30 Days of Fiction, Day 1. Write a scene saying “hello”.

A day late, but not a dollar short! I'm going to post the scene here as part of the post, plese feel free to comment or even better, post your own scene!

 

Julius ducked behind the stately pillar supporting the ceiling, hoping the column and the general crush of the people in the room would be enough to hide him. He counted to three and then just peeked his meticulously groomed and mutton chopped head around the column to see if he’d been noticed.

The two noble women, not ten feet away, were too engrossed in the heir own conversation to notice him. He took the moment to stair most rudely.

Decked in her usual hunter greens, Lady Silvers talked animatedly to her constant traveling companion, Lady Crossly. Julius encountered both of them last summer on a hunting expedition in the savanna hunting Bull-Lions. No one managed to bring down a kill, except the aggressive Lady Silvers. Honestly, the woman was like a man in drag. If not for her feminine figure and face, and her well kept auburn hair, she might run the danger of being called a man. She, however, was not the target of his steadfast eye.

Lady Crossly, with her golden honey hair, cream complexion, and good taste in apparel drew him like a butterfly to a flower. Still, past experience told him her tong was as sharp and wicked as her companions. Her moods ran hot and cold and he had more than once been the brunt of her anger. Still, in his mind, she stood out like a diamond in coal.

“What are you doing, Jules?” The man’s voice made him jump almost a foot.

“Sol, you sneaky bastard, don’t do that.” Julius managed to whisper. Sol merely gave him a quizzical look and then peek himself to see what had caught Julius’ attention.

“The blond or the brunette?”

Julius coughed a laughed of distained.

“Lady Silvers is practically a man,” Julius began but Sol cut him off.

“The blond then, Lady Crossly, I believe?” Julius snapped his mouth shut.  “So you’re stalking two ladies of high birth, well one specifically.” Sol raised his eyebrows. “Why not go say hello like a proper gentleman?”

“Have you ever dealt with either lady?” Julius said, his face turning just a light shade of pink. “Like talking to tigers.”

“But what they must think of you, stalking after them like a predator?” Sol stepped in closer to Julius who instinctively stepped back. He took another step, herding Julius. Julius realized his mistake much too late. With a final backwards stumble he was out in the open and nearly beside the two ladies in question.

They both turned to look at him, brilliant green and blue eyes staring challengingly at him. A moment of panic seized him and he swept his fingers down his massive mustache.

“Can we help you?” Lady Silvers asked obviously hoping his answer would be ‘no’.

“Pardon us, ladies,” Sol said, shifting attention to himself. “My friend couldn’t help but notice you from across the room and he felt compelled to introduce himself.”

Julius shot the fair man a look of pure murder, but pulled himself to his full height and stuck out his chest.

“Lord Julius Attwell Lyster Yarr of Tinningham,” Julius said in his most lordly voice. “At your service.” He gave a dignified bow. Lady Silvers looked amused and Lady Crossly looked irritated. Not an overly good sign, he thought.

“Don’t we know you from the Bull-Lion hunt last summer?” Lady Silvers asked, barely containing her sly smile.

“Indeed, I was part of your expedition, a fine shot my Lady.”

“Thank you, well then you know Lady Winifred Letitia Crossly of Newcoms?” Lady Crossly gestured to her companion.

“Indeed,” Julius said. “A hard woman to forget.” Lady Crossly fixed him with blazing blue eyes as recognition fully hit her.

“Lord Yarr, whatever have you grown on your face?” She asked referring to his well kept mustache and mutton chops. “You look like you’ve begun to sprout fur. Have you been bitten by the Lupines?”

Sol and Julius looked stunned for moment.

“Don’t mind her,” Lady Silvers said practically laughing. “It’s just her way of saying ‘Hello’.”

 

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