Duly punished (open)

[jarndyceheir]

Richard is badly shaken, and trying to walk it off before he runs into anyone he knows. He hasn't noticed anything wrong with him, as yet. He doesn't feel sick, or poisoned, or crippled. But the incident has both spiked the guilt he felt about Tom and revived unpleasant memories about his murder. He finds himself heading for the kitchen,

Comments

[colored_gowns]

Arabella, as likely to be in that general vicinity as anywhere else, will see him and greet him with a polite nod. "Mr. Carstone. Good day."

[jarndyceheir]

"Good day, Mrs. Strange." He is very shaken, but not so shaken as to be rude. "How are you, this day?"

[colored_gowns]

Of course she feels the usual measure of friendly affection for Richard, as any friend feels, but we'll assume it's not enough of the right sort of love for her to notice much, if any, difference in that way. "Very well, thank you. And how are you? You will forgive my suggesting you do not look quite well."

[jarndyceheir]

"I'm a bit shaken, is all. I... I do believe I've just met your old acquaintance from Faerie, and he gave me a bit of a turn."

[colored_gowns]

"What?" she asks sharply. "What has he done?"

[jarndyceheir]

"I don't - that is, I'm not certain he's done anything. He was upset, rather, about Mr. Jones, but left me alone after a moment or two."

[colored_gowns]

"About Mr. Jones? Has something happened to him?"

[jarndyceheir]

Richard looks away, saying after a moment, "It is rather complicated. I have hurt him, though I did not wish to, I am afraid."

[colored_gowns]

"I am sure you did not. But I daresay that matters little to him. You are certain he did nothing to you?"

[jarndyceheir]

"Not utterly certain. I feel unharmed, however."

[colored_gowns]

"Good. Perhaps he did not do anything." Though she does not sound quite convinced of this.

[jarndyceheir]

"I..." Richard sounds a bit ill. "He said he would take revenge, but I have not yet decided whether he meant in the present or the future."

[colored_gowns]

"I will find Mr. Strange," she says. "I shall find him at once, and bid him find you. He's succeeded in breaking the gentleman's enchantments once before." --only not. But she doesn't know that.

[jarndyceheir]

"You do not know he's done anything, for the present. Perhaps I should wait and see if I suffer any ill effects, first."

[colored_gowns]

"What you will, naturally. But if you do, I pray you will allow me to help."

[jarndyceheir]

"Of course. I thank you, and my only hesitation is not wishing you to be thrown back into his path unnecessarily."