THE ART OF THE COURTESAN
M. Nacrion
(written in 2394)
Having failed to find a position on the Grand Commission, the Duke Enrillio feels compelled to draw on the Duchess D’Aprolia for support, safe in the knowledge that she will have to accept his amorous overtures at last.
The next morning, furious with the duchess for having said so little in the face
of so much, our poor duke, undeterred by the fact that he had only recently been
admitted to the Earl of G-
“My gracious Lady,” it began, “if I dare to write now in words which all too clearly
betray my hitherto suppressed anger, I hope I shall nevertheless be allowed to suffer
your comprehension, if not your much-
“And why an insult? Why indeed should I, merely the impoverished duke of Sambadan,
feel thus moved by your sudden inaction? Ah, my Lady, have you forgotten already
the sums I owe and the favours I have asked of any whose help might aid our plans?
Have you forgotten already since your visit to my halls the sorry state of my apartments,
the echoing suites bare of their once-
“You know well the Baron; his happy penchant for talking was yesterday far from
dampened by the inclemencies of the weather, and after only a few minutes of his
arriving at my doorstep, with only a day's notice that he would be coming, there
he stood, telling me of all that seemed important to this old minister, still locked
in the repercussions of intrigues which shocked the Court a half-
“‘Ah yes?’ I enquired, all innocently, ‘the young princess Semina is won, then, would you venture, baron?’ The old man laughed, as if (and I'm certain I could sense this in his knowing regard) he had suspected all along that my attentions were directed towards our Heroine (though even should he know, his voice counts for nothing here in the Court!). Then he said:
“‘Why, my dear chap, it is as good as accepted among the great and initiate of this court that Semina has long been wooed by the venerable lord Gyrril, and that his intentions, whilst undoubtedly dishonorable at heart, remain ultimately above suspicion.’
“So you see, my Lady, as you must already know, it is absolutely essential that
we act now, before this rash couple consummate a union against our wishes. And forgive
my own rashness, my Lady, in couching my thoughts in this language of such ill-
“I beseech you accept these vows of respect from your most faithful and humble slave, etc...
Enrillio, Duke of Sambadan”
© Copyright Paul David Holland 2017
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