Chapter 12

The Marriage

During the next week, Viola made two more trips to Lady Olivia's house and found that the lady's manner was markedly different. For one thing, she had ceased wearing black; instead, she wore elegant, pale-colored gowns that set off her dark curls and delicate complexion. And she stopped speaking of herself and 'Cesario' and listened politely but disinterestedly to what Viola had to say. Sometimes she seemed to look with pity on Viola while she spoke of Orsino's love, and when the speech was done, she would give a sigh as if in relief that it was over and smile in a way that seemed decidedly conspiratorial. "Take him my usual answer, my poor young man, though indeed I hardly need to say it. You know it well," she would say with a look that seemed to say much more than words, though Viola was at a loss to know what. Once she gave her a broad wink as she left, which Viola returned with a stare of astonishment. She had no idea what to make of this new mood, but it pleased her much more than the lady's open wooing.

For of course Sebastien had been to visit Olivia many times that week, and though he had never so much as kissed her, he believed he was thoroughly in love with her. He generally came at about tea time and stayed several hours. The first couple of times, Olivia had mentioned seeing him earlier that day, which bewildered him, for he spent many hours every day searching for Antonio and did not go near Olivia's house until the afternoon.

The second time she mentioned it, he exclaimed, "Good lady, why do you speak of these visits? I protest—"

"I beg your pardon," she interrupted him. "It must pain you to think of those particular visits. I will speak of them no more." And she did not, which pleased him because he did not wish to think her mad or toying with him.

One day, Olivia asked, "My dear Cesario" (which she still called him about half the time), "why do you not come earlier in the day so that our hours of sweet speech together may be longer?"

"Would that I could! But I cannot, dear lady. My dearest friend in all the world, who was in this city the first day I was here, has disappeared, and since I do not have the resources to hire men to search for him, I must do it myself. I have only a certain amount of money that he gave me to hold for him, and I will not use it."

"Why did you not tell me before? It would give me the greatest pleasure to help you find your dear friend so that he may be my dear friend as well, Cesario! I will immediately hire the best men in the city, and they shall search for you."

"I shall not give up the search, but if there are men to help me, my search may be shortened, and I may have more time for you. My highest gratitude goes to you, my lady."

"Good Cesario, it is not your gratitude that I desire."

"I know what you desire, Lady Olivia, and you have that as well." With that he took her hand in his and kissed it, then left quickly, before his love overcame his judgment.

The next day, a man approached him in the city. "Sir, I believe you are Cesario, known as Sebastien?"

"I am Sebastien, at least," he answered.

"The Lady Olivia has engaged me to search out a man for you. I need from you his description and all particulars relating to him."

Sebastien described Antonio thoroughly as well as the danger to him in the city, and the man bowed. "If he is still in the city, I can promise that I will have found him by tomorrow."

"Many thanks to you, friend."

"Your servant, sir."

Sebastien made his way to Olivia's a little early that day, and he found her speaking earnestly to a priest. Seeing him, she broke away and came toward him, blushing a little.

"You must not blame me, dear Cesario, for being over hasty. I have called this priest, and if you are willing, he shall make the connection of love between us solid and real before God."

"If I am willing? You do but jest. Of course I am willing! You are the queen and sovereign of my heart, and you shall command the hour of our joining."

"Then let it be now, and you shall ever be my good lord, and my person and all of my lands shall be yours. Father," she called to the priest, "let us go to the chapel."

In an hour, Lady Olivia's wish was fulfilled, for she was, as she thought, her 'Cesario's' wife, and Sebastien was made by marriage her lord, Count Sebastien, a title somewhat less than the one he might have inherited from his father but no less honored by him. When they had finished, she walked the priest out to give him thanks and gifts, and Sebastien was left alone for a few minutes, scarcely able to believe the change of fortunes that had come to him. Hardly a minute had passed before the butler ushered in a man to see him. It was the man who had been hired to find Antonio. Sebastien sprang up to meet him.

"Have you news for me?" he demanded.

"I do, my lord, and had you gone to the captain of the duke's guards in the first place, you would have discovered it yourself. Your friend Antonio has been in prison these eight days—"

"In prison? Why did he not send word to me? I must go to him immediately. Pray you, stay here and tell my lady the news when she returns."

He sped out of the room and did not hear the man protesting, "But my lord, he is not there!"