It was when sitting at his desk reading dispatches that Joseph had a realisation. Bored by the bland words before him, Joseph’s eyes settled on his candle. Three times, he had sat at night and seen the woman on the streets below as the candle burnt out. It was, of course, mere coincidence that the two events had occurred at the same time; although something within him doubted it. That day Joseph was to see the woman for the forth time. On that day he would meet the woman.
Joseph watched as the sun melted into the horizon. Sitting just a few tables away was the woman he had seen from his window. It seemed odd that such a unique search had come to an end in such a simple way. Joseph had left his lodgings to walk the streets in search of the woman. Mere moments into his search he caught sight of the woman. She had been sitting at a table in the coffee shop in the park. Joseph had felt that the hand of fate had led him here, but like coincidences Joseph dismissed the feeling.
“Katherine” the woman thrust took the other chair on Joseph’s table. “My name is Katherine”
Joseph sat with his mouth wide, unable to comprehend the forward nature of this woman. A few silent moments passed whilst Joseph regained his composure and Katherine looked at him with eyes that seemed to be taking the very measure of his soul.
“You were the one I saw eight nights passed. You gandered at me.” Katherine paused noting Joseph’s countenance. “Are you ill? You are very pale.”
“No, no…I’ m just not used to women being quite so forward.”
“I see” Katherine raised an eyebrow. “Well you don’t get quite as many formal introductions as one such as yourself might be used to”
“Pray, what do you mean by that?” Joseph enquired with a feeling of unease.
“It is rumoured that you come from one of our finest families. You come from Bristol do you not?”
“Why yes, I do indeed come from Bristol. How is it that you have come to know this?”
Katherine smiled and stood.
“I may be persuaded to tell you one day. I must beg to take my leave now; I have some things to attend to.”
Joseph stood and watched as Katherine walked away. The grace with which she walked and the air that seemed to surround her was striking. As she disappeared down the path that led to the river Joseph had more question about this woman than before. Her dress seemed finer than he had come to expect from the women of the area and her bearing was, as he had noted when Joseph first saw Katherine, finer than many of the women of his family’s acquaintance.
Little did he know then, but Katherine held Joseph’s future in her delicate and gentle hands.
Sunday, 10 January 2010
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