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Samh 11.05.1342 15:26
To his delight, Geodor was occasionally sent to the lieutenant’s private residence during the hours he was employed on confidential business. He was there one day in the front hall when he overheard the two cousins in the main parlor.
“There is Viscount Elwynalam's landcraft," Jeanilotta exclaimed with high glee. "He has come at last! How I wish papa would send away that young man in the hall. I do not want his lordship to see such vulgar people about the house.”
“Hush! He will hear you and his feelings will be wounded," replied Abaledina with a voice so low that it scarcely reached Geodor. "Your father says that young gentleman is his new brokerage clerk, and he respects—"
"Tsk! This is not Viscount Elwynalam after all," interrupted Jeanilotta, disappointed. “But it looks as if the messenger has a note. How I wish that clerk would go! I dislike to have even the viscount’s servant see him here."
Geodor stood, passive as a machine. For a moment, his only worry was that Marcellus might recognize him as he watched the proud girl receive the note from the hands of his servant. She pressed it to her lips, and eagerly perused it with flashing eyes. He knew that it simply announced his return and requested permission to visit her. He was not quite certain how he was going to juggle being two people at once, but he longed to spend more time with Abaledina and saw this as the only way of doing it. Glimpsing her on the rare occasions when he was sent to the lieutenant’s home had only made him more interested in her.
“Say to Viscount Elwynalam that I am at home this evening," she told the servant, who bowed and departed. As Jeanilotta rushed upstairs past him, presumably to tell her mother, Geodor relaxed. No flicker of recognition had passed in his servant’s eye.
Almost as soon as Jeanilotta had disappeared, Abaledina entered the hallway.
“Would you like to join me in the parlor,” she asked politely. “You must be much fatigued from standing here so long.”
"Thank you, Lady," he said in his low musical voice. She glanced at him, and his heart beat quickly with the thought he was discovered. Then she frowned, shook her head, and continued leading him into the parlor.
“I believe you are Mr. De Montfort?” she asked, her natural kindness causing her not to stand on ceremony. "I have many times heard my uncle speak very highly of you."
Geodor bowed.
"It is an honor,” he replied. “I had not anticipated receiving his praises, but to hear those praises echoed by the fair lips of his beautiful niece gives me much happiness."
"You know me then?” she asked, drawing her worktable toward her completely at ease with him.
“Only as the beautiful and the good are always known," he replied, letting the light of his clear, brilliant blue eyes fall upon her with a joyous expression. “Last night, I heard Miss Abaledina Gillfillian's name repeated with tears of gratitude. You had just brought food to one of the families who was recently ill at the War Infirmary."
Abaledina blushed.
“You must also visit the suffering or my deed would remain unknown," she replied. Geodor nodded and felt an invisible bond of sympathy for those less fortunate between them. One topic led to another, and Geodor found in this humble attire that they were being imperceptibly drawn toward each other in conversation on a myriad of topics. As himself, he had only been able to speak with her thus at the ball because their conversation was always dominated by Jeanilotta.
Several minutes later, he rather regretted seeing the servant bring the box he was to return to Lieutenant Gillfillian’s place of business. Geodor arose to depart, and Abaledina also arose with him.
“With your permission, I will ask my dear uncle, if I may invite you to come share with us now and then at an hour of your leisure. I have much enjoyed our conversation today."
“Certainly, whenever you wish. I would welcome the change from my rather mundane life." Pleasure sparkled in her fine eyes. “Time in conversation with you will be the happiest hours of my life."
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