It Always Smells Like Roses Here

Image by Jorge Guillen from Pixabay

Adrianna and I stood next to each other in the courtyard, where the lavish carriage stood.

The Wanderer held Celia in a long embrace.

Apparently, Adrianna’s protégée had stayed with the Wanderer in his rooms the two days I was trapped in the DreamTime purgatory.

I must have been in a dead sleep if their noisy lovemaking didn’t wake me.

Finally, the Wanderer kissed Celia on the forehead and stroked the side of her face, and let her go gently.

When Celia turned, I was pleasantly surprised to see the hint of tears in her eyes.

She stopped and curtseyed to us before passing back into the Casa.

I wondered if Celia used rose water as a perfume.

I caught a hint of roses as she passed, but the scent lingered long after she had gone into the house. I frowned and looked around.

Adrianna noticed too. She leaned her head back and smiled, her nostrils flickering as she inhaled.

Before I could ask her about it, the Wanderer approached.

“I’m not particularly fond of good-byes,” he said. “So I guess I’ll see you in a month or so.”

“Oh, you’ll see me much sooner than that,” I said.

“Not if I have anything to do with it,” Adrianna quipped.

The Wanderer chortled.

“Either way, Adrianna, I’m flexible. Maybe send word out every week or so, and I’ll roam circles around the Capital City with his flock.”

He kissed her on both cheeks.

“Adieu. And thank you so much for the splendid hospitality, and the comfortable ride. I feel like a new man.”

“You are a new man, darling Wanderer. The pleasure was mine. Not as much pleasure as Celia got to enjoy, but I loved having you as a guest.”

The Wanderer chuckled again.

I clasped his hand and the Wanderer pulled me in an embrace. I was surprised at how comforting it felt to be held by my friend. Really, this man was more than a brother to me.

“Don’t worry about the Shepherd,” Adrianna said flippantly. “By the time I’m through with him, he may be too coddled to return to the natural life.”

“I highly doubt that, Adrianna.”

And then you left us, Wanderer. Your part as a character in this story ended and your role as listener began.

With a salute, you stepped into the carriage. Adrianna and I stood there and waved, the scent of roses growing stronger as the carriage disappeared from view.

My heart was heavy once you had gone.

“You are truly blessed in friendship, Shepherd.”

“I know.”

“I’m very pleased you’re staying. I didn’t think you would.”

I nodded.

“I take it the Wanderer talked you into this.”

“That is one way to look at it.”

The elder Courtesan threw her head back and laughed.

And yet again, I was disconcerted by the mannerism that seemed especially peculiar on her.

“Did he blackmail you?”

“I wouldn’t go quite that far.”

“But you are not here willingly?”

I hesitated, and then shrugged.

“No, I’m not.”

Instead of taking offense, Adrianna sniggered. Her beautiful golden eyes sparkled.

“Nothing quite like a little benevolent coercion, is there?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“As I said, Shepherd, you are truly blessed in friendship.”

As annoyed as I was with the Wanderer, I laughed with her. I couldn’t remember any other time I had been so adroitly backed into a corner.

“While you are here, my Casa is your Casa.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me just yet. I have appointments in town that will keep me away most of the day. I hope you can forgive me, for I never desert my guests. But I honestly didn’t expect you to stay.”

“There’s nothing to forgive, Adrianna. I know how to entertain myself.”

The Courtesan paused, her head angled to one side as she peered at me with a strange half smile on her mouth.

“That makes a refreshing change.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Most men I know lack self-containment. They need excessive amounts of attention.”

Adrianna took my hand and squeezed it.

“The Butler loves to give tours of the house and grounds if you get bored, and there’s much you haven’t seen. But now, I must get ready. I’ll see you tonight for dinner on the back patio.”

“Again?”

“Of course. It’s my favorite place to dine.”

What a strange woman she was, this legendary Courtesan.

“Adrianna, do you ever miss the bracing challenges of hardship?”

“Not at all,” she replied. “Dinner is at eight.”

*************

 After an hour or two, I understood why Adrianna’s guests needed so much attention.

The relentless luxury of the Casa made me restless, a sensation akin to being trapped and craving escape.

Instead, I crossed paths with the Butler and remembered Adrianna’s suggestion that the Butler loved to give tours of her Casa.

This was the first time I got a good look at the head servant of her household.

I wondered how he came to work here. The Butler carried himself with such dignity and grace I would have expected him in the finest houses.

He was almost as tall as I, and at least ten years older, but his posture was as straight as a rod. His long face was impassive, his pale gray green eyes held a neutral gentility.

Everything in his demeanor bespoke the soul of discretion.

We started in the courtyard before the front door.

The spring snow from a few nights ago had already melted, gone as if it had never happened. On this afternoon, the air was crisp and fresh and the sky blue.

I inhaled.

The phantom scent of roses was still in the air, just as it had been this morning when the Wanderer left.

“It always smells like roses here,” the Butler explained, as if he read my mind. “Even on the coldest day of winter.”