The Wyvern's Spur - Kate Novak [85]
"Why would he do… Oh, I say! He couldn't have thought… Oh, dear. I'd better go have a word with him."
"Why?" Cat asked, now grinning from ear to ear.
"Well, to clear your honor, for starters," Giogi replied, amazed that she didn't understand.
Cat laughed. "What about your honor?" she asked.
"Well, um…" Giogi flushed. "I'll be back," he said, hurrying after his manservant.
Giogi had to track Thomas all the way down to the kitchen. The manservant was polishing tableware with the furious gusto of a man who expected a finicky demon to dine with them.
"I say, Thomas," Giogi began, "I think we need to have a chat."
"That won't be necessary, sir," Thomas responded quickly and primly. "If you shan't be requiring my services as a gentleman's gentleman, two weeks notice will be more than sufficient for me to find myself other employment. Master Cormaeril has already given me to understand he could use the services of someone like myself."
"Shaver Cormaeril's been trying to pinch my servants? By Selune! Some friend. I ought to skin him alive. Now, see here, Thomas, Mistress Cat spent the night in my bed," Giogi explained, then added hastily, "and I spent the night in her bed. That is, I spent the night in the lilac room, in case whoever attacked her returned."
"I see, sir," Thomas replied. His tone had become less formal, though not exactly apologetic. He did, however, put aside the polishing and look at his master.
"My relationship with Mistress Cat is completely professional," Giogi added.
"Yes, sir." Thomas said.
"Naturally, I am not blind to the fact that she is an incredibly beautiful woman, but my intentions where she is concerned are completely honorable." The young noble began to pace the kitchen as he spoke.
"Of course, sir," Thomas said, though he suspected that perhaps Cat's intentions might not be as pure as his master's.
"So let's have no more of this nonsense about giving notice or that scurrilous cove, Shaver Cormaeril."
"No, sir," Thomas agreed.
"You know, Thomas," Giogi confided, "I have noticed that Mistress Cat does seem a little taken with me."
"I do not imagine, however, that your Aunt Dorath would feel the same way about her, sir."
"Well, dash it, Thomas," Giogi replied hotly, "I can't spend the rest of my life trying to please Aunt Dorath, can I?" With that, he spun around and marched out of the kitchen.
Thomas gulped nervously. He suddenly realized that the situation was much more serious than before.
Late last night, after the unpleasantness in the lilac room, Thomas had consulted with his advisor about Giogi and his "professional" relationship with the mage Cat. Thomas had laid out his concerns, but his advisor had assured him there was nothing to worry about. The servant wondered what his advisor would say if he'd just heard Giogi's declaration.
A staccato knock at the front door forced Thomas to focus on his more conventional duties. Slipping off his apron, he hurried out to the front hall, and, regathering his composure, opened the door.
A very small figure dressed in a fur-trimmed cape stood on the stoop. At first, Thomas assumed it was a young child, noble-born he would have guessed, based on the cape and the well-groomed russet hair flowing from beneath the hood.
The figure looked up at him with a very grim expression, and Thomas could see that it was no child, but an adult female half-ling. "I must speak with Giogioni Wyvernspur," the halfling declared. She slipped past Thomas's legs and through the doorway.
"Master Giogioni has not yet dressed or had breakfast," Thomas argued, still holding the door open, hoping the little creature would take the hint and leave.
"I can wait," Olive said. "Thomas, isn't it?" she asked, pulling off her gloves.
"Yes," the servant admitted.
"Is the mage known as Cat still here?" the halfling interrogated the servant.
"Uh, yes," Thomas said, closing the front door in surprise. It was a little startling to be confronted with someone