<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/1/19/Cordialinvitation.jpg)</div><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>It was early spring, and though the day had been relatively clear here in the rather affluent south Kensington streets, the smog had begun to gather as the sun began to set. It seemed even at this time of the year, there could be a pea souper, even this far out of the darker environs of the city.<br/><br/>Hansom Cabs were beginning to gather at the very beautiful townhouse belonging to the Winterstones as various guests were dropped off. Of course each was greeted by the smartly dressed butler and led to the drawing room for aperitifs, joined with pleasant and polite conversation. The room certainly had a masculine quality to it, with dark wood and leather, though there was the occasional female touch; however that almost seems staged, if one really took notice to such matters.<br/><br/>The dark man stood quietly in the corner watching all those about him. Robert  and William Winterstone greeted their guests as was appropriate. Various items of interest from the dig were on display and they were certainly exquisite, and so very interesting. There are ready a number of guests there, and conversation is for the most about Egypt and the fascinating happenings that the two gentlemen had encountered on their journey. The fact that Robert had married a ‘native’ was somewhat shocking though no one mentioned it during the conversation, or at least not overtly.<br/><br/>The dark gentleman, that was apparently an acquaintance that William had met with on his travels elsewhere. He was a supposed expert on the subject. The man seemed to have an aura and did not appear to wish to become to involved in conversation. There also seemed to be a little tension between he and Malsika. On the other hand the dark was a delightful hostess. Something about her was most compelling, so unlike Seth.<br/>