Richard watched his father go without word or gesture. There were things he could have said, but he’d been lucky that things had ended so peaceably and so quickly – if Lord Blackwood wanted an end to the conversation, it would not be Richard who said otherwise. The younger man remained outside, staring up at the mist-soaked sky, and then finally exhaled.
“I-I
was going to go,” he said quietly to the heavens, and then suddenly began to laugh. What else could he do? “If-if he but knew what-what he had truly said… thank you.”
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Alice was by the door when he finally came inside, which surprised him not one bit – and Richard did not even manage a disapproving frown for her eavesdropping, which in theory he should not have condoned, but in practice he was quite grateful for, at least at the moment.
“Well,
that went well,” she said succinctly, though there was just the slightest hint of exasperated amusement in her eyes.
“I-I know you mean that in-in jest, Alice, but in truth I-I-I am relieved. I could not-could not have hoped for much better,” Richard replied, with a small, sheepish smile.
“That is because you are distressingly humble, and properly grateful for any small blessing in life.
You could not have hoped for better - I am a far more selfish creature, and can set my hopes to a proper height,” Alice teased, though she set her hand on her hip. “Richard, why did you not just
tell him you were not the one to invite the Warden inside? He would have still been angry to see the man, but the fault was not yours for disobeying his wishes.”
“What… what has our poor-poor doorman ever done to you, that you would-would ask me to throw him to Father’s temper!” Richard laughed. He sobered quickly, and shook his head. “It-it doesn’t
matter. There is not, not one thing I have ever said that-that has made father happy, not one thing I-I-I have ever done that has made him proud. I could have-have asked Marcel to go, but I-I-I did not. Let-let-let the blame lie with-with me. It will not-will not change his opinion for the worse to-to think it so, it will not change-change his opinion for the better to learn-learn he was wrong. And in the end, it has worked-worked out for the best. I-I-I would have had to tell him I was-was leaving at some point, and we would have-have quarreled once more. Now I have his-his express command, and can leave without a word to him!”
“Father was
not speaking seriously then, a fact that you well know,” Alice said, in a low tone.
“Then-then-then it was very ill of him not to-to say as much! He has made his-his wishes perfectly clear - in
this I will at-at last be the obedient son.” Richard nearly leapt towards the manor staircase, taking the steps two at a time with long-legged strides. Alice followed quickly behind, pulling at the hem of her dress to keep it from catching on the floor.
“You cannot be serious, dear brother! Do you truly mean to go to the other side of the world just to spite him?” she asked. She always wore sensible shoes, and had no trouble keeping up.
Richard stopped at the door of his room, turning to face her. “You
know why I mean to do this,” he said.
“And you know why I must protest!” Alice replied. “I know your motives well enough, and you are well aware of mine. I will not fault you them, but I cannot condone it. Think of Sarah, think of mother, do you think they would be happy to hear your reasons? Would you so easily abandon them now, when they need you?”
“They-they need
you, Alice – I-I am a glorified nurse. They need-need peace, and quiet, and they will better have that when I am out-out of this house,” Richard said kindly, although he could not hide a sadness in his look.
“You know that is not what I meant, nor how I meant it,” Alice said sternly. “Think how they will take the news of your departure! You cannot go, Richard, this is madness.”
“I-I-I must, I must. Ezra has given me a sign, She-She has given me passage, She-She-She has even given me Father’s permission, and you cannot say-say
that was not Her hand. You know I-I do not say such things lightly.” He gave Alice a pleading look. “Please. Please. My-my mind is made. Can we not-can we not part from each other on-on kindly terms?”
It was probably the only thing he could have said that would have ended the discussion, for she was as stubborn as both he and their father, perhaps even more so. But she bowed her head in defeat, and Richard was instantly filled with guilt. It was so unlike her that he nearly lost his resolve - he sighed, reaching out to put his arm around her shoulder. She leaned forward to embrace him.
“Don’t go. Not when I can’t follow,” she said, quiet and dignified in her sorrow.
”I-I will be safe – as safe there as-as anywhere, for I-I know you shall just bring up Dementlieu again,” Richard replied, with a smile. “I-I-I have nothing to fear from-from
Hazlan, of all places. Do not worry-worry yourself on
that front. And the Isfahanis are a-a respectable family – don’t-don’t give me that look, Alice, I know your opinion on them quite well. But I-I have a place to stay, and Cyrus and Darius will be-will be there. I will not be without friends, I-I will have safekeeping enough even for you.”
“Don’t think me unaware of who has called you there, nor to the peculiarities behind the invitation,” Alice said. “Even your most generous nature knows something is not right with the situation – I myself am less charitable, and can freely say I trust it not at all. Are you quite sure it is Ezra that calls you, and not some more mystic force from that land?”
“Perhaps some mystic force does-does call me, but I-I believe Ezra does as well. And I-I trust Darius not to summon me, if he-he thought something meant us harm,” Richard replied. “Please, don’t-don’t worry. I-I believe that everything will be well.”
“Oh, Richard. How I wish I had your faith!” Alice sighed, leaning back and letting him go. “I shall not be happy again, until you have safely returned to us.”
"No, but evil is still being — Is having reason — Being reasonable! Mousie understands? Is always being reason. Is punishing world for not being... Like in head. Is always reason. World should be different, is reason."