Exquisite Thievery [IC]

[Leilayh Blaine]

“Lady Juliet Marshall of Hartswick..!”

The butlers echoing announcement caused a hushed silence to taint the merry nature of the ballroom. All eyes, besides the few older dowager's sleeping in the corner, turned to the top of the stairs to catch a first glimpse of the Five member. Julie's bright eyes surveyed the company of the room as she descended closer to the dance floor, on her arm the handsome but best-friend a girl could ever ask for, Thomas Mallory. He always felt pride being connected to Juliet and he was never bored with watching the Ton whisper amongst themselves whilst the new socialites questioned each other at whom this Lady of Hartswick could be.

The first to come up to the two was Mary Delauncy, the young débutante hosting this coming out ball. It was to kick off the Season, and having Juliet Marshall actually show up in attendance just set Mary's popularity. The petite brunette bobbed in a curtsey before Juliet and it was clear that tears of appreciation shone in her eyes.

“Wel-Welcome Juliet, I am so glad you could attend.” Mary stammered out, the quiet of the ball now finished and the music had struck up a merry tune, the guests gathering up partners for a brisk dance. Juliet tore her eyes from the crowd and settled the oceanic hues not on Mary's tearful cheery face. But they hesitated on the gleaming emeralds wrapped in layers around the girls slender neck. It's my pleasure, she thought to herself. Of course Lady Delauncy would offer her youngest daughter the chance to wear the jewels, after all Mary was to catch a husband, why not flaunt their riches?

Looking up into Mary's pitiful pools Juliet dipped a gloved hand two inches down into the bodice of her ivory gown and pulled a lace pink handkerchief out. Waving out the folds she held it out, arm stretched out before Mary.

“Do dab your face Mary before you become blotchy. Oh! Look Thomas I see Lord Ruthford playing cards, let us see if we can bet on his luck tonight.” Juliet released the handkerchief from her fingertips and Thomas turned her about to head towards the billiards tables in the corner of the room. She did not look back to see if Mary had even caught the floating bit of silk.

Mary had indeed caught the slip of cloth and brought it to her chest, staring breathless at the exquisite image Juliet was. Two of her friends dashed over to her side immediately and began to question her on how she ever was able to invite Lady Marshall. But even that, Mary had no clue about, for it was Juliet who had contacted her first..

[Ophelia]

"Miss Imogen Wyatt and her escort, Mrs Elizabeth Clancy!"

Imogen appeared to clutch tight to the arm of her elder sister as they slowly paced down the stairs, throwing demure smiles to the various socialites who cared to look their way. In fact, it was Elizabeth who clung to her, her eyes scanning the ballroom with utter delight. Imogen had been easily persuaded to bring along her sister to the next ball she was inclined to attend, eager to show Lizzie how much she was missing. The twenty-one year old was now four years married to William Clancy, someone whom had been a good match at the time, but now, as a blacksmith, soared far underneath her social status. Imogen continued to fully support their pairing. They had married for love, which seemed the only luxury unaffordable to the Ton.

"Imogen... just look at all these fancy dresses! I've never seen so many in my life!" Elizabeth leant down and whispered into Imogen's ear, spoken with a strong Northern accent, now almost as strange to Imogen as the King's English had appeared to her on her arrival on the scene at fifteen. She pulled out her fan, laced with ostrich feathers, and batted it lazily against her lips.
"I know, dear Lizzie." She spoke beneath the shield the fan gave her, as her eyes wandered across the guests in the room. "But you must appear to own every dress in the room, and more besides." Her elder sister nodded, although her mouth still gaped a little in wonder. Imogen's eyes slid shut as she folded her fan, pressing it lightly against her lips. Maybe throwing Elizabeth in at the deep end was not such a good idea, she wondered. But time to think for yourself was for the weak, and the imminent presence of Mary Delauncey caused her to pull at her sister's elbow, taking them through the gathering crowd to greet the young débutante.

"Lady Delauncey." Imogen flashed a modest smile at the young girl, her eyes seeing the thickly-set emeralds that glinted about her neck before the girl's... rather plain face. Jewels always distract so well. "Quite the hostess, I see." The brunette blushed dutifully, and bobbed a small curtsey.
"Miss Wyatt, it's a pleasure to finally meet you at last. I've heard so much of you. And your father. He really did a marvellous job for Sir Layton. I've never really seen a building like it." Imogen set a small smile upon her lips, one that barely reached her nose, let alone her eyes, but pleasant enough anyway. The girl had obviously been practising her greetings for hours. It amused her slightly to imagine her stood in front of the mirror, a pad of cue cards in her hand, carefully learning each name and their connections. An image that reminded her all too well of her fifteen year old self. "Might I ask... who is your escort?" Her eyes twitched nervously to Elizabeth, whose attention was already distracted, eyes fixated on the game of cards being played at a nearby table. Despairing for a brief moment, Imogen pulled her attention back to Mary.
"May I introduce my sister, Mrs Elizabeth Clancy." Seamlessly, her sister's attention was pulled back to the current conversation, a warm smile spreading across her face.
"Pleasure, Lady Delauncey." She bobbed a small curtsey in reply. The young débutante looked vaguely startled. It was probably the most genuine smile anyone had shown her all night. Mary's eyes snapped from her sister back to Imogen.
"Your... friend... Lady Hartswick is already present." She began, her eyes beginning to cloud with thinly-veiled jealousy.
"I supposed so. She is always so fabulously on time, don't you think." Imogen replied, letting a little admiration shine through. Mary was, of course, quick to agree, and excused herself to greet another guest.

Imogen smoothed down the pale blue silk of the dress she had decided to wear, offset by an embroidered silver bodice and several strings of pearls that wrapped themselves in various degrees of height around her neck. She observed her honey-haired sister, who was pulling nervously at the sleeve of the crimson dress she was highly unused to wearing. Imogen recognised the look of discomfort all too well, and drew her sister in a little to whisper small pieces of advice she had picked up. Somebody had yet to come up with such a thing as a comfortable basque, and Imogen was intent on becoming their largest patron when they did.

"Now, follow me and look like you're deadly bored." Imogen ordered her sister. "Like you used to do when Pa made you take me to school." Lizzie widened her eyes a little in protest, but soon put on a look of sheer indifference.
"Like this?" She spoke from the side of her mouth.
"Exactly." Imogen flashed a grin at her sister, before changing her expression back to wide-eyed wonder. It was almost as if they had swapped expressions. Both gentlemen and ladies alike swept out of the way as she moved to rest her small hand lightly upon Juliet's free elbow. "Lady Marshall! I had hoped to see you here." She exclaimed, a look of childish pleasure crossing her face. Lord Ruthford himself glanced up to see the new addition to the party, and was greeted by Imogen's most charming smiles, before she turned her attention back to the woman barely older than herself. "May I introduce you to my sister, Elizabeth Clancy." She tugged on her sister's elbow, bringing her into view. Imogen could feel her arm trembling a little. Juliet's reputation does preceed her, after all. Sweetly, Imogen gazed at Thomas. "And such a pleasure to see you as well, sir." She bobbed a little greeting, then turned to the rest of the party. "Please sirs, don't stop on my account." She thanked a young man who had drawn both her and her sister a stool, and carefully situated herself next to Juliet.

"Mary Delauncey looked utterly terrified. I don't think she'll ever get over tonight." She spoke under her breath, disguising her voice from the rest of the party with the all-important ostrich fan. "For one reason or another, of course." A smirk that was completely out of place with her appearance played upon her lips, hidden to the rest of the world.