Chicken Nachos

Lesson Six
Life’s Diversions

“Unfulfilled desires are dangerous forces.”
~ Sarah Tarleton Calvin

Tale Twenty: Gladiola “Almost” Goes Down for The Count
Copyrights: Warth/Denlinger-Nachos-85

One vice adds fuel to another.
~Old Farmers’ Almanac 1841

The King of the District had abdicated the throne and there had been an argument, an uprising of sorts, over who was next in line to reign. It was decreed an election would be held to decide the next ruler. Conrad and Gladiola were uncharacteristically in agreement. They campaigned heavily for their candidate and when Sir Wiley Clintlock won the election, they promptly threw a ball in honor of his coronation.

All the best people were invited. Gladiola hired a band, decorated the castle, and prepared a feast. Conrad and Gladiola welcomed their guests as they arrived in grand carriages, dressed to the “nines.”

Beverages soon flowed, the food was served, and gaiety abounded. The guests then gathered in the great hall for an evening of dancing and music. Gladiola and Conrad led the first waltz. But, as was common with Conrad, he became easily distracted and left Gladiola alone on the dance floor.

Count Sven Spanaldo had been aware for months of the neglectful way his friend Conrad treated Gladiola. He couldn’t understand this as he himself was quite taken with the princess. For some time he’d engaged her in clever conversation at every opportunity. Sensing of late Gladiola’s pleasure in his company, he yearned for a moment of privacy with her.

So far Gladiola had succeeded in remaining coy but the game of “cat and mouse” was exciting and both she and The Count willingly played at every opportunity.

Embarrassed by Conrad’s behavior (he was showering his charm on a young maiden from the local university) Gladiola made a hasty exit from the great hall and fled toward the carriage house. She needed a moment alone to regain her composure. En-route she passed Petunia returning from a walk in the gardens. Gladiola said only that she needed to check on the beverage supply in the carriage house and continued on her way.

Sven Spanaldo watched as Gladiola left the hall. He saw Conrad engaged in conversation and his Countess was dancing with another. He set off in hot pursuit of Gladiola. As luck would have it he came upon Petunia just as she was entering the great hall. Asking the princess if she’d seen Gladiola (claiming his search urgent as one of the servants was requesting her assistance in the kitchen) he took heed as to her whereabouts and soon had Gladiola cornered.

The flirtatious game Gladiola played with Conrad’s friends was done innocently for attention; her ego being starved after years of Conrad’s indifference. It had always seemed like a safe way to garner male affection. The Count, however, looked upon their game differently.

He strode to her side, embraced her in what Gladiola felt was an attempt to comfort her. Then he planted a kiss directly on her mouth. Gladiola squirmed in shock, prying herself free of Sven’s arms. Feigning disgust she asked The Count what exactly he thought he was doing. Before she could react he had again taken her in his arms, “professing his undying love and faithfulness.”

Wanting on one hand to stay (she found herself highly “attracted” to The Count), but unable to follow through with the transgression, she managed to free herself. Quickly she fled back to the ball.

Meeting Petunia on the way hadn’t been part of the plan; this caught Gladiola off guard as she was still straightening her gown as well as her “do.” Petunia was not one to pull punches when it came to accountability. So, Gladiola told her friend of The Count’s unbelievable behavior. “How could this have happened? Why do these men think I’d be untrue to Conrad?”

Petunia had heard it all before (more than once as a matter of fact). “Why indeed!” Petunia rolled her eyes. Gladiola shrugged her shoulders. The two returned to the ball arm in arm.