"The really unexpected affair"~ chapter 5

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Links to Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4

A bevy of British beauties were escorted to the drawing room by Cavendish, just in time for Napoleon and Illya to make their entrance.

Solo was grinning ear to ear as he saw the ladies, both of them quite beautiful and elegantly attired. One, a stunning brunette with long straight hair, the other a strawberry blonde with her hair done up in one of the current styles of the day, he believed it was a variation on the bouffant.

They were each clothed in designer tops and skirts replete with matching pill box hats; a fashion trend started by Jackie Kennedy no doubt. Their outfits made him think of Christmas as one was completely in mauve, the other woman in forest green.

“Ladies,” Maude spoke up.” I’d like you to meet my friends, Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin. They’ll be staying with me for a few days before heading onto London.”

“This is the Baroness Bibi Wentworth and Lady Amelia Gladstone.”

“Enchante,”Napoleon greeted each woman with a bow and a kiss to their hands.

“Baroness, my Lady,” Illya simply nodded his head as he clicked his heels together.

“Kuryakin? Hmm, that name sounds familiar to me. I once read of a Count Kuryakin; he was a member of the court of the late Tsar,” Bibi remarked.

“Sorry madam, no relation as I am of the...Brooklyn Kuryakin’s. Our family emigrated to the United States before the Russian revolution.” In truth Illya knew full well she was referring to his grandfather Count Alexander Sergeivich Kuryakin.

Though he’d never met him, Illya’s father and babushka told him many stories about the Count. He was surprised though, as he’d thought any records of the man’s existence had been all but erased. The family never heard from him again and he died in the Solovki gulag in the Solovetsky Islands, located in the White Sea.*

Personal knowledge of his grandfather was a source of pride to the last member of the Kuryakin family, but it was a private honor, one Illya had been taught never to share with anyone. In the Soviet Union it was dangerous to have connections to aristocracy, even to this day.

Illya forced himself not to snicker; imagine what the woman would have thought if she knew his mother was a distant relation to the Romanovs? *

That surely would have meant a death sentence to Illya if anyone in the Kremlin knew that little tidbit.  During the war, he had severals strikes against him. A grandfather who had been a Count, a mother who was a cousin the the Tsar, as well as gypsy blood through his paternal grandmother.

“But I detect an accent, not American though,” Bibi interrupted his thoughts.

“Ah Baroness, you have a good ear. I was educated at the Sorbonne and at Cambridge in the study of physics.” Illya kept his cover story simple, with a smattering of truth behind it. Less to remember that way.

“A learned man from...Brooklyn, how delightful, though I do find people involved in scientific pursuits to be rather stuffy,” the Baroness cooed as if she were flirting with him, but at the same time she sounded rather condescending.

“Actually Mr. Kuryakin is a bit of a Renaissance man, as he’s quite talented with the piano,” Maude stepped in,”He’s going to entertain us after dinner.”

“Now that’s refreshing,” Lady Gladstone said.” It’s about time someone used that ridiculous piano. And you Mr. Solo, or may I call you Napoleon? Such an interesting name for one from the States. I would have expected a more simplistic name such as Bill or Bob.” She put particular emphasis on the b’s.

“Everyone in my family has, shall we say, interesting names. It’s sort of a tradition.

“And what do you do Napoleon?”She asked.

“Do? Well actually Illya and I work for the Acme Novelty company, based out of New York. I am the American representative while Illya covers some of the European territory. There is a surprising interest world wide in the area of novelties.”

“Novelties?” Both Bibi and Amelia looked somewhat surprised. “We have no need for such ridiculous frivolities,” Bibi said.

"I find them rather childish, trinkets for the simple minded, don't you agree?" Amelia added.

Cavendish entered the room, saving the day, essentially with an announcement.

“Madam, dinner is served.”

“Thank you Cavendish. Now enough chit chat,” Maude said.

Illya offered his arm to her, leaving Napoleon to escort the other ladies to dinner, taking one on each arm.

The dinner was superb. After a tossed salad came Cornish game hens with apple, pear and walnut stuffing, served with wild rice and a mushroom sauce. Included in the feast here were rosemary-caramelized parsnips and roasted baby potatoes. Finally for dessert, crème brûlée.

Even Illya was stuffed, and that said a lot for the cooking as well as the portions.

The conversation was light, as the Baroness and her Ladyship were not exactly up on the latest of topics. It seemed that Maude was well aware of their shallowness, yet oddly counted them as her friends.

After dinner they retired to the conservatory for aperitifs while Illya gave his little performance. The guests were mildly delighted and showed their appreciation with a light round of applause.

It was getting late and the ladies said their goodnights; Napoleon being the gentlemen escorted them out to their car where he bid them a cold adieu  Not soon enough as even Solo found very little that was attractive about the women, beyond their very well manicured looks.

The agents passed on any more drinks and said their goodnights to Maude, who was a bit taken back by their sedate behavior, much less heading off to bed so early.

Illya’s excuse was that he wanted a good night’s rest before going riding on Cossack Sun in the morning. Napoleon requested that Maude accompany him into town to show him around, just as a point of interest. In truth he wanted to get the lay of the land, and scout out anything that looked suspicious.

“My goodness, I thought two would lead a more exciting and mysterious life. You’re going to bed like a couple of old fuddy duddies,” she laughed at them.

“Maude my dear,” Napoleon shrugged. “Even men in our profession appreciate some down time now and then. It’s all too often we’re on the go, jetting hither, thither and yon. Sometimes it wears a little thin.”

“I never thought of it that way Napoleon. I just figured you had this adventurous life, seeing so much of the world and meeting lots of interesting people.

“Make that very dangerous people,”Illya interjected,”and one never knows what lurks around the corner. They could be anywhere, even here.”

Napoleon flashed a cautionary look to his partner...


* reference to "Beginnings" and my AU story "The Gambit Affair"

Comments

[laurose8.livejournal.com]

The Brooklyn Kuryakins - love it!

I enjoyed Baroness Bibi and Lady Amelia, and hope to see more of them. If only getting underfoot. (Cats do it with so much more grace.)

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

I love the way you think! Cats do it with so much more grace until they get stepped on, and then they shriek. Bib and Amelia underfoot, hmmm. Thank you! :D

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

I'm becoming more and more puzzled as to what Maude sees in these people. Another great installment.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Ahhh part of the mystery. Glad you liked the chapter and thanks for the comment cuz!

[lindafishes8.livejournal.com]

"...and one never knows what lurks around the corner."

Illya said a mouthful and I agree. Something's lurking around the corner with this story. I just can't figure out what...

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Mwaaa haaa haaa! I actually have you stumped?

Thanks for keeping up with the mystery and thanks for commenting!