valerii," Laura went on, "did you have it made here in London?"

"Yes, Papa ordered a dressmaker to come to our house here in London as a surprise when we arrived." She blushed.

"Oh, whereabout are you residing Mr Valerii?" Laura inquired.

"I have purchased a house in Gemenon Lane," he answered, "but we stay at a hotel in Church Street at the moment as it is refurnished. My daughter actually picked most of the designs as she will be the lady of the house, so to speak."

He looked proudly at his offspring.

Adar scoffed again and Laura turned towards him, her eyes narrowed. Even though she wasn't convinced about that girl's abilities to lead a household herself, it wouldn't do to openly show one's feelings on these matters. The older man visibly shrunk back and then disappeared into the crowd.

"I am sure it will look marvellous," the more influential woman offered gratiously, "did you consult an expert?"

"I did, partly," the other one admitted, "but not for the Chinese room. His ideas were hideous! That wallpaper, produced by an Englishman! The whole pattern was inauthentic and unelegant. The colours didn't match the porcellain that we brought from Hong Kong. It was all wrong! And then he had the nerve to tell me that designing such a room might not be the smartest idea as it hasn't really been en vogue for about ten years now. So insolent - with all due respect," she added bashfully as she saw Laura's amused smile at her outburst.

"Well, I suppose it is more about an idea about Asia, than the real Asia," she commented, "but I understand what you mean, for that reason my own wallpaper at Caprica House has been handmade in China to avoid that kind of inauthenticity. It is also true that chinoiserie is not the current trend, though I doubt the chinoise porcelain will ever be out of style as long as ladies will drink tea, so don't fret about that. But it is still a question whether you want to design a whole room."

"I do and I will," Miss Agathon answered.

Laura nodded, she could appreciate a strong opinion.

"Now, how do you like London so far?" she asked.

"It is different than Hong Kong," Miss Agathon answered carefully, "it is also different than any city I have been so far - just as England is different from any other country I have been to before."

"Well, England is simply England," Laura commented.

"That's what my father always says. He says there is no better country under the sun."

"Exactly my dear," her father smiled, "so when I had to come back here because of the trade, it was no question you were coming with me. And there is also no way that I would leave my only child behind."

He was a doring father, Laura had gathered that by now, not at all concerned by his daughter's ethnicity. And maybe even a bit naive if he thought people would look past that in London. They would not. Poor thing.

"If you allow, Mr Valerii, I would introduce you to some aquaintances of mine," she offered, smiling when he agreed.

Maybe Bill was right, she pondered, while she steered the father and daughter towards the Adama family, maybe she did like to show of and shaping opinions. People were definitely staring by now and she saw Bill slightly raise an eyebrow. She blinked once and he seemed to understand that she had just granted him a point as his eyes started to twinkle even more. It was captivating and suddenly Laura didn't mind loosing that much.

Random Regency Fact:
According to my research, Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin and used to be very unusual until the early 20th century. Therefore I had to adapt it to fit the timeline and tried to get as closely to the sound as possible (or at least a name with the same "mood", she simply didn't strike me as a"Georgiana" or "Charity").