Fragile Destiny (The Aether Chronicles) (31 page)

Thirty

Stag Party

“As long as your husband is gentle, you’ll be all right,” an older woman told Noli, nearly pressing her into the corner with her giant burgundy dress. “Just lie back and think of more pleasant things.”

Noli’s cheeks burned. Who was this woman, and was she speaking of what she thought she was?

“I … I appreciate the advice. Excuse me; I’m going to find my mother.” Noli darted away, weaving through the parlor packed with well-dressed women her mother had invited to the party. Many were related to her—aunties, cousins, and such. The rest were friends of her mother and grandmother. Women she didn’t know or care to know.

At least Missy Sassafras wasn’t here. Though Noli wouldn’t have minded if Jo could have been in attendance.

She wasn’t actually looking for her mother, but this was the
third
older woman dispensing vague advice. She found a spot near the wall and leaned against it, wishing she were invisible. All around her, women gossiped as they drank wine and ate tiny food passed around by Ellen and the other maids.

There were no men in the room. Not even Jameson. V, James, Jeff, her father, and both her grandfathers had left in search of more manly pursuits.

A few women giggled in a way that made her wince. Noli sighed as yet another woman entered the parlor, exchanging air kisses and high-pitched greetings with her mother while setting packages on the table overflowing with gifts.

“It feels so scandalous, having a gathering such as this at night,” said a woman dressed like a cake to a woman who resembled a
sausage wearing a dress
, as Miri would say.

Miri. Noli actually missed the sprite. She would
adore
all of this.

“I think it’s quite nice. After all, a ball or dinner party is this late; why not a ladies’ party? It does seem sudden, though,” the sausage replied. “Jeffrey and his bride only got engaged at Thanksgiving, and now the other is getting married as well. You don’t think … ” Her hand went to her mouth and Noli snatched a petit-four and popped it in her mouth so she wouldn’t reply.

She’d heard some of
that
as well, though never to her face.

“No, no. The lucky girl is moving to
France
and she wanted to have a wedding before she moved. Also, apparently her groom is still in mourning, so a small affair is more appropriate.” The cake shook her head. “Aside, she’s Eady’s
daughter
and proper-as-could-be, I’m sure. That other one, the one her son’s marrying … ” Her voice lowered and her nose wrinkled in distaste. “I hear she works on an airship.” She made
airship
sound like a bad word.

“As captain,” Noli put in, even though she should probably remain silent. “Vix is
captain
of an airship, and probably the most valiant person I know. Oh, by the way, both of your dresses are …
interesting
.” She spun around and marched out of the room, taking refuge in the foyer.

Ugh. This was what she hated most about society. Someone knocked on the front door.

“Miss Noli, shouldn’t you return to your party?” Jameson shuffled past her to answer it.

“I … I needed a breath of air.” She fanned herself with her hand. “The perfume is threatening to choke me.” Not to mention their fussy attitudes.

“Very good, miss.” He opened the door and she could hear voices on the other side of the door. “No, I’m sorry, this is a private affair,” Jameson told them.

Noli edged closer, trying to spy who was at the door. At this point she’d give nearly anything for Vix’s crew to invade the party. Yes, what would they make of Asa, Thad, and Winky?

“We’re good friends of Vix’s, please, if we could speak to her … ” one woman said.

“We should go, Hattie, I told you the likes of us wouldn’t be welcome.” This woman sounded sullen.

Hattie. Noli knew that name.

“Hittie, Hattie? Is that you?” She rushed to the door, worming her way past Jameson.

Two blond women stood at the door, wearing plain dresses. The older one had short hair. The pink didn’t flatter her and she looked awkward, as if she wore dresses even less frequently than Vix. The younger one had long hair that had been put up, her blue gown decorated with a gold pin, a gift clutched in her hands.

“Do we know you?” the one with short hair cocked her head.

“You’re Jeff’s sister, aren’t you?” the other said. “You look so much like him. I’m Hattie Hayden, and this is my sister Hittie.”

“Yes, he’s spoken so highly of you. Especially you and your engineering skills, Hittie. And Hattie … James isn’t here right now but he was asking Vix about you.” Noli couldn’t help but grin. So these were the air pirate sisters.

“James has?” Hattie’s hand went to her hair.

Hittie snorted. “Vix says it’s a double wedding. Are you marrying the useless one?”

Useless? Oh yes; to an air pirate, V would be a bit useless.

“Yes. Please, come in.” Noli turned to the butler. “It’s fine, Jameson.”

“Yes, Miss Noli.” He frowned and shuffled off, probably to hide in the kitchen, far from the women and the party. Lucky.

Noli saw someone creeping up the stairs. “Vix, wait! The fun has arrived.”

Vix turned, her eyes widening in surprise. “Hittie, Hattie, you’re here!”

“Thad said you couldn’t go to the stag party because you had to go to some girly affair.” Hittie leaned to the side, catching a glimpse of the soiree in the parlor. “I think I’d rather brave the stag party.”

“Me too.” Vix leaned against the railing. “How do you stand it, Noli?”

“At least we’re getting the short version. Usually there are months and months of engagement dinners and teas and dances and calling on people.” Noli wasn’t sorry to miss all that, not to mention all the societal rules that bound engaged couples. “What’s a stag party? I’ve never heard of one.”

Vix grinned. “It’s where the groom’s friends take him out for a night of manly shenanigans. This one involves Steven and the rest of them.”

“Oh dear.” Noli laughed at the thought.

“It’s why I sent Asa and Thad to join them,” Vix told her. “I don’t know your Steven well, but I have a feeling he might need rescuing. Not to mention that Jeff would want Asa and Thad to be there.”

“Rescuing? It might be good for him,” Hittie snorted.

“Probably, and Jeff needs a night with his father.” Vix shook her head. “He sure didn’t see that coming.”

“Is Jeff all right with our father being here?” Noli’s belly dipped. She never thought of the converse side of bringing her father home.

Vix waved her hand. “He’s
fine.
Very happy, actually. If anything he feels bad because he’d given up all hope of your father ever being found.”

“Jeff’s father was missing?” Hattie frowned.

“It’s a long story, but we found him.” Noli glanced over at the party and sighed. “At any moment my mother’s going to appear and drag us inside. If one more woman gives me vague wedding night advice I think I’m going to scream. Or go hide in the kitchen and eat a lot of cake.”

At the word
cake
Vix’s face lit up. “Is there actual cake? All I see are tiny ones. I want a slice … or an entire cake. Why is all the food so small?”

“Because tiny food is ladylike.” Noli grinned.

“Um, Noli … ” Vix flushed slightly. “Do you need someone to explain to you what happens on the wedding night? I’m only asking since most society girls have no idea what happens—or what body parts are used.”

“Or that it’s supposed to be fun,” Hittie tittered.

“I just don’t want you to be surprised,” Vix finished. “And if you do know, then Hittie should explain it anyway, because her version will have you snorting wine out of your nose.”

Noli chuckled. “I … I actually know what happens, but I appreciate the offer.”

“Oh.” Vix’s lips pursed as if keeping in her laugh. “Don’t tell Jeff.”

“He’s the one who stormed into my room demanding to know if V was marrying me because I was with child.” Noli couldn’t stop laughing.

Mama walked into the foyer, looking radiant in a rose gown, her chestnut hair curled artfully. “There you are. Why are you all out here? I feel so terrible shorting you of all your parties, Noli dearest, but it’s the best I could do given the time frame.”

“It’s lovely, Mama. You did a wonderful job. It’s I who am sorry for giving you such short notice. But as you were already throwing a wedding for Vix and Jeff, it made sense for us to be included.”

Yes, her mother was having a good time playing mother to two grooms and two brides.

“Oh, Noli … I’m just happy you didn’t elope. I don’t know why that seems to be all the rage right now.” Mama made a face at the notion.

“I have an inkling,” Vix muttered to Hittie.

Mama put her hand to Noli’s forehead. “Are you feeling poorly? I do worry about you. If you’re not strong enough to go to France straight away, you can stay here with me until you’re better.”

“I’m fine, Mama,” she gently brushed off. “Oh, these are Vix’s friends, Hittie and Hattie. This is my mother, Edwina Braddock.”

Her mother smiled. “Oh, hello. Welcome.” She frowned. “Victoria, you also look a bit pale. It’s all right; you two can go to bed after we open presents. After all, you need your sleep for tomorrow. Come along, ladies.” Picking up her skirts, she sailed into the parlor.

Hattie looked at Vix. “I think after the presents we should sneak away and invade the stag party.”

Now
that
sounded fun.

“I know where there are some hoverboards,” Noli replied. She knew Vix didn’t care about it being illegal for women to hoverboard. Hittie and Hattie probably didn’t care either.

“Hoverboard in dresses?” Hittie’s eyebrows rose. “Also, it’s
snowing
.”

“I do everything you do while in a dress and a corset, from fixing engines to hoverboarding.” Noli shrugged, not understanding what the fuss was about. “I’ve never hoverboarded in snow. It might be fun.”

“Or cold.” Hittie shook her head.

“But James is there,” Hattie added. “And Jeff … ”

“Ladies.” Mama appeared the doorway, wearing a stern expression.

“We better go. I know that tone,” Noli said. “But after … I’m curious as to what they’re up to.” Hopefully
manly shenanigans
didn’t mean
joy house
.

Vix nodded. “Yes, we should go.”

In a flurry of laughter, the four of them piled into the parlor.

Steven sat in the tall, ornate wooden chair, frozen. He was surrounded by men in suits and top hats, most of them somehow related to Noli. Jeff sat next to him, in an equally tall chair. They had drinks in their hands. On the table in front of them was a woman performing acrobatics while only wearing a corset and bloomers.

Well, he thought they were acrobatics.

In the background, other women swung on swings, or plied men with drinks and then danced with them. All around them, men drank, gambled, and smoked cigars, filling the room with a smoky halo.

“V isn’t watching the show,” James tattled. “Drink, drink, drink.”

With a sigh, Steven took a drink of his whiskey. It seemed as if they’d been here forever. Somehow this entire night had turned into some sort of drinking game. Jeff called it a “stag party.” Was it called such because the man of honor felt like a hunted deer?

Certainly the theme seemed to be
let’s embarrass Steven.

Could they leave already?

“Jeff, Jeff.” A very large dark man in an ill-fitting suit came over to the table, a ruffian in an eye-patch and equally ill-fitting suit with him. They looked vaguely familiar.

“Asa, Thad.” Jeff looked over and grinned. “You’re here!” He drained his glass and stood.

“The Captain told us. Would’ve been here sooner, but we didn’t realize there was a dress code,” the one in the eye patch said. “Also, Asa had a little trouble getting in.”

Ah, this would be Jeff’s crew.

“Oh, is this one Noli’s?” The dark one eyed him. “I’m Asa. You’re Steven, I presume?”

Steven nodded, unsure if things had just gotten better or worse. “Yes, I am.”

The other one, the one with the eye patch, stood there gaping at the woman on the table as she put her feet over her head.

“Oh, friends of yours, Jeff? I think we need more liquor,” Mr. Braddock cheered. He was a bit tipsy … so were Noli’s grandfathers, for that matter.

Asa scooted closer to them. “The Captain, Noli, Hittie, and Hattie tried to come rescue you a short while ago, but they couldn’t get in. I’ve never seen the Captain in a dress before. Hittie and Hattie either.” He laughed.

“Noli was here?” Steven wasn’t sure if he should be pleased or scandalized.

“Noli shouldn’t be here, not with Father, Grandpa,
and
Grandfather present.” Jeff shook his head. “Actually, none of them should be here, since my father and grandfathers wouldn’t understand, though normally I’d find it quite amusing.”

“We should have gone to Mathias’ Place.” James shook his head. “Wait, did you say Hattie was here?”

“Yes, she and Hittie came for the festivities. Said they wouldn’t miss it.” Thad’s eye remained riveted on the girl on the table.

“I’ll make sure they’re invited to the ceremony,” Jeff replied. “I think I might even be able to ensure you’re seated next to each other at supper.”

His father returned with more drinks and passed them out. Noli’s grandfather gave everyone cigars.

Jeff clapped him on the shoulder. “You’re doing fine, Darrow. We might just make a man of you yet.”

Steven tried not to sigh as he glanced at the girl on the table. “Could we try something else? Gambling perhaps? Though James is lousy at cards.”

Anything to get away from … this.

“Am not.” James scowled.