The Study and Application of Magic in Society

Chapter 1

Cornelius Livingston relaxed into the comfortable leather chair at the gentleman's club of which his friend James Barnes was a member. He smiled briefly at the server offering him brandy, then refocused.

"Horatio is coming over--well, actually, he's already arrived--to retrieve both me and our sister Ianthe.  My stepmother wants us home so that Ianthe can have someone else to dance with at her debut, and Father wants me to give a full report of the contacts I've made while here in Britain." He chuckled. "And Theo wants me back so he can shove off some of his responsibilities on me."

"How is the estimable Theophilus, now that he's settled into marriage and working so closely with Mr Livingston?" James asked cheerfully. "It seems a long time since I last saw him at his wedding."

"Two years now. Time does fly. You can call him Theo, you know, Buck, we've all been friends for so long."

"Yes, but I like the full name. Suitably imposing for a burgeoning captain of industry," Bucky said playfully. "Besides, you won't let me use a short name for you, Corny, Theophilus can't get special treatment or he'll get a big head." Cornelius looked to the ornate ceiling for strength.

"Who wants to be called Corny? Theo is doing well. Father is very pleased with the work he's doing at the company as well as his ideas. His wife is finally expecting. I know he has concerns about it since our mother died in childbirth, but it's not as if there are alternatives. Father wants the next generation secure, and Theo wants to be a father. He feels like he won't be secure as the next company president unless he has a family to show off and support him."

"I don't see the attraction, myself, it's so many years until you can hold even a rudimentary conversation with a child," James shrugged. "But my parents are more focused on Rosamond since she got married. Once she produces a child, Mother will be turning her gimlet eye to Rebecca and me. I must enjoy my freedom while I have it." He paused. "Wait. Ianthe's here in London? When did she get here?"

"Almost two years ago," Cornelius said sternly. "I told you. I'm almost positive. She came over to London with Theo and Laura when they went to Paris for their honeymoon. But she's been absolutely head down at the Royal Academy of Needlework since she got here. The family only receives a letter a month, month and a half. Here." He passed a handkerchief of fine cotton to his friend.

"My word," Bucky said, startled. "I thought she was good already, but this is far better than the new machines can produce. Look, she used your handwriting, corrected, for the monogram."

"Considerably corrected," Cornelius admitted. "I don't know why I can't write better, my father got me a tutor to improve before I went to Harvard but it didn't take. Her skill is apparently impressive even for her instructors. But she's taken all the lessons there that she can and our parents won't let her teach, so it's time for her to come home. I wish that embroidered waistcoats were in fashion." He carefully folded his handkerchief and put it away. "Anthea and Eleni were debutantes last year, Anthea holding back a year so that she could debut with Eleni, and they all want to have Ianthe out with them. Fun, they think, but I worry that they risk confusing the herd of potential husbands. They're all so different, and Father encourages them to be picky. And Ianthe is the prettiest of my sisters; I worry that Anthea and Eleni will be overlooked. They're all wonderful and deserve their own time to shine."

"They have to be picky," Bucky pointed out. "They're dependent upon their husbands for everything, and you know as well as I that many fellows present only their best sides to society, at least until they find success pressing their suits. Not every young woman has brothers she can rely on to help her discern among the eligible. I feel very lucky that Rosa made such a good choice." Cornelius nodded. "And there certainly is competition on the marriage market; everybody wants the best that they can attract, maybe move up in terms of social status or money."