Puss's Boots - Chapter 3

“There was a most interesting joust; did m’lady have a chance to join in the festivities?”

“My sister does not take part in such bloody events, Lady Heightmyer. Was it a fair tournament?” Orlando’s voice was cool, refreshing to hear to Caoimhe over the sugar-heavy voices in Court. He stood straight and tall, and, to both Orlando and Dione’s good fortune, his hands were steady on his teacup. Puss, seeing the poise that his two charges managed to display smiled a secret cat smile, curled up on his accustomed spot on the window seat, and feigned a nap during the proceedings.

“My apologies then, fair lady.” And tuning to face Orlando, Heightmyer asked, ”Perhaps m’lord has gone in her stead? The Prince had a most interesting joust, and the token that he wore is still of unknown origin.”

“Hardly,” Dione quickly intercepted for her brother, “Orlando, while remarkably kind and intelligent, tends to be unsettled rather easily. Jousts and the like deeply disturb his pacifistic tendencies. Also, my brother is quite prone to colour, as we bear witness to this morning.”

True to his sister’s words, Orlando was colouring a rather vivid shade of red. Not wanting to embarrass her, hopefully, future brother-in-law, Caoimhe quickly offered a change of subject. Noting Dione’s interest in the portraits in the formal salon, the host quickly decided that tour of the large summer estate would be an entertaining venture.

Dione took Heightmyer’s offered arm, and the two walked close together, whispering together like new lovers often do. Orlando fell behind, letting his sister and her new beau have a sense of privacy while they walked. In truth, he would have abandoned them in the gardens, but he dared not allow even a whisper of impropriety to mark their name, especially since their name was borrowed. So Orlando continued to trail behind the pair throughout the house and finally out into the gardens, all the while daydreaming about his mysterious stranger and their last meeting. And Puss trailed behind Orlando, waiting until the man paused in his walk to make his presence known.

“Lost in thought, young master mine?”

“Ah, Puss, you startled me.” Orlando’s cheeks were once again red, as if his thoughts were broadcast guiltily on his face. “And yes, I was lost in thought, or, more accurately, I was lost within my memories.”

“Memories of a golden stranger?”

“Did you see him too, Puss? He came last nearly two weeks past, twelve nights ago to be exact, in the Winter Estate’s garden; it was the night you returned to us from your second trip. I cannot seem to stop thinking of him despite the weeks, months between seeing him. How he found us though…” Orlando trailed off; his blush even brighter than his borrowed coat, a merry scarlet. It seemed as though his cheeks and his coat were in competition for the brightest colour on his body.

“I wondered how you knew him. He slipped in past my very nose. A surprising feat, yes, but I sense that he means us no harm.”

“He does not. We first met when he barged into our playgrounds; his horse was limping. I know he spoke with our father often, but I cannot tell you of what they spoke.”

“Business, perhaps? He was a merchant, yes?” If a cat could look curious, Puss did now. At times, Orlando would swear that the cat’s face was more human than some of the men he knew from their old town.

“Yes, Father was quite a successful merchant; he was born in town nearby our house. My mother simply appeared one day, not a friend in the world. My father met her at a party, and they fell in love. Despite that she had neither a name nor an inheritance, he married her. They soon left the town and its petty inhabitants; my father quickly became successful and built our house.”

“So they then had you and Dione?”

“My elder brothers, Raphael and Dorian, came first and my elder sister Jillian after them; she was to join the King’s Army, and Raphael was to study the law. Dorian was to take over Father’s business rather than the eldest as he had the head for numbers of us all. Then, I was born, and Dione was born last, the youngest of us all by just a few minutes time.” Orlando’s voice was full of pride when he spoke of his family. As he spoke, it was clear that he was also remembering the times that he had spent with them. When Puss saw tears well up in the nearly black eyes he decided to do something to ease his master’s pain.

“My Lord Gloria, look to the sky, there, the cloud; watch it well, young master. You will not be disappointed.” As Orlando watched the clouds shifted and grew into the shapes of animals and men. A fancy lord here chasing a cow, a milkmaid talking to a prince, a mock Court presided by thieves and animals, and every one had a unique and entertaining story. The two sat together on one of the many stone benches scattered throughout the garden and shared made-up stories about the scenes they saw in the once clear skies. Puss’s intention to not let his charge brood had succeeded, and, for a time, Orlando was cheered.

The two were interrupted by the return of Dione and Lady Heightmyer, fresh from their walk. Once the lady saw Puss she ran over and knelt to pet the cat’s head. Heightmyer, not accustomed to the antics of a noblewoman not educated in the strict edict of Court, was both amused and warmed by the simple, tender sight displayed by the girl. It was an altogether touching scene to look upon: a girl kneeling next to a large, finely dressed, cat, the handsome young man whose appearance betrayed him as her brother, and a tall, lanky lady smiling down upon the siblings and their talking cat.

It was then that Lady Heightmyer, after carefully considering and reconsidering and even taking the council of others beyond her thirty years, decided, with much care, to ask Lord Gloria for his sister’s hand in marriage.