Written for: beautifulside in the Yuletide 2008 Challenge


Thanks to clevertoad for the beta, cuthalion for the encouragement, and lothithil and izhilza for the canon check!


*** 1

( The first time that Charles Parker ever saw Lord Peter Wimsey, he admitted much later, he thought the man was an idiot. )

Written for: Mary Crawford in the Yuletide 2008 Challenge

( The ship had docked nearly half an hour before and the terminal was overflowing with reunions. )

Written for: mayhap in the Yuletide 2008 Challenge





She'd seen him at Oxford, of course, and even had spoken to him once, but he'd seemed like such an idiot compared to his uncle that she hadn't pursued the acquaintance. A Viscount could afford to scant the work, a future writer needed to do things right. But stuck here in the Underground, waiting for the air raid to be over, he seemed much different. It wasn't just the uniform, Hilary decided, when the all clear finally sounded and he invited her to join him for some coffee. He'd grown up somwhere along the way.

But the uniform didn't hurt.

Ever wonder why the BBC blew "Gaudy Night" so badly? Well, now we know.

Wilbraham Estate Disposals Committee

By the time my twenty-first birthday rolled around he was married, to Harriet Vane of all people, and I didn't know whether to be jealous or awed when he asked if he might bring her along too. I laughed at myself for wanting to say no, and said yes, and I'm glad. He's as nice as ever he was, but with her he's something more, the way Dad was when Mum was in the room. A wealthy spinsterhood is fine and well, but someday I'd like to find someone whose hand fits into mine the way his fits into hers.