Page 46 of Baron in Check
When the ladies retreated to the green parlor room for a sherry, they invited Hermy to join them.
“I don’t like sherry,” Rachel whispered. “Would you like to try some herbal liquor from the Alps?” She walked to the silver tray holding three crystal decanters, one with a round belly filled with a dark brown-reddish liquid, the sherry. Another was tall, thin, and filled with colorless liquor that smelled like anise.
“This is from Portugal, very sweet. It doesn’t go with the meal we just had,” Rachel said as she twisted the crystal cap off the third rectangular decanter. Smell!”
Hermy leaned forward, and Rachel waved over the bottle opening. An evocative mixture of scents surprised Hermy with a bold, herbal freshness reminiscent of a densely forested area right after a rainstorm. This was followed by layers of warm, spicy scents such as clove and cinnamon and a subtle citrusy brightness that lingered after the earthy tones dissipated.
“What is that?”
“A digestive aid.” Rachel smiled. “Perhaps a bit of an antiseptic, too.” Rachel chuckled.
“Don’t give her that!” Hannah rushed to Hermy’s side and took her arm. “It’s very strong.”
“I’d like to try some, please.” Hermy picked one of the crystal glasses, which was shaped like wine glasses but about a quarter of the size, and held it out to Rachel.
Hannah frowned.
“L’chaim!” Rachel raised her glass and downed it.
“It means ‘to life,’” Hannah explained. She quirked a brow when Hermy lifted her glass to her lips. “Cheers!”
At first, the depth of the aroma surprised Hermy with a pleasant tingle. As the cool liquor mixed with the warmth of her mouth, however, Hermy began to realize that Hannah had a point about the burn. When she finally swallowed, she coughed.
Rachel laughed. “You’ll get used to it. Next time, the anise!”
“Don’t get her tipsy. I have to take her upstairs.” Lizzie turned to Hermy. “Do you have time now? I’m afraid I only have half an hour until the children need to go to bed.”
Rachel and Hannah looked at the mantel clock and nodded in unison.
Right, they were all mothers, so their children’s schedules dictated their time, yet it seemed wonderful having one’s life filled with the love and laughter of little people every single day. Hermy hoped she’d be lucky enough to have children to read bedtime stories to at night one day.
The burn of the digestive from the Alps continued in her chest as she followed Lizzie up two flights of stairs and around the corner into a lovely hallway with dark green damask wallpaper and crystal wall sconces matching the chandeliers. Rachel stopped in front of a door, and Hermy heard a loud thud from upstairs.
Then another.
“The men have an unlimited amount of energy,” Lizzie said when Hannah stared at the ceiling.
“One more of these, and the chandelier will fall off,” Rachel said as she opened the door.
Thud!
Wham!
“What are they doing?” Hermy asked.
“Go look.” Hannah slipped into the room after Rachel.
“They probably left the door open. But come back, I have a few things to show you,” Lizzie said, leaving the door ajar.
At first, Hermy didn’t dare venture upstairs toward the noise, but she’d known Lizzie since they were children, as had Greg, so curiosity won over caution. Her hand trailed along the smooth wooden handrail while even louder metal clanks accompanied loud groans and grunts. When she finally reached the top of the stairs, she peered through the open door.
The room had parquet floors, white-painted walls, and plain lamps on the high ceiling. It was bare except for a variety of rods, sabers, metal discs, ropes, and various other odd things on hooks. It was an attic, except that it had been finished. No raw wooden pillars held up the roof, but horizontal beams with handles nailed on.
Hermy was drawn to the four male figures in white breeches, shirts, and mesh masks, fencing like musketeers under King Louis XIII of France.
Swish!A sword nearly touched both legs of one of the men, but he jumped up, pulled his feet into the air, and clung to the bars on the beams, evading the slice with athletic grace. Next, he swung his legs perfectly synchronously, made a backward slate, and landed squarely on his feet.
“My point!” Greg called. Hermy couldn’t see them, but she could recognize their voices.
