HIGHER
SOCIETY – Part 3
a fanfiction based on the George Cukor’s The
Philadelphia Story (1940) and the musical High Society (1956),
both of which were based on the Broadway play, The Philadelphia Story (1939)
by Philip Barry. I don’t own the story, but I own the characters in this
adaptation.
Chapter
Nine
I get the message she's sendin'
Mmm she ain't lookin' to married
And me well honey I'm pretending
Last night I dreamed I held you in my arms
The music was never-ending
We danced as the evening sky faded to black
One step up and two steps back
- “One Step Up”, Bruce Springsteen
Present time . .
.
Angus stood in front of the full-length mirror while his
valet, Roman, helped him dress. The older man, nondescript as all good English
servants should be, had been with Angus since his split from Deetz. He
knew what I liked without me saying. He could hear the start of the party
and from the window of his spacious bedroom, he could see the royal motorcade
winding toward Morganwg.
Tonight was a big deal so why did he feel like
shit? “Roman, I said I wanted the red tie, not the maroon!” he barked at
the man.
Immediately, Angus felt bad. I’m not like
that, I’m not that kind of earl, Angus thought. “I must apologize, Roman.
It’s not you and this tie is fine.”
“I’m sorry Your grace is of ill-mood.” Roman finished and
bowed before leaving without any acknowledgement of the apology.
Toni took advantage of the servant’s exit to gain
entry.
“I hope this isn’t a bad time, er… or place.”
“For?”
“I was hoping to ask you some questions on background –
nothing we’ll publish, just to give me an idea of who you are, how you think.”
Angus waved her in. He finished the Glenlivet in his
glass and pour another double shot.
Toni walked around identifying various angles to reflect
the surprisingly austere look of the room.
The furnishings looked stolen from the last fantasy novel
you read and seemed to be there because they had nowhere else to put it.
However, despite the dubious placement, the owner was low to depart with any
piece of family history. Even the hygiene products on the dresser had an
old-timey flare too them. Toni took a few shots for background then put her
camera away and sat on a nearby armchair far from the bed. She took out her
legal pad. “I must say, your Grace, you look rather handsome tonight.”
