Bones of Empire by William C. Dietz

Author:William C. Dietz
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Penguin Group US
Published: 2010-09-02T04:00:00+00:00

Having made arrangements to leave work early, Cato stopped by a store to buy a bouquet of flowers before starting the long climb that would take him home. The plan was to surprise Alamy and take her out to dinner, both because he hadn’t been around much and had something important to tell her.

But once he arrived at Arbor House it was to discover that the upstairs apartment was empty. Thinking that Alamy might be downstairs, chatting with Madam Faustus, Cato went down to let her know he was home. When Faustus opened the door, she saw the flowers and smiled. “For me? How thoughtful!”

Cato grinned and plucked a flower out of the bouquet. “This one is for you.”

Faustus held the blossom up to her nose. “It smells sweet. . . . Please come in.”

Once inside, Cato took a quick look around. “Is Alamy here? She wasn’t upstairs.”

“No,” Faustus replied, “she went shopping. She’ll be home in an hour or so. Please. . . . Have a seat.”

Cato didn’t want to sit and chat with his landlady but couldn’t figure out how to escape, so he sat in the chair that had once been her husband’s. The flowers felt awkward in his hands. “Is there a problem with the rent or something?”

“No,” Faustus said, “Alamy is very punctual. She always pays on time. In fact, if it wasn’t for her taste in men, she would be an altogether perfect young woman.”

Cato frowned as Faustus held up her hand. “Don’t even think about leaving. . . . Not until you hear me out. I’ll double your rent if you do!”

There was a disarming smile on her face, but Cato could “feel” how serious she was. “Okay,” he said cautiously, “what’s on your mind?”

“Somebody needs to tell you the truth,” Faustus answered, “and since Alamy can’t, I will. What you’re doing to her is very cruel. You promised to free her, and to marry her, but that was months ago. Meanwhile, she’s left to wait and wonder if you intend to keep your promises.”

“I never promised to marry her,” Cato countered defensively.

“It was implied,” Faustus said primly. “You know Alamy. . . . Or you should. Given a choice, she wouldn’t settle for anything less.”

“I meant to free her,” Cato said lamely. “I just never got around to it.”

“Really?” Faustus demanded cynically, as her eyes bored into his. “You’ve been busy. I know that. . . . But Alamy is a human being. Not a project to be taken care of when you happen to have time.”

Cato felt both embarrassed and ashamed. Some of his feelings must have been visible on his face because the expression on her face softened. “I know you mean well, Jak. . . . You bought Alamy in order to protect her, after all. But who can protect her from you? And whatever it is that keeps you from giving her a place in your life as well as in your bed?”

It was a tough question, and one that was still echoing through Cato’s mind an hour later, when Alamy returned home.

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