First Impressions

By Jeff Carter

Elijah Benton prides himself on his judgement of character, so how could he be so wrong in his opinions of the dashing Ms. Witherspoon or the haughty Ms. Dekker? His romantic adventures in the Earth-Moon system, including Homestead Habitat at L4 and L5 at, surprisingly, L5, will bring a smile to your face as he faces his failures and seeks to correct them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jeff Carter
• Release date: Apr 5, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310192487

Jeff Carter

I'm an HF ASD writer of speculative fiction. I also write songs, but you won't find them on Smashwords.

Book preview

Chapter 1

It is a consequence of life in a society that uses nanotechnology that one is continuously surrounded by large numbers of nanomachines, not all of which have friendly intentions. As a result, those people of means who left the safety of their own homes were accompanied by swarms of defensive machines of their own.

John Benton had the best defenses that money could buy and Georgian engineering could design when he left Littlebarn to visit new friends on the 0.38g level. He was on the stairs when the alarm sounded, announcing one of the occasional attacks by malevolent nanomachines. He was not unduly concerned, for the Georgian section had its own defenses, second to none, in addition to the habitat's defenses.

This attack was both numerous and well designed. It was able to breach the Georgian security measures and found Master Benton at the top of the stairs. The air around him turned hazy as it filled with tiny machines. Swarms of additional defensive machines left his clothing to meet the attackers, while machines inside his body rushed to stand guard just under the skin and destroy any machines that made it past the airborne defenders. The floor of the corridor accumulated a fine dust as destroyed and damaged machines fell from the air. Many attackers were destroyed, but so were many defenders; the defenders had no replacements, while a thousand new machines replaced every defeated attacker.

John had started running as soon as the second alarm sounded, but before he could reach Nethercliffe Hall the machines had demolished his personal defenses and entered his body in quantity. By the time he arrived he was not a well boy at all. The waste heat from the large number of nanomachines in his body, both attackers and defenders, gave him a dangerously high body temperature.

He collapsed in the entrance lock of Ms. Kingsley's home. Once sealed, the house defenses were quickly able to rid the lock of invaders. Ridding John's body of them was a more delicate and time-consuming task, and less certain of success.

That Master Benton should be friends with Ms. Kingsley and her two brothers is unsurprising, given the nature of Georgian society. When, a few weeks earlier, news spread that a single woman of good fortune was moving into their enclave, it was greeted by the assumption that such a woman must be looking for a husband, and the fathers of unmarried men saw no reason it should not be one of their sons.

I have good news, Mr. Benton had said to his wife. Nethercliffe Hall is rented! I've just finished talking to Mr. Short, and he told me. It is rented to a young woman of large fortune from North America. She came up yesterday in a six-place ship, and was so taken by Nethercliffe that she settled with Ms. Dancer immediately. She will take possession before the end of the month.

Who is she? Ms. Benton asked.

A Ms. Kingsley.

Well, perhaps we will get to see her, if she ever deigns to come down to the 0.4g level.

Oh, we must do more than that. She is single and has forty thousand a year; what an opportunity for the boys!

I don't see how it affects them, Ms. Benton said.

You know that I want her to marry one of them.

Is that why she's coming here?

Of course not! But it is impossible that she won't fall in love with one of them, so you must talk to her as soon as she arrives.

I see no reason for that, Ms. Benton said. You and the boys may contact her yourselves.

You must call Ms. Kingsley when she comes to Homestead.

I should not expect it if I were you.

But think of your sons. What a triumph it would be! Dame Wilma intends to contact her solely for the sake of her sons, and you know that she never contacts newcomers, as a rule.

I'm sure Ms. Kingsley would be glad to hear from you. If you like, I'll record and sign a short letter giving her my permission to marry whichever of the boys she likes, though if she has any sense she will choose my little Eli.

Nonsense, Mr. Benton said. Eli is no better than the others. He is not half as pretty as John, or as good humored as Lyle, but you always prefer him.

None of them has much to offer, she said. They are all silly and stupid like most boys, but Eli is bit smarter than his brothers.

How can you talk of your own children so? You do it just to upset me. You will be the death of me yet.

I think that you will get over it, and live to see many young women of forty thousand a year move to Homestead.

Ms. Benton was an unusual person. Despite nearly forty years of marriage, Mr. Benton still did not fully understand her. Mr. Benton was less complicated: His business was to marry off his sons; in the meantime, he spent his days in talk and gossip.

Ms. Benton was one of the first to contact Ms. Kingsley after she moved into Nethercliffe Hall, but Ms. Benton did not tell anyone in her family about it. That evening her second child demonstrated the latest dance steps that he had obtained from the net in preparation for the next dance.

I hope Ms. Kingsley knows this dance, Eli, so you may dance it with her, Ms. Benton said.

We don't know what Ms. Kingsley knows, Mr. Benton said. We're not likely to find out, either, since we won't get to know her.

Of course we will, Father, Elijah said. Mr. Short promised to introduce us at the dance.

Mr. Short has two sons of his own to think of, Mr. Benton said. I don't believe he'll do anything of the sort. He has his own self interest to consider, so I doubt that we can rely on him.

When is the next dance, Eli? Ms. Benton asked.

A week from tomorrow.

And there you see the truth of my opinion, Mr. Benton said. Mr. Short does not return from the Moon until that morning, so he will not be able to introduce us.

Then you will have the advantage of Mr. Short, Ms. Benton said. You will be able to introduce him to Ms. Kingsley.

When I don't know her myself, how could I introduce her to another?

You are too delicate about these matters. A week's acquaintance with someone should be adequate to introduce her to your friends. If you decline, I will feel obliged to do it myself.

Mr. Benton and the boys stared at her, speechless.

What do you think about it, Martin? Ms. Benton continued. I know you are an intellectual young man, and read great books. Is a week long enough an acquaintance to introduce a woman to your friends at a dance?

This is an important question, Martin said, temporizing while he cast about for something deep and impressive to say. Technically, any acquaintance is adequate for performing introductions, but in practice most people of quality prefer a longer acquaintance. However, a week's acquaintance is certainly adequate for even the most circumspect of society. Martin was not completely satisfied with this speech, but it would have to do.

There you have it, straight from the expert, Ms. Benton said. A week is clearly enough time for you to introduce Ms. Kingsley to your friends.

Enough of Ms. Kingsley, Mr. Benton said. I am sick of hearing about Ms. Kingsley.

I am sorry to hear that, Ms. Benton said. Why didn't you tell me before? If I had known, I would never have contacted her, but as I spoke to her on the library wall this morning, I'm afraid we are committed now.

The boy's reaction was exactly what Ms. Benton had hoped to produce, though Mr. Benton perhaps overdid it. Eventually he recovered enough to pretend to no surprise at all. I always knew you wouldn't let your sons down.

Ms. Benton, tired of her husband's behavior, took her leave and returned to her library. Mr. Benton and his sons wondered when Ms. Kingsley would return the call, and when they should ask her to dinner.

Chapter 2

Homestead Habitat was one of the habitats in the leading Trojan position of the Moon's orbit, also known as the L4 position. Homestead was one of the oldest habitats, and its Down section was the oldest part of Homestead. The Down section had only a single, 1.0g level, used primarily for farming. The remainder of the habitat had been built by nanomachines more recently, largely from buckytube carbon fibers, and extended an extra twenty-five meters in radius, allowing for high-gravity levels up to 1.1g. The Down section made up one third of the length of the habitat. The middle third of length had levels every 0.02g, and was used for habitation and business. The last third had levels every 0.1g that were dedicated to farming.

Although a few small, quartz windows had been incorporated in the end of the Down section, few people actually wanted to look out at the apparent motion of the Earth, Moon, Sun, and stars as the habitat rotated. Some people developed motion sickness from looking at it. The newer, Up section could have included large windows of crystalline carbon, but no one had wanted them.

The Georgian community occupied parts of five levels, from the 0.36g to the 0.44g level, with an equivalent area of the 0.46g level reserved for uses other than habitation. Many of the young men of the Georgian community were excited by the impending presence on their 0.46g level of a division from the Kentucky Defense Forces, which would come to the habitat for training. The Georgian volume extended a quarter of the way around the habitat from ninety degrees (East) to one hundred eighty degrees (South), and extended axially 500 meters from the windows overlooking the Down Farm Park toward the Up farms. In addition, the community owned half the 0.4g level of Up farmland, making it self-sufficient in food in an emergency.

* * *

Try as they might, Mr. Benton and the boys could not get Ms. Benton to describe Ms. Kingsley to them. Finally they had to resort to the report of Gent Luther. Dame Wilma had been pleased with Ms. Kingsley. She was young, handsome, and friendly. She intended to attend the forthcoming dance, bringing a large group of friends with her.

This instantly improved her standing with the male Bentons, for to be rich and fond of dancing was even better than just being rich.

She returned Ms. Benton's call two days later. Ms. Benton took the call on her library wall, much to everyone's dismay. Ms. Kingsley hoped to see the young men, having heard of their beauty already during the short time she'd been in Homestead Habitat. The boys and Mr. Benton were equally upset not to take part in the conversation, or at least to see it. Marty, however, was able to route a copy of the signal to some nanopaper in his room for fifteen seconds before he shut it down, fearing imminent detection by his mother's security program. He reported the important information that Ms. Kingsley was very handsome, and dressed in the latest fashion.

The next day Ms. Benton sent a dinner invitation to Ms. Kingsley. Mr. Benton planned the meal, and undertook the programming of the kitchen himself. He was in the middle of this activity when the response arrived. Ms. Kingsley regretted that business would take her to the Moon for a couple of days, and she could not accept the invitation. Mr. Benton was upset, and wondered what business she could have on the Moon so soon after her arrival. Perhaps she was one of those people who were always traveling about, and would never spend much time in Homestead.

Gent Luther told him that Ms. Kingsley had gone to the Moon to bring back some friends for the dance, which calmed him down. Soon they heard that she would be bringing fifteen men and six women with her to the dance. The large number of men distressed the boys, but then they heard that she would only be bringing seven gentlemen to the dance, being four brothers, a cousin, and two friends.

On the evening, Ms. Kingsley only brought her two brothers, the oldest brother's wife, and another young lady. Ms. Kingsley was good looking and ladylike, unreserved and without snobbery. Her sister in law, Ms. Hughes, dressed like a lady, but did not have the proper manners. Ms. Kingsley's friend, Ms. Dekker, was the immediate favorite. She was tall, handsome, and was accompanied by a rumor that she was worth eighty thousand a year. The ladies all approved of her, the gentlemen said she was much better looking than Ms. Kingsley, and everyone admired her for a half an hour.

Then it was discovered that Ms. Dekker considered everyone at the dance below her and that nothing could please her, and the general opinion became that she had a forbidding appearance, a disagreeable manner, and was generally inferior to her friend.

Ms. Kingsley eagerly sought everyone's acquaintance, danced every dance, and talked of giving a ball at Nethercliffe. Her friend's behavior made a stark contrast. Ms. Dekker danced only two dances, one with Mr. Hughes and one with Master Kingsley. She refused to be introduced to any other gentleman, and spent the rest of the evening walking about, speaking only to the Kingsleys and the Hughes.

Because of the shortage of ladies, some of the men danced together; Elijah Benton danced with his friend Charles Luther more than once. Because the dance floor was crowded, one of those dances was confined to an area near where Ms. Dekker was standing. Ms. Kingsley came to her to try to get her to dance.

Come, Dekker, you must dance. There are too few ladies as it is! Look at all the pretty boys waiting to be asked. You must dance.

No, thank you. You know I do not enjoy it unless I know my partner, or he is extremely pretty. You have taken the only extremely pretty boy here, Ms. Dekker said, looking at Master Benton.

Yes, he is very beautiful, but here is one of his brothers who is almost as pretty. Let me have my partner introduce you.

Ms. Dekker looked at Elijah for a moment. He is adequate, but I am not in the mood tonight for adequate to tempt me. You will get nowhere with me, I'm afraid. Ms. Kingsley returned to John Benton and Ms. Dekker walked off, leaving Elijah with a definite dislike for her. It was an excellent story, however, and he got a lot of amusement by telling it to his family and friends. Mr. Benton was horrified that anyone might slight one of his sons.

On the whole, however, the evening was pleasant for the Benton family. Mr. Benton had seen his eldest son singled out for attention from Ms. Kingsley, which gave him great pleasure. John was equally pleased, though it was harder to tell from his behavior. Apart from Ms. Dekker's slight, Elijah had enjoyed himself, and was pleased for John. Martin had overheard himself referred to as one of the most accomplished boys on the habitat, and Lyle had danced every dance with a lady, which was an accomplishment of sorts under the circumstances. On returning to Littlebarn, Mr. Benton chattered happily to his wife, describing Ms. Kingsley's partners for every dance.

You should have been there, my dear, he said. John was everyone's favorite. Ms. Kingsley danced with him twice, and he was the only one she honored with that distinction. First she danced with Master Luther, as she should, of course. Then she danced with John. Next she asked Master Queen, and then with Eli--

Enough of this! his wife said. I wish she hadn't returned, if I have to listen to a catalog of every dance.

Normally such an interruption would put Mr. Benton in a bad mood, but his spirits were so high that it didn't affect him at all. I am very pleased with Ms. Kingsley. She is so handsome, and her brothers are such pleasant men, and so well dressed. You should have seen Mr. Hughes' outfit. He had nanodisplays--

You know I have no interest in clothing, especially men's outfits, Ms. Benton said.

In need of another subject, Mr. Benton settled on Ms. Dekker's pride and her remarks about Eli. She is so conceited, walking about looking down her nose at everyone. Not pretty enough to dance with! She is the most disagreeable woman who ever lived.

Chapter 3

John had not praised Ms. Kingsley much while with his parents, but when he was alone with Elijah he felt he could be more open. She is just what I like in a woman, sensitive, witty, well bred. She put me at ease immediately.

She is also rich and good looking, which is desirable if it can be arranged. She is therefore perfect, and I wish you both every happiness.

I was surprised that she asked me to dance a second time. I did not expect it.

No, you wouldn't, but I expected it for you, Elijah said. That's how it always is. You don't expect to be complimented, but I assume you will be. How could she miss seeing that you were the prettiest man there? Of course she asked you again. Anyway, you have liked much sillier women, so you have my permission to like Ms. Kingsley.

Eli, really!

You are too quick to think well of people, you know. You can never see anything bad in anyone. You never say anything bad about anyone. I have never seen anyone else like that.

You know I always say what I mean, John said.

Yes, I do know it, and that is what's so puzzling. Many people claim to be candid, when they simply want an excuse to be insulting. But you, who truly does speak his mind, never has a bad word about anyone.

You exaggerate.

Elijah let this pass. So, you like this woman? Do you like her brothers as well? They are not as well bred as her.

No, but they are pleasing enough when you get to know them. Master Kingsley is to live with his sister and keep her house, and I think we will find him a very nice neighbor.

Elijah did not agree, though he did not say so. With better powers of observation than his brother, and greater opportunity to use them, he found little in them to like. They were fine gentlemen and could be pleasant when they wanted to, but were too proud to want to very often. They were pretty, well educated, rich, from a good family in North America, and used to associating with nobility. In other words, they had every right to think well of themselves and poorly of others. This did not mean the others had to approve.

Although Ms. Kingsley had inherited assets worth 800,000 crowns, they did not include an estate. Though intending to purchase one, she had rented Nethercliffe Hall and might be pleased to stay there, leaving the purchase to the next generation. Her brothers would not object to such a plan. Though his sister was only a tenant, Master Kingsley was content to run her house, and Mr. Hughes, whose wife dealt better with fashion than finances, was inclined to consider Ms. Kingsley's house as his home, wherever it might be, whenever it suited him.

Kingsley and Dekker, despite the differences in their characters, were close friends. Dekker enjoyed Kingsley's easy, open, friendly ways, and knew she would have fewer friends if she did not have Kingsley to introduce them. Kingsley knew that Dekker was the smarter of the two, and deferred to Dekker's good judgment on important manners. Dekker was smart and well bred, but she was also quiet and reserved, and did not invite people to get to know her. In this she was inferior to her friend, for she was always offending