Look Beyond What You See

“I’m glad to see that this garden has survived this morning’s altercation,” I remark airily as I slide off Excalibur’s back in the Japanese garden, which looks somewhat the worse for wear, with puddles and debris everywhere, but somehow no less lovely all the same. “The air is so fresh and clean.”

Dmitri chuckles warmly as he joins me on the ground. “Yes. Bright with the promise of new beginnings and the joy of those creatures who survived, yet eerie with the reminders of those things that did not,” he answers sagely as he picks up some of the vegetative debris scattered by the consequences of the quarrel.

“Truly, what happened to cause such an uproar? I understand why your parents were angry, but—”

“Mother woke up this morning just as angry as she was when she went to bed, about how things turned out at the ball. As you’ve already heard, she’s positively livid that so many secrets she intended to keep until after our wedding have been brought to light, and she blamed Father and me both for those revelations. That sparked Father’s fury, already aroused by the way he found us this morning, even further, as no one could have prevented how things fell out last night. And Mother, once we told her about this morning…” He takes a deep breath and then launches into a nearly flawless imitation of Lady Berkeley. “’How could you have been so irresponsible, especially after everything went so wrong last night? I know I’ve raised you better than this! Are you trying to disgrace your family? Haven’t you any compassion for my poor nerves?! There is absolutely no excuse for such dishonorable conduct!’”

“An excellent impression. Well done.”

“Thank you. I’ve been practicing for years. That lecture was nothing compared to when I tried to defend Father, against her accusations that he should have somehow prevented last night’s fallout, by reminding her that I warned her about what could happen at a family gathering such as last night, and—”

“She probably flew into a right royal fury at hearing ‘I told you so’ from you.”

“Describing it that way doesn’t even do it justice. Her winds were only slightly louder and shriller than her voice. ‘Of all the unreasonable, ungrateful twaddle—’ It wasn’t to be borne. Father told her to calm herself, that I meant well enough and that what’s done is done and cannot be undone, but at that point there was no reasoning with her and things quickly devolved into a shouting match. Before long they were not even arguing about last night anymore, but rather other problems between the two of them, and things got quite uncomfortable for me.”

“What sorts of problems?”

“Strain caused by the two of them working for different countries, for one. Apparently it’s adversely affecting their relationship. And Mother wishes she were closer to her relatives in Russia. She misses them and the life there, it seems, but Father adamantly refuses to move to Russia. He says Switzerland is quite far enough from his own home to suit him and that she ought to be grateful for the relative peace we have by living here, protected by the Alps and the tendency of the Swiss to stay out of European conflicts--”

“So we are in Switzerland?”

“Oh! Yes. I had quite forgotten that you were never told that. I suppose I’ll be in trouble for revealing that, too, but it simply cannot be helped.”

“At this point it hardly matters. Apparently I’m not meant to know much of anything useful.”

“Understand, she means well. She’s really not a bad sort. She’s just very set in her ways and overprotective, and as beautiful as this place is, she’s never been as fond of it as her old estate in Russia. And her upbringing instilled her with some, erm, rather antiquated ideas about a woman’s place.”

“You are rather more tolerant of her than I could ever be, and I will limit my commentary on it to that.”

“Was your punishment really so bad, as to make you so set against her?”

“My punishment was embroidering, the most pointless of all the pointless things women are made to do, while the maid with the most irritating voice read aloud from the platitude book. It was not the worst thing that could have happened, still, but certainly not a way I enjoy spending my time, hence its use as a punishment, I suppose.”

“Well, now we’ve gotten away and are free until supper. How would you most enjoy the time?”

“This is quite lovely,” I assure him. We’ve been wandering circles in the garden since we got off Excalibur’s back, and the horse is happily occupied with grazing at the garden’s edge. “But short of enjoying your beautiful gardens and your company, you know well that my favorite pastime is music.”

“Ah, but of course. Do you have a preferred instrument?”

“The piano has always been my most beloved, though the harp and the harpsichord are also lovely dear friends of mine. And you? If I were to abandon you for the music room, what would you most like to do in this free time we’ve acquired?”

“I would paint, of course, else simply ride around the grounds.”

“And what do you most like to paint?”

“Always before it’s been landscapes, especially fantastical scenes or mythological ones.”

“To say that this has been the case before indicates that something new has caught your fancy. What might that be?” To my surprise, Dmitri turns away from me at this question, his cheeks reddening. Embarrassed? But why should that be?

“Perhaps one day you’ll know, if you ever play for me and earn the right to see my gallery.”

“What harm can it be to tell me? I’ll still not have seen your work, and your refusal makes me all the more curious. Mayhap I’ll simply find a way to sneak in and see for myself--”

“Please refrain. I should never be able to trust you again, and that would profit neither of us at all.”

“Then spare me the trouble and tell me what you would now most like to paint. I see no reason why you should be ashamed.”

“Of course not,” he mutters, blush deepening. “But if you insist...I should like sometime, if you are willing...to paint you.” No wonder he was so reluctant to tell me. My own cheeks heat in response and I drop my eyes to my shoes, ashamed of forcing him to such an admission.

“I...should not be opposed to such a thing. I am flattered that you think me worthy.” My eyes dart up to meet his as he turns to me with surprise.

“You’d pose for me?” he breathes, clearly skeptical and perhaps thinking this too good to be true.

“Well, it would depend on the pose, naturally...” I reply, remembering too late the tendency of classical and Renaissance painters to have their subjects pose au naturelle. Again Dmitri’s face turns red--he actually thought of such a thing!

“Of course some things would be out of the question, given recent events and the ban on our spending time together behind closed doors,” Dmitri mutters.

“It would be quite unwise to irk your parents further, or make them more suspicious of our activities when we are out of their sight,” I agree, deciding not even to mention my violently mixed feelings about this implied request.

“Otherwise you would not be opposed?” he inquires, hopeful again.

“I still see no reason why you cannot paint me. We’ll simply have to be more creative. Have you ever painted a portrait before?”

“No. You’d be the first.”

“Then would it be easier for you if I posed outside? Perhaps in this garden, or another of your choosing, so that you could also paint the landscape.” The suggestion seems to intrigue him, and he pauses for a few minutes, considering it.

“I think that could work very well. But there is no sense in you simply standing idle while I work. You should practise your elemental skills while posing, and I shall paint you as a nymph or a water goddess. Your showing today would indicate that such a thing is none too far off the mark.”

“If you say so. I was so overcome with so many emotions--my power was quite beyond its usual strength. And without Acionna’s guidance, I never would have been able to channel it so.”

“Still, you are guided by the water goddess, and your power and control over it have increased greatly since the dream when she came to you. If you continue practising, there is no reason you should not achieve water goddess capabilities by the time the painting is finished.”

“Time will tell, I suppose. But I have my doubts. My abilities are not elemental, you know.”

“Simply the closest I’ve ever seen in a magic-endowed human. But you are right. Time will tell. Perhaps you would be willing to start this afternoon? We can pick up my supplies when we go back for dinner.”

“As you please. I have nothing better to do today.”

***~O~***