Count Volger had never been a man for romance. When your duties consisted of maintaining dignity and control of the future Austrian throne, you didn't have time for a wife. That and he never needed one. He may never have experienced the world of courting, but that didn't mean Volger lacked the ability to charm a woman. One could even argue that he excelled at it. Truly, if his career would have allowed it, Volger was certain he would have the most beautiful woman in the kingdom.
Looking back upon his life, Volger didn't regret anything. A man needed a wife like a whale needed….well…to fly.
Yet with circumstances being what they were, it appeared he would be needing his charms and dashing good looks to secure the companionship of a woman.
He smirked at himself in the mirror and adjusted his bowtie so that it was even. Licking the tips of his thumb and forefinger, Volger wet the corners of his eyebrows and moustache so that they curled in the appropriate manner.
"Good heavens, man, what are you wearing?" Came a squeal in German from the door. Volger couldn't help but smile when he turned to face his pupil.
"This, boy, is a tuxedo. Which I'm sure you are aware of."
"Yes, I knew that!" Aleksander grumbled. He was always one to state the obvious. "But why are you wearing it? God's wounds, I didn't think you even had one in your luggage!"
"One must always come prepared, your highness." Volger explained while pulling his ivory comb from his front pocket. "Now I didn't call you here to chit chat. Hurry over to the desk and fetch the bottle of champagne."
"CHAMPAGNE! Where on Earth did you get that?"
"That is of no business to you. Just retrieve it for me. And while you're at it, change your outfit. That pilot's uniform is much too drab and dirty for what we will be doing."
"And may I ask what we will be doing, sir?"
"You may, but that doesn't mean I'm going to tell you. Yet."
Nora completed her book with a sigh and stood to return it to the bookshelf on the other end of her office. It appeared that another author had no advice on the bonding behaviors of the slow loris. The perspicacious loris may be different than its natural slow loris cousins, but it still should share some of the same traits. Yet she couldn't find anything on why a loris would bond to two male parents, i.e. Mr. Sharp and Aleksander, and not a male and a female.
Curious, though it was, Nora was certain it wasn't the first time that such a situation had happened.
A knock on her door interrupted her from her thoughts.
"Come in." She answered as the doorway opened.
"Good evening, Dr. Barlow, I've brought you some refreshments."
Confused, Nora turned and was surprised to see Aleksander entering her room with a bottle of champagne and a plate of biscuits.
"Alek? This is unexpected. What brings you here and with such thoughtful morsels?"
The boy glared at her peevishly.
"I'm here to start your dinner for you. The Count apologizes that he is running late but he will be here shortly."
Count Volger? Was she supposed to be meeting with him?
"I'm sorry, I don't understand." She said.
Alek grumbled something under his breath that sounded like a curse. With more than a bit of annoyance he slammed the champagne and biscuits onto her desk and picked up a small piece of paper that had been buried amongst the other items on the table top.
"I believe this will answer that question. Volger sent it to you earlier today and it appears you never read it."
Intrigued, Nora took the small paper and was perplexed to discover it was a letter.
"He wrote me a note! How…kind of him. He could have just used the message lizards."
Alek only shrugged so Nora opened the letter without any further hesitation.
Dearest Nora,
I admit that your request took me with great surprise, however, I am honored by your proposal and I would be delighted to join you later tonight. Please accompany me to dinner this evening.
Truly yours,
Ernst Volger.
"Well, this is peculiar." She though out loud. "Since when does he address me by my first name?"
Alek only scowled.
"How should I know?" He finally answered.
"I wasn't asking you, dear. And you shouldn't scrunch up your face like that. It ruins your handsome features."
This comment only made Alek frown more. It completely clashed with his fine outfit of a gallant emperor's dress coat and formal slacks.
"Are we done here?" He said, a bit louder and brassier. "I have other things I'd rather be doing."
"By all means, I wasn't forcing you to stay." She gestured to the door and Alek hastily left.
This was all very odd. First there was the friendly note which Volger would never normally write, and then there was the champagne and biscuits. Nora didn't know how to feel about all of this.
She didn't have much time to sit and ponder about it, for soon there was another knock on the door. There wasn't a chance to get up and answer it, because Count Volger had already let himself in.
"My dear," He said, bowing deeply and taking her hand to kiss, "I'm delighted that you will be joining me tonight. I see Aleksander has already brought you the wine." He waltzed to the desk and began to open the bottle. "Foolish boy didn't bother to open it for you, I see. Well, you can only bring a horse to water…"
"Volger! May I ask what the meaning of this is?"
He beamed at her as the cork of the champagne popped.
"Why, I am only returning the favor that you requested." He poured a flute of champagne and handed it to her.
"And what favor may that be, might I ask?"
"Don't play coy with me, Nora. You know exactly why I'm here."
She didn't, but she didn't feel like arguing with him. If Volger suddenly had the urge to be nice to her, Nora wasn't about to stop him.
"I was going to have Aleksander bring us our food, however, now I am not so sure he will be retrieving it. I will get it myself in a few minutes, but first, why don't we get comfortable."
He handed her the champagne flute before pouring himself a glass and sitting, of all places, on her bed! Nora was about to protest but it was hard to fight with the man when he was acting so gentlemanly. Well, there was also the fact that he looked quite splendid tonight.
For some unknown reason Volger had chosen to don a full tuxedo with tails, a bowtie and even small golden cufflinks. Nora couldn't help blushing at the idea that the man may have dressed this nicely for her benefit.
"Would you be so kind as to sit with me?" He asked. She didn't answer him but when he reached for her hand and pulled her to the bed her body easily succumbed to his request.
"I know our lives are not nearly what they used to be when we were both on land. You being a Darwinist doctor and me being an Austrian Soldier. But times being as they are, we have to make do with what we have."
Nora's heart was aflutter and she wasn't paying much attention to what he was saying. Instead she watched the way his lips moved as he spoke and contemplated what it would be like to touch the moustache that quivered and curved with each of his words.
"Am I right, Nora?"
"Ummm. What? I beg your pardon, I didn't hear you."
"I was just commenting on how it was strange that you and I would have a partnership. I suppose it isn't often that a Darwinist and a Clanker become friends."
Friend? She thought. Did he just associate me as his friend?
She swallowed hard and cleared her throat.
"I don't find the companionship too odd. One only has to look as close as this ship to see that Clanker and Darwinist partnerships are becoming rather common. For example, Aleksander and Dylan are becoming very strong friends.
At this the Count snorted.
"The meager acquaintance between the midshipman and the prince is nothing but an alliance between boys. I'm talking about something bigger, something closer."
Nora was about to point out that the loris had bonded to both Alek and Dylan and how strange that was, but she was interrupted rudely when the Count suddenly wrapped his arm loosely around her shoulder.
"Would you agree?" He asked.
"Agree with what?" She said in a much higher voice than usual.
"That we have a strong relationship?"
"I would hardly…."
She didn't get a chance to finish because her lips were suddenly pressed against his mustached ones. It was a quick kiss that lasted only a mere five seconds before he pulled away. Still, it was enough to turn Nora's entire face and neck hot scarlet.
"Is there something wrong, Nora, you seem tense?"
"I WOULD THINK I SHOULD BE!" She snapped. Shoving her way out of his embrace, Nora rose and tossed her untouched champagne into his face. "What madness has overcome you that you felt the need to kiss me!"
Volger didn't have the grace to look shocked. Instead he only looked angry.
"So that's it then?" He asked standing to his full height so he could look down his nose at her. The liquor was pouring down his face in large drips but he didn't bother to wipe it away. "Was this all a ploy to trick me? This whole thing was just to make me look a fool?"
Nora put her hands on her hips and arched one eyebrow.
"What are you talking about?"
"The letter you sent me of course, Miss Barlow, unless I am mistaken. It was quite explicit on your need for my attention."
"Letter? I never sent you a letter!"
He narrowed his eyes at her for a moment and twitched his moustache.
"If it wasn't from you then who….." He suddenly went red with fury, "SHARP!"
"Excuse me?"
"That wretched excuse for a solider! I will rip his limbs out of their sockets and…" He began to walk to the door while pulling a handkerchief out to wipe his wet cheeks. She quickly barged in front of him before he left.
"Wait a moment, did you say that Mr. Sharp sent a letter from me to you?"
He was about to push past her but stopped.
"I did."
Nora planted her forehead in her palm.
"I think I understand what may have occurred. I did give a letter to midshipman Sharp this morning, but it wasn't for you. Originally the note was supposed to be delivered to my husband but Dylan must have given it to you by mistake."
Finally Volger's expression was able to manage something that looked like embarrassment.
"Did…did you just say…husband?" His face looked very purple.
"I did."
There was a pause and they stood in silence, staring at one another and wondering who would venture to speak next.
Nora couldn't take it anymore and eventually broke the quiet.
"I'm sorry, Volger, I suppose I should have told you sooner that I was wed. I also apologize that you received that letter. I'm actually quite ashamed that you read it. I don't normally talk so scandalously in my notes. That is, unless, I need a favor from Alan."
"And this Alan would be your husband."
She nodded.
Volger sighed and lifted a hand to his forehead so he could rub his temples with his thumb and forefinger.
"Well, coming from a man such as myself, let him know that he should be extremely complemented to have a woman such as you."
"Believe me, he doesn't see it that way."
"Come again?." Volger took his hand down so he could see her face.
"Let's just say that my husband doesn't always appreciate me as much as he should."
Volger crossed his arms.
"Please continue." He urged her.
"Alan is a clerk at a successful law firm. He loves his business and does well at it. However, he doesn't understand even the beginning steps of biology and he has no interest in anything I do. We have two sons but I never hear anything from them because Alan leaves their complete care with the nanny and doesn't consider it important for me to be updated on their wellbeing. Oh, and he's also terribly selfish and rude."
She realized she had been ranting and bit her lip.
"It sounds to me as though there is little to like about him."
She groaned and nodded.
"Then what convinced you to marry him in the first place?"
"My mother. The Barlows are a wealthy family with a very good reputation in society."
"I see." He said. And to his credit, the count seemed very understanding.
"I really am sorry, Volger."
"Please, call me Ernst." He took her hand one last time and raised it to his lips in a parting kiss. "For what it's worth, this has been a lovely evening. And if you will excuse me, I have some beatings to attend to."
"Beatings?"
"Yes. I believe a certain midshipman will be in need of a good smack." He bowed to her and walked to the door. "Goodnight, Nora."
"Goodnight, Ernst."
She heard a mumble from behind the door that sounded a touch like 'should've kissed her again, stupid barking count.'
Volger obviously didn't hear the voice because once he opened the door it was too late and he had stumbled to the deck on top of a bewildered looking Alek and an amused Dylan Sharp.
"YOU!" He snapped at the boys. "I should have known!"
"Aye!" Dylan said with a hint of a grin. "Well, this has been fun. Hope to see you soon, Dr. Barlow, Count." And before anyone could say 'midshipman' the boy was gone. Nora could hear the faint pattering of his footfalls in the distance. Volger didn't wait to scold Alek at all and instead chased after the young Scotsman in rage.
"I'll have your scrawny neck!" He screamed.
Alek remained on the ground where he had been trampled over. He was flushed in the face and Nora strode over to him and offered him her hand.
"This wasn't my idea!" Alek said with shame.
"I'm sure it wasn't, dear." She replied, shaking her head with a laugh.