The Fool's Journey

Catherine stood wondering who the other two guests might be when she a sound from outside the french doors at the other end of the room broke the silence. The doors seemed to lead out to the garden and for a moment, Catherine caught her breath. The doors flew open, revealing a tall and quite handsome man looking a bit startled at Catherine’s presence. “Why, Lady Bramwell, we meet again!” he said with a smile. It was the same man Catherine had seen outside the pub earlier that day. He was wearing nearly the same clothes, only these were clean and fresh and so was he. “I told you we would, didn’t I?” he said in a confident tone. “Yes, you did,” Catherine replied hesitantly. “But I still don’t know who you are, let alone the reason for such a dramatic entrance.” “Oh my God! I didn’t introduce myself,” he exclaimed, his hand to his brow in mock humiliation. “How incredibly stupid of me. No wonder you look at me that way. You must think I’m a mad man!” “Frankly, that is exactly what I think,” Catherine was highly agitated with him. She felt that he was deliberately making a fool of her and she didn’t like it. He laughed heartily at her remark and stepped toward her to take her hand in his. “Lady Catherine, may introduce myself? I am Jean-Philippe de Marceneaux. Please excuse my lack of manners,” he said, bowing to kiss her hand. “I’m afraid life in the islands has made me forget them.”