“I don’t think we need to bother her,” I say.
“It is fine.I’m named after her son; she is exceedingly fond of me.”Leo continues on his path past laughing aristocrats twirling in large gowns and tuxedo tails, and stoic servants standing by refreshment tables ready to make any request a reality for the guests of this party.He’s undeterred by my attempts to have us go in any other direction.
From everything I’ve seen tonight, Leo has all the indicators of a real-life rake.It can’t be that hard to sway him from his path.
“Don’t you want something to drink?We could get that instead.I promise I’ll have fun.”
Nothing.
“There’s a rousing game of something card-like in the drawing room.Don’t you want to play?”I ask.
He doesn’t even slow.
“There’s a very attractive woman over there in a low-cut frock.Don’t you want to see what’ll happen if you go over there?”
That does cause him to finally stop.“Excuse me?Are you suggesting licentious contact?”
Oh yeah, they cared about that sort of thing back then.Cared about women talking about it, that is, and not the premarital sex itself, which people have been having in all time periods since forever.But he doesn’t look one breath from a scandalized heart attack.More like he’s trying not to laugh at me in public.
“I want to say no.Marriage.You should see if she wants to get married.Unless you already are married?”I know nothing about this man.
Leo gives up trying to hold it in and laughs at me outright.“I am not married.And you are more forward than any woman I have ever met.More entertaining than any, too.”
Oh boy, just you wait a hundred and fifty years.I am probably shyer than everyone I have ever known.An actual walking stereotype of the academic who would rather spend time with books than people.
“I’m so glad you’re entertained.Why don’t we go over there”—I point in the opposite direction from the Queen—“and I can be even more forward, probably.”
“But then you will still be worried about this lodging situation.Which will inhibit our fun.And I cannot have that.”
He starts walking in that direction again and I get more physical with my deterrents, digging my heels in.
“You’ll make a scene,” Leo says.
I give in.I’ve already attracted enough attention in this room.
“Your Majesty,” Leo calls out when we get closer to the woman.He bows in front of her and I belatedly follow with a curtsey.
“Are you still taking care of my guest?”she asks.
“Of course, Your Majesty.I live to serve.”
She raises a grey eyebrow.“You did not abandon her because you got distracted by a young woman?”
“I would never.”He brings the hand not holding mine to his heart, suggesting that he very much would, and has, probably regularly.
None of this is my business.If an attractive man wants to fuck every woman in this town, or in this country, that’s not any of my business.Because this would be robbing the grave.In that he was in a grave before I was even born.
And for a long time, too.Decomposition will have started, for sure.Finished, probably.
Even if he certainly looks alive from this angle, I need to remember I’m a time anomaly, or whatever, and I don’t think time anomalies should be making out with people in the past.I think I’m okay to lust after him from afar, though.It’s like lusting after a fictional character or the Roman Emperor Augustus.
He has very flattering statues.
“We have a slight problem?—”
“If you already got her gambling debts, I will not be amused.”
“No debts.Not from lack of trying, but she is irritatingly responsible.However, she does seem to be left behind by her family, the Cooch Behars.”
