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Post by Mirielle Bellamont on Jan 16, 2008 1:15:28 GMT -5
I had a feeling that he was going to say something else, but I didn't think either of us was in the right mindset for me to pressure. Besides, if he'd changed his mind to something else, I wouldn't question him. "How's To-Biko, by the way? It's been a while since I've seen him."
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Jan 16, 2008 1:24:18 GMT -5
"He's fine," I replied. "And hopefully finer soon," I added. True enough, there would be a discussion about perhaps Riva helping him as well, when she could do it. The poor girl had looked completely wiped out. "But he always asks about you, and speaks of you fondly. Mayhap you will come home for dinner, after the Hunt? It would be lovely to have you over, you know... a family dinner, time to catch up, and to meet the new additions..."
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Post by Mirielle Bellamont on Jan 16, 2008 1:27:41 GMT -5
I perked near instantly. "New additions?" I tilted my head; so much had happened in the past few days that I was having a hard time keeping track of the details; yet another thing that was vexing me. I never had that problem before. A cat? A bird? "Did someone come in from La Serenissima to visit?"
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Jan 16, 2008 1:39:28 GMT -5
"Not something so foreign, but almost," I replied. "I told you, that adept whose marque I had a mind to purchase...." I paused, looking at her intently, with all the earnest that was in my heart. I wasn't lying one bit. "Well, she is the one who cured me, and I intend to take her as my assistant," I said. "I should be meeting with the Dowayne in the next few days to negotiate the contract."
Gods, I hoped she wouldn't... "I hope you will like her," I added. "She is quite fetching, in a vulnerable way."
I am not in love with her, Mirielle. I love you, and you alone. I'd told Mirielle about my intentions before. I only hoped she hadn't forgotten.
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Post by Mirielle Bellamont on Jan 16, 2008 12:33:34 GMT -5
Another thing to think on. I felt my spine begin to stiffen when he spoke of how fetching and vulnerable she was, though I mentally chided myself, reminding that Gil wasn't tied to me any more than I was to him. If he found someone else fetching and vulnerable, someone who cured him and he wanted to make her part of his family, who was I to argue?
I nodded my head, pushing it away to think about later, couple it with the decisions I faced with Augusts courting and Gils proposal. It was minuscule in comparison.
"I'm sure she's lovely," I said. "How is Cascata doing?"
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Jan 16, 2008 16:56:41 GMT -5
“Not half as lovely as you are,” I replied sincerely. Was it her body that I felt becoming so still? There was distance, between us, something new that I could not name, and it put me ill at ease. I blamed it on the violence of the news… for now.
“Cascata is fine,” I replied thoughtfully. “She’s been a trooper through it all, my little sister. It wasn’t easy, you know, dealing with all the risks involved, and she has taken all of them in stride.” Inwardly, I shook my head at myself. It was high time I cease putting those I cared about through the grinder.
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Post by Mirielle Bellamont on Jan 16, 2008 20:21:01 GMT -5
I smiled a little more, nodding my head. "I'm glad. You have a good family, Gil, and they're lucky to have you, too."
I leaned over and kissed his forehead, feeling a little more relaxed now that everything was beginning to sink in. "Are you going to the hunt fete?"
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Jan 16, 2008 20:33:13 GMT -5
Her gesture was so tender, it made me close my eyes. Yes, I had a good family. I just prayed the rumors of our mother's madness were unfounded.
I shoved the thought away, keeping my mind light. "Of course," I replied with a smile. "It will be good, to have an event, where it's just me... and where I am free to do my bidding," I added, my eyes mischievous. Of course, I desired her. I'd kept it in check for her sake, but I still wanted her madly. "By your question, I assume that you are going as well, is that so?"
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Post by Mirielle Bellamont on Jan 17, 2008 11:02:32 GMT -5
I nodded, smiling quietly. "Of course; I won't be attending the Hunt itself, but I'll be at the fete. I don't doubt you're looking forward to going, though, unobstructed as you will be."
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Jan 17, 2008 12:08:41 GMT -5
I was torn. In truth, I wanted to take her, but I needed Riva to get an in, should the meeting with her Dowayne go as well as I hoped. If I didn’t bring her, she wouldn’t get it, seeing as she wasn’t a peer.
“Then perhaps I can steal you away for a dance then?” I asked. “In truth, it’s spending time with you, that I’m looking forward to,” I explained. “I will take Riva with me,” I added. “She will be making her debut as a member of my household, that night. But she will be entirely free to mingle, and I…” I looked at her in the eye, “am free to spend the evening with you, if you will have me.”
I looked at her askance. There was nothing more I wanted than to be with her, to adore her madly. There was work, then there was her. Did I still want to marry her? Of course I did. But I’d told her to take her time, and it wouldn’t be fair to push her, not today, not this way. And so for now, I was willing to accept what time she had…
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Post by Mirielle Bellamont on Jan 17, 2008 12:13:09 GMT -5
"Of course," I responded, smiling at him. "I'd be happy to dance with you, Gil. It'd be the first time where it was just you and I, after all." My eyes twinkled a little before sobering slightly. "You have to go, I take it?" His demeanor had changed some; I was beginning to recognize the signs in him.
Riva. I'd like to meet her, of course, but I wasn't sure how the fete would go, only that I'd be arriving quite alone. I had my dress already, gold and smooth, something that was classy and I loved. And Gil needed to know about August, but if he was leaving I didn't want to stave him, nor make the departure less than it could be. There was time, still. I hadn't had much of it myself to think on it.
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Jan 17, 2008 12:46:00 GMT -5
“I have a worried little sister at home,” I told her apologetically, “and I wouldn’t want to let her be ill with it.” I took her hand to my lips, kissing the inside of her palm reverently, “But yes, just you and me, my beautiful, wonderful beloved. I can’t tell you how much I look forward to it.”
But gods, there were things to attend. Cascata, as the Lady of the House, the future owner of the townhome, had of course full control over the preparations for Riva’s arrival. Nonetheless, I didn’t want to overburden her with them, and I had, atop of it, much work to do pertaining to the Estate, and to the going-ons in La Serenissima.
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Post by Mirielle Bellamont on Jan 17, 2008 14:56:08 GMT -5
I nodded and folded my fingers over his, smiling as I stood. "I understand, truly. Give her my best after you deliver your news, would you?" I tugged up on his hand softly to draw him up, then leaned and kissed his cheek. "I'll see you at the fete, I'm sure of it."
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Jan 18, 2008 18:53:48 GMT -5
I stood, not quite using her to lift myself, though I accepted her hand. “I will, and I expect to fend off the millions of admirers who would keep you away from me,” I added in a jest, a memory of an old pleasantry, mayhap the first one I’d told her. I pulled her to me gently and pressed my lips to hers in a soft kiss of good bye.
“Until then, my love,” I whispered against her lips.
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Post by Mirielle Bellamont on Jan 19, 2008 12:21:00 GMT -5
I smiled, remembering the teasings he'd given me at the Generous Patron, then kissed him back softly. "Be well, Gillermo," I whispered back, my lips giving his one last tender kiss as I kept my eyes closed, locking this moment away into memory.
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Jan 19, 2008 12:57:41 GMT -5
“And you, Mirielle,” I replied in the tender embrace. It was beautiful, quiet, somewhat of a moment suspended in time. It might have lasted only a few seconds, but the truth was, it felt like infinity in a bottle.
Reluctantly, slowly, I pulled away. “Until the Fete, then,” I told her with elegant adore. I gave her a look that was hers, and only hers, and turned to leave, though I paused before I entered the house to look at her one last time. Committing the sight of her to my memory, I gave her a dashing grin, and exited the premises. No doubt, there would be still a lot to talk about, but I was beyond ecstatic for our stolen moments.
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