Chapter Text
“Henry,” she leans on him heavily “I need to go home.” She whispers it into his ear in an oddly urgent voice. He gives her an annoyed look because he is in the middle of trying to charm the Austrian ambassador, as she explicitly asked him to do.
“I forgot to eat,” she says in an a apparent non sequitur and pushes against him harder causing him to do a half step to the side to remain standing. She stumbles when he does and he has to hold out his arms to catch her so she doesn’t fall.
He shoots the Ambassador his most charming smile “I’ll be right back and then we can talk more about the restoration of St. Stephen’s.”
He guides Elizabeth with an arm around her waist to a secluded corner. “What was that?” He hisses while glancing around to make sure no one is watching them. Elizabeth had spent half an hour in her office lecturing her staff (while he sat awkwardly near by) on the delicacy and importance of the negotiations taking place at this event. She had ended with a “No screw-ups, we need this.” Matt had looked suitably chastened, Blake had started compulsively straightening his tie, Daisy sighed, and Nadine has followed up Elizabeth’s death glare with one of her own.
She squeezes his hand and lets out a little desperate sound. “I need to go home.”
He continues scanning the room. “I haven’t even gotten to the Italian Minister I’m supposed to coax into joining your coalition. And I know you haven’t spoken to the Germans, Avdonin had you cornered.”
“The room is spinning Henry, I need to go home.” His brow wrinkles in confusion and he turns to look at her, really look at her. Her eyes are glazed, her cheeks flushed.
“Are you sic…” he pauses suddenly putting together her earlier statement. “You’re drunk?”
She nods. “Avdonin,” she fumbles the name but he understands, “kept passing me shots of vodka. He brought it special from Russia or something.” He sighs, he’s more annoyed than anything, he hadn’t really wanted to come tonight, the thought of interacting with the Russians still sending his blood pressure rocketing, and now he has to deal with this. Suddenly, inexplicably, Elizabeth bursts into tears. He startles and spins them so she’s facing the corner and he’s looking out.
“I’m sorr…I’m sorry.” She puts both hands over her eyes and curls into herself, her back curving and her shoulders pulling forward. She rocks towards him as if she wants to seek comfort but stops herself just short. He looks around with desperation, finally catching Nadine’s eye and shakes his head in a way he hopes conveys that they need to get the hell out of here. Nadine nods and starts to rally the troops, the woman is frighteningly competent.
He tugs at Elizabeth’s shoulder, trying to urge her towards a doorway but she won’t move, tears continuing to run down her face as little wracking sobs shake her body.
“Let’s go babe.” It’s the endearment that has her moving her hands and looking at him. Her makeup is too good to run but her eyes are already swollen and her face is blotchy.
“I mess everything up. I can’t even get a simple coalition together, the Russians are still going to do whatever they want to do.” And then she is crying again, perhaps harder than before.
Morose drunk Elizabeth is his least favorite, she’s impossible to reason with and the only cure is to force her to sleep it off, which is always a challenge because she just wants to wallow in self-pity. He tugs at her again, and thankfully this time she moves. He’s able to shuffle her out into the hallway with only a minimal of curious glances. He’s not sure where to go from there though, ideally her car, but he needs Blake or someone to make sure they’re out front. The hallway is better than the ballroom but it’s still far too exposed.
As if summoned by magic though Blake appears at their side. “I’ve already called the motorcade, they should be at the door in two minutes, and Nadine is giving everyone the Secretary’s apologies and letting them know she became suddenly ill.”
Elizabeth looks up at the sound of his voice and then throws herself forward, burying her head in his shoulder and resuming her crying with a few sobbed “I’m sorrys”. Blake gives Henry a frantic look. Henry shrugs his shoulders and walks over to the elevator to push the button. Blake awkwardly reaches up and pats Elizabeth’s shoulder.
The elevator dings and the doors open. Blake tries to pass Elizabeth off to Henry but she won’t go. Instead Blake pulls away and gently pushes her toward the elevator. “Get some sleep, I’ll see you in the morning Ma’am.”