The Flight to Fanciful ~ Part 6 Of Men and Rooftops

Moving day had been a bit eventful, as Lady Leena had nearly moved into a gentleman's apartment purely by accident. Once the slightly uncomfortable exchange with Signore Gandt was over, Lady Leena and Madame Savatier decided to take a moment and have a breath of fresh air on the small balconey outside her apartment. The ladies could barely believe their eyes when they looked up and yet again saw Mercury Gandt, but this time, on his own roof top.

Madame Savatier had been desperate for coffee for quite some time, and made a hasty retreat after seeing this Gandt fellow begin a slow climb down the building. Leaning over her friend and patting her arm, she murmured, "Best of luck my dear Leena, I'll be off to the cafe' to get some coffee now." Lady Leena realized she was on her own since her agent, Silas Becker, had just left .... heading back over to the Villa to see to the last of her things.

Coming ever closer, she realized that Signore Gandt was heading towards HER balcony. "Of all the places he could come to, it has to be mine, naturally," Lady Leena whispers under her breath. Watching and waiting, Gandt indeed makes his way to her balcony as if he were a cat, without any trouble whatsoever.

Signore Gandt begins with a very strange request, "It is very awkward to ask you for this, but would you let me in? I will leave your apartment through your door."

"Let you in? You crawled from the roof but you can't make it to the ground?" Lady Leena smiles brightly and responds.

"As you see, I can't and I will break my leg if I try," answers Gandt mockingly.

Lady Leena speaks plainly and carefully, "As a Christian woman, I should let you in Signore but my reputation would be in tatters if I do."

With a soft smirk on his face Gandt offers, "Yes, but your reputation would be even more damaged if you are standing with me together in your balcony for everyone to see."

Glancing around to see if anyone is watching them, Lady Leena says "Alright, you may go in."

Entering the apartment quickly and closing the door behind them, Signore Gandt says, "Thank you a million times - you saved me!"

Laughing a bit Lady Leena can't help but ask, "May I ask from whom? You climbed down from your own roof?"

Mercury Gandt looks out the window carefully, "My creditor's agent arrived a minute ago. He wants me to pay and I can't right now .... so I escaped, while my footman tries to stop him entering my home. If I leave your home through the cafe', I can be safe." Letting his eyes wander about the room he comments, "Nice bedroom."

Blushing profusely, Lady Leena steps closer to the doorway, "Well, the door is over here and safe travels to you Signore."

"Please forgive me ... I hope I'm not much trouble to you," Signore Gandt adds as Lady Leena tries to escort him to the door.

Lady Leena curtsies, hoping that he will leave quickly, "Not at all Signore Gandt and I wish you luck in your .... future travels?"

Pausing and appearing less in a rush now, Mercury asks, "How can I express my thanks to you?"

Lady Leena waves a hand in front of him really wishing he would be on his way, "No need Sir, it was my Christian duty."

Mercury Gandt offers a wry smile, "Christian duty for a sinner like me... you are too generous."

Lady Leena Fandango smiles gently, "Am I?"

Pointing to the door Mercury says, "I'll just check if the air is clear before I exit your door... I wouldn't want to hurt your reputation more."

Lady Leena Fandango offers, "I wouldn't have wanted you to injure yourself by falling off the building ... men can be so dangerous."

"Signorina, if I survived a balloon duel, I can survive anything," Signore Gandt replies.

"I heard about that balloon duel Signore. The man Dieter was shot and injured?" Lady Leena asks.

Nodding, Mercury answers, "Yes, my opponent's second."

"And was the honor satisfied?" Lady Leena asks, curiously.

Mercury Gandt answers quickly with a wave of his hand, "Of course... we are best friends since then."

Lady Leena looking shocked, "You shoot a man and are now best friends?"

Signore Gandt asks her, "Were you there? Did you seen the duel Signorina?"

"No Signore, I didn't see the duel, well .... not too much," shaking her head.

Mercury Gandt looks disappointed, obviously he wanted to impress her by his eccentric duel.

Lady Leena states, "I saw some flying things out the window, but it's my opinion that only God should fly and perhaps the angels, not man."

Signore Gandt looks into her eyes boldly and smiles, "Then you can see an angel now in front of you."

Lady Leena blushing and looks down, "How bold you are Signore!"

Mercury Gandt answers quickly, "And how bold you are, to let me in to your home informally? We are both bold, we are alike."

Lady Leena let's her jaw drop for a moment, closes her mouth quickly and looks at Gandt in the eye, "Perhaps we are alike Signore, one never knows about people, do they?"

Signore Gandt becomes embarrassed for the first time, "How do you mean?"

Lady Leena shrugs her shoulders, "It's nothing Signore, I'm a simple English girl enjoying the warm air here on the island."

"English? How charming. From London?" and bites on his lips.

"No Signore, Cornwall ... St Just in the Penwith. I'm a country girl ... you are of London?" Lady Leena asks curiously.

Mercury Gandt sighs with relief, "Ah yes, I was born in London, though I left it behind many years ago."

Lady Leena Fandango smiles and answers, "Oh? I know many people in London, Signore, I write to them often. I do like to hear the news from back home whenever I can."

Signore Gandt slightly blushes and then looks like someone who wants to escape again, "This is wonderful. I have no living contact there."

"I can certainly pass news along to you if you wish," Lady Leena offers and watches the facial expression change on Gandt's face, "Is there anyone I can ask about for you Signore?"

Signore Gandt suddenly and quickly reaches for her hand to give her a goodbye handkiss, very eager to leave, "No, certainly not... it is better not to. Thank you," and smiling at her provokingly, "All my interest is here, in Italy."

Offering Signore Gandt a smile and a curtsey, Lady Leena turns a bit red and a takes a step back from him after his last remark.

Signore Gandt then peeks out the door to see if there's anyone about.

Watching him, Lady Leena says, "Enjoy your day Signore .... is anyone there?"

Slipping out the door Signore Gandt looks back and says, "I'm grateful to you forever, Signorina and no, no one is there."

Seeing him finally leave, Lady Leena breathes a huge sigh of relief and whispers, "Thank you Signore..."