Oh my gosh I'm sorry for the delay, enjoy!

Chapter 2 Party At the Lawrence's

Willow found herself at the Lawrence's several days later being seated at one of the long tables that were set up. "Stay here" Elliot quietly ordered then wandered off to use his wiles on the hostess. Willow rolled her eyes. I hope you get that seat next to Miss Fitzwater and leave me alone. Most women would be ashamed to be so blatantly abandoned but she was honestly done with Elliot at this point. Dance lessons had evolved into having to learn to dance with him. Being that close to the slimy man had been a miserable experience.

She plucked at the lavender chiffon dress she was wearing in an attempt to disguise her restlessness. Dinner parties were long boring affairs that involved sitting and waiting to eat for hours while hopefully talking to someone next to you who wasn't a bore, a flirt, or an empty headed idiot. She loathed this particular kind of party the most out of all the social affairs Elliot had dragged her to.

As she was reflecting on the misery of sitting with a bunch of (probably)snobby guests for the next 5 hours, someone settled into the seat on her right.

"I have to confess I'm impressed Euwell could get an invitation to this particular event. They tend to be rather exclusive with the invites." She almost gaped at the speaker.

"Wilson?"

"Good Evening to you too." He looked amused at her surprise.

"So how did you get an invitation then?"

He shrugged. "My mother's family were good friends with the Lawrence's, so they send us one every year." He frowned "So where is your 'guardian' in all this?" Willow fought to keep from laughing. The way Wilson said guardian spoke volumes towards what he thought of the man.

"He's run off to find, err, a friend." No need to bring her up! "If we keep meeting like this people are going to start thinking things you know." Wilson rolled his eyes.

"They think things about my family already" He muttered. What's wrong with him? Willow wondered. "Are you alright?" Whatever he was going to say was cut off when someone dropping into the chair on her other side.

"My word it's hot tonight! I regret choosing gray silk. You seem to have far better taste than myself miss. That's a lovely lavender chiffon you're wearing, it goes well with your dark hair." Willow turned in surprise to see an older woman with chestnut hair streaked with grey and blue eyes that looked...oddly familiar?

"Thank you."

From the corner of her eye she could clearly see Wilson bury his face in his hands for a moment. What on earth? The older lady was holding her hand out to Willow with a friendly smile.

"My name is Sarah Higgsbury." Willow took the offered hand and felt a genuine smile breaking out.

"Willow Glenn. Nice to meet you Mrs. Higgsbury." The woman laughed.

"Oh do call me Sarah, I see you and my son have met."

Wilson cut off anything Willow could have said in response. "Wendy! Miss. Willow knows her and introduced us."

It's lovely to meet you Miss. Willow. I hope we'll get a better chance to talk" She looked over Willow and seemed to be staring at her son. "Unfortunately the dinner will start soon and we still need to find our places."

Wilson stood but gave her a small smile.

"We can talk later." He murmured as he followed his mother. Willow couldn't help looking longingly after them. She was still stuck by herself so it seemed Elliot had managed to smooth talk his way into a seat next to the lovely Miss. Fitzwater.

Meanwhile Sarah Higgsbury was having a quick conversation with the hostess Julia Lawrence.

"Do you by chance know a Miss Willow Glenn?"

Mrs. Lawrence blinked and frowned. "Glenn Glenn, let me-Ahh! That must be Mr. Euwell's ward! They're cousins I believe and the poor unfortunate girl doesn't seem to have any other relatives to watch over her. I'm not certain how they came to be living together but family is family and I must admire the man for taking her in. He's a friend of another guest who asked me to include him in the party so she wouldn't be 'frightfully bored'." The hostess sniffed.

"He's neglectful of his ward when they're out though, one would think he would keep a closer eye on a single young woman."

"Indeed it seems sad!" Sarah eagerly agreed with the other woman. "I feel so sorry for her sitting off by herself, would you do me a bit of a favor Julia?"

Willow was not the least surprised when everyone was taking their places to find herself still alone. She was surprised to have a waiter quietly tell her her seat had changed. She followed the man to different table. And found herself seated on Wilson's right with his mother on her other side! The older woman smiled at her.

"I see your guardian left you by yourself and thought you should join us."

The rest of the dinner was the most entertaining thing Willow had sat through in weeks. Sarah Higgsbury was clearly very interested in her and proceeded to chat with her in the form of a rather vigorous interrogation.

"So where were you born?"

"Oh here I think, I'm afraid I never asked."

"Your parents didn't tell you?"

"I'm afraid they died when I was 3"

"You poor dear, how tragic! Were you raised by one of your other relatives?"

"Not exactly, I was in school most of my childhood."

""Oh, where did you attend?"

"I'm afraid the name wouldn't mean much, it burned down just before my graduation. It was very sudden."

The last made her blush. She wasn't always the most honest person but the orphanage burning down was NOT something she was ever going to regret.

"Fortunately, no one was hurt." Willow added quickly.

"I barely remember my preparatory school either." Wilson jumped in clearly trying to help. His mother gave an unladylike snort.

"Of course you don't son, you graduated from when you were 13 and were in university within a few months."

Willow asked, hoping to keep the conversation off herself for a bit. "Didn't you go to Harvard?"

"Yes. I was supposed to go for chemistry but the engineering courses were utterly fascinating! Not to mention the biology."

"And yet you didn't go into medicine." His mother remarked.

He shifted uncomfortably. "I'm not one for practicing on living things Mother. Most of medicine requires experimentation on some level on something far larger than rats."

"But you never studied geology." Willow smirked at him. He smiled back at her.

"So tell me how are you related to Elliot Euwell Miss. Glenn?

While Willow tried to pass off her relationship with Elliot Euwell as a distant cousin-ship, Wilson cursed whatever deeds of his past life had led to his mother discovering his interest in Willow. Nothing is going to stop her now. I wonder if I can pass it off as worry over her guardian... And hell will freeze over! Mother is nothing if not persistent. She was going to want to know everything, and if by some lucky chance she didn't find out about Willow's real background, she would proceed to try to get him to start officially calling.

Fortunately after an eternity the meal ended and Wilson's mother wandered off to talk to others, leaving the two of them to themselves.

"So, that's your mother?" Willow asked the scientist.

"Yes, she tends to be nosy I'm afraid." He replied dryly.

Willow couldn't help the amusement the welled up at that particular statement.

"I see where you get it."

"Ha ha." Wilson looked unhappy. "I'm sorry, she's a bit desperate to see me talk to someone other than her I think. I'm not very good with most women at these...events."

Whatever sympathetic response Willow wanted to give was cut off by an undesired appearance.

"Wilson! How are you?" Flossie Fitzwater was happily settling in the seat on Wilson's other side

She moved far too close for propriety's sake or Willow's temper.

"Oh, Flossie, Er, how are you?" Wilson was incredibly uncomfortable with the physical contact. Unfortunately Flossie had prior claims so her faux pas would be overlooked by the rest of the guests. Though he wished she back off.

"Oh Miss. Glenn! I didn't see you there!"

I'm sure you didn't you little tart!

"How are you tonight, it's so kind of you to let your guardian sit with me earlier." As she was speaking Flossie leaned shamelessly on Wilson who was seriously considering whether he dared to stand up suddenly and conveniently brush her off at the same time.

Willow could feel her temper flaring up at this point. She wanted to slap her. She wanted to throw wine on that expensive point lace dress the minx was wearing. She tapped her foot impatiently under the table, trying to calm herself. Wait, wasn't she with Elliot? Willow gave a Flossie a rather pointed smile.

"I thought you were with my cousin Miss. Fitzwater. I believe you said he danced divinely? Wilson weren't they planning on dancing after dinner tonight?"

The other woman pouted. "Oh they are! But I didn't know you two knew each other." Flossie managed to let go of Wilson finally, to the man's infinite relief.

"Willow is a friend, we met through an acquaintance." Wilson said, silently thankful for Willow's help. Getting Flossie off was often like trying to pry a clam open.

Wilson's mother chose that particular moment to return.

"Ah, Flossie, I didn't know you were here tonight. Did your aunt join you?"

Willow was rather impressed with Wilson's mother, she seemed to know Flossie and how to send her packing without insulting anyone.

Unfortunately while that scene was amusing her, another far less desired person showed themselves at last.

"Oh there you are cousin, how ever did you get all the way over here?" Willow gave a weak smile to Elliot who was apparently done for the night, which left her heading home at this point.

"Ahh, Mr. Euwell!" Sarah Higgsbury exclaimed, "I was hoping to have your cousin drop in next Tuesday." She turned to Willow, neatly ignoring her 'cousin'. "It's my day at home you see, do say you'll come have tea with me won't you my dear? I would enjoy getting to know you better."

Willow found her smile becoming genuine. The woman was definlety nosy, but somehow it felt nice to have someone genuinely interested for a change, other than Wilson of course.

"I'll have to check my schedule, but I will do my best." Willow assured her.

Oh good, I'll have to see about writing you the details. Are you attending the ball this weekend Mr. Euwell? The Fitzwater's are going of course, you seem to have many of the same acquaintances!"

She's good. Willow noted. Elliot looked very uncomfortable with what was happening, but managed to smooth his way through, wily as a serpent. The facade shattered as soon as they could politely bid adieu and head for the door.

"How in heaven's name did you of all people come to know the Higgbury's?! They tend to keep to themselves and the whole of Boston knows that the heir broke it off with Miss. Fitzwater. Haven't seen either of them much for nearly a year now. Since when do you have such high connections?!"

Willow shrugged. "A little girl I know introduced us. They just felt bad you left me by myself all evening." She glared at him.

"As if anyone would want to spend the entire evening with you. Good grief Higgsbury must be blind if he wants to sit with you. Though I grant his mother is a bit of a bleeding heart or so I've heard. She must be desperate to get someone to marry him. Nobody with any sense will of course." Elliot rolled his eyes. "Wilson Higgsbury is a recluse and a social bore. I don't know how he got Miss. Fitzwater to fall for him in the first place but he's a fool to have lost her."

Willow felt the familiar anger building again. She could remember the Wilson's memory, the flippant and callus way Flossie had treated Wilson, the pain on his face, all because he had a real moral compass, unlike the slimy cretin dragging her out the door right now. Everything about Elliot was posh and perfect, a facade to lure in women and use them for his own gain. How dare you insult a man with more brains and more genuine gentleness than you will ever possess you gutless spineless coward! Willow felt her patience wearing out. Maybe Wilson had a point, maybe she should find a better living situation. Before she 'accidentally' set fire to Elliot's house next.

UGGGHHHH. I have had a very LONG couple of weeks. I'm sorry for the delay, one week was swamped with real life shenanigans, which I needed the weekend to recover from. The second week I had the cold/sinus infection that's everywhere right now. On top of that my college professors are in that particular mode where they try to kill you with homework. Those of you in college or been in know what I speak of.

Also I don't really like this chapter. It's actually broken off from the next one because I want to be able to fit more in the next chapter. It's a "transition chapter", one of those evil necessities of decent writing and it's been a brat the whole time. Apologies, hopefully next will be much better.

HISTORICAL NOTES: Feel free to ask if anything is confusing, btw, I am a fount of useless history facts, especially in regards to this story :)

"Officially calling"-In America about this time 'dating' was actually becoming a thing. As a result the old Victorian idea of "courting" was starting to shift. One of the shifts was instead of courting, a man interested in a woman would start coming by her house each evening and hanging out with her and her family. Often her family would kindly leave them alone with various excuses as they knew what he was up to. Thus when Wilson says his mother would want him to start calling, he literally means the modern equivalent of hanging out together to see if they work as a romantic couple.

Dinner Party-Yes, they really were something like 5-6 hours long where multiple small courses got served while people talked. It was an excuse to socialize, but once the dinner was under way you were stuck with whoever your dining partners on each side were. You were NOT supposed to move yourself, but you could ask the hostess(especially if they were a friend of yours) This is why Flossie invited Elliot, she wanted to flirt with him throughout the dinner ;)

Silk/Chiffon-Before central air and heating, what you wore mattered, as far as material. Silk was considered for cold weather, while light fabrics like chiffon were for hot. I'm kind of broadly hinting this is all set in late spring of 1905 to start. You could always cheat and wear something if you thought it looked good on you of course. Also, point lace(google it)was the height of fashion in this time period.