I know this has taken long, but I am super busy so updates are coming in slow (well, slower than usual even).
Also thank you for all your support in the last year, for all follows, favourites, comments and also for my quiet readers. I see and appreciate all of you!

Disclaimer: I don't own BSG and Pride and Prejudice (as there will be a certain cameo and certain revelations here).
Trigger warning: time typical racism and mysoginistic comments.

April 1804

Dinner and Disasters - Part 2

Bill Adama

Maybe Laura would never change, he mused, as she came towards him with that girl on her arm. Maybe that waas the problem, she was so stuck in her role, liked herself so much that way. that she would never see who else she could be. How she could simply free all of this smoke and shadows and mirrors. But maybe he was simply projecting his wishes on her.

"Mr Valerii, Miss Valerii, may I introduce to you Commander Adama and his family?" she spoke smoothly to them and he bowed politely.

"A pleasure. If I may present to you my son Lieutenant Adama and my daughter Miss Thrace."

He didn't miss how Miss Valerii's eyes flittered over his children with interest, but she said nothing.

"Ah, Commander. It is so nice to finally meet you! I have heard quite some things about you and your family already when talking with Mr Agathon. Only good things, of course," Mr Valerii exclaimed jovially.

Bill didn't miss the flicker of surprise on Laura's face, it seemed as if she had not been aware of their aquaintance.

"Of course everyone is only speaking the best of you as well, Ms Roslin," the dark-haired man went on.

"Mr Agathon and his family might," she replied, smiling sweetly, "the rest does so at least to my face."

The bite in her voice was not to be overheard and Bill had to think of Mrs Cain. They were lucky they had been spared the woman's "esteemed company" tonight, Laura being in the house of her former lover had him on edge anyway, he didn't need her to be at another woman's throat as well. Even though he had to admit seeing the challenge reflected on her face did things to him he didn't want to think about in polite society.

"Oh, the two-facedness of people," Valerii exclaimed, ripping him out of his musing, "nothing Charlotte and I are not familiar with, of course."

Again, Laura raised an eyebrow, and the Commander got the impression that she had been surprised once again. He himself found the straightforwardness quite refreshing and did not for a moment doubt the truth of his words: With such an unusual daughter, he must be used to all kinds of talk. She was a pretty girl, he thought, with very special looks, but he could very well imagine men falling at her feet. 'If their families allowed it - which they won't,' a voice in his head, which sounded suspiciously like Laura's reasoning, chided him. Bill tried to shake it off because aside from the cultural background, he could relate to the little family quite a bit. After his divorce from Carolanne and the following adoption of Kara, there had been quite some talk about himself as well, he was actually surprised Laura had never mentioned it so far. Either she didn't deem it important, or it made her uncomfortable for some reason (though he wouldn't know why, she knew the circumstances quite well), or the rumours had never spread past Kensington. That was the most probable option, he supposed. Same as Charlotte, Kara was far from the ordinary, well-bred daughter one would expect, and still he loved her with all his heart.
He shrugged his shoulders.

"I believe we all experience talk about us in some way, sooner or later," he remarked, "gossiping seems to be a sport these days."

"You are so right!" called Mr Valerii, "sometimes I think it is all women do! - Not all women, of course," he conceded and blanched slightly when he saw Laura, Kara and his own daughter frown at him.

Bill had to try hard not to laugh, the picture was just too funny. Still, he had to partly agree with the other man. Just as he wanted to say something else, he saw another man purposefully striding towards their little group, Bill wondered where he came from so suddenly. Maybe he had just arrived? While Bill was still pondering, the man stopped in front of them, barely acknowledging the group, his eyes focussed on Laura. A smile spread over his face, making his agreeable features even more pleasant. They looked at each other for a moment before she simply raised an eyebrow in challenge. While other men might have frozen at the gesture or at least felt a sense of shame at being called out by a lady, the man simply grinned and made a deep bow.

"Good evening, Miss, and if I may say so, you look stunning."

She curtsied, but only barely, looking at him severely.

"Colonel, you are late. Also you should know that I am by no means interested in your charms, there is no use for flattery."

He shrugged his shoulders, seemingly not impressed.

"It is always worth trying to stay in your good graces. Let me add - this time the delay was not entirely my fault. Lady Catherine and Lady Anne did request my presence for most of yesterday afternoon, so I only departed quite late. Then today I had the misfortune of my horse being injured and having to find a replacement."

Judging by her facial expression, Laura did not fully believe the stranger, but tried to hold her tongue. She turned towards the group.

"May I present Colonel Fitzwilliam - Colonel, these are Commander and Lieutenant Adama, Mr Valerii, Miss Thrace, and Miss Valerii."

"A pleasure," he smiled, looking at each of them.

Bill started to wonder whether these two who were definitely familiar had been lovers at some point. The Colonel was obviously a fair amount of years younger than Laura, maybe about Lee's age, but Bill was quite sure it would not bother her if it served her aim. While he was still thinking, trying to keep up with the conversation at the same time, a bell was rung. It was announcing dinner, and Bill saw Lady Adar walking towards a woman who had been introduced to him as Lady Bryce earlier, requesting her to lead in the ladies. Suddenly he felt something bump against his lower arm. Laura's arm was pressed against his and for a moment the man got distracted by his friend's proximity and the flowery scent of her perfume.

"The family tends to use more traditional seating arrangements," she whispered, just so that their little group could hear her well enough.

That was important information, though Bill was still quite certain that at least Kara would be able to position herself wrongly in the womens' line.

Before he could get more anxious, Laura patted his arm.

"Don't worry, we shall see you in a moment," she declared cheerfully, indicating to Kara and Charlotte to come with her.

Bill instantly felt a lot better, and when he looked at the other man next to him, he saw the same relief on Mr Agathon's face, even though there was still some sort of anticipation there.

"She will be alright," Bill commented, feeling a sort of companionship with the stranger, "Ms Roslin won't let her run into trouble."

The Colonel gave an amused chuckle that made Bill feel again as if the other man knew something that he didn't. Which was probably right.

While they were slowly sorting out their place among the other men, he watched how Laura stealthily positioned the girls a fair amount of positions down from her in between two other women and seemed to introduce them. While the first one only gave them a polite but court nod and then seemed to stay silent, the young, buxom, dark haired and very short woman next to Charlotte started to talk animatedly with her and Kara. Bill saw Laura say some words to a woman with the same dark hair as the one currently entertaining the girls, the smiles they shared spoke of great intimacy.
'Probably Mrs Cook then,' the Commander thought, his friend had talked about the family often and very favourably and mentioned they would be at the dinner.
Then he got involved into a discussion between Mr Valerii and a man that was just as short and lively as the young woman across the room - possibly Mr Cook, he guessed. The gentleman on Bill's other side only gave very court and clipped answers, semmingly trying to get the attention of the Colonel who had drifted towards the upper end of the group. Apparently he was high in status, maybe that was were the familiarity with Laura came from. She was currently deep in conversation with Lady Bryce and two other women, the younger one did ressemble the gentleman next to the Commander immensely. Then it was time for the ladies to walk in and to take their seats, and after a minute the men followed.

Say what you want, the dining room was grant and presented the family's splendour, though the Commander didn't think for the first time that the excessive display of wealth in the house seemed borderline vulgar. He much more preferred the refined expensive decoration of Roslin House and he was actually quite curious what her famous Caprica Manor looked like, though it was unlikely he would ever find out. It turned out that Lee and himself had ended up quite in the middle of the men, more central than he had originally thought (apparently all these people were rich and powerful), but that way he could at least have an eye on his daughter who was sitting somewhere in the middle of the ladies. His keen eyes observed that Laura had been placed between Lady Bryce and Mrs Cook, close to but not exactly at the top. If he wasn't exactly mistaken she was ranked third among the ladies and he wondered what was justifying it - she was wealthy and socially powerful, for sure, but she seemed to also preceed the daughter of Sir Felton, which came as a surprise. Laura was lacking a title, she was not a Lady, though by now Bill had the impression there had to be some peer relations in the family, given her money and status. Why he had not made inquiries about it after this time of aquaintance, he was not sure. Probably because it didn't matter to him or because he was often occupied by kissing her senseless while at the same time trying not to ruin her hairstyle. Maybe he should ask Ellen, that woman would definitely know about it. While Kara was lucky to be seated next to Miss Cook who apparently had not stopped chatting, Miss Valerii sat on the other side of the table, sandwiched between two dour looking women who kept throwing her judging glances. She didn't seem to care as she kept talking to Miss Cook and a girl who looked so much alike that the Commander supposed that she would be the little sister.

Laura seemed to be very contend with her position, even though her interaction with Lady Bryce lacked the excessive warmth she showed towards Mrs Cook. Nevertheless, Bill couldn't help but enjoy the lively expression on her face as she talked in between the courses of the meal. His own company of Sir Felton and Mr Valerii was also nothing to complain about, both men were decent conversationalists even though the talk remained rather idle. Bill supposed the gentlemen would keep their opinions on politics and economic matters to themselves until the ladies had left after the dinner. This was just how things were, these spheres were not meant for women, and still he thought that at least one woman in the room probably new more about politics than at least fifty percent of the men. The image of Laura drinking whiskey with the gentleman made him grin involuntarily.

"What is so funny Commander?" Sir Felton asked.

For a moment, he struggled to come up with an answer, but then decided to stick with the truth.

"I was just imagingin the ladies drinking spirits and having that kind of talk that comes with it while we are stitching and keeping to sweet wine."

The other man guaffed.

"You are right, this would be just too funny - I would be terrible at sewing, I reckon. Also, which woman would be interested in these topics? Politics? A woman's brain is not made for that!"

Bill fought the urge to roll his eyes and simply gave a court nod, which seemed to be enough of a confirmation for the other man. Some places further at the top, he realized the Colonel was fighting to keep a straight face as well.

Just in between the main course and the desert, his eyes strayed towards the ladies again, and he was taken aback by the angry look he saw in Laura's and Kara's eyes. It was directed straightly across the table at the ladies framing Miss Valerii who looked properly chastized - apparently two sharp tongues had lashed out as well. Bill could only imagine what this was about, probably something related to her unusual background.
'This was why he disliked high society' he thought to himself. He also didn't miss the sultry glanced Lord Adar sent Laura across the table and how she continuitly seemed to ignore them. Then there were also the glares by Lady Adar, which were met with an utter sweetness that Bill could have bet was faked.

Laura played the game, played the people, and suddenly he asked himself whether she was playing him as well.

The ladies - entrance:

Lady Bryce (Marchioness of Bryce)- Lady Felton - Ms Roslin (daughter of a Knight of the Garter) - Miss Felton (daughter of a Knight of the Bath) - Mrs Cook - Mrs Hathaway - Miss Thrace - Miss Valerii - Miss Cook - Miss Hathaway - Miss Sarah Cook - Miss Charlotte Hathaway - Miss Lucy Hathaway - Lady Adar (Countess of Worith)

- the hostess sits on the top end, the ladies of highest ranks on the right and left and then down in the same fashion
(Laura on the right between Lady Brice and Mrs Cook; Kara on the right between Mrs Cook and Miss Cook; Charlotte Valerii on the left between Mrs Hathaway and Miss Hathaway)

The gentlemen - entrance:

Lord Bryce (Marquis of Bryce)- Colonel Fitzwilliam (younger son of the Earl of Matlock) - Sir Felton (Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Bath) - Mr Felton (son of a knight of the Bath) - Commander Adama - Lieutenant Adama - Mr Valerii - Mr Cook - Mr Hathaway - Jonathan Cook - Lawrence Hathaway - Edward Hathaway - Lord Adar (Earl of Worith)

- the host sits on the bottom end, the gentleman of highest ranks on the right and left and then down in the same fashion
(Bill on the right between Sir Felton and Mr Valerii; Lee on the left between Mr Felton and Mr Cook)

I should have probably promoted Bill and Lee to higher military ranks to make the invitation to such a function more plausible, but I wanted to stick to the BSG titles as much as possible, so please forgive that inaccuracy. Also, I am partly not sure about that order, it is simply a suggestion that seemes plausible to me.