Puss's Boots - Chapter 4

Nearly nine weeks had passed since Lady Heightmyer’s, now known to the siblings as Caoimhe, proposal to Dione, Orlando’s twin and last surviving sibling. Nearly three days ago was the stranger’s last visit. As always, he had come at night, alone, after any potential witnesses to his arrival had long since gone away. He was never seen by anyone save Orlando, and, the day after, Puss always knew about his visit. And, always, he flirted and courted Orlando with gentle poems and stories and innocent requests, and Orlando, whose face always seemed so composed with everything else, after every visit, was coloured a vivid red for days.

Both Dione and her betrothed questioned Orlando about the cause of his strange behaviour, but Orlando, under the direct orders of Puss, revealed nothing of the stranger to either of them. And so the man continued to come, almost unfailingly, on every third day, and so, on that day, Orlando would, as soon as it was both late and dark enough, make up an excuse and escape to the solitude of the gardens and wait for his strange suitor. And so the weeks passed by slowly at the Heightmyer estate; the siblings became more comfortable with the roles that they now played rather naturally.

Peace ruled at the estate, only interrupted by the plans for the grand wedding that would take place in nearly a week’s time. The manor had been transformed into a flurry of whites and roses and creams; tans, golds, and rich browns covered the public halls and tables. The Grand Hall was covered in sheer white and cream curtains. The wedding was to take place in the garden, which was in full bloom for the summer. Reds, yellows, pinks, violets, blues, and, of course, greens decorated the paths and maze. The way to the centre of the maze, where the ceremony itself was to take place, was indicated by the white ribbons tied to the branches every few feet.

Guests were already starting to arrive at the estate; representatives from the various families, including the royal family, were represented in the crowd. It seemed as though the one person who did not appear was Orlando’s stranger. Puss assured him that the man was probably hesitant of the crowds; he assured his master that his suitor would, no doubt, return to him after the festivities ended and the guests took their leave of the estate. Not that Orlando had much of any free time in which he could meet his stranger.

Orlando was busy playing the part of Lord Gloria, the young heir to both a large fortune and estate abroad; the part required him to greet guests and tell stories of his life and country – all told to him by his golden stranger late at night in the gardens, for these meeting were getting longer as the man spoke to Orlando of his many journeys – to listen to the various families boast and bribe and babble, and to look after Dione and her wedding plans. Puss had already assured him that the details of his sister’s dowry was taken care of, and Orlando trusted the cat’s word. In truth, the details of the wedding caused him very little concern, but rather, the planning and supervising of the wedding was more to allow the young man some time to himself in the midst of all of the commotion.

It did upset him that their mother would never get to help her daughter into her wedding gown, or that their father would not walk his youngest down the aisle. But true to his promise to the stranger, Orlando didn’t cry in front of her; he would not her allow her to see his silent pain. He was going to lose her, and Dione knew this too. Caoimhe could see the pain in her future wife’s eyes, fear for the coming separation, and so she offered Orlando a permanent home with them. And she was not the only creature in the house to see the emotions hidden in the younger man’s eyes.

Puss saw all of his master’s emotions. The cat became Orlando’s confidant for all of his fears and his hopes, and now, especially given the past few days, the sadness was especially visible. So, on the day of the wedding, Puss brought him to Dione’s room. She was already dressed the gown she had chosen for her wedding dress, her hair was curled and styled and laced through with silver combs and pearls, her face was highlighted and powdered, and she smelled of roses and myrrh. A veil lay on the bed beside where she sat, and she was clutching their mother’s locket like it was her last tie to reality. As Orlando entered, she look up at her nearly identical brother, and he could see tears in her eyes. As Dione stood he moved closer and pulled her into a hug, carefully though, so as to not crush the gown.

“You are scared? You should not worry so, sister dearest; Caoimhe loves you so. You know that Father and Mother would be well pleased with her.”

“I just wish that they could be here, see me in my dress, and it is a father’s right to place the veil and give away the bride. Would you place my locket for me; I cannot to do it myself for fear of catching my hair.”

“I never seem to have a problem affixing my own.” Orlando’s voice shook with laughter as he took the plain amulet and placed it on her bare neck. The gown that Dione had chosen was rather simple for a wedding dress, but – as their mother had often enough told her daughters – the gown should be simple so that the woman who wore it would shine all the brighter. Long, loose sleeves fell freely past the cinched bands that held them in place around her shoulders and flowed down to the floor in waves; the neckline followed the natural curve around the very top of her breast and the gown’s skirt flared slightly across her hips and fell loosely and freely to the ground; its back was cut longer to create a quite simple train. Beads are sewn throughout the bodice and skirt, and, when they catch the light just right, they gleamed softly in the candlelight of the room.

With the locket properly affixed and her father’s ring now firmly on her right hand, Dione picked up the veil. The tears welled up in both of their eyes. For a moment they just stood there, obvious to all but each other and their loss, but Puss kindly interrupted after a moment of reflection.

“Shall I do it?”

“You have the right, Orli, but if you prefer…” She trailed off, unwilling to finish the thought.

“No, I will place it too. I would hate for you to risk catching your hair.” Dione closed her eyes as her brother stood behind her to position the final piece of her wedding finery. When she again opened them, she was a woman, a bride. She turned to her brother, took his offered arm, white silk against the dark blue of his formal jacket, and the siblings turned to take their final walk together, down her aisle. Orlando would take her to Caoimhe, her wife, her future.

And there she was, so close; her bright red hair, radiant smile, and vivid green eyes and coat all competing for their attention. She loved Dione, and she loved her. And Orlando loved Dione and, to some degree, Caoimhe. No doubt their parents would approve, and, as Orlando lifted his sister’s veil and stepped away, a flash of gold caught his eye, and the wind blew a trace of the perfume that their mother used to always wear. Laughter blew with the wind, their family’s laughter, and, suddenly, her could release her hand, step back. It would always hurt, but this was meant to be.

And in that one moment, Orlando grew into a stronger person; he became someone capable of releasing his only family into a better life and who would one day find a love of his own. And, unnoticed by all, the gold-haired, grey-eyed stranger watched him. And Puss was strangely absent.