Wherein Bertie Dines and Is Acquainted with a Young Gentleman of Scottish Origin

[bertiewwooster]

Dinner was a quiet affair for me that evening.  Or at least it was until I met a young fellow by the name of Laurie (short for Lawrence) who proved to be as spiffing a dinner companion as a chap could ask for.  A Scottish bird, you see, with all the pipe-smoking ginger-hairedness one would expect of that breed.  And, let me tell you, the johnnie

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[jr_ganymede]

Jeeves, meanwhile, has been quite sober. He has had plenty of time to contemplate.

He looks up calmly from Leaves of Grass and rises as the door opens. "Good evening, sir. I trust your outing was enjoyable?" Although the lights are turned down, there seems to be a hint of a glimmer in his eye. Just barely.

[bertiewwooster]

I have said it before, and doubtless I shall say it again, but to be greeted calmly by Jeeves as one returns from a night out is one of the simply most bally marvellous things a man can know. Just... reassuring, you understand. I favoured Jeeves with one of the gay and cheerful ones and waved him back into his seat.

'Oh, rather, old thing. I met the most corking chap down there- name of Lawrence MacGreavey; Scotch johnnie, you understand. And what of your own self, Jeeves? You've had a pleasant evening in with your philosophers?'

I must add that while Jeeves is my employee, I do so enjoy knowing that he is happy. It seems dashed soppy when I put it into print, but it makes me happy to know that he's happy, if you follow me. I know it makes me sound like that gawd-help-us Madeline Bassett, but I suppose that's what this sort of thing will do to a chap.

[jr_ganymede]

"Most pleasant, sir, thank you." He sets the book down and glides forward to collect Mr. Wooster's dinner jacket. "I have since switched from philosophers to poets, making for a relaxing evening indeed." If Jeeves is standing slightly closer to his employer than ususal, it is hardly enough to be noticed.

[bertiewwooster]

I spared a glance at Jeeves as he divested me of my jacket; something in his tone seemed just the tiniest bit off, but his dial was as stuffed-frog as ever, and his posture as impeccable as a chap could wish for. Like as not it was just my overactive grey cells looking for something where there was naught to be found. After all, my thoughts had been preoccupied with him all afternoon.

'I am glad to hear it, Jeeves,' said I, shifting over to the drinks cabinet and fixing myself a quick b and s.

I looked around with a sigh. 'I do wish ship cabins came with a set of the old ebony and ivory Jeeves, I must say. I can feel the Wooster digits twitching to tinkle off a tune or three.' Besides that, though, a good round at the piano tended to clear the Wooster thoughts in a most satisfactory way. But, alas, such luck was not mine.

[bertiewwooster]

I like to keep to myself, as you know, but when Jeeves leaned in close to inspect the Wooster dial in close-up, I couldn't help but get a schnoz-ful of the chap's scent. Cleaning oil, as you would expect, clean laundry, perhaps a touch of the old eau de cologne. Perhaps it was just me, but he smelled about as bally marvellous as anything my olfactory cells had ever been assaulted with. Something inside me trembled a little, and my mouth fell open for a moment

[jr_ganymede]

"I am most relieved to hear it, sir." Jeeves inclines his head and moves to the bathroom door. "Shall I run a bath for you, sir, and lay out your nightclothes, or do you plan on staying up a bit longer?"

To Jeeves' credit, his exterior reveals nothing of his inner thoughts. A careful focus on attending to Mr. Wooster's current needs is a useful and sensible method of keeping his mind from becoming consumed by these new observations. To get one's hopes up and assume too much could lead to great downfalls. Best to leave it alone and mull over things later. If ever.

[bertiewwooster]

A bath! Now, that sounded about the ticket, I had to say. A good long soak would give me the opportunity to wrack the Wooster grey matter in re. Jeeves's curious behaviour of late.

'That sounds absolutely top hole, Jeeves,' I said, somewhat irritated by the fact that my voice insisted on squeaking when I said the fellow's name. I coughed.

'Hmm. Yes, indeed. Do call me when it's ready, won't you? I'll just biff off and disrobe.'

[jr_ganymede]

"Very good, sir." Jeeves disappears into the now-pristine bathroom, smoothing one of the towels on its rack before turning on the water and ensuring the correct temperature. A bit more lavender is put in than usual, to counteract the harsh and brackish winds that the young master has been exposed to on the ship.

If Bertram does indeed harbour feelings, though, is he even aware of it? Does he know why he is uncomfortable with close proximity, intimacy of any kind with...?

A little lost in thought, now.

[bertiewwooster]

Well, I was blowed if I knew what that meant, but I gave Jeeves a nod as he oiled off to fold my clothes properly

[jr_ganymede]

Jeeves cannot come to a conclusion

[bertiewwooster]

Though my grey matter was still troubled, I enjoyed my bath nonetheless, and it was a contented Bertram who emerged some time later clad in pyjamas and once again wrapped in my dressing gown. Rather than let the sandman work his magic right away, however, I settled down in an armchair with a contemplative cigarette and one of the detective novels of earlier mention.

I could sense, rather than hear Jeeves shimmering about the place behind me, doing whatever it was the chap does in the evenings. A little grin curled about the Wooster mouth. Not to say that everything was oojah-cum-spiff on that count, not in the least, but I had done some thinking and felt a bit more at ease with myself. At any rate, I could now properly steel my backbone and charge ahead. Or hang back, as is more accurate, but either way, I could do it properly now.

[jr_ganymede]

Jeeves does indeed shimmer, and even allows himself a few cursory glances in Bertram's direction from time to time. It's more than he's allowed himself in the last few years. As the night draws to a close, he lets the curtains down and goes briefly to his own room, unneeded for now.

[jr_ganymede]

The first day was spent primarily in ensuring that the state of the lodgings were acceptable. The following few days, however, are spent less in duties and more in socialization.

Do not be misled, though. Jeeves' work remains pristine, and Mr. Wooster's needs are met at every turn. The empty spaces, however, are spent not with a book but with the manservant of the ginger-haired Scotsman. Mr. Redding has turned out to be a very well-informed gentleman of somewhat similar interests to Jeeves. Needless to say they have spent many hours strolling the decks and discussing Greek poetry.

It is for this reason that Mr. Wooster is, at present, alone.

[bertiewwooster]

Over the past few days, I'd spent a great deal of time with Laurie MacGreavey, as one must, after all, have something to do when aboard a ship for a week. He was nothing short of a marvellous chap, let me tell you, though if he'd been a beazel, he would have been a back-slapper in the same way Honoria Glossop was. A bit overzealous at times, you understand. He was, as it turned out, a poet of some talent; not like my American chum, Rocky Todd. (Rocky is, of course, a peerless bird, but he needs to be told that living like a hermit does not a master poet make) Though hardly an intellectual of the Jeevesian calibre, spending time with Laurie was like a breath of fresh air to the man who's spent most of his life in a small side room with poor ventilation

[jr_ganymede]

Jeeves does indeed enter, with a swish and a click of the door. He tips his hat toward Mr. Wooster before removing it and setting it on its intended hook. He looks rather serene despite the pink about the face - the wind has been quite sharp on the decks, raising colour in the cheeks. (Never fear, though. His hair remains perfect.)

"Good afternoon, sir. I hope your luncheon was pleasing?" He starts in smoothly, taking the rumpled jacket on the bed and smoothing it out neatly before putting it on yet another hook by the door. The hat, which has found its way between the nightstand and the wall, is fished out and set with its matching jacket. It's all quite standard, really, so no reason why Bertram should be nervous.

[bertiewwooster]

'Oh!' I turned to Jeeves as he spoke, feigning surprise at his sudden entrance. 'What ho, Jeeves!'

I was about to answer his query when I was suddenly struck by the flush of his cheeks and the brightness of his eyes. My first reaction was nothing less than appreciation for the beauty that is a flushed Reginald Jeeves, but after barely a moment of (hopefully not) bald admiration, a little voice popped up in the back of my head.

How, this voice queried nastily, do you suppose Jeeves came by that fetching flush, mmm? Just conversing with Laurie's man? Seems a dashed sight unlikely to me.

I hastily bade the voice be on its way and trouble this Wooster not again, but when I did answer Jeeves, I could not keep the slight note of pettiness out of my voice.

'Oh marvellous,' I responded. 'Absolutely bally wonderful! Laurie is a fascinating conver-whatsit, don't you know. A dashed lot better than spending all my time with Oofy or Barmy, I daresay. And what about you, Jeeves? You're enjoying the company of Mr. Redding, then?'