The Viscount of La Soutain (8)

8

Samh 9.10.1342 10:00

 

On the sixth morning after his arrival home, Lobo opened the doors of Viscount Elwynalam’s and announced Mr. Theodomani Montrevor. With his usual dignity and grace, Geodor cordially greeted the stranger for whom he had risked his own life. There was no idle speech between them, though. He hoped this was the beginning of a true and sincere friendship.

Theodomani repeatedly expressed his gratitude during their discussion, and Geodor brushed him off with questions he had wanted to ask but did not have the time for on the shuttle home from the moon. They were so involved in good conversation that time glided by imperceptibly until dinner was announced. Geodor insisted his new friend stay. Their conversation continued into the dining room, where Geodor guided it to opinions on marriage. Here, Theodomani began to speak of his relationship with a woman named Jeanilotta.

Scarcely had Geodor dismissed the servants who had attended them during dinner when the doorbell rang repeatedly and violently. Soon, the sounds of an angry altercation reached them.

“Listen,” he said, “and you will hear how loyal my servants are.” The voices became louder, and the usually suppressed and monotonous replies of Lobo grew more and more distinct until the argument was heard without effort.

“I tell you,” said a voice Geodor did not recognize, “we have come to visit your master! Show us in at once!”

“I will not! Your names are not on the list, and no others are to be admitted. This is Viscount Elwynalam’s command.”

“Do you know who we are? We are doing him a favor by taking time out of our day to call on him.”

“Doubtless, sirs.”

“Then show us in—why delay?”

“I dare not disobey orders.”

“Do as we wish, and we will take any consequences for you.”

“I cannot.”

“You must.”

“I won’t.”

“Here is a fifty-note for your trouble.”

“Even if you offered me a thousand-note, I would not allow you to see him,” the calm voice responded, and Geodor smiled proudly.

The smile was quickly replaced with a frown as they heard a scuffle. Geodor walked toward the button to summon someone to aid Lobo, but before he pressed it, two men in plain black suits entered indiscriminately. He saw through the door that another two continued struggling in the hallway with Lobo, who got free, rushed into the dining room, and bowed to his master.

“Please, pardon me, sir. I did all I could,” he said, then stood and awaited further orders.

Theodomani had risen and stiffly observed the intruders. Geodor motioned for Theodomani to sit again.

“I wonder what crisis has caused these gentlemen to honor me with their intrusion upon a private party,” Geodor stated to Theodomani. Then turning to the interlopers, he asked, “Is there some emergency at the hospital and all forms of traditional communication were unavailable for whatever reason?”

At the sight of Geodor in person, the men had entirely changed their domineering boldness for an aspect of cringing servility and forgot to reply. Instead, they stared at him with impertinent curiosity as if to inhale in one breath a full dose of his noble character.

“I am awaiting your answer,” he prompted impatiently.

“Why do you keep such an unmannerly servant at your door?” one replied vehemently, rubbing a bruised hand and pointing to Lobo. “I told him we came to speak with you, but he refused to admit us. We aren’t accustomed to being treated like this,” he finished sulkily.

“In that case, one would think that you are only accustomed to dealing with awful servants. He correctly obeyed his orders,” Geodor replied with lofty contempt, “and will do so again. Lobo, show these gentlemen out. If need be, ring for assistance.”

Then, motioning to Theodomani, Geodor led him into another apartment as Lobo tossed open the door and bowed slightly, expecting the intruders to leave immediately at his master’s bidding. However, as soon as Geodor and his friend had entered the adjoining room, an alarm rang out, and five or six trained servants appeared as the visitors rushed into the apartment where Theodomani and he had gone. The servants followed them.

“Silence!” exclaimed Geodor, pulling a riflazer off the wall and aiming it at the intruders. Turning to Theodomani, he asked, “Mr. Montrevor, my friend, are you acquainted with these gentlemen?”

“They’re not my acquaintances,” replied Theodomani incredulously, “but I believe I recognize their faces and can inform you of their names.”

“My servant should have that from the security cameras and be able to fill out the report,” Viscount Elwynalam said. “Lobo. Marcellus.”

“Excuse us—I didn’t mean to insist upon a conference,” the man who had spoken earlier blubbered, “but we have not yet obeyed our instructions. There is to be a ball, and we were sent—”

“Sir, you remain here at risk of your own life,” Geodor interrupted, leveling the riflazar at the speaker’s heart. “This is my home, and it is my choice to allow entry only to those I wish. You have forced your way into it, assaulted my servants, and generally destroyed my evening. Take that response back to whomever sent you, but do it quickly. Your behavior is being reported to the authorities as we speak, and your freedom will not last much longer. Further, if you take one more step toward me or my guest, I’ll conclude you mean us bodily harm and take the appropriate action against you.”

With a glance of icy coldness and withering haughtiness, he continued his retreat with Theodomani further into his private apartments, maintaining the rifle sights upon the man nearest them. Once inside, he double locked the door to secure it.

“Gravy!” exclaimed Theodomani, blushing at the men’s poor behavior, “La Soutain has many noble souls, but for every man who has money, it seems only half have the manners that should go with it!”

“Don’t worry, my new friend,” Geodor replied gently. “It seems everywhere there are men with so much time on their hands that they don’t feel the least hesitation about making the most unjustifiable demands upon others’. La Soutain is not alone in harboring such individuals.”

Lobo’s face appeared on a com-tab hanging on the wall.

“They have gone, and peace has returned to the house,” he said with his typically unruffled demeanor.

“Bring the rest of our dessert in here lest another hospitality committee appear and attempt to gain an audience with me.”

“As you desire,” Lobo stated.

After finishing their dessert without further interruption, they agreed to visit Theodomani’s fiancée that night. He had mentioned she had a cousin living with her, and Geodor felt it was as good a time as any to begin his wife search. Although Theodomani had described the woman as mild-mannered and not his type, Geodor believed a mild-mannered woman was exactly what he needed. 

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