"Excuse me, mademoiselle," a servant interrupts my concentration on the novel I am currently reading.
""What is it now?" I growl.
"I hate to interrupt, but there is a person, a man, at the door."
"So? Is there any real need to bother me? You know my policy," I spit. "No one allowed in without an appointment made prior to his or her arrival! No exceptions."
He shrinks back, cringing at the force of my tirade. "But, sir! He refuses to leave until he sees you! He says he knows you already."
"I shall see to this matter myself. Go."
I look out the window by the great doors. Ah, I know that person! Erik perks u-p from the bottom of my soul. Could it be? He wonders. "Who?" I ask my soul. Could it really be the Daroga?
I open the door, and say, "Come in, monsieur, come in. You are always welcome, Christoph. My apologies, it has been a very trying time for me lately."
"That is okay, mon ami. No offense has been taken," Christoph Leon quips.
I breathe a sigh of relief. I was hoping he would not be angry with me. After all, I think I may actually be falling in love with him. My soul, so ancient and thirsty for love, wildly supports this idea.
"Thank you. Whenever you come again, you can just come in if I am home. So what brings you around to my place?"
"Thought you might like to catch up on the gossip of the town…"