The Baron of Latiz (6)

 6

Samh 08.20.1339 17:57

After Amoranda had thanked her groundskeeper and he left, her butler entered and told her that an older gentleman had just stepped out of his landcraft at her gate. 

“He told me your uncle sent a letter of introduction for him,” the butler said. 

Since her world seemed filled with plots, she had not had time to check her recent messages. She quickly scanned through her com-tab and found one from her uncle: 

I have at last, my dearest Amoranda, found a person to whom I think I can entrust your care. He is an old and dear friend for whom I have the greatest value. As such, I want you to take him into your confidence and use him in my stead to help you manage all your affairs. I have so good opinion of your prudence in all matters that I believe you will probably not need his advice often. For this reason, he will only give it to you when you ask him unless he finds it necessary to intervene. Although he is an old man, he is not rude, abrasive, nor sour. You will, I hope, because of my past behavior toward you, know you are very dear to me. I have no better way of showing it for the future than by putting you into such competent hands as those of Silvergor, which is the name of the gentleman I am sending. His retinal image file is attached for your security. If you would oblige me, please show your respect for him to give me great comfort.

Your most affectionate, 

Uncle Jarlwyn

When Amoranda read the letter and uploaded the security file into her system, she had the butler confirm the gentleman was Silvergor and lead him into her parlor. The gentleman had gray hair and a long matching beard, and was bent over a cane. Amoranda’s first thoughts were that she was not all that pleased with having such and elderly guardian, but since her uncle was now acting as both her mother and father, she resolved to obey him. 

“I find, Sir,” she said with a welcoming smile, “I am no longer my own mistress, but I am to live under your restrictions. I promise you I will always listen to your advice and obey it as often as I can. In return, I do hope, however, you will remember that I am young and lighthearted. I know you are older and much more serious about life than I. The disparity in our years may also prove to show a vast difference in our dispositions. I will make a bargain with you. If you will bear with a little of my youthful folly, I will bear with a great deal of your aged sagacity. Then, we will be as agreeable to one another as it is possible for Age and Youth to be.” 

“Madam,” Silvergor said, “I agree to all your proposals, and I will be very cautious how I advise you. The times I do so will be when your own reason must side with me. I am sure you already have too much sensibility to act against reason unless you do it inadvertently. All young people are fond of pleasure and tend to thrust out every thought that opposes that path with disgrace, but—”

“Goodness,” Amoranda said, “I believe you must be a minister because you are preaching so much about running away from pleasure. You are going to argue me out of my sensibility. I told you I would not jump into your serious measures instantly. Come, innocent cheerfulness is more acceptable than a crabby temper that gives everyone a stomachache when they must be around it.”

“Madam, I think you misunderstand. I am not as disagreeable as what you have described. I believe both young and old people act with that very innocent freedom you speak of, but what I protest against is unrestrainedly pursuing pleasure, which is more apt to be done by the young and which all too often leads them to destruction.”

“What exactly do you mean by ‘pleasure?’” she asked. 

“I call everything pleasure that pleases us. I dare say you will admit a great many things may and do please us which are very flawed. For example, suppose a fine young lady of superior beauty invites all the men on the planet to visit her. I do not doubt it would give each one participating an exquisite pleasure, but at the same time, this great fault would give other people exquisite grief. All the other women would certainly feel pain when they see one monopolizing all the male world to herself.”

“Surely not,” Amoranda said, blushing slightly. “There never was any such thing as a single woman who could enthrall every male. Believe me, Sir, you all love variety too well for that. Your affections, like your money, circulate all the planet over so that it is only the woman can keep her admirers the longest that we feel pain, not who can keep them always for none of us could expect that.

“But come, Silvergor,” she said, “I must admit you have come to me at a very important point in time. Since my uncle has commanded me to use you as I would him, after supper, I will give you an earful of intrigue and prove the duty I owe him and my confidence in you.”