Decerno is Latin for "to decide, determine, settle".
Chapter Six: Decerno
The following morning found her humming an indecipherable tune. One that did not come from a particular song, except a happy one in her head. She just feels airy and light and… happy. Earlier, there had been an unexpected knock on her door. Her first thought had been that it was her employer with another request. So she had been completely thrown when a large bouquet of flowers had greeted her instead. They were the most elegant and expensive blooms she has ever thought o be gifted with and thought surely they were not really for her. The bellhop had refused any tip, citing that all expenses had already been looked after for, though the bouquet was quite heavy. He had placed it gently upon her writing desk, in full view of the entire room that she called her temporary home and had been off before she could properly get over her shock over such a lovely surprise. She is still in shock. She thought for sure that such an extravagant arrangement of flowers must be for Mrs. Harper and not her. That is, until, she saw that the card, which had been tied to a particularly lovely blossom, was addressed to "The Pool Nymph".
The masculine scroll that lined the words immediately told her who the flowers were from, if the inscription had not and her hearted that stuttered in her chest when she had read the words writing by his own hand.
"I am sorry for being such a cad yesterday. Thank you for a lovely afternoon. – Noctis"
She is just putting away the note when she hears Mrs. Harper shout a loud exclamation of excitement.
"Quick! Come here!" Mrs. Harper bellows out to her.
She rushes through the door to the Lady's adjoining room to see her waving a letter in her hand excitedly.
"My daughter is engaged to be married!"
"Oh how wonderful!" she exclaims, happy for her Ladyship's sake.
"Hurry! We must secure transportation on the next flight out of the country to New York." Mrs. Harper instructs, talking rapidly. "We must leave immediately. Start packing and don't doddle!"
Which has her scurrying back to her rooms in order to execute those orders and feeling a sense of panic too. Leave? Now?
But, the Prince!
She makes a dash to the phone and quickly rings the operator.
"Prince Noctis' rooms, please," she instructs quickly.
"I am sorry Miss, but His highness has gone out riding this morning."
A sinking feeling builds in her chest at the news.
"He won't be back til noon."
This means that he may not be back in time for her to say her farewell to him. Was that to be it? Leaving without a word of thanks and to never look at his face again? The pain of that conclusion is like a blow.
"Oh, I see," she says, trying not to sound as despondent as she feels. "Connect me to the porter, please."
The next few hours are hectic and chaotic and a blur behind tear filled eyes. When each fully packed trunk is stacked and ready to go, she feels her heart breaking anew when the clock still would not reach the twelfth hour. Her Ladyship hardly noticed her distress in the bustle of getting everything in order. Their stay would have lasted another week and the amount of luggage that Mrs. Harper had required was voluminous. Her own lone suitcase seemed inconsequential besides such finery. Still, as excessively as Mrs. Harper had packed, noon did not come soon enough.
It is just past that time when the last of the luggage is ready to be taking down to the car. The bellhops are already in the process of loading their carts with the heavy duty trunks and she cannot wait a moment longer. She had to try and ring him again. Just to hear his voice if not see his face, for one last time before she is headed off to another country where there would be more than an ocean between him and her.
"I think I might have forgotten to pack my book," she says by way of excuses to Mrs. Harper before running off her to rooms again. The Lady only offers her a distracted nod in response.
She hurries into her empty room and snatches the receiver from the cradle.
"Has Prince Noctis come back from his ride yet?" she asks in a pleadingly desperate voice.
"He has, ma'am," is the reply.
"Oh he has!" she exclaims, her heart about to burst from this surge of simple joy.
The operator connects her to the Prince's rooms, only to ring and ring without a reply. It gets to the fourth ring before she hears the sounds of Mrs. Harper coming into her room and has just enough time to place the receiver back onto the cradle before she can catch her.
"I can't seem to find it," she says absently, making a show of looking around the table. "I must have packed it."
"Well hurry up!" snaps Mrs. Harper, with a squeak of exasperation. "The car is waiting!"
"Yes," she says humbly and follows right behind her. Her heart threatens to leap out of her throat when she hears the phone ring again just as they are exiting the suites.
She fidgets uncontrollably throughout the entire ride down the lift and bounces on her feet as they make their way to the two cars that are carrying their luggage in the valet. When Mrs. Harper stops to count each case, she makes her excuses again.
"I want to leave a forwarding address in case they should find my book," she says, rushing away before Mrs. Harper can stop her and makes her way towards the front desk. When she asks the clerk to ring Noctis' rooms, he offers her a kind smile before connecting the call and waiting for an answer.
A few moments later he offers her an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry Miss, but there is no answer."
"Thank you," she says absently, before quickly walking over to the dining hall in hopes that he is there to dine.
"I'm sorry Miss," apologizes the Maitre 'dm who recognizes her immediately, once she gets there. "His Majesty has just ordered his meal in his rooms."
Without thought to the consequences or propriety, she hurries to his rooms. So anxious to see him is she that she does not even thinking things through before she finds herself knocking on his door. Standing there, she has a short moment to wonder at her rationality by being so outrageous. He was a prince! All he would be sorry for, was a loss in companion and he could very easily find another, while their separation is already devastating her.
"Come in!" he bellows out before she can change her mind and leave. He has left the door slightly ajar, obviously expecting room service and not a crazed girl in love with him.
Once she enters and finds herself in the middle of his empty living room, she is suddenly too choked to speak. Too choked to say her good byes. Too choked to say anything at all. Then he is stepping out of his bedroom, looking fresh from a shower. His hair is just styled and he only has his jeans on without a shirt. He must have been in the middle of shaving because there are still spots of shaving cream all around his face.
"Hello," he says pleasantly. He looks surprised at her presence but not upset that she was over stepping her boundaries. "What are you doing here?"
He looks so handsome and virile that her heart aches anew at having to leave him.
"I came to say good bye," she says, sounding hollow and stiff when she feels anything but at the moment. "We're going away."
The smile dissolves on his lips and he sits on the arm of one of the plush chairs. He looks at her solemnly for a heartbeat, wiping at his face absently with a towel.
"Where is she taking you?" he asks quietly.
"To New York," she mumbles, fighting tears. "I shall hate it. I shall be miserable."
He gives her another long look that made it impossible to know what he was thinking.
"I need to put the rest of my clothes on," he says, picking up a freshly pressed shirt from the back of one of the chairs. "I will be right in here. I will not be long."
He disappears from whence he came and she feels her urgency to leave return. Of course he would not be in a rush and she hardly thinks it is necessary for him to finish dressing when she has said what she has come to say. Mrs. Harper would give her a heated scolding for this and she starts inching towards the door. She is just kicking herself for being all kinds of a fool. He had not looked nearly as crushed at her leaving as she was in doing so.
"Which would you prefer," he asks conversationally, from the next room. "New York or Manderley?"
"Please do not joke about it. Mrs. Harper is waiting and I really have to say good bye now!" she cries, stepping closer to the door.
"I repeat what I said," he responds. "Either you go to New York or you can come to Manderley with me."
"Did you need a secretary or something?" she asks hopefully. That was a much better and ideal situation than what she had now.
"I am asking you to marry me, you little fool."
"…"
Her mouth opens in a gape but her lips can do nothing else. Both legs give out and she finds herself sinking into a chair in shock. Had he really just said what he had just said? That did not make any sense. Why would he want to…
A knock at the door disturbs her stupor but she makes no move to get up. For her legs do not respond to her command. Neither does her mouth.
"Come in!" he calls out from the bedroom. He pokes his head out first, before the rest of him reappears and greets the server. "Is that my food? I am famished. I have not had any breakfast." He adds the last few buttons on his collared shirt when he makes his way to her looking freshly groomed and perfect and looks at her curiously while the server sets the table for them both. If they are surprised by having another person there, they do not show it.
He pulls a chair out for her and ushers her out of hers so as to sit beside him at the table. Then he seats himself comfortably and lays his napkin onto his lap.
"Oh my," he says, looking a little shy at her lack of reaction. "My suggestion did not at all go over well, did it? I'm sorry."
"I'm just confused," she says honestly. "I'm not the sort of woman, men marry."
"What on earth do you mean?"
"I mean you are you and I am, me. You know what I mean," she stutters.
"No, I am afraid I do not," he replies, looking so genuinely baffled and that part of her that isn't so shocked, loves him even more for it.
"I don't belong in your sort of world," she explains.
"What sort of world is that?"
"Your position, Manderley… and all those things."
"I should think I would be an expert on whether or not you belong in my world and Manderley," he states indifferent to her reasoning. "Of course if you do not love me than that is more understandable. Just a devastating blow to my conceit, that's all."
"Oh, but I do love you," she blurts out. "I love you most dreadfully. I've been crying all morning because I thought I'd never see you again."
His eyes soften and he offers her a sad smile before taking her hand.
"Bless you for that," he thanks. "I will remind you of this one day, but you will not believe me. It is a pity that I cannot keep you just like this forever." He speaks the words so mournfully, squeezing her hand and offering her another sad smile. Then all melancholy is gone and he starts to butter his toast. "Now enough of that. It is settled then. Pour me some coffee please. I prefer a bit little bit of cream and sugar. I take it sweeter than creamier. Same with my tea. You won't forget, will you?"
"Never," she promises, happy to be of use to him. She is still in denial about his sudden proposal of marriage, but such a menial preference was what she was used to remembering.
"So who shall tell Mrs. Harper?" he asks. "Shall you or shall I?"
"You tell her," she begs, beginning to shake nervously. "She will be so angry."
"What is the number of her rooms?" he asks indifferently, reaching over to grab the telephone.
"She is not in her rooms. She is out in the car," she answers apprehensively.
"Hello? Give me the desk please," he says, leaning in closer to her as he waits for the call to connect. "Would you please go to the car out front and tell Mrs. Harper, with my compliments, if she would be so very kind as to come up and see me. "Yes, in my rooms." He offers her a smile, which she cannot help but smile back at, even though she is terrified of Mrs. Harper's reaction.
With their guest on her way up, he finishes up his toast quickly before taking her hand and urging her to stand.
"This is just awful, isn't it?" asks Noctis, looking saddened for her sake. "This is not at all how it should be for you. You should be with someone less jaded and more romantic. We should be in a secluded garden somewhere amongst the flowers and I should be making violent love to you under a willow tree." He twirls her around the room wistfully and then brings her into an affectionate embrace. "I am so sorry, darling."
"I really don't mind," she reassures him with a small chuckle at his antics, but she sinks into his embrace and is rewarded with a peck on the cheek.
The happy moment is broken when there is a brisk knock at the door and she scurries to hide behind one of the columns beside it.
"Easy now," he soothes, standing just so, so that Mrs. Harper would focus on him and not notice her right away. "You do not have to say anything. Just let me handle it."
"I do so humbly apologize, Your Majesty!" cries Mrs. Harper excitedly, busting into the rooms with a small bow. "It was very rude of me to try and leave before saying good bye, but I just received some news this morning that my daughter is engaged to be married."
"What a lovely coincidence Mrs. Harper," says Noctis pleasantly. "I have invited you up to announce my own engagement."
"Your engagement?" Mrs. Harper nearly screeches in excitement at being privy to such news. "Who is the lucky lady?"
Noctis motions to where she is standing just behind her Ladyship by way of answer. When Mrs. Harper turns her head to look, the smile drains away and her face turns sour.
"I apologize for depriving you of your companion," says Noctis.
"When did all this happen?" Mrs. Harper demands, too stunned to even fake pleasantness at the news. She looks pinched and ready to rail at her.
"Only a few minutes ago, Mrs. Harper," she answers.
"I … can't... believe...," Mrs. Harper scoffs before she remembers that Noctis stands just a few feet away and is watching her carefully. She forces a smile back to her face and turns back to her. "I suppose I ought to scold you for not having breathed a word of this to me," she tells Noctis with a cluck of her tongue and looks between the two of them cautiously. Cautious only because Noctis is here. It looks almost as if it pains her to keep such a pleasant face when she wants to make an ugly one. "You sly little thing! When and where is the wedding to be?"
"Here, as soon as possible," answers Noctis, cautiously
"A whirlwind romance!" cries Mrs. Harper. "Well, as this child has no mother, I shall supervise and make all the necessary arrangements and I can even give the bride away! I could easily postpone my trip for another week. But our luggage!" she shouts, whirling at her. "Quick! Get our luggage!"
She is about to comply when Noctis takes her by her shoulders and presses her back reassuringly against his chest.
"We appreciate your generosity, Mrs. Harper, but we would both prefer to keep this as quiet as possible," he says and when the lady opens her mouth to protest, he cuts her off. "We would never forgive ourselves the expense you will suffer for canceling your journey."
Mrs. Harper's mouth is open and poised to offer a denial but there is a look to Noctis' eye now that brooks no argument.
"Now, I shall fetch your luggage," he offers to her with a small smile. "Be right back darling." He offers her shoulders an encouraging squeeze.
"Thank you, Noctis," she says, watching him go with the porter in order to get her things before slowly turning to face her former employer.
"So this is what has been happening during my illness!" Mrs. Harper spits venomously. "I have to hand it to you for being a fast worker. Still waters certainly run deep! How did you manage it?" She does a cynical circle around her, making her feel even more lacking, before turning to stare at herself in the hanging looking glass over the fireplace. "You will have your hands full being mistress of Manderley." She snips open her purse and takes out her powdering puff and dabs at her cheeks arrogantly. "Frankly my dear, I don't see you doing it. You haven't the foggiest idea what it means to be a great lady. You lack neither the sociability, class or knowledge of how to manage such an estate as Manderley. Not to mention the duties you will be expected to perform." She turns around to look at her disapprovingly. "Have you been doing something you shouldn't?"
The insinuation bristles her shoulders. "I have no idea what you mean," she says indignantly. Such a mention was insulting and yet, she is helpless to defend herself. It was the same conclusion any one would make about her when they found out about all this. No one is more surprised at Noctis' proposal than she is. But it does not mean it does not anger her anyway.
"Ha! Never mind," Mrs. Harper laughs mirthlessly. "I always did say that the monarchy had strange taste." She lifts her chin in order to sniff down her nose at her. "You know why he wants to marry you, don't you? You have not fancied yourself into thinking that he actually loves you. The truth is, being alone in that house has probably gotten to his head."
"You should leave now, Mrs. Harper," she interrupts with a straightening of her shoulders. "You will miss your train."
The Lady makes a show of slowly extricating a cigarette before shutting her purse with a loud snap and taking a long drag. She eyes her with unsuppressed contempt before she makes her way to the door and sneers back at her. "Princess Caelum. Ha! Good bye my dear and good luck!" She scoffs by way of farewell and slams the door behind her.
She jumps at the cracking sound of the slam and trembles. What the other woman had said was frightening in its truthfulness and she feels a sense of dark foreboding as she waits for Noctis to return with her bags. What was she getting herself into?