Evelyn always had mixed emotions about Gala events. She enjoyed seeing the museum filled with people, and seeing the artwork appreciated while the museum worked to cause some good for charity. She loved seeing the outfits and people watching, but she secretly hated dealing with the actual people. Or, not so secretively. Most of the staff knew she struggled with customer service, but they were running out of excuses to keep her away from the patrons. On nights like tonight, it was all hands on deck, so Evelyn was stuck sporting her museum name tag and moving through the museum to deal with things like refreshing the buffet table and helping the event organizers get what they needed. Overall, it was going pretty well.

Or, it had been. Then she saw a familiar figure coming through the doors and her echoes started flagging out confusing information.

There was really no good response when your boyfriend entered a room with another woman on his arm. It took all of Evelyn's control to keep her face calm as the simmering feeling of jealousy welled in her gut. The jealousy mingled with the confusion drifting through her heart, and the misleading information darting through the echoes in her head.

Gawain hadn't seen her, thankfully, and she moved off to one side trying to collect herself. Whispers started through the crowd though, glances shooting towards mirror and the woman he was with, and she tried to filter the woman's face through her memories. She must have seen her somewhere, the echoes weren't noting her the way they did new people, but identifying where...

[Katherine Elizabeth Stanley Finch-Hatton, 18th Countess of Winchilsea and 13th Countess of Nottingham, girlfriend of Alfred Grimaldi. Well, if that wasn't a snapshot from some magazine rack or another... The museum staff had those laying around all the time though so it wasn't surprising there was at least one article on hand. Still didn't make sense though. Why would Mirror show up at a party another woman?

Why would he show up at a party his own girlfriend was working with someone else's girlfriend...?

They were defiantly close, the echoes caught that, but her own emotions were mingling with the readings. What could just be friendly teasing could also be flirting. Were they flirting? They were laughing a lot, and she was holding his hand. Why was she holding his hand....?

The jealousy coiled and she grabbed one of the plates of food, determined to have something to do. It wasn't entirely empty yet, but it was better than watching Gawain and the 'Countess' or whoever she really was. She couldn't resist glancing back though as she held the tray. Ever her poker face wasn't enough to mask the jealous and confused look that lingered on her features.

>>“However I think it will be my job tonight to be Albert. He is the one that always makes me laugh by making funny comments about the people around us. Like that is Lady Gray. She’s English like me and moved to the city when she got divorced. She has a puppy named Fredrick, whom she treats like a son. More so then she does her only son.”

"Now I just feel like I'm in a Jane Austin novel" Gawain tried to hide his grin in his champagne, with not much luck "Next you'll tell me another lady is planning to marry her daughter off to that rich old guy over there. And I'm the one named after a knight here." he chuckled. Kate was obviously having fun with all this.

He felt like someone was watching him again, and glanced around. Damn rumor-mongers.

>>>>>>Now I just feel like I'm in a Jane Austin novel. Next you'll tell me another lady is planning to marry her daughter off to that rich old guy over there. And I'm the one named after a knight here.

Kate tried with all her might to hold in the giggles that Gawain was forcing her to have. However, she wasn’t doing a very good job of it, “Society really hasn’t’ changed much since then. If we were in England at a party in London you would be right. There would be people all around that want their children to marry up. Which is funny since titles don’t really mean anything anymore politically. We were stripped of a good portion of our power.”

She took another sip of drink and squeezed Gawain’s hand, “You are the only knight that matters.” She followed his gaze and looked about the room at the stares and whispers. She couldn’t help but giggle and look back at Gawain with fire in her eyes and a smirk on her face, “I almost feel like we should give them a show.”

Someone was watching them, and after looping to the back to fill the half-full tray with more sandwiches, she got another look at the 'couple', finding it hard to give them the benefit of the doubt. The way she was looking at him and giggling and holding his hand... her knuckles were white on the tray...

"Miss, are you going to..." One of the patrons ventured, and then followed her gaze. "I thought she was dating a prince or something..."

"Yeah, well, I thought he was dating someone too." She grumbled, glaring at the figure of Gawain then turning back to put the tray on the table.

She may have accidentally knocked over a vase of flowers in the process. Grumbling, she knelt and started picking up the pieces of glass, wondering if the knight could get worse.

High society was weird. Gawain liked the idea better when it involved people hitting each other with swords.

>>“You are the only knight that matters. I almost feel like we should give them a show.”

"I think they are already getting en..."

CRASH.

Gawain, just like pretty much everyone else in the room, turned to look at the source of the sound. What used to be a vase and an expensive bouquet of flowers was spread allover the marble floor, with a very familiar figure crouching over the mess.

Oh crap.

"Evelyn?" Gawain let go of Kate's hand to go and kneel next to Eve, his hands automatically going to pick up the bigger shards of glass before he changed his mind and held her hand instead.

"Leave it, this needs a broom, unless you want to cut your hand." he said, still dazed by the fact that his girlfriend did indeed show up at an event at her workplace.

Duh, Sir Knight.

Kate’s head shot in the direction of the noise. Evelyn? She felt Gawain pull away with curiosity. Was this the girlfriend he was talking about earlier? She followed her friend across the room and stood behind him as he helped the girl. She looked around for one of the cater waiters and directed them to call someone and get a broom. This needed to get cleaned up in order for the party to continue and standing around gawking at it was going to do no good.

She moved to kneel next to the two making sure to not get her dress wet. She smiled kindly at Evelyn worried for the girls wellbeing and pride. “Are you alright?” As if on queue someone arrived with a mop to clean up the mess. “Why don’t we stand up and move out of the way.” She thanked the janitor as she stood taking a few steps away from the mess and waiting for Gawain and the girl to join her.

The last voice Evelyn wanted to hear at that moment was Gawain, but of course, he would be the one to walk over. She refused to look up, carelessly snatching the shards into her hand in a robotic effort to keep her temper in check. She could feel the edges pricking her skin, but her emotions were all over the place, the echoes chaotically buzzing in her head.

[Broken vase. $40. High heel shoes, designer collection, Kate Spade. $300. Men's leather shoes--Voice, Gawain.] She was tempted to take another glance at the designer shoes. But the echoes were distracted by the hand he held to stop her from grabbing more glass.

>>"Leave it, this needs a broom, unless you want to cut your hand."

"I can handle this sir if you'd like to get back to your date." Evelyn hissed quietly. Then the echoes heard the voice and footsteps, identifying Kate as she came over.

>>"Are you alright?"

She clenched her hand slightly, glass digging into her skin. She exhaled though her nose and tried to compose herself. She'd done hundred of dinner parties, dealt with fights and arguments with her parents. Why should this be any different?

Unfortunately, she was learning, she was somewhat reckless when she was jealous. "I'm fine, I didn't mean to interrupt everyone's party." She was forced to look at Kate and that just sucked on several different levels. As jealous as she was she could see Kate was trying to be nice. She let herself stand out of the way. She was still holding a fist-full of glass, dumbly refusing to let it go. She felt like releasing her hand could make her say something irritated and angry she would regret.

>>"I can handle this sir if you'd like to get back to your date."

Gawain winced as if he had been slapped, the whole thing just made worse by the fact that they were still being observed. At least they did not let the press inside...

Also, Evelyn was jealous. Gawain didn't need echoes to tell him that.

Kate came over and took matters into her hands like the capable young lady she was. Someone showed up to mop up the mess. The three of them stood.

>>"I'm fine, I didn't mean to interrupt everyone's party."

"It's okay" Gawain said, prying the glass gently out of her hands and dumping it into the trash can someone brought over. He made sure she didn't cut herself before he let go.

"Kate, this is my girlfriend Evelyn. Eve, this is my friend Kate. She used to live in the Mansion. Her boyfriend is out of town so she asked me to escort her tonight."

There. Explained.

Kate’s eyes narrowed as she listened to Gawain’s explination of what he was doing it. It was obvious to her that he hadn’t even thought to tell his girlfriend that he was bringing another girl to a gala charity event. It was almost ridiculous to think that he wouldn’t’ do such a thing. The first thing she had done after he had offered was call Alfred and ask him if he was okay with it. He had made a joke about his mother not liking it and gave her his blessing. You would think that Gawain would have done the same.

Kate turned to look into the crowed and raised her hand as soon as she saw who she was looking for, “Madam Curator?”

The woman in question seemed startled at the idea that Kate was going to ask her for something as she rushed over, “Yes Countess?”

“Oh please do call me Katherine.” Kate’s face both showed her kindness and her genuine concern as she spoke to the older woman, “If you wouldn’t mind could we use your office? Evelyn has hurt her hand and I am sure she would love some privacy after such a moment.”

She was taken a back by the question and looked over to Evelyn and then back to Kate, “Oh! Of course you can. Follow me.”

The woman led the way through the halls to a large wood door that led into a rather nice and comfortable office. She moved to her desk and pulled out the first aid kit. However before she had a chance to do anything further Kate spoke up, “Thank you. We can take it from here. I know you need to get back to the gala after all.”

The woman paused unsure of what to do before sheepishly agreeing and ushering herself out of the room.

Kate’s smile faded as she closed the door and looked to Gawain, “You really are never going to learn how to have a real adult relationship are you? The first thing I did after you offered to take me was call Albert and see if he was alright with it. You should know by now that my picture has a way of ending up in papers and magazines whether I like it or not. And then there is the fact that you are you.” Kate moved across the room to stand in front of the first aid kit before looking to Evelyn with kindness and sympathy. “May I please see your hand? I know I am probably not the person you want helping you but I want to try.” Kate offered her own hand in hopes that Evelyn would let her help. She felt so bad about this whole thing and wanted to do her best to make it up to the blonde.

Evelyn was still biting her tongue and trying to keep her head, but listening to Gawain's explanation made it difficult to do that. The glass was out of her hand but she still felt like bits of it were jabbing inside her stomach. It wasn't that he took up Kate's offer to escort her, it was that he hadn't even thought to tell Evelyn about the whole thing. She opened her mouth to talk, then shut it again. She wasn't sure she trusted her temper at the moment.

Kate gave her the moment she needed to collect herself though as she asked the curator if they could go to the back. Evelyn was pretty sure she was going to be in a bit of trouble for making such a mess, but she would just have to deal with that when it came around. In the back, Kate's body language changed though, and Evelyn was almost pleased at her remark towards Gawain.

Served him right. She held out her hand reluctantly to Kate. Somehow jealousy and glass always seemed to fall together... "I don't care that you came with someone, but you could have at least warned me..." She added with a deep breathe. She didn't even know what to say. Her boyfriend showed up to the Gala with someone else. It was like having your boyfriend bring a date to your own party. She bit her tongue again. She wasn't as collected as Kate seemed to be.

"It's fine..." She added as Kate helped with her hand. She'd rather the stranger deal with it than Gawain right then.

>>“You really are never going to learn how to have a real adult relationship are you? The first thing I did after you offered to take me was call Albert and see if he was alright with it. You should know by now that my picture has a way of ending up in papers and magazines whether I like it or not. And then there is the fact that you are you.”

So apparently Kate ushered them into an office and away from prying eyes just to take the whole out of Gawain's hide. At least they were not in public anymore. Although him disappearing into a room with two women was not exactly good publicity either.
The young knight seemed to shrink under the fury of the two women,

>>"I don't care that you came with someone, but you could have at least warned me..."

"I'm sorry" was really all he could say to all of this. Because you really had no excuse for not thinking. "I should have told you..."

Kate pulled out some alcohol and swabs to clean the wound on Evelyn’s hands. Choosing to let the couple talk as she got to work on wrapping it and making sure that there was no major damage. Kate’s powers had kind of forced her to learn this. She had burned enough people to know basic first aid which came in handy more often then she would like to admit.

Once she had wrapped the wound she released Evelyn’s hand and moved to sit at the couch in the room. She had an opinion about the situation but this was not her time to speak. Not yet anyway.

Evelyn watch Gawain carefully, the echoes studying his body language. It was easy to tell how sorry someone was, and lies were equally easy to spot. He apologized, which was a start. She was still somewhat irritated, but it wasn't like she was perfect herself. Their last fight about Forte reminded her of that. It was hard to just let it go like it was nothing though.

>>"I should have told you..."

"Yeah, you should have. If you found me here with someone else, you probably would be upset too." She reeling in her echoes and her words at the same time. There were several directions the argument could take, and she really didn't want to get into any of them at the moment. "Just, go ahead and enjoy the night. Not much that can be done about it now..." Kate finished bandaging her hand and Evelyn crossed her arms, glancing away. "I should get back to work." She finished. Her job here at the museum meant too much to let this put it in jeopardy.

>>"Yeah, you should have. If you found me here with someone else, you probably would be upset too."

"You are right. I would be." Gawain admitted, watching Kate take care of the cuts. Kate decided to not join in the conversation, which was probably best for everyone. The last thing you needed was to piss off the fire elemental in the room.

>>"Just, go ahead and enjoy the night. Not much that can be done about it now... I should get back to work."

"No, that's obviously not happening" Gawain folded his arms "For one, you are hurt, you shouldn't be working. On top of that, everyone here's on camera, possibly literally. And I want to walk away from here not having all three of us all over every tabloid. So."

Gawain turned to Kate with all the authority of the man in charge in the room.

"Kate. What do we do?"

>>>>>Kate. What do we do?

Kate looked up at Gawain with surprise. She had stayed because it as the thing that needed to be done in this situation. She couldn’t risk leaving Gawain in this room and returning to the party alone. She however hadn’t really thought about what to do next.

She looked to Evelyn with concern in her eyes. She didn’t want to offend the girl and upset her more but the best course of action was probably going to do just that. Over the years Kate had to learn that what is right for public opinion and appearances wasn’t always what felt right.

She took a deep breath, “Well the best course would be for you and me to return to the party together. With Evelyn in tow of course.” She stood and moved stand by the other girl, “I’m sorry I know that isn’t’ what you want but it is the only thing that isn’t’ going to end in whispered scandal. If I return on Gawain’s arm just as I left it looks like the two of us took it upon ourselves to help a girl who cut her hand. It doesn’t look like what it is.” She turned to look between both of them, “Unfortunately the best PR move isnt’ always the nicest for everyone in question.”

Kate waited for them to react hoping that they would agree with her. She had a lot to lose in all of this and it wasn’t something she was willing to give up.