Veranda Incognita, Home of the Waverlys

[Craines]

Gabrielle woke into a most irate mood. Her cocktail dress was disorderly, her head throbbed, and her husbands were draped around the bedroom. Scowling, she stripped the silk dress from herself and incinerated it. She placed on a simple traveling suit, some canvas-coloured pants and a navy blue sash covering her torso. Her midriff was still visible, and the sash was by no means conservative in its presentation, but that suited Gabrielle fine. If she met a male along the way, she didn't want to be without the choice of seduction.

Eve greeted Gabrielle as she left the bedroom. *Hello, Mistress. You intend to visit the deLuna Memorial?*

"Yes Eve. I must contact Fi. She's... well. She's waiting. For something. I don't think she'll ever find it, poor woman, but still. I must see if I can assist her."

*Your will is my command, Mistress. I shall accompany you. Whatever you encounter at the garden may not be transmittable to the Omnioculus. It would, therefore, only be in our best interests to have me venture forth with you. And should you meet someone you cannot deal with, I'll be sure to have them... incapacitated before you can be harmed.*

"Hmm. Very well, Eve. Follow me closely." She traced her fingers through her hair. Gabrielle's hair was raven black, and it flowed freely to her waist, straight and slightly reflective. It was a nervous tick that made her fiddle with her otherwise unorganized hair, and Gabrielle knew it. What was making her feel so defenseless? So skittish?

It was the fact that she had been poisoned. The Omnioculus had warned of the potentially harmful side effects of the Gran Canarian liquids, but Gabrielle hadn't paid any heed. When next she met Mr. Reginald, she'd show him just how much she appreciated the attempt.

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