Will could hear nothing but the sounds of his own boots clattering rhythmically on the cold marble floors as he paced down the hallways, on his way to meet Aletté. Her fitting was supposed to be done with by now, her final fitting, she had said. He missed her. Funny that they could be living not ten feet between their bedrooms and he missed her.
A child-like giggle drifted out from one of the alcoves in the hall and met Will's eyes.
Cori.
"Lord Turner, you've left your boot untied." She emerged from the shadows, this time clad in a dress so heavily laden in jewels that the original cloth colour was completely done away with. She reached out a skinny hand and grasped the fabric of his shirt. "You have a hole in your sleeve, sir. I should mend it for you."
Will pulled back. "Uh… good afternoon?" He tried hopefully.
"And no it has not been one until you found me in this hallway, or was it I who found you? But no matter, it is one now." She dropped a small curtsy.
"Is one what?" She spoke too quickly for Will to understand, his broken Spanish being what it was.
"A good afternoon, or did you not say that?" She linked her arm with his and began to walk down the hallway beside him. "And did you hear of my news, or were you busy?"
"No." Will smiled amicably now. "What news?"
Cori's smile vanished. "I am to marry again, Lord Turner, does that please?"
He frowned. "I suppose…"
"But do you know, I am to marry an Englishman like you!" She laughed. "And where does he live, would you think?"
"England?" Will tried feebly.
"That Caribbean you speak about."
He smiled, suddenly happy for her. "You'll love it there. It has everything you could possibly want, Lady Corelina."
Her face lit up. "Oh, you know my name! Do call me Corelina, now, I like it, how you say it, or do you?"
"Like what?" Will was lost again.
"My name."
"Oh. Well yes, I do like it."
She laughed. "Then so do I." Her face then darkened. "But I do not think the Caribbean can give me everything I want."
"Oh." Will nodded slowly. "Well, I only hope you'll be just a little bit happier."
"But you know, Lord Turner, you look sad. I would I could easily make you glad." Her eyes met his with an erotic kind of glint to them. "Would you wish it, that is."
"What?" Will was sure his Spanish had gotten worse. "What does that mean?"
"Ah!" She cried. "Speak kinder to me!"
"Well, what is it that you mean?"
Cori glanced around, then pulled Will by the arm into another alcove, one sheltered from view by a large tapestry. She backed herself against the wall. "Nobody can see me in here. Nobody to tell you, and I know you are a man. Men want things, Lord Turner."
"By God," He pleaded, "speak plainly!"
Cori's eyes met his seriously. "Aletté need never knew."
Will understood now. He turned and left the alcove without a word.
Cori crumpled on the floor and cried.