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."

[colored_gowns]

"You are most considerate, sir," she says, with a smile.

[jarndyceheir]

"I am your friend, madam, I hope. As well as I can be, at the very least."

[colored_gowns]

"I am honored to call you such, Mr. Carstone."

[jarndyceheir]

He nods. "A better one to you, I hope, than I have been to Tom." He puts his head in his hands.

[colored_gowns]

Puts a hand, very gently, on his arm. "From all I have heard from your own lips, you have been a most admirable friend to Mr. Jones. He could not ask for better."

[jarndyceheir]

"He is hurt because of repeated errors in judgment upon my part. I would say more, but I am unsure how much of it he wishes to be known."

[colored_gowns]

"And that is but another example of your devotion to him."

[jarndyceheir]

He shakes his head. After a moment, he says, "You haven't met Miss Ada Clare yet, have you?"

[colored_gowns]

"The name does not seem familiar."

[jarndyceheir]

He looks down, with a small, slightly bitter half smile. "She is my fiancee. From back home."

[colored_gowns]

"And she has come?"

[jarndyceheir]

He nods.

[colored_gowns]

"Congratulations, then."

[jarndyceheir]

He nods again, though looks, in some ways, less thrilled than he might.

[colored_gowns]

"Might this have something to do with your present difficulty with Mr. Jones?"