Love Lightning Old Virgin
CHAPTER XLIX

The blunt description of her life journey, combined with her belief in Miss Dior's understanding of the meaning of such terms she used to describe her lovers, pleased Miss Dior instead of making her surprised, she said, and certainly not to aggravate the figure of Mr. Constantine in the eyes of the woman. By comparing the man's attitude to that of her brother, Miss Dior found it both pleasant and unusual, and, subconsciously, she began to like him. Mr. Constantine is not one to think unmarried women have a naivety that they rarely have, he said, or follow a provision that prohibits a man from saying in front of them any topic that could put them to shame. Miss Dior liked this, but found no reason why she should say so. Instead, he said very calmly, “So absolutely not, Your past Life Master is of no importance to anyone but yourself. But, if I were to accept your very coercive proposal, your future life would also be important to me, and, although it might offend you, too, I have to tell you I have no desire to marry a bastard man.”

Mr. Constantine didn't seem to be offended at all, instead, he seemed amused. He listened to the woman in a silent manner, but when the woman finished talking, he urged her not to speak like a fool.

“All I know is right, honey, you're not a fool. You should have been wise enough not to have thought I would continue that way of life if I married you. I won't even want it! No man is so lucky to call you his wife would ever want another woman. If you don't know that, there's nothing more I can do or say to convince you.”

Miss Dior felt her cheeks getting hotter, then instinctively, pressed her hands against the cheeks. “You were very helpful, sir, but .. but unfortunately mistaken, I guess! I'm not as perfect as you think I am!”

She stuttered, “I .. I know I'm usually seen as very pretty, but”

“If I had heard such a picture,” sidelines Mr. Constantine. “Usually seen as very beautiful? You're usually seen as a very beautiful young lady, honey! And, don't tell me you don't know that because I'm a hard-to-reach person, and I'm giving you a reasonable warning you'll lose if you try to lie to me.”

Miss Dior smiled. “That I can trust. Now, try to believe me when I say that I don't admire oh, my loveliness, because there is no better word!”

“No one,” said Mr Constantine. “I have extensive experience of beauty, but during my fruitless journey of life, I have never seen a woman who is as beautiful as you.”

Miss Dior tried to laugh, and said, “At the same time you misjudged! I thought you were in love with my face, Mr Constantine!”

“Oh, no.” Mr. Constantine replied, without hesitation. “Not with your face, nor with your elegant figure, nor your graceful way of enforcing, nor with whatever your nature may seem obvious. Those things I certainly admire, but I don't fall in love with them, just as I don't fall in love with Botticelli's painting Goddess Venus, though I admire her beauty so much.”

Miss Dior knitted her brows, puzzled. “But you know nothing of me, Mr. Constantine. How could you fall in love from such a short introduction?”

“I don't know how I can: I just know I'm in love. Don't ask me why I love you because I don't know either. But, you can be sure I don't think of you as a valuable item added to my collection!”

This sharp reference to Great Lord Curtis's seduction made Miss Dior smile, but she said, “You've given me so many exaggerated compliments that I don't have to hesitate to tell you your proposal isn't the first suggestion I received.”

“I guess you must have received a lot of suggestions.”

“Not much, but some. I rejected everything because I preferred my freedom over marriage. I guess, I still think so. I'm almost sure of it.”

“But, not very sure?”

“No, not very sure,” said Miss Dior, in a confused tone of voice. “And, when I asked myself what you could give me in exchange for my freedom, which is so precious to me, I oh, I don't know, I don't know!”

“Nothing else is just my love. I have wealth, but it doesn't matter. If it were important if you were poor I would never offer you my possessions as a lure. If you marry me, it must be because you want to spend your life by my side, not for any other reason. There are many things I can give you, but I do not intend to lure them in front of you, in the hope that you may be persuaded to marry me.” Mr. Constantine's eyes were beaming. “You'd throw me all the way in a very short time if I did, wouldn't you, my dear Bee? And, I won't blame you!”

“That would certainly make irreverence an insult,” said Miss Dior, trying to make a softer voice. “However, it is impossible to know you might be able to bribe me by promising to never rebuke me.”

Mr. Constantine smiled and shook his head. “I never make empty promises.”

Miss Dior was unable to help but laugh, but she said, “A cruel warning, actually. I'm beginning to suspect, sir, that you've wished you hadn't asked me, and are now trying to scare me into rejecting the proposal.”

“Ya, I noticed it.”

“You can definitely see it.” Mr Constantine hesitated, then added, “I have hurt you several times by scolding you, as you say, but never without hope had I not done so. But, when I was irritated, my tongue uttered ridiculing things before I could stop it.”

“Amazing recognition.”

“Surprising, right? I sacrificed something to make that confession, but I love to bet, and I won't try to persuade you with promises or seduction.”

Miss Dior did not respond to this statement, and, after a moment, Mr. Constantine said, “Have I made you hate me? Be honest with me, baby!”

“No oh, no,” said Miss Dior. “I also like to bet, and I'll be honest with you. I don't know if you can understand or think that I must be a strange human with a mental disorder, but actually my mind is in a mess.” He got up in a jerk, and once again pressed a hand to his cheek while saying with a hesitant little laugh, “I'm sorry! I must sound pretentious!”

“I think I really understand. You have convinced yourself that you would rather live alone and, if the other option was to live with your brother and sister-in-law, truly be understandable. You've gotten so used to your single circumstances that changing those circumstances seems unthinkable to you. But, you're thinking about it! That's why your mind is fucked up. If you feel that staying alive alone would be better than living with me, you should refuse to marry me without a single doubt. Did your mind go awry when Curtis asked you? Of course not! You gave him attention with indifference. But, you didn't give me any attention with indifference! I've surprised you, and I threaten to overturn your very organized life, and you don't know if you'll like it or hate it.”

“Ya,” said Miss Dior gratefully. “You really understand! Right, I didn't give you any attention in an indifferent manner, but this is a big step that must be taken so you should give me a little time to think about it carefully before giving you an answer. Don't .. don't push me to answer you now. Please, don't.”

“No, I will not urge you,” said Mr Constantine, unexpectedly being gentle. He grabbed Miss Dior's hand, and looked at her with a smile. “Don't look so anxious and confused, my dear! And, don't turn me into a murder suspect while I'm gone. I'm irritable indeed, I don't have a pleasant temper, and don't have much respect for politeness, but I'm not a giant, I assure you!” Her grip on Miss Dior's hand was getting tighter. He lifted the hand to his lips, kissed him, and let go, and left the room without saying another word.

*****_____*****

Love Lightning Old VirginCHAPTER XLIX

Love Lightning Old Virgin
CHAPTER XLIX