She was wearing the russet ears and eyes of a fox, riding her yellow rocking horse through the patch of orange sky left over from her own turbulent "Death of Neptune". She waved to them. "Cock-a-doodle-do!"
"My dear Lady Charlotina. What a pleasure it is to see you. Your beauty continues to rival Nature's mightiest miracles."
It is with such unwonted effusion that we will greet a person, who has not hitherto aroused our feelings, when we are in a position to compare him against another, closer, acquaintance who has momentarily earned our contempt or anger.
She seemed taken aback, but received the compliment equably enough.
"Dear Werther! And is this that rarity, the girl-child I have heard so much about and whom, in your goodness, you have taken under your wing? I could not believe it! A child! And how lucky she is to find a father in yourself — of all our number the one best suited to look after her."
It might almost be said that Werther preened himself beneath the golden shower of her benediction, and if he detected no irony in her tone, perhaps it was because he still smarted from Mongrove's dash of vitriol.
"I have been chosen, it seems," he said modestly, "to lead this waif through the traps and illusions of our weary world. The burden I shoulder is not light…"
"Valiant Werther!"
"…but it is shouldered willingly. I am devoting my life to her upbringing, to her peace of mind." He placed a bloodless hand upon her auburn locks, and, winsomely, she took his other one.
"You are tranquil, my dear?" asked My Lady Charlotina kindly, arranging her blue skirts over the saddle of her rocking horse. "You have no doubts?"
"At first I had," admitted the sweet child, "but gradually I learned to trust my new father. Now I would trust him in anything!"
"Ah," sighed My Lady Charlotina, "trust!"
"Trust," said Werther. "It grows in me, too. You encourage me, charming Charlotina, for a short time ago I believed myself doubted by all."
"Is it possible? When you are evidently so reconciled — so — happy!"
"And I am happy, also, now that I have Werther," carolled the commendable Catherine.
"Exquisite!" breathed My Lady Charlotina. "And you will, of course, both come to my Ball."
"I am not sure…" began Werther, "perhaps Catherine is too young…"
But she raised her tawny hands. "It is your duty to come. To show us all that simple hearts are the happiest."
"Possibly…"
"You must. The world must have examples, Werther, if it is to follow your Way."
Werther lowered his eyes shyly. "I am honoured," he said. "We accept."
"Splendid! Then come soon. Come now, if you like. A few arrangements, and the Ball begins."
"Thank you," said Werther, "but I think it best if we return to my castle for a little while." He caressed his ward's fine, long tresses. "For it will be Catherine's first Ball, and she must choose her gown."
And he beamed down upon his radiant protegee as she clapped her hands in joy.
My Lady Charlotina's Ball must have been at least a mile in circumference, set against the soft tones of a summer twilight, red-gold and transparent so that, as one approached, the guests who had already arrived could be seen standing upon the inner wall, clad in creations extravagant even at the End of Time.
The Ball itself was inclined to roll a little, but those inside it were undisturbed; their footing was firm, thanks to My Lady Charlotina's artistry. The Ball was entered by means of a number of sphincterish openings, placed more or less at random in its outer wall. At the very centre of the Ball, on a floating platform, sat an orchestra comprised of the choicest musicians, out of a myriad of ages and planets, from My Lady's great menagerie (she specialized, currently, in artists).
When Werther de Goethe, a green-gowned Catherine Gratitude upon his blue velvet arm, arrived, the orchestra was playing some primitive figure of My Lady Charlotina's own composition. It was called, she claimed as she welcomed them, "On the Theme of Childhood", but doubtless she thought to please them, for Werther believed he had heard it before under a different title.
Many of the guests had already arrived and were standing in small groups chatting to each other. Werther greeted an old friend, Li Pao, of the 27th century, and such a kill-joy that he had never been wanted for a menagerie. While he was forever criticizing their behaviour, he never missed a party. Next to him stood the Iron Orchid, mother of Jherek Carnelian, who was not present. In contrast to Li Pao's faded blue overalls, she wore rags of red, yellow and mauve, thousands of sparkling bracelets, anklets and necklaces, a head-dress of woven peacock's wings, slippers which were moles and whose beady eyes looked up from the floor.
"What do you mean — waste?" she was saying to Li Pao. "What else could we do with the energy of the universe? If our sun burns out, we create another. Doesn't that make us conservatives? Or is it preservatives?"
"Good evening, Werther," said Li Pao in some relief. He bowed politely to the girl. "Good evening, miss."
"Miss?" said the Iron Orchid. "What?"
"Gratitude."
"For whom?"
"This is Catherine Gratitude, my Ward," said Werther, and the Iron Orchid let forth a peal of luscious laughter.
"The girl-bride, eh?"
"Not at all," said Werther. "How is Jherek?"
"Lost, I fear, in Time. We have seen nothing of him recently. He still pursues his paramour. Some say you copy him, Werther."
He knew her bantering tone of old and took the remark in good part. "His is a mere affectation," he said. "Mine is Reality."
"You were always one to make that distinction, Werther," she said. "And I will never understand the difference!"
"I find your concern for Miss Gratitude's upbringing most worthy," said Li Pao somewhat unctuously. "If there is any way I can help. My knowledge of twenties' politics, for instance, is considered unmatched — particularly, of course, where the 26th and 27th centuries are concerned…"
"You are kind," said Werther, unsure how to take an offer which seemed to him overeager and not entirely selfless.
Gaf the Horse in Tears, whose clothes were real flame, flickered towards them, the light from his burning, unstable face almost blinding Werther. Catherine Gratitude shrank from him as he reached out a hand to touch her, but her expression changed as she realized that he was not at all hot — rather, there was something almost chilly about the sensation on her shoulder. Werther did his best to smile. "Good evening, Gaf."
"She is a dream!" said Gaf. "I know it, because only I have such a wonderful imagination. Did I create her, Werther?"
"You jest."
"Ho, ho! Serious old Werther." Gaf kissed him, bowed to the child, and moved away, his body erupting in all directions as he laughed the more. "Literal, literal Werther!"
"He is a boor," Werther told his charge. "Ignore him."
"I thought him sweet," she said.
"You have much to learn, my dear."
The music filled the Ball and some of the guests left the floor to dance, hanging in the air around the orchestra, darting streamers of coloured energy in order to weave complex patterns as they moved.
"They are very beautiful," said Catherine Gratitude. "May we dance soon, Werther?"
"If you wish. I am not much given to such pastimes as a rule."