Today he had explained that the fragment in her hand was most likely a choral work between two competing voices, a device used for public performances.Georgiana hadn’t known about public choral recitals, and that knowledge expanded her understanding considerably.But she wanted to know who Cithaeron and Helicon were and why they were competing.
She dropped the paper in irritation.Chambers wouldn’t be happy if she failed to dress for dinner.Like most of her dinners, it would be eaten in splendid solitude.Chambers never forgot what was due a Duke’s household, however remote from the seat of power it might be.His mistress cared less every year.
A footman approached her on her way to the stairs, bowed, and handed her a parcel wrapped in brown paper secured with twine.It resembled a book.
“This came to the tradesman’s door, my lady.”
“Thank you, William.”She opened it to find a note.
Lady Georgiana,
Please review this work before our next session two days hence.
Yours respectfully,
A.Mallet
She turnedthe book over in her hands to discover a contemporary travel book.That seemed odd to her.Puzzled, she read and reread the title,The Geography of Greece and Its Islands for Those Who Explore by Foot.A slow smile came over her face; at least she wouldn’t be bored tonight.
* * *
“Mountains?The voices belong to mountains?”Laughter bubbled up in Georgiana’s incredulous face, spilled over, and engulfed Andrew.Laughter of his own drummed in his chest.
“Mountains don’t have voices!”Incredulity contended with her laughter.
“Are you sure?”
Rising eyebrows gave her the expression of a very wise owl.She didn’t speak.
“Yes.Mountains,” he said.“I recognized the choral form Monday, but the identity of the competing voices eluded me as much as it did you.It took me two hours in the Wren Library to find the information after I left you.”
“Only two?”
He ignored her sarcasm.“I thought I recognized Helicon, but the other was new to me.Look here.”He unrolled a map of Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean onto the table.
“See here, above the Gulf of Corinth?Helicon is in the center and Cithaeron to the East below Thebes.”
“Personification of mountains isn’t a device I would have expected, but yes, it makes some sense.”She didn’t sound convinced.
“Remember this is choral poetry, meant for public performances.Let’s try reading it that way.”
Georgiana looked dubious.He tried for his best commanding officer voice.It worked with soldiers.“Read it.I will read the competing voice.”
She picked up her copy.They spent a few moments expounding in Greek.Andrew tried for dramatic effect.Georgiana didn’t.
“Lines are missing in this fragment.It doesn’t all scan,” she suggested after she read a particularly bland sounding passage.
He suggested they try it in English.“This first part would be a narrator’s voice, perhaps the main chorus.It tells us that the baby is in danger.Remember, Kronos wishes to kill his own son, the infant Zeus.”He cleared his throat and read, “‘The Korybantes hid the infant.’Do you remember who they were?”
“Dancers.Male.In armor.”
Most likely naked.Their “armor” would be a shield.Damn but there were traps on every side.He would fall into one yet.He didn’t think she needed to know about the armor.
He recited again, “‘The Korybantes hid the infant.’”He strode across the room while he recited and spread his arm toward Georgiana at the end of the line.
“Took?Is that the best we can do?She seized, grabbed, snatched, or wrenched him.”
“‘When Rhea took the b.aby and took great honor.’”Her voice hesitated.
