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dicreasy2 ([personal profile] dicreasy2) wrote2012-12-30 11:56 am

Myshuno! 2012 - piece 22

Title:  Secrets and Indiscretion.
Prompt: If the glove fits. ([livejournal.com profile] fuzzy_spork)
Rating: PG. 
Spoiler rating: 8/10. 
Summary: Sophia and Bertie argue.
Notes: I've not actually heard the phrase "if the glove fits" before, and so have taken it as an American idiom of "if the cap (or shoe) fits, wear it."  Sorry if that's not what it means, but that's what you're getting.  Also, fairly high spoiler rating because it contains the first proper reference of a future storyline.
Word Count: 947



Sophia looked over at her husband as the carriage pulled up outside their house. He hadn’t said a word to her on the journey home, and she could tell by the set of his jaw that he was mad at her. Properly mad, not the fun pretending to be mad mood the two of them often indulged in as an aid in their most intimate moments.

He didn’t even look at her as he helped her down from the carriage, let go of her hand as soon as he was able to and stalked towards the house, leaving her to pay the coachman. Sophia glared after him; he really was angry with her and she was determined to find out exactly why.

She found him sulking in his study. “You are angry with me,” she stated.

He whirled round to face her. “No Sophia, I am not angry with you, I am bloody furious with you.”

“And what, pray tell, have I done to deserve your ire?”

“You know full well. You are impetuous, you are often thoughtless, and because of that, you speak of things you should not, to whom you should not.”

Sophia gasped. “You think me indiscreet?”

“I know you are indiscreet.”

“And just what is my supposed indiscretion today?”

“I overheard you speaking about our suppliers with a rival busi….”

“I was speaking to your cousin!”

“My father’s cousin!” pointed out Bertie.

“He seemed interested in our stock,” continued Sophia, ignoring him, “and asked where we had procured such fine wares. I was wary at first, but once he said he was your cousin, I saw no harm in letting him know we used only the very best suppliers.”

“And yet in doing so you may very well have handed him the ammunition needed to ruin us.”

Sophia turned away from him. “You are being needlessly melodramatic.”

“Am I? Do you not recall what his brother did to this family.”

“His brother?” She turned back to look at her husband, and as she did so, the parts slotted into place. She glanced over at the photograph her husband kept on his desk, and as always the one absent face jumped out at her. She swallowed. “Of course I do, but is not Timothy his brother too? And you like him well enough.”

“Cousin Timothy is an honourable man, whom has very little to do with his brother. Cousin Alfred however…” he ran his hand through his curls. “His business empire is impressive. He owns the pre-eminent chain of grocery stores in and around Simdon and he is, by all accounts, always looking to expand. It is my fear that he will seek to harm this family through his contacts and business acumen.”

“You do not know that. Besides, you are being ridiculous. Whoever heard of one man being able to bring down another’s business?”

Bertie looked at her. “As yoyu know, My grandfather was a very well respected businessman. When I took over the running of his shops, I was approached by another well-known businessman who asked me if I wanted him to continue to grind Grundstrom and Son Exports Ltd down to the worst possible selling prices. It turns out that Grandpapa had used his considerable influence to bring that business to its knees and keep it there, because of how Mr Grundstrom treated Aunt Alexandra.”

Sophia felt the blood drain from her face. “You have no reason to suspect that Mr Legacy will do the same.”

Bertie gave her a level look and she had the feeling he had been keeping things from her. She said as much.

“I have heard nothing but unsubstantiated rumours, but that is enough for me to be uneasy,” he admitted.

“You should have told me.”

“Yes, I should have and I apologise.” He sat down on the settee. “How much did you tell him?”

Sophia thought for a moment and took a seat next to him. “Very little if the truth be told. Only that we have good relationships with some of the best wholesalers in Simdon, and that the musical instruments we sell are of the finest quality.”

Bertie nodded. “Maybe you were not as indiscreet as I had feared. The instruments will certainly not cause us any problems; the opportunity for our manufacturers to claim the patronage of Papa and Emmi means very few would ever dream of severing their relationship with us. As for the wholesalers, many have been dealing with Beth’s Books since the day Grandpapa bought it. I am, perhaps being a tad over-dramatic about the whole thing.”

Sophia moved closer to him. “Am I forgiven?”

“Not quite. I am still angry with you. You really should learn to think some before acting.”

Sophia gave a little snort. “You love my impetuous nature. I would not be the same without it.”

“I love everything about you Fie, but that does not stop me thinking you the most irritating and vexing woman of my acquaintance.”

“If the day ever comes when that ceases to be the case, then I will know you no longer care for me my galling man.”

He gave a soft snort of amusement, before he remembered he was angry with her and turned his look into a glare. Sophia suppressed a smile. He had forgiven her completely, even if he would not yet admit it, and perhaps they could put their argument to good use once the children were in bed. And as for his concerns over his father’s cousin, he was being far too much of a doom monger wasn’t he? Surely? The thought that he wasn’t, nagged at her for the rest of the day.


[identity profile] katrisims.livejournal.com 2012-12-30 12:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Hmm... I can't help but think there may be something to Bertie's concerns there...

[identity profile] dicreasy.livejournal.com 2013-01-03 10:54 pm (UTC)(link)
*shifty eyes* Erm, maybe? :)

[identity profile] lauriempress.livejournal.com 2012-12-30 12:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Alfred, behave!

I loved this, even the hints of dread!

Edited to add: "If the glove doesn't fit, you have to acquit," is a famous line from the OJ Simpson trial (and I think I'm quoting it properly, if not, please someone jump in and correct me). I usually here if the shoe fits rather than glove myself, but if someone said that I would just assume they used glove rather than shoe myself.
Edited 2012-12-30 12:56 (UTC)

[identity profile] profbutters.livejournal.com 2012-12-30 04:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Absolutely on the OJ Simpson ref: Johnny Cochran, his lawyer, said "If the glove doesn't fit, you must acquit." Nothing wrong with using it as a variant of "if the shoe fits," though.

[identity profile] dicreasy.livejournal.com 2013-01-03 10:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks, I'm glad you liked it. :D

Ahh, I hadn't heard that at all, but yeah. I just assumed it was the same as if the shoe fits.

[identity profile] mzyra.livejournal.com 2012-12-30 03:20 pm (UTC)(link)
I am curious that both John and Alfred try to be taking the family down in their own special ways (although perhaps Alfred is just a rather predatory business man), and I don't know how that'll work, whether one will succeed while the other fails, they'll suddenly realise that they have things common goals that might make it worthwhile to cooperate, they might simultaneously happen to take down bits of the family, or if, in their attempts to bring down the family, they'll accidentally take down each other. The last one would be amusing :P

Meanwhile, these two can go kiss and make up like usual :P

[identity profile] dicreasy.livejournal.com 2013-01-03 11:01 pm (UTC)(link)
I obviously can't comment on that, but yes. If the day ever comes where they co-operate, it will be a terrible thing.

Of course they will. :D

[identity profile] silverbelle1220.livejournal.com 2012-12-30 05:09 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm a little upset with Bertie for not telling Sophia to be wary of Alfred in the first place. But beyond that, intrigue. I have a feeling Bertie's right to be worried, and I hope Alfred's not up to something as drastic as his brother was. :/

[identity profile] dicreasy.livejournal.com 2013-01-03 11:03 pm (UTC)(link)
I think it was one of those things, where he wasn't entirely certain there was anything in it, and so didn't think to tell her until after the fact. When he saw Alfie in the shop, it all came back to him and he went into panic mode.

[identity profile] ms-norrington.livejournal.com 2012-12-30 06:54 pm (UTC)(link)
lol. These two. While I admire the passion of their fiery relationship, I could never deal with it as they do. I need calm and steady waters. Watching them is all consuming and singe worthy. It's certainly hot and enough to make ones' loins frothy the way they go at one another. I know they're talking about business an all but their simmering undercurrents turn every argument into foreplay. Apparently Sophia thinks so too. I love how you write the two of them.

[identity profile] dicreasy.livejournal.com 2013-01-03 11:09 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm the same. I love writing them and the type of relationship I'm building between them, but I could never be in a similar one. I don't like arguing and besides, it's exhausting only writing a relationship like this, living it would kill me I think.

:D Thank you! I'm glad I'm getting that across, because theirs is a very physical relationship. They are constantly drawn to each other.

[identity profile] rosefyre.livejournal.com 2012-12-30 08:34 pm (UTC)(link)
*shakes head* Now I'm worried about what John did, and about what Alfred's going to do. At least Timothy is one cousin they don't have to be concerned about?

[identity profile] dicreasy.livejournal.com 2013-01-03 11:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, Timothy is pretty much the only one of Henry's sons that no one has to worry about. He's the only one John didn't corrupt.