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Lisboan
Introducing Appearances
‘Sadie!’ I call out in the crowded hall of the law faculty class, spotting her in a pink tunic with a black belt and pink and black sport shoes. She stares at me wide-eyed like I was the last person she expected to see again. ‘Lunch with me.’ I request out of breath and calling unnecessary attention from my outburst and rush to her.
‘What?’ she pries ‘Have lunch with me.’ I reiterate a tad more clearly, looking into the eyes as dark as milk less coffee. ‘I can’t right now.’ She says like she is collecting her thoughts ‘tomorrow then, or dinner.’ I suggest as she studies me in disbelief ‘I... I... didn’t think you’d want to after last time.’ She reveals ‘I want to.’ I confirm with an encouraging smile. She smiles back ‘dinner tonight.’ She announces ‘I’ll pay this time.’ I add. I want to take her some place fancy to offset the rumours before I ask her to away with me this weekend to Lisboan. She studies her pink watch then sighs ‘what time?’ she investigates ‘whenever you’re ready. We take the bullet though, no motor bike.’ I add ‘okay. I’ll call you then...
‘Where are we going?’ she wonders seeing the general direction of our ride. She is in a halter neck ivory frock with a red belt and sport shoes in the same blood red. I think she looks marvellous ‘this place by the river. It’s a bit uptown and boring but it has a really nice ambience.’ I promise her ‘the Jovian planet.’ She guesses. I smile ‘the Jovian planet.’ I substantiate driving much better than she does; for starters I’m in the right side of the road! She turns to me and studies me with a smile ‘what made you change your mind?’ she wonders ‘about what?’ I probe ‘about dating me; what made you think of asking me out one day after the worst date of your life?’ she inquires ‘that wasn’t the worst date of my life.’ I decide ‘what part of the date wasn’t a complete disaster?’ she investigates ‘the part where I realized my main ambition right now is to find the inoculants for this borderline obsession to be near you.’ I pronounce firmly. She chuckles and shakes her head ‘it has to be obsession considering how badly it’s ended every time we’ve been in the same place.’ She agrees lightly as the miniature castle of Jovian planet emerges before us...
The setting is made to look like the opulent lounge of a family, couches instead of ordinary seats with small tables between the couches. I had called in to book a table by the river, which normally meant romantic interest in a person seeing as they were romantic loveseats. The maître d’ greets me jovially and then leads us silently to the seats I had reserved for us as she clings onto my arm, something I am enjoying unnaturally because it brushes her brazier cups against my hand gently. I doubt she knows what is happening or that she is tempting an aristocrat.
He pulls her chair for her ‘I hate when people do that. Do they think I’m an invalid?’ she wonders taking her seat. I smile at him and excuse him with a nod ‘it’s supposed to be gallantry.’ I announce ‘if the entire world was gallant then we wouldn’t get anywhere.’ She states with a smile as she looks out to the river coursing a few feet away from us. I take the menu with the billing and flip through it ‘we’ll start with the borscht soup and then the shrimp and rice salad before the Italian.’ I order. She stares at me in question ‘its gallantry.’ I promise her. She smiles and sits back on the couch, staring out at the bright moon. It’s around ten o’clock and I have an early class tomorrow but I think the night becomes her and this is a very worthy distraction. I could grab some coffee later tomorrow and be fine with it, explain nothing to the lads; they should hear it for themselves if the rumour mills work fine...
‘You’re right. This scenery is great.’ She finally decides as we wait for dessert. I smile ‘are you into beautiful sights?’ I wonder. She smiles ‘yeah.’ She confirms ‘you’ll love Lisboan then.’ I conclude for her. She turns to me ‘where?’ she probes ‘Lisboan; it’s beautiful. It’s all daffodils swinging in the moonlight, mountains in the distant, the moon lending a blue tint to everything, trees and bridges where the water is so clear you can see what the fish are thinking.’ I elucidate ‘really? You can see what the fish are thinking?’ she dryly inquires with a smile ‘you can. Don’t you believe me?’ I pry lightly
‘frankly? No I don’t.’ She announces ‘then I have no choice but to take you there and show you.’ I declare. She smiles ‘borderline obsession.’ She sighs frivolously ‘come away with me this weekend.’ I request ‘are you sick in the head?’ she wonders ‘if I was would you come?’ I retort. She smiles ‘I don’t know you enough to do this.’ She declines ‘how do you expect to know me if you don’t?’ I teasingly pry reaching for her hand ‘ I’m not looking for the whirlwind romance you’re offering; quite frankly it scares me that you’re still here.’ She reveals staring into my eyes. I smile and stare right into hers ‘then let’s go as friends. I want to introduce you to my friends and show you Lisboan. It won’t be just me and you. You’ll have plenty of places to hide when you’re tired of seeing me.’ I assure her
‘You’re very persistent.’ She notes ‘I get like this when I know what I want.’ I shrug with a smile ‘why me?’ she probes ‘come to Lisboan with me and I will explain everything.’ I promise her, stroking her hand as duchess Brigham and the duke study us in the distance. This should get to my parents very soon. ‘I’ll push some things around.’ She says with a smile ‘you do that. It’s a summer open sort of thing. There are games and sports and dances. It’s a weekend thing from Friday so we should be out of here by Thursday and arrive there Thursday night. It’s just a few hours’ drive...
‘This is crazy. I can’t believe I’m doing this.’ She says over the phone. I smile ‘we’re leaving tomorrow at around three. Where do I pick you up from?’ I probe as Hilliard chuckles in disbelief. I’m getting some suits fitted for the evening formals every night of our stay there ‘the plaza will be fine.’ She sighs ‘with your luggage?’ I worry ‘I travel light and I don’t know what to pack. What are we going to do?’ she investigates ‘there’s horses, archery, polo, croquet, lacrosse, a maze and plenty of excursion spots. There are also dances after dinner every night.’ I list ‘right; a lot of sporty stuff and a bunch of dinner dresses. I can do that in a small suitcase.’ She announces with a heavy sigh. I smile and wonder how small a small suitcase is! I’ve seen women travel; it can’t be as small as a love seat! ‘Splendid. So shall I pick you at two thirty?’ I inquire ‘I have class until two forty five and I can’t miss a second of it.’ She reveals ‘then let’s meet outside the halls at two forty five.’ I offer ‘we can do that.’ She says softly ‘I have to pack. I’ll see you tomorrow.’ She says ‘pray God, I was hoping to have you for dinner again tonight.’ I sigh ‘I have to read for the jurisprudence.’ She declines ‘you’re right. I have some errands to run. I’ll see you tomorrow then.’ I say as she hangs up on me...
‘You ought to be spanked Angelford.’ Hilliard says shaking his head. I smile ‘why Hadley I didn’t know you felt that way about the same sex.’ I teasingly reply ‘mother was with duchess Brigham but the night before last. She sent me this message.’ He says unearthing his phone for me. I reach for it and read the message, smiling. Apparently the duchess spied me in a rather taxing position with a very incongruous consort. The baroness doesn’t believe a word of it and would like to confirm for herself; if the case be truth she would like her dear son to discuss the matter with me. I smile ‘shall I honour her?’ I request getting ready to reply ‘do so.’ he concurs. ‘Fret not mother. It is merely affable twixt Angelford and the damsel Sadie. I’d think they make a very congruous match if at all they should decide to be more as Angelford has explained to me is somewhat in the future in his intentions with her. She is a very fetching American libertine with a lot of ambition and intelligence as her fort. I’d assure your tender for her will exceed your own expectations as it did mine.’ I counter. He chuckles and shakes his head of red hair ‘she will succumb to a seizure.’ He decides sending my retort ‘she will talk to my parents.’ I assure him...
