Chapter 45: Chapter 45 – That didn´t go as planned

The doubt settled in his mind, for a few seconds. Should he follow them and find out what Madeleine was up to? No. He already knew what she was up to! He would have liked to know what ruse she used to get Albert to agree to go after her without qualms, but on second thought, that shouldn't concern him. Besides, it would be grossly disrespectful to spy on people. Not to mention that it would show a terrible lack of confidence on his part, and it was obvious that he already knew that the villain would never fall into the networks of the protagonist!

So it didn't take long for Oscar to calm down. Although he was no longer as in demand as he had been in the beginning, he was still in the middle of his workday and couldn't afford to sit still. In order to get back to work, he decided to forget whatever he had just seen.

It was extraordinary, on the other hand, but it seemed that the more one tried to erase the memories of him, the more impossible it became for those images to disappear completely. Similarly, the reverse situation could occur. It could be that, just when one had completely forgotten something, something said would reappear, as if out of nowhere. And this was not for Oscar, who, despite not being able to stop wondering what was happening in the other room, his recklessness didn´t  go so far as to want to take the first step in pursuit of finding out. Rather, it was for Patrick, who had spent the last few weeks ignoring or speaking fairly with his supposed girlfriend.

And it is that, at a certain moment of the night, the male protagonist had approached Oscar and had asked him, with real nervousness, if he knew anything about Madeleine. That "if he knew anything about her" went beyond wanting to inquire about the exact room where she was. It seemed that Patrick, with that question, what he wanted was to find out about each and every one of the aforementioned movements.

Speaking of desperate people…! Seeing Patrick's state, Oscar no longer felt that he was exaggerating by caring a little for Albert.

"It's not that I like you very much, Orson. In fact, I don't like you at all! Especially since I know you hang out with scum like that Northrop,” Patrick had said. “But I feel obliged to ask you this because I know that you have always had a good relationship with Madeleine and, since you are like siblings, I thought: he sure knows about her!"

"Even if it were like that," Oscar began, still not denying anything, "wouldn't it be easier for you to ask her parents or sisters? After all, they are the ones with whom she spends the most time. They may even know more than I do.”

“No, I can´t! When I ask their parents, they always tell me that everything is fine. That Madeleine is delighted with me, but that she´s somewhat shy and that is why she finds it difficult to show her feelings. Something that seems impossible to me, because if you could see how fiery she was when she was… ” The protagonist stopped here to exclaim. “And her sisters…! With her sisters it´s even worse to ask. They´re always messing around. If I am going to ask them why I have seen Madeleine fall and she has a scratch on one knee, they tell me that the cut has opened eight inches, her wound has become infected and the doctor has recommended amputating her leg. Anyway! An exaggeration! Then I see Madeleine and she´s fine. Angry, yes, but physically normal.”

"The competition is tough, from what I see," Oscar murmured, with a half smile; It seemed that these girls had not yet given up in their desire to stay with the protagonist and, if they could not get his attention, they must have thought about taking him away from Madeleine.

"Well, that sort of thing is what Eleonore and Beverley usually tell me when I ask, because Theresa… Theresa just tells me to ask Madeleine directly! Who would have seen such an idea! If I bother asking other people it's only fair because I don't want Madeleine to know about this yet. I need a second opinion on her state of mind before I venture to do anything”

‘Well, if you're going to be relying on third-party opinions about what happens to her, that marriage is going to last two newscasts ... And that's if you step on the altar, which I doubt,’ thought Oscar but, naturally , all he said was:

"May I ask what you needed from her?" Before the other could insist that he first answer what he wanted to know, he added. “I ask because, depending on what you tell me, it may or may not be convenient for you to see her. And this, I tell you as a friend that I am of your partner, it is not that I plan to stop you if in the end you decide to go after her”

No, definitely, he would even applaud him if he took that harpy away from the villain. But Oscar found himself saying that because, to be honest, he also wanted to know what the protagonists were up to. They were both too peaceful, and what better way to find out than by getting it out of Patrick?

Luckily, he didn't suspect anything.

“It's okay! It bothers me to tell you, but I hope you know how to keep the secret... Or not! Better yet, I won't tell you; I´ll show you!”

And with those words, the guy took out of his jacket pocket a box of the perfect size and shape to contain a ring. It was a surreal vision, to say the least, and Oscar wondered if he was in the wrong novel. Perhaps, what was inside the box wasn´t an incalculable jewel, but a button that Patrick had detached from a shirt and that he wanted to have it sewn back, a cheap broken watch with a similar problem or even a dead flower. Anything! Anything, as stupid as it sounded, would be far more credible than seeing this individual proposing to anyone.

But the truth is that Patrick opened the box and, indeed, there was a ring inside.

"This is…" Oscar didn't get to complete his sentence, or rather, he didn't want to say aloud the adjective that came to mind.

No, the protagonist had not changed enough to throw the house out the window after a woman. The jewel that stood before Oscar must have been silver in his best days. Now, however, it was quite rusty. You could see some black spots and areas where it had completely lost its shine, especially on the part of the metal that was in perpetual contact with the finger. There was a precious stone in the center of the ring, although due to its condition, Oscar doubted it was authentic.

"I know, I know, it's a little worn out," Patrick sighed. “But don't tell me it's not precious the same. Kilduff spent an afternoon cleaning and polishing it to make it look like new. Don´t you like it? It is a family heirloom”

"If it's a heirloom from your family, I suppose Madeleine will appreciate it."

“Of my family? Oh, no. I wouldn´t let a stranger put her claws on my family treasures, dear as she may be! If we have not yet gone through the altar, there´s still a remedy. Imagine that I gave her something so valuable and, a week later, we broke up. Who gives me back what I gave?”

"It is a risk that must be taken."

"No, Orson, no. I can tell that you have no idea of ​​romanticism! Look, human relationships are simpler than you think: You just have to tell them what they want to hear”

‘But wasn't he angry, just a moment ago, because Madeleine's parents were telling him the same thing he wanted to hear? What nut has come loose this time?’ Oscar wondered silently.

"To Madeleine, when I hand this over to her, I'll tell her that it cost me blood, sweat, and tears to get hold of it. That it´s a valuable antique belonging to my great-grandmother... Even if it really is a trinket belonging to a certain Mrs. Twain”

Hearing this, Oscar had a bad feeling.

"Did she give it to you?"

“Not quite. Is that a couple of nights ago I was meeting my friends around the usual tavern, we decided to go to church before going home and, then, someone thought for a challenge, why not dig up...?” Cutting off his own words for the second time that evening, he corrected himself. “In any case, you shouldn´t worry about what that old woman or her family thinks. You won´t starve to lose this thing, for I know for a fact that they sell rings just like this for three pence in a Piccadilly store”

Oscar guessed it would go something like this: Mrs. Twain was buried a week earlier. And, if the protagonist was going to deliver that ring, it was really convenient for him to tell a lie rather than talk about his exploits as a grave robber.

"So you've made up your mind to marry yet?"

"For the moment, I have decided to propose. The rest will be seen”

"How good that in the end you decided to follow the advice of your parents and settle down once and for all, sure that will give them the peace of mind they deserve."

"Settle down! Nah, it wasn't because of my parents that I wanted to take the plunge. It just doesn't seem normal to me that a woman, after all the months I wasted with her, has the courage to leave me behind as it seems that Madeleine is doing. I won´t allow it! I'm the one who leaves them, not the other way around. Well, a very nice young woman recommended me the other day that I propose to Madeleine, because that way she would be mine forever and, of course, she would be so happy that she´d come back to me on her own feet”

"I think I can imagine whose plan it was."

"Do you know her? Ah, it doesn't matter. Tell me what you know about Madeleine or if you've seen her! Today is the perfect occasion to give her this. Miss Warren recommended that I take her to a secluded place, with no people, but I think the more guests see us, the better! So everyone will know of my inherent generosity”

Was this really the same guy who passed out in Fairview because someone endorsed him an engagement ring? No, if Patrick seemed to only get shocked and weak when the plan was not for and for his benefit.

As Oscar was no longer going to be able to get anything else out of the protagonist, he limited himself to tell what he knew. That Madeleine hadn't talked to him all day — not in the days before, by the way — but that, if he wanted to catch up with her, he'd seen her go down a certain hall a while ago. Of course, Oscar didn´t specify what Madeleine's intentions were with the villain, nor did he comment to Patrick that his beloved was in the company of another man, as he didn´t think it necessary.

It had been more than fifteen minutes since he saw them leave, so he assumed they would no longer be together. Because yes, maybe Albert was kind enough to listen to her for a while. But he didn't think his goodness was enough to endure for the rest of the evening.

Patrick went in the right direction, whistling in good humor, with his box in hand and not a single concern in the world.

This soap opera was getting good to the point that Oscar almost wanted to congratulate the author for making that idiot really consider putting a ring on his finger, but he was still too busy to gossip about it the way Kenneth used to.

Having been relieved of the living room, Oscar marched into the kitchens to help them clean the dishes and, incidentally, pour another round of drinks. After doing this and filling some trays with sweets that others would later take to the living room, he also returned to where the guests were. Or that was the idea he had when he was advancing through one of the corridors, near the great hall, because Albert caught up with him before he could reach his destination.

“Are you busy?” He asked, with some urgency.

"Not right now, why?"

"Would you mind staying with me for a while?"

Watchful as he was, Albert looked around, making sure no one was watching them, before explaining:

“I just came out of something unpleasant and would prefer it doesn´t happen again”

"Let's go to the living room together, then," Oscar suggested, trying not to laugh.

He had the certainty that Madeleine had something to do with the ‘unpleasant’ thing.

"No, not to the living room. There´s too many people”

‘Too many people and many more opportunities for a certain someone to go back to her old ways,’ Oscar completed. Out loud, he just asked:

"Where then?"

The villain didn´t think too much about it before deciding on one direction. Motioning for Oscar to follow him, he went through one of the corridors with the least traffic of personnel. Through rooms and corridors, they passed some servants and pairs of guests who chatted in a relaxed manner or walked back to the room where the largest concentration of people remained, until they reached a part of Lilac Hall where hardly anyone passed.

It was, to be precise, the west side of the first floor.

In his paranoia of not being caught again, Albert had led Oscar there almost unwittingly, choosing routes that seemed to him that the service had no reason to pass. And then, when they arrived to a corridor where there wasn´t a soul, he was opening door after door. Peering into some rooms, checking if they were deserted and if, in addition, it was appropriate to hide in one. Because, for example, even though it was empty, he wouldn't dare go into an office or a bedroom. At that moment, he shouldn't mind looking like a coward, but education shouldn't be lost under any circumstances.

Ah, but what did Dianne warn Oscar about?

"Wait," said Oscar, when the villain already had his hand on the knob of that fateful room in which he had been forbidden entry, "does it have to be that room?"

"It´s the only one in this wing available to guests and that overlooks the gardens," said the other, stopping. “If you don't like it, we can always go out and walk around the property”

"It's cold to go out"

"Besides, there doesn't seem to be anyone inside. If someone bothers us, these doors can still be closed from the inside”

Not that this was a problem, but Oscar wondered what the villain's perversion was that he seemed to enjoy shutting himself up in random rooms. Let's see, Oscar was not bothered by it: he already knew Albert enough to know that he wouldn´t make any abrupt advance without prior consent on his part. But he couldn't help but stay serious about it.

It wasn´t because of the villain that he was undecided, but because of what the author had said. Would it be okay to occupy that room? The same paranoia that Albert occupied minutes ago took hold of Oscar and, soon, he saw himself verifying that no spy was heard or seen in the surroundings.

“Should we go inside?”

Oscar thought fast. The door to the small drawing room was ajar when they reached it, and from the corridor there was no light coming from within. Without hearing a sound, either, the obvious conclusion was that the room was empty. Then, what was the author's plan? To bring the protagonists together? Well, neither Madeleine nor Patrick were around. What did it matter, being like that, using the room? It wasn't like there could be a death trap inside.

In fact, there was most likely nothing interesting to see. With Dianne's little imagination, that woman would have simply talked to old Seymour to rent her this little room for half an hour, while she convinced the protagonists with lies to come. Then, seeing those two alone, there would be no impediment for the plot worthy of an erotic fascicle to unfold.

“Let's go”

Concluding there was nothing to fear, Oscar gave his approval and they both entered.

As they imagined, the room was devoid of guests and all dark. The only reason the figures on the furniture could still be seen was because the curtains on each window were drawn back and the moonlight could thus freely pass through the glass.

Still, not that one could see much.

While Albert approached a table to light some candles, Oscar, who entered last, closed the door without turning the key. Was it his thing or was there something strange on the floor? It was as if he was stepping on something that shouldn't be there. Trash, maybe? By touch, they looked like leaves. As if someone had left the windows open for all kinds of natural elements to slip through. Except that the trees outside had lost their leaves for weeks and, being himself one of those in charge of raking what fell, Oscar knew that these lands remained untouched. Free of any traces that fall might have left on the grass.

In any case, the explanation for this was understood at the precise moment in which the villain finished lighting the candles: That damn author had sprinkled the floor and part of the furniture with rose petals! No, she hadn't just done this. The candles had been placed in a strategic position on a table that, now it was seen, was decorated with an elegant tablecloth that reached the floor. And, on its surface, lay an imposing bouquet of flowers and a small chest of unknown content.

Seeing this romantic setting, Albert froze, realizing that someone's evening had been disrupted. Oscar, on the other hand, kept his surprise to a minimum. And instead of being embarrassed, he got angry just thinking that then it would surely be his turn to sweep away all those petals.

"Maybe we should go," the villain suggested uneasily. “If this was set up for someone and they find us here, they might come to the wrong conclusion”

"Wait, what's in the chest?"

Oscar already found it unusual that there was a container like that there, in the center of a table with such decoration. Ordinarily, you would put some plates and cutlery, add a couple of chairs, and with that you would already have a corner for a romantic dinner. But of course, these people had already dined in the living room, with the others. There was no point in putting together a set for this, so it was obvious the chest had to be there for another purpose.

"It wouldn't be right for us to look."

"But look, they left it open, why not take a look?" He proposed, since it was true that the container wasn´t locked. “Nobody will know”

"We'll know”

"That's what it's about, isn't it?"

Oscar stepped forward, opening that lid completely. Although Albert protested, acting as a voice of conscience, he didn´t try to stop him when the inside of the chest was exposed and a small glass bottle appeared before his eyes. This bottle wasn´t much larger than the palm of a hand and was filled with a clear liquid.

Maybe he risked a lot doing it, but Oscar took the cap off the bottle and tried to smell the contents. Later, seeing that he still couldn't identify what that thing was, he tried turning the bottle a little and letting some of the liquid drip onto his fingers. As soon as he noticed the goo on his skin, he understood. And he was about to throw the container away!

What the fuck did Dianne have on her mind? Did she call that a romantic setting? A person with two fingers of a forehead would have left a bottle of expensive wine, not a container with lubricant!

“Well?” Albert asked; since Oscar had taken the bottle on his own, he hadn't had a chance to inspect it. “What is it?”

“Nothing! Someone with a very bad idea is leaving her diabolical ointments around "As he said this, Oscar hurried to return the container to the chest and close the lid, cursing that it didn´t have a lock and there would be no way to seal it, "you were right that it was better not to touch it”

Maybe something was wrong in his face, or maybe Albert had already made his own deductions. The fact is that he didn´t insist and, instead, pointed out:

"The fireplace in this room is well stocked with wood and charcoal, why don't we light it and stay here until they throw us out?"

This was as unexpected as it was suspicious, knowing that it was he who first suggested leaving the room to leave it to the imaginary lovers. But Oscar didn´t object. Busy as he was still using a handkerchief to wipe that goo off his fingers, he no longer cared about staying or leaving the room. Anyway, if someone came knocking on the door, there would be no way they would be caught off guard.

Albert then proceeded to approach the fireplace, intending to light the fire. Oscar, on the other hand, was tempted to start removing the petals from the furniture and the floor. Not having with him a broom or a place to throw them, he chose to use his own boots to at least move some of those petals under one of the rugs: If someone entered the room without warning, it would take at least a little while more in noticing such unnecessary ornamentation.

It wasn't, either, as if Oscar could get rid of everything that bothered him in one breath. And he was quick to give up. Before Albert had finished laying out the logs for the fire, he was already thinking about occupying one of the seats that were located on the opposite side of the room.

He thought about it, but he didn´t come to do it. Because, looking at where the seats were, he realized that there was a person lying on the floor, just behind the largest sofa.

From where he was standing, he couldn't tell with certainty who it was, since the face and most of the body was hidden behind the cabinet. But he could imagine who it was, both from the location of that person and from the shoes and part of the petticoats that peeked out from one corner of the sofa.

"I was thinking," said Oscar, who seemed to be going from disgust to disgust, turning to Albert, "what if we went for a walk in the garden?"

"Didn't you say it was too cold to go out?"

“I said that? Well, I may have changed my mind” he said, taking one last look at legs that curled up, hiding completely behind the couch. “As you have said before, it is not good to stay in a place where, judging by the decoration, it´s evident we shouldn´t be”

Oscar could have told the truth, that there was a person behind a sofa listening to everything. In fact, he wasn't sure if the villain had already figured out this and he was just lengthening their stay on purpose. But in any case, he didn't feel like facing the writer right now. Not after having ignored her instructions. Well, while he had things to claim from her, she would also have a few replicas prepared.

And what to say? If a verbal fight was necessary, it was best to do so when Albert was not present.

"I'll leave the fireplace lit, in case anyone happens to show up as soon as we're gone," Albert resolved, moving away from the fire and now proceeding to open the door that led to the garden. “But we better not linger too long outside, I don't want you to catch a cold again”

"I have no problem going out and just taking the time to go around the mansion, but for the record, my defenses aren't that bad!"

Oscar said this sounding sure of himself, taking the initiative to be the first to go outside. An icy wind greeted him, but he decided to ignore it. No, it was never a good idea to venture out into the gardens in the middle of December when he wasn´t wearing any warm clothing over his shirt and vest. But how was he going to carry it? He worked indoors, there was no need for him to wear a jacket. And, eager as he found himself to be rid of Dianne's silent company, he also didn't mind being cold for a few minutes.

Albert followed him, still looking at him suspiciously. He seemed like he wanted to say something, but he couldn't find a way.

It was not too late yet, it must have been barely after ten at night. Being already in the middle of winter, the sky had been blackened for a long time, causing that the only lights that could be perceived through the gardens were those belonging to some lampposts, strategically placed next to the narrow paths that ran through the property from one side to the other, and the lamps and chandeliers that could be appreciated from the rooms of Lilac Hall, through the large windows that were opened to the outside.

This time, Oscar thought it wise to take a walk through the Seymour labyrinth and then re-enter the house through the service door. It was going to be a bit crowded, from all the servants who continued to work hard to make this evening a pleasant experience for the guests, but it would be more discreet than using the main entrance.

Well, it was no longer just that in front of the mansion there were employees watching over who could pass - and, therefore, he could already imagine them asking him what a waiter was doing going out with one of the guests when he had not yet finished his workday, is that some people had stayed in the adjoining streets who were denied visits. Well, that "all the people were invited" was a phrase that had to be taken with a grain of salt.

The poorest families and, in this particular case, journalists who weren´t trusted by Mr. Seymour, were banned from participating in this ball. And although he already knew them from his secondary employment, Oscar didn´t want to mix with the latter, fearing they would harass him when he saw one of the Northrop accompany him from the back of the property.

"Out of curiosity," Oscar began, when they had already started walking shoulder to shoulder through the roads, thinking that it would be more profitable to talk so as not to think about the cold, "what were you trying to run away from before?"

"I wasn't running from anything," Albert protested, as if his actions weren't already revealing in themselves, he added. “I was running from someone! From Madeleine Cornell, to be specific. How did you get her to give you your space, when you were still working for that family?”

"That was impossible... Or well, it was impossible when she thought she needed something from me. If that happened, it seemed like she lived harassing me. I think she didn't follow me around just because she also had duties to attend to. If not, I'm sure she would have. Now, if she didn't need anything from me, she could go weeks without speaking to me”

"And what was it that she used to need from you?"

Oscar made a mental recount: ‘Forging invitations to gala parties, stealing a family stamp, coercing his father to give up what little money he had left, spying on men for information on how to take them to her bedroom ...’

"Nonsense," he chose to answer. “Nothing that she herself couldn´t have done alone. Although it's my fault for being so forgiving in the past. Now, if I refuse to help her and tell her to work it out like the grown-up person she should already be, the great drama is set”

“It's difficult for people to change so much over time; in essence, we remain the same. If she was already capricious as a child, it would be unlikely that she would stop being so at this point. At most, she could learn to moderate herself before strangers and, given that attitude of hers today, it is clear she hasn´t even known how to do that”

"But what has she done that has bothered you so much? I believed that she had finally put her spying aside...”

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Albert didn't answer, but something like: ‘Please, don't ask me to repeat it’ could be read perfectly on his face.

"When I was taking my shift in the living room, I saw you talking," Oscar proceeded, feeling that he would need to give the villain a bit of rope to get him to confess everything. “It seemed unusual to me, but someone told me that Madeleine had been behaving all afternoon, how could I tell you?, As if she had put her vanity aside and was focusing all her efforts on going unnoticed, without running under the protection of the first guest of substantial fortune that he sighted”

"I don't know anything about that, but it seemed to me that she was still as insufferable as ever."

At this point in the conversation, Albert stopped his steps. It was sudden, without coming to mind at all. Oscar was going to ask him what happened when, looking back at him, saw that the villain had already taken off his jacket and was putting it on his shoulders.

"Miss Cornell accosted me during the dance, which surprised me, because despite her constant harassment, I hardly have any dealings with her. And, well, since I went back to town with Letitia, she hadn't tried to get close to me either," Albert continued, without giving the other time to inquire or to try to return his coat. “Choosing to be optimistic, I believed that she would come to do the usual in this type of celebration. That is, to urge me to grant her a dance. But no, what she ended up doing was reciting an annoying monologue about Christmas, family, and holiday decorations. Then she invited me to see I don't know what decorations they had placed in another part of the house”

Since the villain hadn't said anything about donating the jacket to him, possibly so as not to make this an uncomfortable moment for both of them, Oscar decided that it would be best to act as if that gesture was normal. Thanking him under his breath, he pulled on a coat that was a little too big for him and shoved his already icy hands into his pockets. Realizing, in the warm that still exuded those clothes, that he had been freezing.

“I didn't want to accept, but she kept insisting ad nauseam. So desperate she must have been, that she even ended up apologizing for behaving the way she did when both in Fairview and here, back in Snodland. Not that I felt like giving it up, despite the fact that in recent days she had done nothing to provoke my rejection, but there were some nosy neighbors around us. So I thought that if I didn't agree to go with her, they would push me to do it with their words”

"No, I have to say she was kind to you. She would have threatened me, after my first refusal,” laughed Oscar. “Who knows, maybe now that I've stopped listening to her I have honed her persuasiveness”

"Polished may not be the best word to describe it, but there was a change. And it is detestable! As much rejection as it causes me, it was even preferable the other way. That woman… Using a string of tricks and stories halfway between truth and lies, she led me to an area of ​​the corridor where a mistletoe branch was hanging. And I was stupid enough to realize it too late!”

Seeing that the villain was silent again, Oscar almost gave something away. Why the hell did everyone want to be mysterious at times like this? If anyone asked, it was only because they wanted to know, not because they were fond of dramatic breaks.

Anyway, Oscar had already hoarded the villain's jacket. Having received such a show of generosity, he didn´t feel in the mood to urge him to speak any further than he had done and, to be frank, it was not even necessary for him to do so: Albert would take a while, but he would end up telling it, at his own pace.

It was a pity that, when the aforementioned seemed to want to resume the narration where he left off, someone began to shout for his last name, from the same door through which they both left a few minutes ago.

As they turned towards the mansion, they could see how the male protagonist ran towards them, still bellowing like a possessed man. In truth, Oscar had never seen him so pushing!

A few more guests, who were supposed to be friends with Patrick, also came out that same door and went after him. Unlike his host, his auras posed no threat. In fact, they walked with haste, calling him with a touch of concern. But the protagonist was so determined in his task of reaching Albert that he turned a deaf ear to any distraction.

“You…!” He thundered, once he came to stand before what by destiny must be his arch-enemy. “How dare you desecrate my dear Madeleine!”

‘Darling, he says. Now it seems that she suddenly likes him and everything,’ thought Oscar sarcastically. It might not be the right thing to do, but if he had been the one Patrick had come to hold, he would have laughed at his face.

Albert, on the other hand, who used to try to maintain diplomacy in the face of any uncomfortable circumstance, showed no signs of being affected in the least by that hazardous scolding. And, without raising his voice, he pointed out:

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Of course you know!" Patrick continued shouting that, red with anger as he was, it was incredible that he could still use the polite way to address his interlocutor. “Don't come play the dead fly with me, like you did when we were at school! I know very well you´ve been the one who has been flirting with my girlfriend all night, preventing her from accepting dances with any other gentleman, rejecting even my most illustrious person. Everyone has seen it! But the greatest vileness of all has been dragging her under the mistletoe. It gives me goose bumps just thinking about what you intended!”

"Have you spoken to Miss Cornell?"

“I tried! But how do you want me to do it? She was so shocked by this incident that she has locked herself in the bathrooms and doesn't want to go out!”

"I still don't see what all this has to do with me. But, if you want to clarify this matter, I recommend that you urge your partner to come out of the baths and explain what happened”

"Why should she do it when it's obvious whose fault it is?! It would be putting her through an unnecessary trance, having before me the culprit of her misfortune!”

"I could explain it too, of course, but I'm afraid you wouldn't believe me"

"I'd believe you if you started by telling the truth for a change. Or will you deny that you accompanied my precious Madeleine to a secluded area, while I was busy with other business?”

“That's right”

"And that you, bearing vile intentions, led her to the mistletoe?"

“Maybe you should rephrase that question, since it was your ‘precious one’ who led me there and not the other way around”

A spark of fury must have caught in the eyes of the protagonist, because he seemed determined to hit Albert at that moment. And maybe he would have, if it hadn't been for the fact that half a dozen of his cronies had already come up to them, taking it upon themselves to restrain him so that he would not commit any foolishness that he would later regret.

"Let go of me!" He bellowed, disengaging from a grip that didn't loosen until he'd promised. “I'm not going to hit him! Unlike him, I am a gentleman”

And so, with Patrick adjusting his suit and trying to calm down little by little, Oscar thought the subject would die there. Or that, in any case, it would be the proper thing to do a truce until after the holidays. For it was not a question of whether the protagonist had the necessary education for someone of his position or not. What was happening, and why these people had been so quick to stop him, was that this was an important event for the Seymours. A riot of such magnitude would bring embarrassment to Patrick's old father.

"Let's work this out as adults," the protagonist began again, now keeping his tone at a normal volume, but no less cutting. “I challenge you to a duel for the honor of my fiancée”

The people watching them, who had now grown from half a dozen to about fifteen or twenty, let out some exclamations of surprise, beginning to mutter under their breath, expectant to know how such a fight would unfold. But such an illusion fell apart with just two words from the villain:

“No, thanks”

"What do you mean no? Are you daring to refuse a duel?!”

"That's right, I have no interest in dueling with you or with anyone else," Albert continued, even though there were already spectators in the background calling him a coward or encouraging him to change his mind. “Miss Cornell's honor isn´t something to keep me awake, so I have no reason to get into a fight over it”

"So you admit that you´ve lacked of honor, and now that you´ve been caught, you´re willing to throw her away as if she were a used object!" Without letting Albert answer, Patrick continued. “No, don't start saying that you, the always correct Mr. Northrop, did not take the initiative. I don´t care! Damage is already done. Now it´s your duty to repair it by accepting this duel. If you don't have the decency to do it for Madeleine, to show that you truly appreciate her, do it on behalf of the Seymour house: Understand that I can't stand idly by while you insult me in my own home!”

Oscar sighed in disgust upon hearing this. Yes, it sounded old-fashioned to say, despite still being some fifteen or twenty years from the beginning of the twentieth century, but many nobles could take it as an insult that their nemesis rejected a duel. In fact, that could even be more insulting than the fact that their respective women ignored them during the courtship.

Albert looked first at Oscar - who wished he could intervene in the conversation, but was aware that it wasn´t in his power to do so and, if he chose to proceed as he was thinking, he could do more harm than good - and then at the small group that surrounded them. Group that was beginning to get upset because rejecting the duel was something that cut off their fun. Then, he said slowly:

"A duel at this time wouldn´t be appropriate."

"I refuse to wait! If you´re so religious and worried about blood spilling at Christmas, that's fine with me! We postpone the duel until the twenty-sixth. That´s even better! That way we'll have more time to prepare” With Albert saying nothing, Patrick continued. “Whoever wins will have the right to keep Madeleine. No hard feelings. If you win me in a duel, she will be yours forever”

“I don´t need it”

‘Wasn't it necessary to proceed with the duel or have Madeleine for life?’ Oscar imagined, from Albert's rejection, that he was refusing both.

"No, you´re wrong, it is very necessary! I wouldn't be able to look my family and friends in the face again if I didn't take this step right now. So don't be a coward and accept, I promise that if you win (although I already know you won't), I'll leave Madeleine to you and never interfere again”

"Do we really have to do this?"

"Be thankful, incidentally, that I won't be claiming your life. A single duel: The first to fall will be the loser. I won't make you bleed… ” Regretting having said this, Patrick corrected himself. “Or well, maybe there´ll be little bit of blood. But nothing so serious as to end up celebrating Easter in a coffin”

Albert was still undecided as more guests peered into the gardens, wondering why all the commotion. If he didn't give a firm answer soon, he would end up getting the attention of the Seymour lords, his own family, and, well, Lilac Hall as a whole.

"If you want to fight so badly," the villain began, perhaps eager to have captured so many stares, "we will fight. But I have no interest in your partner, even if I win...”

‘Even if I win, you can keep it,’ he must have meant. But Patrick focused only on the part in which his challenge was accepted and turned a deaf ear to the rest, sentencing:

"Well, I´ll be kind enough to let you choose a weapon, but know that the time of the duel is non-negotiable. On the twenty-sixth, as soon as dawn comes, we will meet again. And don't even think about not attending! If you don´t come, I'll make sure to tell the whole village you´re a coward who hasn't wanted to give me satisfaction for the offense”

"On the twenty-sixth at dawn, did you say?" Albert repeated incredulously.

In itself, it is not that at that point in the century it was very common to carry out any duels, as the government was beginning to get picky about this type of practice, urging the authorities to intervene to prevent a catastrophe from occurring. But proceeding with a duel less than forty-eight hours after challenging him… It was too early! With a few more days in his repertoire, perhaps the villain could have had the time to think of a strategy to retreat safely.

"I don't know if it would be very decorous," Albert continued, still playing that trick, "to do an activity like that not even twenty-four hours after Christmas. I mean, you still have guests staying at your property for the holidays. Don't you think it might make them uncomfortable that their host is going to participate in something so unpleasant?”

"I don't care if they find it unpleasant! Do I give the impression that I care what they think, when it comes to something that should only concern me and my family? Of course not, it shouldn't even! They must understand this is something beyond my control, that I need to claim satisfaction for the offense. And be sure that´s what I'm doing!”

"At least it will be done without spectators, I hope."

Although things like this were pure intuition, with the protagonist you never knew. It was even likely that, just as he had brought his own entourage to the back of Lilac Hall, he too would decide to do the same at the time of the duel. So it was only to feed the morbid in his fellow men.

"Don't think I'm irrational," Patrick pointed out, however. “As much as I would love for others to see, from the front row, how you receive the beating you deserve and leave the venue with your tail between your legs, I know that wouldn´t be appropriate. No! My guests will stay at my property, as agreed from the beginning, being treated like the best”After a pause, he added tentatively. “And if they want to stay a few more days after the match is over, they´re also welcome. At my home they won´t lack anything, on the contrary! I'll try to make it up to them for this bad time”

This sounded like some kind of bribery to Oscar. A subtle way of showing off in front of his acquaintances, as if taking for granted from that moment that he would be the winner and, therefore, if these people stayed at the Seymour house cheering him, he would make sure to celebrate it in their company.

Hearing this, however, the crowd seemed extremely satisfied. Even if they did not have the possibility of witnessing the brawl in person, it must have been enough for them to obtain this kind of VIP pass to stay around the property for the following days. Thus increasing the irreverent gossip and the desire to deify a protagonist who, surely, wasn´t worth it.

"We will use pistols," the villain decided, imagining it would be risky to offer him a sword; at least, with a firearm there would only be a chance of him attacking a limited number of times. “And we will have to make sure that everything is done with proper supervision. So that, as far as possible, there are no mishaps”

"Whatever is fine," Patrick gestured without much interest in safety rules. “I hope you make good use of these last hours, before his public humiliation, to find a godfather for the duel”

With this, while still being cheered on by his fan club, he withdrew to Lilac Hall with the excuse of finalizing preparations for the not-so-private contest. In a matter of a couple of minutes, Patrick had already re-entered the mansion, surrounded by his entire entourage. And there, in the garden, only the two that originally were stayed.

Trying, without much success, to remove the gloomy expression that now clouded his face, Albert addressed Oscar:

"I apologize for all this."

“Huh? Why? You had nothing to do with it”

"Maybe not, but I have let my guard down and let misunderstandings arise of what happened. The thing has escalated to such magnitude that ended in a duel”

"Still, what is there to blame? Patrick Seymour must be upset enough to demand a duel at this time of night. He would bet that he only did it because Madeleine refused to grant him a dance and hence he needed to find someone with whom he would vent his problems”

And that someone had been the villain. Maybe not so much because he had been seen in the company of Patrick's partner. Nor because someone had spotted him and the aforementioned in a compromising situation. But because, judging by the resentment that the protagonist must have, he must´ve been waiting for the opportunity to take revenge.

And what better occasion than this to proclaim himself being offended by some fact, real or imagined, and challenge him? With so many witnesses, the villain couldn't refuse. And, incidentally, Patrick would be crowned a hero from the beginning, thus facing the individual who supposedly wanted to steal his fiancée.

"Either way, I'm sorry," Albert continued. “We´ll have to interrupt our walk, as I have to take care of this matter”

Why did he sound like he was apologizing to his partner for leaving in the middle of a date? Oscar knew why, but he still found it hilarious.

"It's okay, there´ll be plenty of times in the future to have moments like this," he said, but Albert's face hardly improved after hearing that, as if he wasn't entirely convinced by that premise. “For now, do you need help? I have no idea about guns, but I have read quite a bit about duels”

"I appreciate it, but I'd rather you didn't get into this. The fewer people who participate, the better”

‘Where was that of not carrying the weight of the world? Or does it only apply to me?’ Oscar asked these questions to himself, but didn´t speak them aloud. He had already gotten into a lot of trouble all year round, and considering that for once it was not going directly with him, it would be best to get away from it.

Albert wanted to find the godfather required for the duel and, incidentally, take the opportunity to talk with his family before others came to them with the story that he was going to get involved in a fight that, although it would not cost him his life - since It wouldn't be to the death — it might render him handicapped for a time. Since it was crucial not to waste the time that was left to finalize the preparations, Oscar knew it useless to insist on offering his help: He would do more good by letting Albert go, without holding him further, to solve his own affairs.

Therefore, Oscar decided to return to work, but not before assuring the villain that before the agreed duel he would hear from him again. Whether he liked it or not, he would be there to cheer him on.

And, to be honest, he was bothered by that attitude of Albert, not letting him give a hand, and even being reluctant to let accompany him until the zero hour.

Oscar would have liked to completely ignore it, continuing his day in the great hall. He could forget about the villain, the protagonist and all that chivalric problem that they brought. Thinking that the idea of ​​treating Madeleine like a trophy was absurd, not only because it was wrong to objectify a person, but because she wasn´t worth so much as to put other lives at risk because of her own impulsiveness. And also considering, on one or two occasions, that someone there really deserved to be put down for being so stupid... And he was not referring only to the male protagonist!

When he reached the Lilac Hall´s service area, Oscar noticed two things.

The first, being that he couldn´t leave the villain to his fate. As much as he was angry that he had put him aside like this — despite the fact that deep down he knew Albert was right, and wouldn´t have the heart to blame him later — he still wanted to help. He had done too much for him in the past and it was only fair that he returned the favor in some way.

The second, that he was still wearing Albert's jacket. Well, the aforementioned didn´t claim it, not even when they both returned to the interior of the building. Before Oscar could think of taking it off, the other had already left.

"What´s with that coat?" Sayer had asked when he ran into Oscar for the second time that evening.

Oscar had shaken it off and was holding it in his arms, carefully folded. As Albert had already gone to take care of his business, he thought that it wasn´t appropriate to return the garment at that moment, but that he should wait an hour later, when he considered that the subject of the duel had cooled a little and the villain had finished talking to who he should talk to.

"Someone loaned it to me." After answering his question so vaguely, Oscar noticed the suspicious smile the postman wore. “What's wrong? Are you drunk?”

“Of course not! I haven´t drank... Or well, yes, maybe. But just a drink or two, nothing important” After a pause that seemed eternal, he added. “You know? The most wonderful thing in the world has happened to me”

"Good, well, you'll tell me later. Now I'm in a bit of a hurry”

In about twenty or thirty minutes, Oscar had been pacing from the kitchen to the living room, still pondering an idea to get the villain out of this fight against Patrick or, if this proved impossible, get whoever challenged him to cancel it on his own. But whatever it was, he knew that with Madeleine he couldn't count on to intervene. He preferred to have another plan in place, one that did not involve him. And then, if he had time to spare before the duel happened, try to persuade her to do one of her antics and get it over with.

"Don't you want to hear it? It has to do with Maddie”

Oscar, who had already started walking past him, stopped.

"Do you know where she is?"

"Nah, I´ve got no idea, but… That's not the point! The point is, today it happened! I-I don't really know how or why, I haven't even had time to process it yet, the thing is, it happened. Today I got to kiss Maddie!”

“How is it possible?” Oscar asked, trying to contain his laughter.

Of all the people he knew, Sayer was the last one he thought Madeleine would kiss.

"L-like I told you, I don't know! I was in the living room, so calm, regretting because the only ones who accepted my invitation to go out to dance were the butcher's daughters and the baker's daughter (who aren´t bad at all but, let's see, the daughters of the nobles are of another level). When, at a time when everything was quiet, I decided it was time to go to the bathroom. You know what I mean, right?” Seeing his friend nod, he continued. “So I went to find the place, but this house is fucking big, and I must have gotten lost! The next thing I remember is that someone grabbed me by the back of the collar of my jacket and pushed me towards a certain part of the corridor. I didn't have time to react! And Madeleine's lips were already on mine”

Hearing this, Oscar burst out laughing.

"And what happened next?"

"Well, it was kind of embarrassing, actually… When Maddie opened her eyes and realized it was me, she freaked out. She yelled at me, asked me where Mr. Northrop was (why did she ask me that, by the way, if that guy wasn't even with us at the time?) And then she covered her mouth and ran off”

Oscar couldn't stop laughing when he heard that. So that had happened! In a moment of panic, seeing himself in this undesirable situation, Albert had grabbed the first person who passed by, making him the victim of the protagonist. And Madeleine, who couldn't bear to put her lips on someone worth less than thirty thousand pounds a year, had had to run to the bathroom to detox.

"Come on, don't laugh like that! I know that with my postman salary I cannot give her the comforts she deserves, but with me she will never go hungry! And... and this has been a great step! Although the reaction wasn´t the best, I am not disappointed because now I know that I can participate in the competition”

"Tell me, did you hear that there will be a duel between Patrick Seymour and Albert Northrop?"

Oscar was still wiping the tears from everything he had laughed at when he asked this question, but Sayer seemed confused, not knowing exactly where he wanted to go with it.

"Yeah, I heard someone mention it in the living room just now. What's with that?”

"That Seymour wants to duel Northrop because he thinks the latter was the one who 'desecrated' his mistress." Noting that the other's face turned pale as a ghost upon hearing this, he added. “It isn´t a duel to death, but I wouldn´t be surprised if it was to second blood”

He said that to get a reaction: Oscar had no idea if the duel would be to first blood (that is, the opponent who was slightly injured lost) or to second (which would be when, whoever lost, would do so while already injured of gravity), because they had not yet formalized the terms of the fight with the godparents.

And yes, the reaction was immediate. All trace of joy evaporated from Sayer, leaving behind a trembling human who, unsure of what to do, said quietly:

"B-but… why didn't Mr. Northrop say that he hadn't been? Even so, won't you expect me to...? Mr. Seymour would kill me! With a sword I could perhaps defend me with a couple of lunges, but a pistol I don't even know how to take it. B-besides, I'm a peaceful man, you know that! I have never taken a gun, not even for sport”

"Take it easy, I'm not asking you to go clear it up with them. That would be suicide, and honestly, I don't think Mr. Seymour would like it. I think he´s trying to resolve a personal conflict he has with Mr. Northrop. Then, you getting in the way now would be like provoking him even more, insinuating that he has two enemies instead of just one”

"So what can I do? It´s not fair that Mr. Northrop should go through that ordeal because of me!”

‘What Albert should do is apologize for having dragged you into this, the duel is just another of Patrick's ravings of power. No one could have prevented it, no matter who kissed Madeleine’, thought Oscar. But, instead of this, he said:

"There´s a way to help Mr. Northrop, without having to blame yourself for anything with Patrick Seymour. What's more, you don't even need to appear before either of them! If you do what I tell you, you´ll be able to clear your conscience and no one will ever know of your participation in all this”

Although Oscar's plan could be carried out without the need for this particular accomplice, he didn´t miss the opportunity to cajole Sayer into doing a small part of what he set out to do. It was not just a question of ‘if they are going to catch someone red-handed, they better catch another’, but for time. He needed to make time! Because something had occurred to him that might work, and to do so, he would need to perform a few operations before the scheduled time for the duel.

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