I couldn’t go on. Turning my face to the tear-soaked pillow, I stretched out my arm. “Go!” I told him. “Your mama is right! I am not worthy of such love!”
Well, Pait, I’m sure you must have guessed the rest. Before you could say “matrimony,” Lord Durndrun was at my feet, begging my forgiveness! I allowed him another kiss and a long, lingering glance before I modestly covered the “treasures” he won’t acquire until our wedding night.
He was so carried away by his passion he even spoke of turning his mother out of his house! It took a great deal of persuading to convince him that the dowager would be as dear to me as the mother I never knew. I have plans for the old lady. She doesn’t know it, but she will cover my little “escapes” when married life becomes too boring.
And so I am well on the way to the altar. Lord Durndrun laid down the law to the dowager, informing her that he would wed me and that if she didn’t like it we would live somewhere else. That wouldn’t do at all, of course. The house is the main reason I’m marrying him. But I wasn’t too afraid. The old woman simply dotes on her son and she gave way, as I knew she must.
The wedding will be in about four months time. I had hoped it would be sooner, but there are certain formalities that must be observed, and Callie is insisting on everything being very proper. In the meantime, I have no choice but to give the appearance that I am a modest, well-bred maiden and stay prudently at home. You will laugh, I’m certain, Paithan, when you read this. But I assure you I have not been with a man this past month. By the time the wedding night comes around, Durndrun himself will look good to me!
(I’m not at all certain I can hold out that long. I don’t suppose you’ve noticed, but one of the human slaves is quite a pretty specimen. He’s very interesting to talk to and has even taught me some of that beastly language of theirs. Speaking of beasts, do you suppose it’s true what they say about human males?)
Sorry about the blurred text on that last part. Callie came into my room and I was forced to slip this in among my undergarments before the ink was dry. Can you imagine what she would have done if she’d read that last part?
Fortunately, she needn’t worry. Thinking about it, I don’t believe I could bring myself to form a liaison with a human. No offense, Pait, but how can you stand to touch them? I suppose it’s different for a man.
You’re wondering what Callie was doing in here at this hour of stormtime? The rockets were keeping her awake.
Speaking of rockets, home life has gone from bad to worse since you left. Papa and that crazy old wizard spend all toiltime down in the cellar preparing rockets and all darktime out in the backyard, firing them off. We’ve set a record, I do believe, in the number of servants who’ve left us. Cal’s been forced to pay out large sums to several families in the town below, whose houses caught fire. Papa and the wizard are sending the rockets up, you see, so that this “man with the bandaged hands” will see them and know where to land!
Oh, Paithan, I’m sure you’re laughing now, but this is serious. Poor Callie’s about to tear the hair off her head in frustration, and I’m afraid I’m not much better. Of course, she’s worried about the money and the business and the mayor coming by with a petition to get rid of the dragon.
I’m worried about poor Papa. The crafty old human has Papa completely convinced in this nonsense about a ship and going to see Mama in the stars. It’s all Papa talks about. He’s so excited he won’t eat and he’s getting thinner by the day. Callie and I know that old wizard must be up to something-maybe making off with all Papa’s fortune. But, it’so, he’s shown no signs of it.