|
|
I rapped sharply three times on the large, oak door to Carew Manor. It was not Emma's manservant who answered, but my darling herself...She must have seen me approaching.
"Come in." she all but ordered me, emotion gone from her voice.
"Thank you."
"Your presence is a...surprise, Doctor, but are you sure you have business here? We did not ring for you, and I don't believe anyone is ill..."
I shivered in response to her chilly remark. She folded her arms crossly. I thought it wisest that I move along...
"No, there is another situation I have come to remedy..."
I made a swoop, leaning out the still open door, and scooped up a bouquet of a dozen orchids, bright yellow in color, except for the centers, which were a radiant fuschia.
"Angel bells, he called them, I think," I informed her as I handed them to her. "Ideal."
I could see she was surprised, but she was making her best attempt at maintaining her stern attitude...Still, a hint of a smile perked on the corners of her sweet mouth as she handed them to her servant, who had suddenly appeared seemingly from the very air...as I have noticed servants have a tendency to do...
"Henry, my love is not a fee you can repay in flowers, I assumed youíd know that by n -- Oh!"
By then I had retrieved the second and third bouquets, both of which were larger than the first, and composed of dozens of ivory lilies, with a few crimson roses interspersed, and the edges of both lined with babyís breath. They were quite nice, I had thought, a successful collaboration of Mr. West's ideas and my own. I made an apologetic face and held them out to her.
"My goodness..." she sighed, staring at the bouquets resting on either of my arms. She blinked and shook her head before collecting one of them. Her look was beyond words, and worth ten times the sum I had paid Mr. West....even accounting for the few extra pounds I had given him, and that I refused to let him refuse. I wish the man had better business, truthfully.
"I will not allow you to...to do this..." she said, much more quietly, now unable to hide a smile. "They are beautiful, however.."
I took a step towards her... "If they aren't ample... 'payment', as you say..."
I pulled her face to mine, and I...
Though my eyes were still closed, I felt Emma's open in surprise, which jolted me back into cognizance...I parted the kiss roughly and abruptly, turning away, unable to face my love...What had I been thinking?! Daring to kiss her in the manner of some sort of ruffian... I chose not to even consider a possible explanation....
"Henry....Jekyll...." I heard her whisper slowly....I was sure she must have been devasta--
"Your kisses have certainly grown...more alluring...since last I saw you...If this is to follow a pattern, I think I shall have to send you away and have you return in a month's time!"
I spun back, turning from a pale colour to a shade mirroring that of the roses...I found that comment to be less than humorous...!
"No...Belvedere James?" I asked after a beat, trying slowly to pry her away from the previous event, which was sure not to be repeated...
"I am afraid not...He rests, in my room...He...he hasn't been eating..." she bit her lower lip, and her eyes dropped to the floor, the traces of sadness in her face plain to see.
"I'm sorry," I told her, taking her hand. I did mean it. She was concerned for a...family member, or something she considered to be one, so I suppose I did feel a bit of empathy... "An expert of animal medicine I do not pretend to be, but I am sure his appetite will return."
She lifted her gaze, brightening a small amount.
"...On the positive side, though..." I added, "At least I do not have to compete for your attention today. I truly hoped I would not have to resort to begging and barking."
She sighed, and began walking away from me, pulling her hand from mine... Not the response I'd expected... "You make a feeble complaint, Henry..." she murmured, now at the opposite side of the room, facing that wall. "If only you were to endure the competition I have..."
She then shot a sharp look in my direction, and I gave her a questioning one in return.
"Your work is all you seem to think of! Do you care for nothing..."
I'd closed the distance between us, then, and placed a finger to her lips, silencing her.
"Shhh...You are right, and I see that now. My studies...I am finished with them, for the time being....I may resume at a later point in time...but at the present...Well, that is what I need to concentrate on: what is at hand..."
I lowered my hand and once more took hers, silently giving my statement a closing. She was free to speak again, but she remained silent.
"Do you still wish me to leave for a month?!" I asked, breaking the stillness.
"Henry...You neednít sacrifice your work completely! It was my wish that some balance re-enter the situation, but..."
"NO!" I near shouted. She gave a little shudder at my volume. "No..." I repeated, my voice now hushed, "I speak of what is good, and what is right. How can I possibly strive to achieve it when I ignore what I know to be correct?"
"Thank you, Henry."
She slid her slender, graceful arms around my torso, and placed her head on my chest. Putting my arms around her, I cursed myself for turning this away but days ago...
"Some of father's friends from the Board will be coming next Monday for a small party, and a few of my friends as well..." She said, looking up, "Please come, dear..."
The Board...of Governors? Ugh. It really couldn't be considered a party in their company, I feared...But...
"If you wish it, I will be there. You may depend upon it."
Her eyes gleamed, and her angelic face, with the vividly coloured flowers
behind her, was an image I cannot forget.