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I was surprised. The family got an invitation to the Baron's home the next weekend. My father was on good terms with the Baron, but still....
After the invitation came, Allura was running around shrieking, "What should I wear? What should I wear!"
My father laughed at her, "This is a 'peasant's picnic', my dear, you should wear comfortable things."
Allura glared at him. What he said brought her no relief. And when Saturday came, she dressed as she always did -- a massive dress accompanied by lots of makeup and a huge hairdo. It was fall, and the Baron's servant who brought the invitation mentioned tennis and other outdoor activities, so I wore a medium weight blouse and skirt combination.
The weekend party consisted of about twenty people. We went to the tennis courts. A few played, including the Baron and me, and many watched and gossiped while sipping tea. There was a band playing music in the background, and Gunther was there entertaining again. He would prance and sing and make jokes. He was apparently a favorite of the Baron because when he wasn't entertaining, he mingled with the guests. He talked with me a bit, too.
"So, you're back, Amoletta. It's good to see you again." Gunther said.
"I' m afraid I don't remember you." I said. I was racking my brain, but he didn't come to mind.
"Oh, I'm a friend of your father's, but I didn't get to spend much time at your place, so you didn't see me much as you were growing up."
As he spoke, I found I liked his tone. He was as entertaining in person as he was as a performer.
"But..." he looked me over, "I see you've now grown up. And it looks as if you've grown up well, if you don't mind my saying so. I hear your quite interested in science."
"I am. I was just up in the hills last week, studying swallowtail butterflies. They were magnificent."
"Have you paid attention to the geology around here? There are some places where there are shells, and even dragon bones in the rocks!" Gunther said.
"Really? That sounds fascinating."
"I'll show you them some time." he said, then he looked at me strangely, then put a hand to my ear. When he pulled it back, there was a silver coin in it! I didn't quite squeal with delight, but I did laugh. He gave it to me. "Keep it. It's a gift from Gunther." and then he moved on to talk with other guests.
While I was waiting for my turn to play tennis, I would join in conversations, too. When I sat next to Allura I noticed that she was always bringing her conversations around to Venice. She must really miss Venice, and it made me wonder again how well she would fit in here in the rustic Kalzov valley. Maybe she wasn't planning on fitting in... was she planning on moving my father to Venice?
When we finished with tennis, the Baron asked if I liked horses, and we went horseback riding. That we did it as a foursome. As we rode the Baron and I talked about the flora and fauna we were passing, and the rocks and the sky. We were having a wonderful time. The couple that came with us had their own conversation.
I was really liking the Baron now, and feeling relaxed in his presence. He was older than me. He was agile and alert, and the more we talked, the more I realized he knew things... he knew a lot of things, and I like that in a man. But he was also humble. He often talked about how much we humans didn't know, and how much we were finding out every day.
At one point, the Baron asked me how I felt about my father getting married. I was feeling comfortable enough with him that I spoke frankly.
"I'm happy that my father has found a woman, but, in truth, I don't like her much. And this worries me."
"Tell me more." he said.
With that encouragement from him, I talked for many minutes about what I had seen Allura do. As I talked I saw his brow furrow with thought.
"Thank you for being so forthright with me. I, in turn, will be forthright with you. Your father is a man I'm close to, and I want the best for him. I was delighted when I heard the news of his engagement. But, like you, I'm not well impressed with this Allura woman, now that I've met her. Did you know that at the costume ball she was saying unseemly things about you? She seems to have little propriety, and a well-practiced acid tongue. After only two meetings with her, I wonder if she will be good for our valley?"
Then he started, and he looked at me.
"Pardon me! I have said way, way too much! Please don't pass on what I've just told you. If she is to become your step mother, and part of my court, we must both do our best to make her welcome here."
"I agree." I said, and we both lapsed into thought.
Later the Baron said, "You schooled in Venice, right? And it was there that your father met Allura?"
"Yes, my drama teacher introduced them when he came to pick me up."
"Who was your drama teacher and what school was it?"
I told him.
"Did you ever meet or hear of Allura before your father met him?"
"No."
The silence came again, but I felt much better.
When we finished riding, I decided to try something. It was cheap, it was tawdry, it smacked all over of Allura. But I decided to try it anyway. While we were in the barn putting away the saddles I rubbed my back and said, "My goodness I guess I haven't done this in a while. My back is a little sore."
I was hoping... I was hoping... I was hoping...
"Ummm, maybe a little back rub would help." said the Baron.
"Oh yes! Oh yes! Oh yes!" I shouted in my thoughts, and I said to the Baron in a quiet voice, "That would be very nice." I turned around and he rubbed my back for a couple of minutes. His hands were strong, but not rough. They moved around my back in a masterly fashion. He seemed to know well how my skin and muscles would take his touch... then it was over.
I turned around to face him, I looked in his eyes and said, "Thank you so much." He looked back... and touched my cheek with this hand, but that was all. I think I wanted more. I'm pretty sure I wanted more. Maybe next time.
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