Samh
9.14.1342 22:00
Viscount Elwynalam’s sharp retort did more than he
promised, and they were unbothered for the rest of the evening. He parted from Abaledina
with a friendly grasp of the hand after she willingly gave him permission to
become a regular, welcome visitor.
Upon retiring to the shared parlor immediately
afterward, Abaledina continued smiling, which she attributed to spending such a
wonderful evening in such good company. With all her wealth and beauty, she was
neither proud nor vain and did not suspect that Viscount Elwynalam had fallen
in love with her after only two meetings nor did she presume that he intended
to do so in the future. Her humble opinion of herself only allowed her to know
she had been very content with him, and he had lifted her spirits in a way no
other man had. She supposed he had also enjoyed her company since he had not
sought out someone else’s company even when given the perfect opportunity to do
so.
“Isn’t he splendid!” gushed Jeanilotta as she flitted
into the parlor with a flushed cheek and flashing eye. “I acknowledge it
frankly: I would adore such a man for my husband. Now, tell me your opinion.”
“I can
hardly form one on such a slight acquaintance,” replied Abaledina quietly. “But
I think he possesses a noble soul.”
“Did he tell you when he was coming back to see
us?”
“He asked me if he could return without making a
formal date. I told him that would be fine, but isn’t it wiser for us not to think
about him? In a few weeks, you and Theodomani will be united, and I—I—” Here,
she hesitated and blushed deeply.
“Speak for yourself. Unlike you, I haven’t been
pledged from childhood to a man, and I didn’t give that pledge on my father’s
dying breath—witnessed by my parents and his. I have no honor oath binding me
to Theodomani. I merely accepted his proposal two years ago privately and
verbally. Surely that doesn’t bind me to him like your oath binds you to my
brother. Who’s to say what might happen in the next few weeks?”
With that, Jeanilotta pranced into her bathroom,
leaving Abaledina staring after her perplexed. In her mind, forming an
attachment based on love as an adult had much more weight than an attachment
forced upon you as a child, but perhaps both had equal weight.
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