Lost In Thought

Buzz Buzz

LizBeth:

Ah, just what I needed. "Oh, smell that air. Grass and lemonade. And a little bit of mint. Just a hint, nice and fresh. 1926."

Shiny frowned at me, the green streak in my hair vibrant. "You can tell what year it is just by smelling?" I agreed. "Or maybe that big vintage car coming up the drive gave it away."

I frowned at the open topped thing coming up the drive, before we hid in the shrubs, listening before I beamed. 20's Garden Party? Definitely. "Never mind planet Zog." Donna smiled, linking arms with me. "A party in the 1920's, that's more like it."

"The trouble is, we haven't been invited." My brother admitted, before giving a sly grin, psychic paper in hand. Why use that when you had an actual psychic? "Oh, I forgot. Yes, we have."

Leaving Donna and I to get changed, which I got frustrated with and tried to go more androgynous even though I was expected to wear flapper dresses. The beads just got in the way. Though the Doctor just got impatient. "We'll be late for cocktails."

Shiny went out first as I did my laces, before I followed. "Blimey, you look great. Liz, isn't that from?"

"Lilly-B... eth? Yep, but I d... didn't like annnnything else. Ready?"

"Oh, yeah."

Then lead us both with linked arms, servants running around to give orders as we got addressed. "Drinks, sir? Ma'ams?"

"Sidecar, please."

"A lime and soda, thank you."

Uh, alcohol plus telepathy. "Water, thanks."

Some other random was by the door to the house. "May I announce Lady Clemency Eddison."

Time for some... Suggestion. Please, for the love of the universe, do not stutter... "Lady Eddison."

"Forgive me, but who exactly might you be, and what are you doing here?"

With minimal effort, I opened her mind to my thoughts. "I'm Professor Eliz...zabeth Caine, Oxford University, this is my brother, the Doctor. And this is Miss Donna Noble of the Chiswick Nobles."

Who put on the stupid posh accent and curtsied of her own volition. "Good afternoon, my Lady. Topping day, what? Top whole."

"No, no, no, no, no." The Doctor told her softly. "No, don't do that."

I kept going with adding our invitation memory. "We were thrilled to receive your invitation, my Lady.  We met at the Ambassadors Reception at the Bodleian Library."

"Professor Caine, how could I forget you?" Easily, we met two minutes ago. "But one must be sure with the Unicorn on the loose."

Okay. "A unicorn? Brilliant. Where?"

Lady Eddison seemed bemused by me. "The Unicorn. The jewel thief? Nobody knows who he is." Or she. Ladies made excellent thieves, just look at Catwoman. "He's just struck again. Snatched Lady Babbington's pearls from right under her nose."

Shiny lowered her voice. "Funny place to wear pearls."

"May I announce Colonel Hugh Curbishly, the Honourable Roger Curbishly."

Roger, as straight as Swindon's Magic Roundabout, was pushing Hugh's unneeded wheelchair across the lawn. "My husband, and my son."

"Forgive me for not rising. Never been the same since that flu epidemic back in '18." You got a cold and blamed the flu, dude.

Shiny caught Rodger's gaze. "My word, you are a super lady."

She hadn't seen quite how gay he was. "Oh, I like the cut of your jib. Chin, chin."