#earl robertson

[nofatclips]

Hey Mom by Reb Fountain, live at The Mercury Theatre

[mariocki]

Doctor X (1932)

"If you ask me, I think Dr. Xavier is using very unethical methods."

"Necessity has no ethics, sir."

[grianm]

I felt the need to share my poorly made sctv miis - earl & floyd and bob & doug

[graphicpolicy]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 kicks off a whole new era in July

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 kicks off a whole new era in July #comics #comicbooks #tmnt

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) are skilled at hiding in the shadows, but this July the four mutant brothers are leaping directly into the spotlight as they star in one of the biggest comic book launches of the year: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 from Eisner award-winning writer Jason Aaron and an impressive lineup of acclaimed artists on the first four issues: Joëlle Jones, Rafael…

[nbamayne]

[sctvamnews]

Earl is too spaced out to read his news item.

(I’ve been watching too many SCTV news sketches lately, I’m too obsessed with Earl and Floyd)

[letterboxd-loggd]

Pool of London (1951) Basil Dearden

February 17th 2024

[wildepotato]

Happy Holidays from cookie versions of Earl Camembert and Floyd Robertson

[oldshowbiz]

Earl Camembert vs. Floyd Robertson

[scotianostra]

19th July 1654 saw a Royalist uprising in the Highlands, it was part what became known as The Glencairn Uprising.

This particular episode became known as the Battle of Dalnaspidal, but reading up on it, it was more of a skirmish or just a rout, the Kings men put up very little fight.

This was all part of a messy affair, which had it’s origins in The English Civil war, this particular era was however known as The War of the three Kingdoms. It was one of the last engagements of the war in Scotland bringing an end to the Royalist rising of 1651 to 1654.

Earl of Glencairn and raised an army mainly from Clan MacGregor. He would have no difficulty recruiting them because one of their opponents was the Earl of Argyll, a Campbell, one of their hereditary enemies.

Alexander, the 12th chief of the Robertson Clan, led his men from Fea Corrie. Both forces met above Annat and marched up the old path to Loch Garry.

On the evening of 19th July 1654, Thomas Morgan, Commander-in-Chief of the English army in Scotland surprised Royalist troops led by John Middleton, 1st Earl of Middleton near the loch at the Drumochter Pass. The Royalist horse had become separated from the foot. When Morgan’s superior forces advanced towards them, most of Middleton’s cavalry fled, leaving the infantry unprotected. As the cavalry continued to advance, the Royalist infantry also turned and ran.

The fight at Dalnaspidal broke the Royalist insurrection in the Highlands. Although wounded, Middleton managed to escape into the mountains, but he was never able to gather a substantial force again. General Monck wanted all the leaders of the uprising put to death, but the Protector and Council promised a pardon to all those who submitted William, Earl of Glencairn surrendered to General Monck in September 1654. Middleton escaped back to the Continent and rejoined Charles II in exile.

Much more on this at Clan Donnachaidh Society in the States of all places, sometimes you have to look afar to find details of our history…..

https://www.robertson.org/CW_Battle_of_Dalnaspidal.html

[nofatclips]

When Gods Lie by Reb Fountain (featuring Finn Andrews) from the album Reb Fountain - Directed & Edited: Lola Fountain-Best

[psychokinetic-ectoplasm]

Could you do a Moe Green fic with a new show runner who actually likes him and stick ups for him when the other TV hosts are being mean to him. Or maybe something with a fake dating scenario where the other TV hosts don't believe he is married or something (in this he isn't) but his friend or another host pretends to be his partner and they start to like one another.

Hey, anon! So, I kinda did a mishmash of the two scenarios you provided for this. And I wasn't sure how far you wanted things to go, so I kept it SFW. I hope you enjoy!

Also here on Ao3

Under the cut for length

Something to Talk About

You watched from across the break room as Floyd and Earl teased Moe. Johnny was sitting nearby, but he, too, was just watching, looking back and forth between the news anchors and Moe like he was watching a tennis match. You couldn't hear what was being said, but from the look on Moe's face, it wasn't good.

You'd liked Moe for a while and considered him a friend, but both of you had been too chicken to actually do something about your mutual attraction. So you stuck to admiring him and pining for him from afar. But what you wouldn’t do to change that, even if it was just to save him from his coworkers being mean to him. It would mean more to you, but just in case Moe didn’t feel the same, you’d have an out.

You slowly moved closer, as nonchalantly as possible, acting like you were invested in your coffee and thinking about getting another cup from the machine next to Johnny. That put you close enough to actually hear what was being said.

“You bringing your wife?” Earl asked Floyd.

“Yeah, of course. You bringing your girlfriend?”

Earl smirked. “Yeah, of course,” he echoed, then looked at Moe. “Guess that means you'll be all alone, Green.”

“As usual,” Floyd added, the jab making Moe flinch.

“Oh, well…” Moe began.

You always hated it when they spoke to him like this, and now you decided it was time to do something about it. You moved without thinking, quickly stepping up to him, kissing him on the cheek, and slipping your hand into his. 

“What do you mean he'd be alone? Why would he leave his girlfriend behind?” you asked, leaning into his side.

Moe turned his head sharply to look at you, his mouth hanging open in shock. When you looked at him, he swallowed hard. He'd also broken out into a sweat.

Floyd and Earl looked at each other. 

“Girlfriend?” Floyd asked. “Since when?”

“It’s none of your business, Robertson,” you retorted. “Aren’t you and Camembert due on set soon to give a news update?”

The two men glanced at each other. “Uh, yeah, boss,” Earl answered.

“Sorry, boss,” Floyd added before hurrying off, with Johnny following shortly after, probably realizing you might turn on him next.

You waited until they left before turning your attention to Moe, who was still looking at you. Now that your attention was on him, he swallowed hard. “You okay, Moe?”

He nodded, glancing down at your hand still holding his. You gave it a squeeze before letting go. Moe took a breath at that point as if he’d been holding it the whole time.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Moe said, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket to dab his forehead. “It’s just… Why did you say that?”

“That I’m your girlfriend?” He nodded, not quite able to look at you. “Would… Would that be so bad?” you asked quietly, hopefully.

Moe stared at you, his mouth opening and closing a few times like he wasn’t sure what to say, but he was smiling faintly. “Um… N-no. I suppose not.”

“I would like to know what I just agreed to go to, though,” you said with a smile, hoping to lighten the mood.

“Oh, it's the annual station party. It's been planned since before you got here. Back when I was still running things… It’s tomorrow night.”

“Do you want to go together? Give ‘em something to talk about?” you asked, nudging his arm with yours.

Moe nodded. “Yeah. Unless… You don’t want to go! I don’t want you to feel like you have to. I mean, you certainly don’t have to go with me.”

You took his hand again, smiling softly at him. “I’m the one who brought it up in the first place. Seriously, Moe, if it would get them off your back, I’d be happy to help.” More than happy.

His shoulders dropped just a bit, and he wouldn’t make eye contact with you again, but he nodded. The sudden drop in mood made you frown and wonder if you’d said something wrong. “Sure. You want me to, um… pick you up?”

“I’d love that.” You glanced over your shoulder at the clock on the wall. “I’ve got to go now, but I’ll see you later?”

“Yeah, see you.”

You left him feeling a little conflicted. You were excited about this fake date — which you hoped would turn out to be an actual date — but there was definitely something off about Moe’s mood. He’d seemed okay until the very end.

Well, there was nothing you could do about it now. Tomorrow night, you’d make sure he realized that you wanted this and wanted him. You wanted to be his girlfriend for real if he’d have you. You just hoped the party would help make that change.

***

Unfortunately, things didn’t improve much by the time you got to the party. Moe held your hand, but he seemed to be making a point to avoid looking at you. It hurt. You thought maybe you’d read him wrong, that he wasn’t interested in you like you thought he might have been.

Moe stuck by your side, though. He had a point to prove, after all, that he wasn’t the loser everyone liked to make him out to be. But you didn’t think he was being very convincing that you two were together. He was acting like he wanted nothing to do with you. You couldn’t tell if anyone noticed or not, but that didn’t matter. It was bothering you. This wasn’t Moe’s usual behavior.

You watched him out of the corner of your eye as he perused the refreshment table, debating on how to handle this. You were far enough away from everyone else at the moment that no one should hear you talking. Still, you didn’t want to make a scene, even if just for Moe’s sake. You didn’t want to draw any more unwelcomed teasing to him. It wouldn’t look very good for him to be getting into a fight with his girlfriend.

“Alright, Moe,” you began quietly but with sternness, determined to get to the bottom of this. “What’s going on?”

He continued on with what he was doing, not even glancing at you. “What do you mean?”

“Did I do something to make you mad? You’re acting like you don’t want to be here, let alone with me.”

“It’s fine. I’m fine.”

Frustrated, you grabbed his arm, turning him toward you. “Bullshit, Moe! Did you want me to be your date or not?!”

Before he could answer, you saw Floyd and Earl approaching. The last thing you wanted was for them to see you and Moe arguing, so you acted on impulse. You took Moe’s face in your hands and brought his head down to yours, kissing him hard on the mouth. Moe hummed in surprise but didn’t try to stop you. Once it was clear that he wasn’t opposed to it, you gentled the kiss, making it much more enjoyable. Moe seemed to appreciate it, too, as he hummed again and shifted closer to you, his hands moving to rest lightly on your waist.

Getting to kiss Moe was everything you’d dreamed of and more. The way he tentatively returned the kiss, his soft lips moving against yours, had you wondering why you’d waited so long. He sure kissed you like he wanted you.

“Whoa, hey, you two! If you can’t keep your hands off each other long enough to enjoy a party, maybe you should go home early!”

You leaned away enough from Moe to look behind him at Earl. “Maybe we should.” You then looked at Moe, who was staring at you, a little dazed. “What do you say, Moe? Wanna leave so we can continue this somewhere a little more private?” you purred, running your fingers along the lapels of his jacket.

Moe swallowed hard and shook his head. “Maybe later.”

You frowned a bit, but Earl and Floyd didn’t seem any the wiser. Floyd clapped Moe on the shoulder as he walked by.

“Never knew you had it in you! Good for you, Green!”

“Yeah,” Earl added. “And don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!”

You wanted until they were gone before grabbing Moe’s arm again and dragging him off to a more secluded place. “Alright, now tell me what’s wrong.”

“There’s nothing wrong!” he exclaimed, fishing around in his pocket for a handkerchief. “It’s just that… You’re doing this all for their benefit.” 

“What?”

Moe scoffed. “Come on, you’re not here for me. Sure, you might want to help get them to stop hounding me, but you don’t have to pretend you like me. Nobody likes me…”

You stared at him for a moment, your heart breaking. “But I do like you, Moe. That’s why I asked if it would be such a bad thing if I were your girlfriend.”

“I don’t want your pity,” he said and started to walk away, but you grabbed his arm again and pulled him off into a hallway and into a closet, putting yourself between him and the door so he couldn't escape.

“I’m not doing this out of pity,” you said sternly, hoping to get your point across. “I’m doing this because I genuinely like you. I have since I first got here. I hoped this might finally get us to admit that we both like each other. At least, I hope you’re attracted to me the way I am to you…”

Moe shook his head. “Of course, I’m attracted to you! But you’re not attracted to me…”

“But I am!” you insisted, closing the distance between you two and taking his face in your hands again. “Moe, I really, really like you. I wouldn't have kissed you like that earlier if I didn't.”

As you said this, you caressed his cheeks and lips with your thumbs. The tenderness of the gesture seemed to make him melt, and he turned into your touch.

“Can you do that again?” Moe asked quietly, with tentative hope.

“Kiss you again?”

He nodded. With a smile, you happily closed the distance between the two of you and softly pressed your lips to his. This time, Moe immediately returned the kiss, humming as he did so. And this time, you took the time to really savor it. He was eager but in a restrained way, which made you wonder what he'd be like if he let go. As anxious as he often was, you wanted to help him relax and enjoy this. And right now, he seemed pretty relaxed. But then again, prior to tonight, he often did with you. That pleased you to no end, knowing he felt comfortable enough around you to relax.

To your delight, Moe wrapped his arms around you, drawing you closer. You wrapped your arms around his neck, pressing your body to his, and deepened the kiss. Moe moaned into your mouth as your tongues tangled together. His eagerness thrilled you.

When you eventually broke apart, he rested his forehead against yours, panting a bit. 

“I'm dreaming,” he whispered. “I've got to be.”

You kissed the corner of his lips. “Does this feel like a dream?”

“No. But you only ever kiss me in dreams.”

“You dream about me?” you asked with a coy smile.

Moe’s cheeks turned pink. “Uh… Well…”

You grinned before pecking his lips again. “Don’t worry, I dream about you, too. And I intend to further prove how much I want you, but how about in the meantime…” you trailed off, taking his hand and giving him a smirk. “I intend to make good on my word: Let's give them something to talk about.”

Moe smiled and eagerly followed you out of the closet and back to the others. You stayed cuddled up to his side for the rest of the night while Moe kept an arm around you, never letting you stray far. The smile that never left his face meant everything. It was evident on his coworkers’ faces that they were surprised by the two of you. And maybe you were going a little overboard with all of the kisses you bestowed upon his warm cheek or the way you’d rub his chest occasionally, earning a sweet smile in return. But in all honesty, you were just happy to be able to do those things. You weren’t doing it for the others; you were doing it because you wanted to.

From here on out, you would do all you could to ensure Moe never felt unwanted or unloved again. So long as he was with you, you'd shower him with affection.

And Moe's obvious enthusiasm to return that affection, along with the soft look in his eyes as he gazed at you, would make loving him that much more delightful.

[august-sysex]

my fav releases of 2023:

realyungphil & gud - victory music

realyungphil & gud - make moves not excuses

realyungphil & boofpaxkmooky - sonder freestyle

7038634357 - neo seven

död mark - död mark 4evigt

ML buch - suntub

earl swearshirt & the alchemist - voir dre

earl sweatshirt - making the band (danity kane)

bar italia - tracey denim

baba stiltz - paid testimony

ichiko aoba - meringue doll

ouri - blueprints of us (prod. oli XL ❤️)

arthur russell - picture of bunny rabbit

laetitia sadier - une autre attente

melody english - the web

björk & rosalía - oral

YS - brutal flowers

dijon - coogie

peso pluma, jasiel nuñez & junior h - bipolar

peso pluma - génesis

junior h & peso pluma - el azul

becky G & peso pluma - chanel

the-dream - stream (V7 demo archive 9.20)

tujiko noriko - crépuscule I & II

sampha - spirit 2.0

PLO man - anonymousmaterial

ESP - amber sun

tinashe - talk to me nice

kode9 & burial - infirmary / unknown summer

astra king - make me cry

tainy - data

osipenko bus stop - corner wax volume 2

lil uzi vert - pink tape

king krule - space heavy

mammo - variable / plate

CoA-A - the end of nduja

2301 - untitled

aphex twin - blackbox life recorder 21f / in a room7 f760

nation & ecco2k - ça va

ingrate - a melody inside

monolake - hongkong (2023 remaster)

vladislav delay - entain (2023 remaster)

holly waxwing - the new pastoral

joanne robertson - blue car

tammo hesselink - beam

tammo hesselink - paint reduce trick

tammo hesselink - sewei

tammo hesselink - work work work

yaeji - with a hammer

pinkpantheress - heaven knows

DJ babatr - las lomas / fuma con los panas + remixes

DJ babatr & arca - mek3fe

bad gyal, tokischa & young miko - chulo pt.2

teruyuki kurihara - parallel

james k & hoodie - 065 (scorpio)

special guest DJ - panoramic deep love story

agilität - unique / untradeable

chuquimamani-condori - DJ E

rabit - tears (elysia’s edit)

jorg kuning - BH007

instupendo & ripsquad - kissout

juno R13 - existens miserabel R13 edit

bambinodj - high as ever still passin’ through (remix)

colleen - le jour et la nuit du réel

kelela - raven

airhead - lightness

juanito - cumbias & reggaetones

DJ manny - control EP

mount eerie - huge fire

cousin - homesoon

[eugenedebs1920]

How did America end up in this position is a thought that rents space in my mind at a large cost. For the better part of the twentieth century we were the good guys, the envy of the world. We were the freest, most educated, healthiest, strongest, wealthiest, most virtuous nation on the globe. Have we partaken in atrocities, interjected ourselves where we didn’t belong, flexed a little too hard? Yes. Yet we always course corrected and navigated towards a more honorable lane moving forward.

The Warren court, as Chief Justice Earl Warren’s Supreme Court would be named, labeled on the right as the most liberal court in American history. As I’ve stated in previous writings, the word, liberal, means, willing to accept or respect, opinions or behaviors different from one’s own: open minded. Therefore it comes as no insult or travesty to throw that accusation around. This court is responsible for major course corrections in this country. Many of the every day liberties we may not even be aware of are made possible by the Warren court.

Chief Justice Earl Warren and his court are responsible for decisions such as, Brown v The Board of Education, desegregating public schools. The court also saw other landmark decisions in Griswold v Connecticut, which dubbed interference to married couples to access contraception unconstitutional, the Loving v Virginia ruling that stated interracial marriages were protected under the equal protection and due process clauses of the fourteenth amendment. There’s Engel v Vitale which rules it unconstitutional to impose prayer or religious studies in public schools. Mapps v Ohio, as well as Miranda v Arizona, two major cases on civil liberties in regards to law enforcement, evidence and legal searches (ie Miranda rights, you have the right to remain silent….) The Warren court is also responsible for landmark voting and civil rights decisions like, Baker v Carr, Reynolds v Sims and Westberry v Sanders, declaring that districts had to be drawn without disenfranchising voters of color directly. Several rulings on free speech covered by the first amendment such as New York Times Co. v Sullivan protecting the press from defamation lawsuits, Yates v United States, protecting even racially charged hate speech unless it posed a “clear and present danger”, there’s also Roth V United States and Jacobellis v Ohio which rules that even what could be construed as obscene material was protected under the first amendment. It also ruled in Trop v Dulles it unconstitutional to revoke citizenship as punishment for a crime, and Robertson v California that ruled drug addiction was a disease and therefore unconstitutional to incarcerate or punish someone for being an addict.

There’s many more Consequential cases that came out of the Warren court beyond this as well. Although the above listed were huge steps towards racial justice, free speech, voting rights, first amendment rights for the press and publicist, citizens rights with law enforcement agencies, and first amendment rights on freedom of religion and public imposition.

Newton’s third law of motion states that every action will have an equal and opposite reaction. The same can be held true with Americas social order.

When studying American history it becomes apparent that when progress is made in social, racial, societal, gender, lifestyle preferences, and labor justice and protections, a backlash is to follow. Examples being, abolishment of slavery, civil war, Civil Rights Act, racial upheaval, election of first black president, rise of MAGA, same goes with the Warren court. Although not as one may suspect.

The Chief justice that succeeded Warren was Warren E Burger, nominated by Richard Nixon would continue many of the liberal leaning rulings as the Warren court. The Burger court would rule in favor of women’s rights in Roe v Wade, would rule against Nixon in, Nixon v United States, and ruled in favor of separation of powers in, Immigration and naturalization service v Chadha. Burger would also reside over some questionable decisions as well though.

The conservative pushback from these two decades was immense, yet covert. It was ruthless, yet slow moving. With groups like the Federalist Society, and Heritage Foundation, people like Jerry Falwel and Roger Ailes, the conservative retaliation moved at a slow but steady pace for retribution.

I could, and may, write a novel on the revenge of the right after the free love and equal rights movements of the 60’s and 70’s but I’ll get to the point.

What we are dealing with when it comes to Donald Trump and the MAGA extremism is a retaliation stemming from the electing of the nations first person of color as president of the United States of America. I promise you every single MAGA politician and citizen will deny this. Yet, unlike the MAGA approach, there’s a plethora of data and evidence to support this claim.

From day one after Obama’s inauguration it was clear that the establishment was opposed to the thought of being led by a colored person. Reptilian alien, turtle variant Mitch McConnell, when asked what his priorities were in the congress that followed Obama’s inauguration was “to make sure he’s a one term president” then chuckled in a gargled unnatural amphibious manner. Not, ‘work with the new president to better my constituents and America in general’ not ‘find compromise and draft bipartisan solutions to problems’ but, “to make sure he’s a one term president”.

The there was the whole bitherism thing in which Trump, although an unwanted and moronic voice in the Republican Party at time, was very much a part of its message. How could a handsome, articulate, highly educated hard working black man with that name be born in this country? The whole concept was racist to its core.

There was the rise of the Tea Party, which is simply MAGA before Trump, whose members and leaders brazenly used slogans like, A village in Kenya is missing its idiot; deport Obama and (I hate writing this) Congress=Slave owner; taxpayer=n**gar as well as Imam Obama wants to ban pork:don’t let him steal your meat. This blatant racism was not condemned by Republican leadership. In its silent compliance to the backwards thinking of race discrimination was embolden.

Trump was very much involved in this race baiting all throughout Obama’s two terms. With his birtherism claims, his talent for incognito racial slurs, and his denigration of anything put forward by the administration.

Trump and MAGA are a natural reaction to an action. A reaction many of us had the presumption of its demise as times moved on and old bigots passed on.

Me personally, I was born in the early 80’s, a white guy, but through reading and research I can imagine that this feeling of shame when seeing this racism, a want to fix it and move past the hatred and ignorance, feeling useless against it, seeing the rift of bigotry and the decency of Americans widening, it must have some similarities to being in a position like mine, open minded but not the target of discrimination personally, during the civil rights movement of the 60’s. Wanting to assist but knowing it’s not necessarily your fight. Calling out the ignorance and hate but with disheartening ineffectuality.

Much like the civil rights movement of the 60’s we can find solace in the fact that we’re on the right side of history. That the numbers who do believe in equality and disavow hate are disproportionately on the equality side. That generations who held the concept of white superiority are shaking the mortal coil yearly. That our generation was raised without the prejudice of a, separate but equal, Jim Crow, normalization.

We can also find comfort that, for now, if we can end this MAGA affront, with this election, with this presidential candidate, it greatly demoralizes and discredits the whole entitlement they poses. No more Nazis occupying the streets of Nashville without hoods, openly spreading racist hate, no more marches chanting, Jews will not replace us, you will not replace us, no more presidents having dinners with known leaders of the KKK David Duke, no more presidents telling white supremacy groups like the proud boys to “stand back and stand by” on nationally broadcasted television, no more white Christian nationalists attempting to overthrow our government like on Jan 6th 2021.

The end is near my open minded pro-democracy friends. This is a major battle against these forces of old and evil, it it will not be the last. We must continue to stand up for equality. We must continue to call out bigotry. We must lead by example in our honesty and morality, and we must never take the pressure off till we succeed and racism is pushed back to far corners and condemned as the putrid thinking that it is.☮️🇺🇸

[kwebtv]

Gormenghast - BBC Two - January 17, 2000 - February 7, 2000 / PBS - June 27 - 28, 2001

Fantasy (4 episodes)

Running Time: 60 minutes

Stars:

Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Steerpike

Celia Imrie as Gertrude, Countess of Groan

Ian Richardson as Sepulchrave, Earl of Groan

Neve McIntosh as Lady Fuchsia Groan

Christopher Lee as Flay

Richard Griffiths as Swelter

Andrew N. Robertson as Titus, Earl of Groan (17 years)

Cameron Powrie as Titus, Earl of Groan (12 years)

John Sessions as Dr. Alfred Prunesquallor

Fiona Shaw as Irma Prunesquallor

June Brown as Nannie Slagg

Olga Sosnovska as Keda

Zoë Wanamaker as Lady Clarice Groan

Lynsey Baxter as Lady Cora Groan

Stephen Fry as Professor Bellgrove

Warren Mitchell as Barquentine

Windsor Davies as Rottcodd

Eric Sykes as Mollocks

Spike Milligan as Headmaster De'Ath

Gregor Fisher as The Fly

Mark Williams as Professor Perch

Martin Clunes as Professor Flower

Steve Pemberton as Professor Mule

Phil Cornwell as Professor Shred

James Dreyfus as Professor Fluke

Sean Hughes as Poet

[delucadarlingwriting]

Wayhaven Regency AU

This is a little fic idea I've been throwing around with @crownleys after we spent ALL WEEKEND binging Bridgerton. We've had an AU for ages where we've thrown our detectives (hers, Kira Kingston, and mine Lucas and Barbara Robertson) together and played with how Wayhaven might go with them all involved, so of course we started to 'what if' with them all in a Regency era AU.

Note: this is history lite, generously speaking. N would be horrified, I'm sure.

(Also doing my best to keep this out of the main tag, but if it ends up there anyway, I apologize)

Word count: 716

Summary: Kira Kingston is making her debut into society this year, no matter what her mother, the Dowager Baroness Rebecca Kingston, has to say about it.

Next

"We've put off my debut for four years now!" Kira exclaims. Barbara sighs and slips a ribbon between the pages of her book, closing it gently so that she may better pay attention to her young friend's words. The strawberry blond brows on her face have drawn nearly to touching and her mouth is set into a ferocious expression.

"Has your mother responded to your letter?" Barbara asks, knowing full well the answer. It stands to reason that Kira needs the reminder though.

Of course, this is when Lucas decides to waltz in from outside, where he had apparently been lingering and listening. His waistcoat is entirely unbuttoned and his shoes are muddy. Barbara frowns as he trods all over the nice rug.

"That should hardly matter at this point," Lucas says, his voice booming in the solarium. Kira's face lights up.

"So you agree?" she demands. Lucas laughs.

"Of course I do." He comes over and slings an arm around Kira's shoulders. Barbara growls.

"If you're going to insist on entering society, you'll have to be used to warding off improper behavior," Barbara says, indicating her brother. Kira shrugs.

"It's just Lucas," she replies. Barbara shakes her head.

"He's not your relative though, and no one else will care that he wouldn't take liberties with you. It's all about the appearance of the matter. It's all about what it could be." Barbara can't help lecturing Kira a bit, even though Kira is only half-listening. She knows all of this already.

Lucas takes his arm away to humor her. "Look, I'm the Earl now, right?"

"Right," Kira says, despite him clearly having been speaking to Barbara.

"And you've been a ward of the Earl-myself and my dear dead father before me-for what, ten years?" Lucas shakes his head. "I think at this point I have enough sway to determine you're ready to join the rest of the ton."

"Yes!" Kira says, throwing her arms around Lucas. Barbara simply looks away, to better pretend they aren't acting abominably. Lucas laughs again.

"So I shall send the two of you to the modiste as soon as we arrive to London," Lucas says. Barbara turns back, her interest gained. She would love to have a few new dresses. Shoes as well.

"You know very well I'll be making my own dresses," Kira says with her arms crossed. Lucas grins.

"Surely so. Will you be telling everyone?" he asks. Kira shrugs.

"Perhaps."

"Perhaps," Barbara cuts in, "you should focus on telling your mother. Lady Kingston deserves to know that her daughter plans to debut this year."

Kira scoffs. "Rebecca has no need to know. It's hardly as if she finds the time to return any of my letters as it is. I doubt she even opens them."

Neither Robertson denies the possibility. The dowager baroness has struggled dearly since the death of her husband, known best as Rook. The rest of the ton continues to speak of him (with wildly varying opinions on his behavior), which is something Lady Kingston has never been able to bear. Even Kira knows almost nothing of her father.

"It would be a courtesy," Barbara points out. After a moment, she adds, "A courtesy we may wish to...skip, where our mama is concerned."

With a grunt, Lucas nods. "Certainly. She'll pitch such a fuss I worry we'd never manage to leave the country house at all."

"Perhaps we can leave ahead of her this year?" Barbara suggests. Lucas winks.

"Dear sister, you prove yet again to the be the brains to my beauty."

Rolling her eyes, Barbara rises from her seat. Kira, gearing up to defend Barbara's honor in the face of her brother's insult, calms considerably when Barbara loops an arm through hers. "Let's go and compose your letter, dear, and then we might begin preparations for our leave."

Kira nods. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt. She's rarely ever at the family home, and I've yet to see her in London during the season anyhow."

"Exactly," Barbara says, the tension in her shoulders easing. "I doubt we should even see her at all for the entire season."