Meeting The House Guests

JP with Lorem and Cindy

Paris, France
Lady Elizabeth's Home
Late Afternoon

Harvey, having seen the crash, greeted the four coming back into the house upon arrival. After asking about their welfare, and being told everyone was fine, Elizabeth mentioned that she and Lorem would be in the withdrawing room. The withdrawing room was smaller than the parlor and the place in an upper-class home where ladies would take their guests after a meal, while the men do their own socializing.

While this room was not full of trinkets it did have a display of hand-painted porcelain birds from various parts of the world.

The withdrawing room had large windows with gold valance, that let a good amount of light in. The room including the furniture had a flowered motif to it. It was upper-class but meant to be more of a comfortable setting.

"Would you like to get cleaned up?" Elizabeth asked Lorem.

Lorem was strolling politely around the room. Her tiny feet were not making a sound as she took in the decor and ornamentation. It felt like she was in a room out of one of the fantasy novels she had read. She hadn’t yet took a seat, in her current state she was apprehensive to mess up anything by sitting on it with a smudged dress. She was content to stand though.

She referred to her attire, “Truly this is still considered cleaned up for me. I am typically covered in all sorts of oils, metal shaving and more. Unless you think I will mess up your nice house, then I am fine as I am.”

Her mind wandered briefly to her father. She was pretty certain that he was enjoying a cigar at the moment. Her mother wouldn’t let him smoke such things in the house, thinking it a nasty and expensive habit.

Lorem returned her attention back to Elizabeth. She was certain that the real reason for her being there was going to surface in this room.

"Of course not." Elizabeth politely replied, to Lorem's comment about messing up the house. "Please, feel free to sit, if you would like. Would you like something to drink? I can offer you both spirited and non-spirted libations." Not everyone drank alcohol, so chooses for both were commonly offered, especially for the women. "I had the pleasure when I saw the Barnum and Bailey’s show to be served lemonade. A treat from across the pond. Have you had a chance to try lemonade?" For herself Elizabeth did request some lemonade and whatever Lorem wanted, from the staff. While they were waiting on their drinks Elizabeth commented. "I suspect that you realize this is not excately a social invitation."

Lorem carefully took a seat and nodded at the drink offer. They didn’t partake of any lemonade while at the Circus, because by that time on their evening they had used up all the money they had brought with them and settled for the free peanuts that were offered to everyone that bought a ticket.

“No, I have never tried this lemon aid. That would be delightful, thank you.” She replied with a hint of curious enthusiasm for the drink.

“It was the first thing to cross my mind honestly. It is also unclear to me why it is me sitting in this chair, while I am sure that there are others older and wiser?” It didn’t help her words that her feet couldn’t touch the ground, she was wearing the youth sized work clothes of a child, and appeared a bit unkempt at the moment from the crash.

The lemonade was served in a relatively speedy fashion but once the servants were gone again, Elizabeth responded to Lorem's query.

"You are sitting here because you came highly recommended to my father, the Duke. He very much wants you to join the team and after meeting you I must concur with that decision." Elizabeth sipped her lemonade. "But perhaps I should back up. My father is the leader of an order or organization, if you will. This order is under the jurisdiction of her majesty, Queen Victoria and with the blessings of all the crowns of Europe. I have been tasked with putting together and running a team for this organization. What we do excately is classified but it is for the good of all of Europe." Elizabeth took another sip of the refreshing lemony drink, "You would have access to anything you need. Including the technology labs at the headquarters in any city we go that has one. I cannot tell you when your innovations will be made public but when they do you get full credit for your contributions. Also, whatever your salary I have been told to double it. I cannot tell you much more than that unless you decide to accept the offer, but you are free to ask questions, I will answer what I can."

Lorem savored the sweet goodness called lemonade. It was refreshing and instantly rose to the top of the charts in her book of beverages. Her smaller system could feel the effects of the sugar boosting her energy.

She blinked, pausing with the unexpected magnitude of the offer from Elizabeth. She had thought at best they would be offering her a job similar to what she had now, consulting or request freelance work. This was on a whole other level. The generous benefits alone shocked her. To think her grandparents were slaves, her parents legal apprentices, and she was now free to have the opportunity to actually accept.

Her mind was spinning with a multitude of variables as she thought things through.

“This was more than I expected.” She said honestly. “I do have a few questions. For starters, I am currently in a legally binding contract with Wuppertal Company to render onto them services for the patronage they have provided me and my family. Would this service free me from those obligations? Can the doubled portion of my salary automatically go towards my parents? Would I be stationed somewhere in Europe or mobile? And am I allowed to continue working on my own innovations that may not pertain to whatever this order needs me to do?”

Elizabeth listened to the questions, which were reasonable and ones she could answer. "This service would free you from any contacts you currently have. I can take care of that if necessary. You are free to do with your salary as you choose, so, yes arrangements can be made to have that portion sent to your parents. You would be mobile, as the team goes where the job dictates. Currently, my home is our base of operations and where the team members will stay while we are in Paris. The same will be true for those places which my family has a residence. You may continue to work on your own innovatives but the needs of the team must come first." Elizabeth then waited to see if there were any additional questions.

Lorem processed her answers and was grateful that Lady Elizabeth was providing helpful responses. She got the impression that this esteemed group, that acted in the realm of classified obscurity, had something to do with covert intelligence or national security. It compelled her to ask, “Will I be put in harms way?” She wasn’t sure if that was an appropriate question, but it felt right to inquire about. “And how soon would I need to relocate to this present base of operations?”

Elizabeth answered the last question first. "If you choose to accept, you would need to be back here at 7:00 tonight ready to take your new position. I know that's not much time but our first job starts tomorrow and it's of pressing concern." As for being put in harms way. "Everything will be done to ensure your safety. The team that I am assembling consists of a number of people who have skills designed for dangerous tasks. They will be the ones sent into those scenarios the most." Elizabeth paused. "To more briefly answer your question, I can not guarantee that you will never be put in danger but the team will help protect you. We work together in those situations."

Lorem understood and smiled softly as she took another drink of her lemonade. Once again she was playing out the possibilities in her head. It led her to one final question that she wanted to know the answer to.

“Will the work that the team does, and that I contribute to this cause, benefit mankind and help make the world a better place as it progresses towards the future?”

Elizabeth sipped more of her own drink, then smiled at the question. Not only was it easy to answer but something Elizabeth was quite proud of. "Yes. It and you, and really all members of team, benefit mankind and the future."

Lorem could read the sincerity and sense of purpose in Elizabeth’s expression and tone. It was the last bit of information she required to solidify her decision. Even though it was bittersweet that she would have to leave her family, it felt like this opportunity was a chance to do something very meaningful to help others and usher in a brighter future.

“After deliberating over your offer Lady Elizabeth, I would humbly like to accept the position.”

Elizabeth nodded with a smile, "Very well. Welcome to the team." The Eldren rose from her seat and went to a desk, that was almost not noticeable in the corner. She pulled out a drawer and a ring box. "What I am about to tell you can't leave this room. The name of the Order, is the Order of the Moon." She opened the box. Inside was a ring, like ones that were worn by both Elizabeth and Sung, sized perfectly for Lorem. "That ring must be worn at all times by the members of the order. I would ask you put it on now. You have until 7 to spend time with your father and get anything you need to in order. And one more thing," going back to the desk, this time the Eldren pulled out a sealed letter. On the outside was the seal of the Crowns of England and Germany. She handed the letter to Lorem. "This will get you out of your current contract with Wuppertal Company."

Elizabeth remained standing, "I do look forward to working with you. If you have no more questions, I'll have one of the servants let your father and Mr. Sung know that we are finished."

Lorem admired the craftsmanship of the ring before placing it on the ring finger of her left hand. She was now apart of something immensely bigger than anything she had ever imagined. She simultaneously felt ninety-percent excited and ten percent scared. Or perhaps it was the other way around. Regardless, she was most curious about the new future possibilities.

Lorem thanked Elizabeth properly. When she was reunited with her father, the two gnomes thanked the household for their hospitality and returned back to the Wuppertal Hangar via the Dampfewagen. On the ride back Lorem explained everything she could to her dada; making sure to not say anything she wasn’t supposed to. He assured her that he knew in advance that she would except the position and supported her decision. His confidence in her significantly helped put her mind at ease that she was making the right decision.

She would spend the evening, with her father’s help, doing the following: Delivering the letter to the Captain to release her to Elizabeth’s charge, packing for the permanent relocation for her personal and industrial belongings, and spending any remaining quality time with her father. She promptly returned by the 7 pm deadline in the Dampfewagen, with a trailer being pulled behind it with other gizmos and gadget, books, and luggage. While it seemed like a lot, it was all gnome sized; hence it took up considerable less space due to its diminutive size.