<strong>Later that afternoon, near evening</strong><br/><br/><br/><div class="floatleft">(http://i741.photobucket.com/albums/xx51/Calliedelnoire/Elizabeth-Swann-elizabeth-swann-802.jpg)</div>Selene came in from her enclosed yard, it had been difficult to find a man who was willing to do sword play with a woman, even in such a forward town as Washington. She nodded to the matronly cook as she looked over the evening's preparations as she handed her sword over the houseboy to stow in her room after it was cleaned and sharpened.<br/><br/>Actually, she reflected, it was getting harder and harder to find a true swordsman versus a 'mere' fencer. A casualty of the new century she reflected. There were benefits, she reminded herself as she pointed out a selection of wines and brandy for the meal and after.<br/><br/>Telephones for one, if you were able to ensure security. She smiled dryly as she considered how many operators listening in were confused at the use of ancient greek with the folk at her estate back in New York state. Of course, that was only sufficient to set them working on what damnably little she knew and to tell them to send it by express to the nearest reputable agent to relay it to her. That was still the better part of two days or more (with good trains and carriages) to where they were going. She shook her head as she savored the smells of a well cooked meal, snatching a roll from the cool tray by the oven and smiling at the mock disapproval of her cook as she exited the matronly woman's domain for her own.<br/><br/>The library wasn't as good as the one back at the New York estate where she normally worked out of, but she had a service to bring many papers to the house, maps to look upon and a suitable selection of books to read from that she had brought with her. She walked into the library/study and sat down at the oak desk as she watched the upstairs maid hustling to remove the last of the covering sheets from the furniture before beating a retreat with a hurried curtsey to the lady. Not many of the family had use of being in Foggy Bottom often enough to keep the whole house open.<br/><br/>She glanced to the clock on her desk as she put up her feet and relaxed, savoring the freedom of not being in a damnable dress or wearing a powerful glamour as she pulled out a slender cigar out of a handy humidor and lit it with a flourish.<br/><br/>Time enough to relax before her 'companions' arrived she figured as she picked up the week or more old papers from New Orleans and Mobile. She had somethings in work, but they could wait. All in all, the evening looked promising. Jack looked to be a proper scoundrel, and they were always fun to have to dinner. Provided you watched the drinks and silverware. She was curious about the girl, Abby, though. Still waters were one thing, but she had to have true depths if Alexander thought she brought something to the group.