<strong>Lady Beatrice </strong><br/><br/>Lady Beatrice sat in the way that Queen Victoria and Catherine the Great held court. Lady Beatrice was in her element and now with Martial busy elsewhere she could conduct business as she saw fit.<br/><br/>Lady Beatrice simply blossomed. Her hand went to Lily’s.<br/><br/>“Lily dear, I’m sure you’ve met Mr. Humphrey Throckbottle lately of the Shallow Bottom on Avon Ballet Touring Company and Security Specialist 3rd Class Smytthe of the Earl’s personage,” Lady Beatrice said certain that Lily while in Martial’s company would have been introduced to everyone.<br/><br/>She knew her son’s tastes in young women and was relieved to find he had up scaled. Lily was a prize.<br/><br/>Throckbottle gave lily a grateful nod. She had been a stellar performer compared to what had followed.<br/><br/>“Charmed,” Throckbottle said and meant it.<br/><br/>It was Officer Smytthe who spoke next.<br/><br/>“Smytthe with two t’s. A pleasure I ain’t had yet, seein’s how I work the night shift an the lights out cages….Oye!”<br/><br/>Smytthe's remark cut short with a solid kick to the shin from under the table. He glowered and rubbed the rising bruise.<br/><br/>“Lets not bore the ladies with common chores Officer Smytthe,” Throckbottle said trying to save his job.  ‘”After all we are on tour duty. Highlights! Highlights! Highlights!”<br/><br/>“Hmmm…”  Smytthe grumbled.<br/><br/>“Gentlemen, where shall we go first?” Lady Beatrice asked tossing out the first bait.<br/><br/>The two men froze. Eyes beading over with mirrored images of Lady Beatrice as they stared without any clue what to say.  It was exactly what her Ladyship hoped for.<br/><br/>“You’ll be escorting us won’t you,” Lady Beatrice said setting the hook.<br/><br/>“Yes maam,” they said at the same time.<br/><br/>Lady Beatrice with her angelic smile turned her attention to Lily.<br/><br/>“Since you shall be my tour guide what would you like to show me first, dear Lily? Perhaps your friends might like to join us? Tours are so much more fun in a group don‘t you think?”<br/><br/>