Days are long, life's so short

April 3, 1890 - Binns Residence

No matter how Rosie felt about Hugo, she did adore her in-laws. While she would forever be jealous that her parents hadn't allowed her to follow her passions like Mr and Mrs Binns have seemed to let Juliana, the other young woman's spirit was utterly refreshing. While Rosie wasn't absolutely entirely aware of what Juliana did in her day to day, she was free. As far as Rosie was concerned.

No, the only Binns family member that Rosie just couldn't like one bit was her husband. He was stubborn, and made her act like a different person. Zach seemed to know the real her, and she did hope that Juliana understood her as well. Though Zach was far more aware of Rosie's dislike of Hugo, as far as Rosie knew. Rosie actually talked to him about her woes. It never felt right to tell any other Binns - or Mills, for that matter - about her constant frustration. If the children found out.... Rosie couldn't bare the thought.

It was of no matter now. She had come to visit Juliana. Have a day of womanly chat that didn't feel like gold digging. An ordinary day. At the very least, Hugo would grant this when it comes to his sister. And she is a rather interesting person to talk to. "What have you been up to since we've last spoken? It always seems you have something to do." Pleasantries had been exchanged by now and the two women were enjoying some snacks in the parlour.

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@"Juliana Binns"/Ophelia Devine

  

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Magic by Lady

What had she been up to? Only getting the best news of her entire life so far! Juliana was full to bursting with delight from the correspondence she had received only that morning, informing her that her research had been accepted and was going to be published. She wanted to sit in her room squealing with glee and dancing around to the point of exhaustion (although she had done a moderate amount of that this morning anyway, before she'd been interrupted by being called away to a social engagement with her mother).

She hadn't told anyone that she'd even submitted something, though, so she couldn't come right out with her good news. She would have told Zachariah, but she was afraid that he might judge her too harshly for her use of the pseudonym. She'd have to tell him now, though, because there was no way she could possibly keep this to herself indefinitely. Her research, in print! The culmination of all these years of work, going out into the world! He would have to be proud of her, pseudonym or not.

Jules wanted to make sure Zachariah was the first person she told, though. Particularly with all of the help he'd given her in getting introduced to the proper journals and publishing channels in the first place, back when she had first started writing her critiques all of those years ago — she felt she owed him a share of the good news. And he was the sibling most likely to be happy for her — she wasn't sure how Hugo would take it. Which meant she couldn't tell Rosie, either. She didn't think the two immediately confided everything to each other, by any means, but they did live together — Rosie would certainly mention something to Hugo, and he would probably disapprove. If she told him, Jules wanted to be sure she could control the narrative herself. Hugo could be so touchy about some things.

"Oh, I've been busy," she said with a grin, taking more than the appropriate amount of snacks from the tray as she realized she had forgotten to have lunch in all the excitement. "My project is coming along very well."

  

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Prof. Marlowe Forfang

Jules

In all her years of this dreaded marriage, she wasn't quite sure as to what profession she had been hoping for before her parents had dragged her down to their focus on reality. Perhaps a governess, teaching children. Later the etiquette professor at Hogwarts. Who knew. Perhaps something bolder. She couldn't really recall at this time, being so frustrated with how it all ended up. Perhaps Zach would have not minded if she had chosen to work.

Rosie made it a little game to not tell Hugo things. But that was also her little secret. She might offend one of her in-laws - or anger her parents - if she admitted such a thing. No, this was for her own amusement. Let a girl stay in their house for a few days to avoid her mother. Have interesting little chats with a rather intelligent man. One whom she might fancy. But never love. Oh no, she may only find love once in her life, and it was with the wrong brother. Another little secret, but oh so not a game.

The Mrs. Binns in the room knew all too well how stubborn Hugo could be. How touchy. Even having the nerve to nag at her as to having another child. Why could he possibly want another few tries at having a second son? Wasn't one - and two daughters - enough? Their boy was clearly living and healthy. She didn't really understand Hugo at times. But she had put her foot down at mentioning this to anyone else.

The amount of snacks that Juliana was taking was almost humorous. "You are going to have to tell me about your project one of these days. You sound quite excited."

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Magic by Lady

"Well, it's enough to keep my mind occupied," she said with a smile. Sometimes she liked keeping secrets from her family, just a little bit — it gave her something to feel mischievous about. On the other hand, it meant that she had no one to share in her delight, at least for the moment, and she was going to have to just keep it all bottled up inside until she burst or found someone to tell.

But she was not going to burst yet. She had only learned a few hours ago, and she would have to think through how she was going to tell Zach and anyone else that she wanted to tell; she was not going to just spill the beans the first chance she got. She'd been building up to this for years, after all — maybe her whole life — and she could wait through snacks with Rosie.

Speaking of which, the snacks were really very good. Jules put another in her mouth so that she could clear more room on her plate, then reached in for a second load.

"When I'm not too busy with the House of Lytton, that is," she said, referencing her actual, paying job as the personal assistant for the fashion house — an unlikely choice of employer for a girl who hardly cared about fashion, but the work itself was simple enough for someone with an organized mind. "I think Mr. Lytton wants to plan another fashion show this spring."

  

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Prof. Marlowe Forfang

Jules

Occupied? Did one really do projects and whatnot simply to keep occupied? Not for the fascination of a topic? The only project Rosie saw herself in these days was one of her husbands making, and that simply did not satisfy.

Secrets were all well and good when they weren't close to life ruining. Trying to keep the fact that she was having feelings for Zach a secret felt like a living nightmare. And nothing had even happened. What would she do if anything did happen? Not that it was likely. Merlin, what would Juliana think?

"Oh? Hugo would likely want to be there. Would you like me to tell him?" The more likely answer was no. Hugo was obnoxious and Rosie didn't like telling him about events if she didn't have to. Whether Juliana felt the same way or not was a different story. But it would be rude to not give her the option.

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Magic by Lady

"Oh, we don't even have a date set yet," she said, shaking her head in response to Rosie's question. Mr. Lytton's first fashion show of the season was scheduled for that week-end, of course, but Rosie already knew about that one. Jules, meanwhile, was quite content not to start planning the successor before the first show had even finished yet. Where Mr. Lytton came up with all of these ideas, she hadn't the foggiest notion. Maybe he repeated them sometimes and was just too confident for anyone to call him on it. Some of them certainly looked the same to Juliana, but she tended to assume that was because she had no fashion sense. What if everyone thought the same thing, though, and everyone else was just too afraid of looking as though they had bad taste to point it out? It might be an entire industry built upon the same principle as the Emperor's New Clothes. The thought was fairly amusing for her.

"Anyway, Rosie, I don't think it would benefit him to be there so much as it would benefit you. Mr. Lytton's fashion shows hardly ever have any suits in them; they're all fancy dresses. Unless you think Hugo has much of an opinion on your wardrobe?" she asked curiously. She had never considered either of her brothers to be particularly fashion-forward, but perhaps she was wrong. Or perhaps Hugo would only pay attention to what things did or didn't suit his wife when it came to fashion, which would be sort of sweet, in a strange way. Not particularly in character for him, she thought, but sweet.

  

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Prof. Marlowe Forfang

Jules

Fashion had never been at the top of the list of Rosie's interests. Sure, she loved new clothes every now and then, but being the fanciest in the room had never appealed to her. Having the latest fashions certainly didn't. Being herself was much more appealing. Not that anyone asked what she thought of any of this. Still, the new designs were certainly interesting to see at times.

Did he have an opinion on her wardrobe? Yes, he certainly did. Not in a 'cute' sort of way, and more like 'no, this is not the status you should be dressing towards'. Rosie preferred a more average style of their current status. Aiming high was not her cup of tea. But it was Hugo's. And Hugo was quite insistent on that matter. But this conversation was just a reminder of how little her in-laws knew about their strained relationship. "No, I suppose not."

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Magic by Lady

"I didn't mean to discourage you from inviting him if you like," Juliana added, picking up a slight note of ... something in her sister-in-law's response. Disappointment, maybe? Resignation? She wasn't sure what it was or how to interpret it, but was worried that she might have inadvertently said something to offend. "He's welcome to come. I just don't think he would find the event very enjoyable, for his own sake," she said with a shrug.

She took a sip of tea and decided it might be best to change the subject. "How are the children?" she asked, thinking this was likely a rather safe subject. Every mother loved talking about their children, she imagined, and Jules never tired of hearing about her nieces or nephew. Her guess proved correct, and the conversation progressed quite pleasantly until it was time for Rosie to head home once more.

  

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Prof. Marlowe Forfang

Jules