31 October, 1892 — Jekyll & Hyde Masque
Another season come and gone, and no significant change of prospects for either of Ford's two remaining unmarried sisters. Meanwhile: a significant change in their family finances, through all the strain of spending money and new dresses. He'd even "forgotten" to give Grace her spending money a handful of times throughout the season, knowing that she was too conflict-averse to protest. He felt awful about it because he felt as though he were taking advantage of her good nature, and worst of all it hadn't helped in the slightest. So he'd felt some trepidation about the event tonight, even before they'd arrived. They couldn't afford to buy costumes for a masquerade ball. They equally couldn't afford not to be seen at a party that was intended to be a big scene. If Ford's internal dilemma here had voices attached, Noble's would have been the voice opposed to buying new masks while Mama's vied for the party. Ultimately, Mama's had won out.
He had arrived with the family but had volunteered to take everyone's coats to the room down the hallway and meet them back at the party, so when Ford finally found himself in the entryway standing before the house elf, he was alone. There were potions on a silver tray, and apparently Ford was intended — no, required — to drink one. This couldn't be right. Surely his entire family hadn't agreed to something so absurd? Ford could not simply drink a mysterious potion and then walk into a room full of people.
"There will be only one question," the elf was saying, but Ford's face was hot and he was having trouble focusing on the words.
"I need a minute," he said in a rush, taking a step back directly onto the foot of the person who had arrived just after him. "Sorry," he mumbled, hand reaching to tilt his mask up off his face so that he could get a proper breath. "Sorry, I just —"
He had arrived with the family but had volunteered to take everyone's coats to the room down the hallway and meet them back at the party, so when Ford finally found himself in the entryway standing before the house elf, he was alone. There were potions on a silver tray, and apparently Ford was intended — no, required — to drink one. This couldn't be right. Surely his entire family hadn't agreed to something so absurd? Ford could not simply drink a mysterious potion and then walk into a room full of people.
"There will be only one question," the elf was saying, but Ford's face was hot and he was having trouble focusing on the words.
"I need a minute," he said in a rush, taking a step back directly onto the foot of the person who had arrived just after him. "Sorry," he mumbled, hand reaching to tilt his mask up off his face so that he could get a proper breath. "Sorry, I just —"
Set by Lady!