I crossed the garden, staying near the hedgerow borders until the pathway debouched onto one of the lovely brick streets. A quick glance down the street revealed scarcely any traffic--but way up at the other end were two tall, armed individuals wearing blue and black-and-white livery.
Which meant the Marquis was somewhere around.
For a moment I indulged in a brief but satisfying daydream of scoring him off as I had off the Baron the night before. But amusing as the daydream was, I was about to go searching him out.
First of all, while I didn't look like I had before, the dress wasn't much of a disguise; and second…I frowned. Despite his reputation as a fop and a gamester, I wasn't all that certain he would react as slowly as Debegri had.
I retreated back to the garden to think out my next step. Mist was falling, boding ill weather for the remainder of the day. And my stomach felt as if it had been permanently pressed against the back of my spine.
I pulled the laces of the bodice tighter, hoping that would help, then sat on a rock and propped my elbows on my knees.
"Are you lost?"
The voice, a quiet one, made me start violently. My shoulders came up defensively as I turned to face an elderly man. He was elegantly dressed, wearing a fine hat in the latest fashion, and carried no weapons.
"Oh no. I was supposed to meet someone here, and…" I shrugged, thinking wildly. "A-a flirt," I added, I don't know why. "I guess he changed his mind." I got to my feet again.
The man smiled a little. "It happens more frequently than not when one is young, if you'll forgive my saying so."
"Oh, I know." I waved my hands as I backed up one step, then another. "They smile, and dance, and then go off with someone else. But I'll just find someone better. So I'll be on my way," I babbled.
He nodded politely, almost a bow, and I whirled around and scurried down the path.
Even more intensely than before, I felt that crawling sensation down my spine, so I dropped off the path and circled back. I was slightly reassured when I saw the old man making his way slowly along the path as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened; but my relief was very short lived.
As I watched, two equerries in Renselaeus livery strode along the path, overtook the man, and addressed him. I watched with my heart thumping like a drum as the man spoke at some length, brushed his fingers against his face--
--and then gestured in the direction I had gone.
Expecting the two equerries to immediately take off after me, I braced for a run. I thought, annoyed with myself. But the equerries both turned and walked swiftly back in the direction they'd come, and the old man continued on his way.
And the answer was not long in coming: They were going back to report.
Which meant a whole lot of them searching. And soon."
Which meant the Marquis was somewhere around.
For a moment I indulged in a brief but satisfying daydream of scoring him off as I had off the Baron the night before. But amusing as the daydream was, I was about to go searching him out.
First of all, while I didn't look like I had before, the dress wasn't much of a disguise; and second…I frowned. Despite his reputation as a fop and a gamester, I wasn't all that certain he would react as slowly as Debegri had.
I retreated back to the garden to think out my next step. Mist was falling, boding ill weather for the remainder of the day. And my stomach felt as if it had been permanently pressed against the back of my spine.
I pulled the laces of the bodice tighter, hoping that would help, then sat on a rock and propped my elbows on my knees.
"Are you lost?"
The voice, a quiet one, made me start violently. My shoulders came up defensively as I turned to face an elderly man. He was elegantly dressed, wearing a fine hat in the latest fashion, and carried no weapons.
"Oh no. I was supposed to meet someone here, and…" I shrugged, thinking wildly. "A-a flirt," I added, I don't know why. "I guess he changed his mind." I got to my feet again.
The man smiled a little. "It happens more frequently than not when one is young, if you'll forgive my saying so."
"Oh, I know." I waved my hands as I backed up one step, then another. "They smile, and dance, and then go off with someone else. But I'll just find someone better. So I'll be on my way," I babbled.
He nodded politely, almost a bow, and I whirled around and scurried down the path.
Even more intensely than before, I felt that crawling sensation down my spine, so I dropped off the path and circled back. I was slightly reassured when I saw the old man making his way slowly along the path as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened; but my relief was very short lived.
As I watched, two equerries in Renselaeus livery strode along the path, overtook the man, and addressed him. I watched with my heart thumping like a drum as the man spoke at some length, brushed his fingers against his face--
--and then gestured in the direction I had gone.
Expecting the two equerries to immediately take off after me, I braced for a run. I thought, annoyed with myself. But the equerries both turned and walked swiftly back in the direction they'd come, and the old man continued on his way.
And the answer was not long in coming: They were going back to report.
Which meant a whole lot of them searching. And soon."
( Sherwood Smith )
[ Crown Duel ]
www.QuoteSweet.com