With the money that Evangeline had gifted me, I planned on using towards the purchase of another place for Elaine to manage, after discussing it with Bav. He suggested I wait, I had to report the income to the government for taxes and would have to pay that first. He also suggested waiting to see how well my second shop did and the effect of it on my original business. I kissed him again to thank him for his expert advice, as we finished getting dressed after a quick shower needed, from our love making.
It's been three weeks since that day and I was currently getting ready for the tea social at Mrs. Cecelia Stargo's mansion. Bav had quite a few dresses made for me that he kept at his home and some at my own, since we spent equal time together at each other's home when not working. I stood in front of the floor length mirror at Bav's, making sure I was presentable when Bav walked out of the closet and paused, watching me turn.
"You look good enough to eat, Kara dear. We may not make it to the tea social if you continue to seduce me like that." Bav's hungry eyes made me blush, but I stood my ground and shook my head.
"I am not on the menu for today. You know that. Now, are you ready to go? I honestly do not have any idea of what to expect today and I find myself hesitant but also anxious to get this over with." My hands are on my hips as Bav comes over and puts his arms around my waist from behind me so I can see his face in the mirror.
"I understand your emotions are a little chaotic right now, but this event is rather beneficial to you and your business. All the members of the Gilded district will be there, drinking your teas, using your sourced porcelain, your sourced tea linens, bringing new business to your shop, and with the new one on the 1st level of the works, once it's open you will have more visiting the shops. With two tea socials being done within relative time to one another, they will remember your name and your shop will flourish. Think of all the good you'll be able to do, all the more employees you can hire. The more people that live in the undercarriage who's lives will be improved all, because of you making the commitment today."
I sigh, "You're right, but that also means I will end up speaking to a bunch of people that I highly doubt will accept me the way that I am. They will find something to say about me, like Mrs. Porter did."
Bav shakes his head, "Not everyone is as stupid as Mrs. Porter. Every one there at that soiree knows that I will not let anyone defile your name or slander you. Also, why should you care what a few may think? You know your self better than anyone there, don't let them try and drag you down. Besides I know how these people minds work, they will want to get on your good side." Bav takes a seat and puts his boots on.
"Oh why is that?" I turn to blow a stray curled lock of hair up out of my face that refuses to stay in a pin.
"Because not only are you popular with your products and tea, you are marrying me. So naturally we are the gossip on everyone's lips." He gives me a shrug because there was nothing we could do about that part. He stands ready and does a turn for me, "There I am ready for you to give me your appraisal. "
I walk up and close my eyes, running my hands over his body, making him laugh. "Why are your eyes closed?"
I laugh right back, "Your handsome face has blinded me, I'm appraising you by braille."
We both are laughing with each other as Bav bends down and kisses my lips sweetly, still grinning.
.....
"Ms. Langridge! I was just talking to my sister here and just found out that your shop is the one who Mrs. Stargo received everything we see here today?"
I found myself explaining again, for the hundred and something time today. "Not everything, just the tea, tea service items and linens. The food and pastries I can not claim credit for, Mrs. Dartan. I'm grateful that you enjoy them so much, but I must go and speak with someone I just saw, if you will please excuse me."
I quickly excused myself from the throng of ladies who seemed to flock around Mrs. Dartan and parroted whatever came out of the woman's mouth. It was driving me absolutely crazy. When I saw Evangeline walking by I took my out.
Quickly catching up to her, still in sight of Mrs. Dartan so it would look acceptable to leave I called out to Evangeline, "Mrs. Sawyer!"
Evangeline turned smiled brightly and gave me a hug and kissed both of my cheeks. "So good to see you! Cecelia said you would be here somewhere! I was walking about to find you!" Evangeline exclaimed and her eyes wandered around me noticing the stare from Dartan and her group.
Quietly she said to me, "Oh you poor dear, Mrs. Dartan and her flock of mimics driving you mad already?"
I smiled at her knowing my pain, "You know me so well already. I wanted to speak to you regarding an important matter, actually. Come let's walk through the gardens here." I clutched her arm and away from the mass of bodies we moved strolling along the hedge's and flowers.
"So what matter of importance did you wish to speak to me about?" Evangeline asked once we were out of everyone's earshot.
I smiled, covering my mouth, "Oh, I feel giddy because I don't know how you will react to what I am about to say."
Evangeline scoffs, "Out with it, it can't be that bad now."
I pause her and face her grabbing both of her hands to ask her, "Will you help me in planning my wedding?"
Evangeline's jaw drops opening before she smiles wider than humanly possible. "YES!" She cries out to have peoples attention turn to us as she wraps me in a quick hug. "YES I WILL! Oh my goodness! When are you setting the date? Oh my goodness, we have so much to do, please tell me I have at least six months before, I don't think I could do it in less time than that!"
"Yes you'll have a year at least. We have not set the date in stone yet, but we both agree we like the fall." I let her know.
She hugs me again, "I'm so happy for you! Now, we must discuss your color theme and where will it be at?"
We talked for a while, she brought up things that I didn't know where a thing for weddings, so I had to tell her I had not given it thought yet. We ended up walking by the items up for auction and I was drawn to a few items, a fancy stained glass chandelier that looked like a tree with purple flowers hanging from it, a few paintings from famous artists from other cities, a rare jewel specimen the size of a writing desk, jewelry, hairpins and figurines.
"All of the money this makes goes to the poor houses in the undercarriage?" I ask Evangeline.
She nods, "Yes it helps pay for food and clothing for the poor."
I knew for a fact this was far from the truth. The only time the poor got a good meal from the poor houses was when a Gilded came to oversee things. Clothes? I never have heard of them handing out clothes.
"Who over sees the distribution of funds?" I ask her curious to know who might be lining their own pockets or someone under them.
"Elias Thorn, I believe. He has several men who work for him too, that are here. I have not spotted Mr. Thorn here today yet."
"There's my beautiful bride to be." Bav's voice comes up behind us, making us both turn around.
"I'll leave you two alone for now. Thank you again Rakara! I'll make sure you have the loveliest wedding anyone could ever hope for!" Evangeline gushed before excusing herself and leaving us together.
Bav offers his arm and I take it, "Did you see anything that caught your fancy?"
"Oh yes, but I won't be bidding." I inform him, thinking about how the money doesn't go where it should.
"Well, you can still show me what you liked right? Give me some more insight into your preferences?"
"Only if you show me what you like as well." I counter.
He whispers into my ear. "What I like is not up for auction, my dear."
My toes curl and my face heats up. "You're so bad, even though I like it." I mumble for only him to hear and his eyes flicker up at me as we continue on looking at the items together.
At the auction, the amount of money raised is atrocious, I know for certain that there is no way these funds are used for the purpose they are made for. Several pieces that I like came and gone, Bav must have seen my disappointment at watching them go, because when the chandelier came up he surprised me.
"50" He shouted.
"Bav you are not buying that for me are you?" I whisper into his ear.
"No my darling. 300!" He shouts again. "I'm buying it for us."
"Bav, the money from this auctions is not making it to the poor though." I am shocked that maybe he doesn't realize that.
"750!" He looks at me and whispers, "Then maybe we need to find out why, this could be a great reason to visit the offices that handle this."
"SOLD! To Mr. Fairchild for 750,000 Gold! Congratulations Mr. Fairchild, on your new chandelier!"
After the events of the day, and taking to Bav's home, the chandelier, was eventful. It was extremely large, I had failed to read on the card the one on display was just a replica of a it. There was only two rooms that it could be hung from in Bav's house, the ball room, or the main foyer.
Bav, Viekar and I kept discussing where it would look the best.
"It's too bad it's too big to hang and try it out." I spoke my thoughts out loud, trying to picture the chandelier handing in either area.
"Well we could...." Bav started only to be cut off by Viekar.
"NO! Master Bavarthos! That would require too much magic!" Viekar was quick to try and negate what ever he was supposed to say.
"Viekar, listen. Go get me a blue ..." Bav stopped and seemed to think better of it. "I'll be back you two stay right here."
Bav snapped away, leaving Viekar to grumble under his breath.
Curious, I got Viekar's attention."What is he going to do?"
Viekar who started to pace stopped, " He's going to levitate the chandelier up to let you view it. That is extremely heavy and fragile so it will require a lot of concentration and control, using a large amount of magic. You have to be careful with magic, it can kill you if you use too much."
"So what did he go to do?" I ask just as Bav is back.
"Alright Viekar, lets raise this thing up! Rakara, please step back out of the way." I exchange a look with Viekar who shakes his head and snaps up to the ceiling. I'm shocked watching Bav move the old chandelier down, Viekar disconnecting the chain from the chandeliers giant ring. Bav broke into a sweat lifting the new chandelier, Viekar hooked the new one up and snapped back down.
"Oh I rather like it right there! Bav?! Are you alright?" I ran to Bav, seeing his heavy breathing as he took a seat right on the ground. Viekar disappeared and returned with a blue bottle that Bav snatched from his hand and began to drink deeply from the bottle.
"Bav?" I ask him again only for him to do something I had never seen.
"BACK OFF!" He bellowed at me, and I saw how his mouth looked coated in red like blood. I didn't know how to handle it. So I turned and walked out into the Foyer.
A million things ran through my mind, mainly that I had messed up. Now that he's got what he wanted he can treat me bad? No... Viekar said that it would drain him of magic, he probably just didn't feel good. Right?
A tear ran down my cheek, then another.
What was up with his mouth? Was that blood?