It was a cool day in Lindenboshire; cool in every sense of the word. The air was unseasonably warm, the sun beating unchained from the sky with intense rays that were harmful to both skin and eyes. In attempts to keep herself from dealing with the unpleasant burns that would result from being outside far too long on a day like today, the young, nearly sickeningly pale, and Honourable Emma Willard was covered quite extensive as she walked through town. No, not walk...waltz. Emma had a very light, flowing way of walking in which she almost appeared to float above the cobblestone streets of the town square. Dressed in a very simple, yet incredibly elegant off-white dress complete with hoop petticoat and about six layers of other fabric, Emma wilted in the heat. Her deep chestnut locks were pulled into an elaborate bun and were riddled with tiny beads of sweat that were, thankfully, mostly hidden by matching bonnet. Gloves covered her tiny, boney hands as they hung at her sides in mock relaxation. Strolling through the town square was always more of a vanity fair then an actual enjoyable outing.

Never allowed out of the house alone, Emma was of course accompanied by one of the many male servants from her household. He too was dressed in proper attire. Nothing else is acceptable in Emma’s father’s, the Baron of Collingstead, home. In their world image was second to none…except perhaps money. Emma’s dark brown eyes subtly scanned the crowds as she made mental notes of the people out and about during this midday time. Her eyes stopped when they hit the image of a young peasant boy, maybe seven or so yeas of age. He looked near starvation and dirty. Being a good Christian woman her thoughts were naturally with him. However, under the watchful eyes of her escort she could only add him to her prayer list and simply move along without another glance. Interaction with that sort was not appropriate, or so said her father. For now she would just have to pass him by until her next encounter when she was hopefully with an escort who was much less attentive then her current one.

Pushing a few dark locks away from his forehead, Gabriel Denlom, high Inspector of Lindeboshire, walked down along the cobblestone roadyways of the town square; a slightly higher-class end to many. It was full of young prospects, males and females - along with the old money of the city. He could catch them from a mile away. Only the best for them. But this beat certainly was easier to manage -- not nearly as much crime as the heart of the city, or perhaps near the slums. Nevertheless, Gabriel attended to any such patrolling that he was issued. Clean or dirty.

"Streets are pretty quiet up 'ere, sir." The young beatcop told him as they walked together; Gabriel's form very upright and strong - the beatcop standing a bit shorter, and with reason. his name was Walter Jemmins; a local boy who was getting his first few months on the streets. Gabe was quite a tall man, and it only served to give him that much more authority. It was easier to speak down to people when you were granted the gift of being able tolook down to them as well. But he was not a cold man, despite what he came off to be at multiple times. Gabe had loved. He had felt joy. But now those things were gone, and he did what he had to. He saught out the evils of the city in attempts to make himself feel better. Whether it did any good, no one knew. "Mostly local families; the aristocrats and founding families... give or take a generation or two." The young policeman told him.

Gabriel lifted his chin a bit; dark eyes glancing around carefully at those citizens out for their daily stroll. "Mmm... I am quite aware of the city's state and it's people, thank you, Jemmins." He said deeply. Gabriel did his homework. Despite the fact that he did not grow up here - he had done his homework. It was his job to know. It was his job to be efficiant and percise. Stopping briefly, Gabriel's eyes settled upon a young beggar boy, perhaps six or seven. Glancing to Jemmins, the younger policeman paused for a bit, before nodding and leaving Gabriel's side. Gabe watched him closely, as Jemmins reached the boy, picked him up under one arm, and began to carry him off. The little boy began to cry, of course out of fear - but Jemmins continued walking until out of sight.

While he had nothing against children in particular, and of course like anyone, didn't want to see them hurt.... he didn't think the beggars had any place in this part of town. He and some other members of the organization of police had made a policy for themselves, that if any beggar children were found unattended - they were to be swiftly brought and left at the orphanage. Good riddence. At least there, if not adopted, they could get some kind of work ethic and perhaps return to good society and get a job at the docks or some theatre.

Even when the boy made a fuss and cried once being caught by Jemmins, none of the citizens seemed to pay much attention. Just as well. He knew most were cold and unfeeling towards beggars and workers. As it was. It was simply how society was brought up. And Gabriel found it was his job to keep the two seperate... the working class, the upper class, and the beggars and street rats. This was his watch, and damned if he was going to let it go to hell.

"Inspector Denlom," A crisp female voice said. Turning, Gabe's dark eyes came to rest on a fairly older woman and her husband. "I am the Countess D'Marken." She said, holding out her hand to him expectantly.

Gabriel nodded to her respectfully. "Countess, a pleasure, I'm sure." He said in return, before looking to the lady once more. She was a stiff sort; her clothing well draped and rich with only the finest materials.

"I hope we shant be audience to any more... children... of that sort." She said with hopefull distaste. "It tends to ruin a perfectly good walk." She finished.

The Inspector nodded. "Rest assured, Ma'm... I have taken every liberty necessary to keep those children occupied and away from the streets." He said briskly and assuredly. The woman nodded her farewell, before beckoning her husband to follow. Gabriel watched them go. THAT was why he did what he did. It was for everyone's own good that these classes stayed seperate.

As Emma had continued to make her way through the crowds, she still kept her eyes upon the young beggar boy. It was such a horrid scene; a young boy without proper care doing the only thing he knew to survive. Yes, perhaps he was nuisance, but in the eyes of the Church of England he may be considered more religious then she on the grounds of his life of poverty. Her foot making a sidestep as she turned to go back to him, she immediatly stopped, her eyes widening as she saw the boy grabbed by an officer of the law, kicking and screaming as he was pulled away. She was speechless and deeply bothered by the display. However, what bothered her more then the removal of the young boy was the fact that no one else in the crowed town square seemed to notice nor care.

She stood silent and in this she heard the voice of the Countess D'Marken just behind where she stood. The timbre of her voice was unmistakble, cold and snooty. She needn't turn around to verify it. However, the next voice replying to the Countess was unfamiliar to her, a man. From their conversation she deduced that the removal of the beggar of his doing. How could he approve of such as thing? Oh goodness, she was eavesdropping... The anger radiating from this new bit of information was her own doing. It serves her right.

Emma waited for the conversation between the Countess and the unknown male to finish before she turned towards him, surveying his appearance. He most definately was not of the lower class, but she questioned his status. She didn't recognize him as any nobleman. Curious, she approached him slowly, a light smile perched on her face.

"Good day, sir." she greeted in a very dainty voice, courtsying slightly as she did so, but keeping her eyes upon him as a sign of respect. Regardless of his social status, it is important that she remains respectful to all people, especially men. He was certainly of the upper class, or so she assumed, and therefore her superior simply because of his gender, or so she had been taught.

"Good day, sir." A delicate female voice said to him. Turning, Gabriel came to face a lovely young woman, who had with her a male escort.

Gabriel knew instantly that this gentlemen had no real status, and was probably some kind of servant in the lady's household. He was a great observer of people; it was a talent that had gotten him far in his job. And by looking at the young man's appearance, his lack of eye contact, and even the way he stood now, next to the young lady.... Gabe knew he was of little importance. "Good day, Miss." Gabriel said, giving a curtious nod to the young woman. "I trust you are enjoying your walk." He said respectfully.

Yet his dark eyes, while taking note of her, followed her occasional gaze to the side. He saw she was somewhat glancing towards the spot where Jemmins had just removed the child. Giving a slight smirk Gabe looked back towards her. "Pay no mind of the child, Miss. He shall be taken care of, I assure you. Lindeboshire has two of the best orphanages I've seen." He said, assuredly. "Besides. Should the child stay in this area on the streets... he will only proove to be a nuisence to himself and you as a resident. By learning the streets and all it's nooks and crannies, a child will grow up to be something of an expert in his criminal field. So, you will surely be able to see the scientific reasoning for removing the child now." Gabe explained knowingly.

He had noted that many of the younger women desired to have things explained to them -- they still had souls, kindness and warmth towards humans. The elder couples and councilers did not. Crisp, knowledgable women like Countess D'Marken lost such charity as they grew older. It was only expected. But Gabriel didn't mind explaining his actions to younger women. He would never 'justify' his actions to them... since Gabe didn't think it necessary to back up any decision he made. He knew what he was doing.

Emma kept a pleasant expression upon her face, but as this unknown male spoke she became increasingly skeptical of his credibility. However, she didn't let on to it. After all, that would neither be ladylike nor polite. Instead she replied with a smile. "Is that so? Then I suppose that it is for the best that he was removed." she said. She wasn't sure what to make of this character. His knowing tone had seemed a bit condescending, but that was nothing she wasn't used to already. She took a step toward the man, leaving her escort just a foot or so behind her where he would obediantly stand until he felt it fit to step forward. He was a well trained man.

"I beg your pardon, but it seems that I've forgotten to introduce myself." she said. "Emma Willard. The Honourable, if you prefer formalities." she continued, extending her right hand palm-side down to him. She never really liked her title. It was long and awkward, but, being daughter of a Baron, it was the title she was stuck with until marriage...hopefully. But then again, was it not better to have an awkward title then none at all? She was blessed to be a member of the nobility. It was something she sometimes failed to remember, especially in the presence of someone of similar or equal class.

The milliseconds seemed to creep by painstakingly slow as she waited for the man she had been conversing with to introduce himself in return. She was anxious to hear his title, to know his status. He was not a Duke, nor was he a count; she was sure of it. However, she hadn't the slightest clue as to who exactly he was. She didn't recall ever seeing him at any royal events, but by his attire and his obvious knowledge he was clearly an upperclass man, if not nobility.

"I beg your pardon, but it seems that I've forgotten to introduce myself." she said. "Emma Willard. The Honourable, if you prefer formalities." She continued, extending her right hand palm-side down to him.

Taking her hand as was custom, Gabriel lowered his head in a bit of a bow before releasing her hand. "A pleasure, Miss Willard. Of course I've heard of your father and mother; the Baron and Baroness of Collingstead." He said. Gabe had made it somewhat his business to become familiar with each high class family in the city - not personally, of course, since it would involve a bit too much socializing for him. But rather, he made sure to ask about people... he was given briefings and documents regarding each class family, which he read and overlooked a few times in order to memorize it.

"I am Gabriel Denlom, High Inspector of Lindeboshire." He said formally, nodding to her again before brushing a few dark strands of hair away from his forehead. Gabriel was proud of his position and authority. He was not an aristocrat, yet he seemed to wield the same amount of power. He could throw people in the gallows, he could have a say in the testement of law breakers and abiders, and he could sit in on city councils should he desire to do so. But the difference between Gabe and an aristocrat, was that Gabriel was willing to get his hands dirty. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Willard. I look forward to perhaps meeting the Baron and Baroness one day. At a more appropriate time, perhaps, should some kind of social event of the city bring us together once more." He said, giving a small smile. Gabriel wasn't exactly comfortable around young women. Not that he wasn't experienced in the way of them, but since dear Helene's death, he'd had something of a bad time getting over it.

He preferred to concentrate more on work; to drown himself in his cases and his job rather than his personal life. With a curtious nod, Gabriel stepped back. "Now, if you'll excuse me, Miss.... I've much to get done." He said. With another firm nod of his head to her, Gabriel headed back down the cobble-stoned road. He would meet up with Jemmins later.

[exit]