“You have been one of my more interesting conquests.” He
laughed coldly down at me as I lay there motionless, unable to move.
“I expect great things from you. If, you can rise above this, my…” he
paused and smiled evilly down at me. “…little ingénue.”
I stared intensely up at him, burning his features into my
mind’s eye. I would remember and one day I would find him. That
was the vow I had made to myself as I lay there helpless that night. It
is hard to believe how things have changed since then. To now think I
might actually owe him a debt of gratitude. But that is getting ahead
of myself, is it not? Perhaps I should start back at the beginning so
you may understand.
I had left my shop later that night than planned. My
appointment was with Mr. Ardivan and he had arrived abnormally
late, too late perhaps. After discussing the piece he sought at great
length for almost two hours, both Mr. Ardivan and I heard the town
bells ringing the tolls of eight o’clock from near the Northwest
Square. We looked out the window at the clock tower, seeing that the
time was indeed late and hurriedly stood up from the chairs we had
been reclining in.
“My goodness, is that really the time?! Elizabeth is going to
have my head.” Mr. Ardivan said, hurriedly gathering into his
portfolio the papers he had been pursuing with me. “I did promise her
I would be home before eight. Oh dear! I’m afraid my collection will
be the cause of my divorce one of these days.” He smiled sheepishly at
me, shutting his leather case.
“I’m sure Elizabeth understands. She knew what you were
like before she married you.” I told him smiling, as I led the way into
the foyer, pausing for the briefest of moments to blow out the candle.
“She will only feign anger with you until you apologize.”
Mr. Ardivan grinned knowingly at my remark, waiting as
Benjamin, my servant, opened the front door.
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