My Dear Friend,
I know that this missive shall probably arrive on the
heels of my last, but I'm so upset about the events of last eve, that I
had to take a moment to reflect upon my own idiocy. Your dear cousin
can be persuasive when he wishes and I was a fool to agree, but the adventure
it promised was irresistible.
Lucas was looking for a man who is a guest of the church
and was unsure where he was staying. He asked if I'd have a look
about to determine where this man might be found. I dressed appropriately
and crept about the stables and the surroundings of the main cathedral
to no avail. Obviously the man must be quartered in one of the towers
that loom upward from the cathedral itself.
I was on my way to enter said tower when I came face
to face with one of the large Eisen guards. He was quick to seize
me and escort me to the dungeon in the same tower, to await the good Padre
and explain myself. Theus forgive my lying tongue. It's one
of my shortfalls, I'm afraid. Sometimes a lie is so much easier than
the truth, and as long as you keep straight what you lied about and to
whom, there's a great advantage to it.
Padre Alfonso entered my cell with a grave look on
his face and began to question me on what I was doing skulking about the
church. To protect your good cousin, I told him, with much blushing,
that I had made an assignation with a man and wished for none to know.
It was not seemly nor proper for us to be meeting which was why we had
settled upon meeting there, as it would be normal for us to be at the church.
The good Padre advised me that my behavior was not proper in the eyes of
Theus and began to escort me from the building. And who should be
waiting for me right outside? Ferdinand!
In the Padre's eyes, this was the man I'd come to meet.
Can you imagine? As if I would even look twice at a common soldier
as a suitor! But at my protests, the Padre merely smiled and advised
me I was to do two days of fasting and penance for my transgressions.
He then advised Ferdinand that he would do one day's penance as well and
when Ferdinand protested, Padre Alfonso made his penance two days as well.
Realizing that it could only get worse, Ferdinand agreed. We headed
toward the entrance to the church to comply with the Padre's wishes, and
once we were out of sight we argued about who's fault it was.
Two days of fasting! Admittedly, I eat little
as it is. One can't be too careful about one's appearance, you know,
but two days! My stomach already growls its protests. I spoke
briefly to Lucas before I retired and advised him that two days hence,
he would take me to dinner at Exquisite Tastes for his part in the eve.
Theus help me, two days.
Oh, and I did finally tell Don Lucas that my father
had
not given his consent for my journey and that I was in fact a runaway.
He was most gracious about it, really. Considering that I know not
how Papa feels and that Lucas could well bear the brunt of his anger, it
was kind of him to offer to help me if Papa demands my return.
Take care of yourself and write to me soon.
Meli
