CHAPTER 3: TEARS FROM THE PAST

The Andrew's Mansion had woken up eventful. Servants came and went from one room to another polishing lamps, tiding up hangings, cleaning dust, waxing floors, making flower-centrepieces... Everyone breathed enthusiasm, even Mr. Madsen's face reflected a bit of excitement. It had been a long time since the last coming up celebrated at the Mansion, almost twenty-two years ago.

At that time, Miss Pauna was the sensation of the season, remembered the butler while organizing the cleaning of the dinner cutlery. Hannah and he were the only employees who still continued in the service. Although it was painful for both of them making all these preparations, as they recalled that dear gone girl, thinking about the happiness that a pair of lavender eyes would reflect help them to stand the pain.

Albert had decided to hire extra people to help organizing the party and attending the guests that night. More than fifty new servants were working inside the Mansion, while the gardens were being done by Mr. Morgan, the gardener, and a small army of assistants that cut the hedges and looked after the fountains. The peacocks, who had been there through generations, had sheltered in their cubicles. They wanted to avoid the agitation and excitement of all that strange people who had invaded their territory and the noise of the fireworks tests at the lake.

Hannah's voice, leading and determined, could be heard all over the house. Everybody seemed to be caught by her frenetic energy.

"Where can I put this, madam?", asked a young maid.

"I come from O'Donnaghue's Confectionery, where do I have to leave this order?"

"Who had to wax the dance-hall?"

Although everything seemed chaotic, there was in fact a pre-established order perfectly directed by the housekeeper, who was plethoric in such great activity.

"Place that in the kitchen. Take away those chairs and bring the champagne vessel down. You have to polish more that glass-set, Martha. You, Doris, tell Mr. Andrew that the tailor's order has just arrived", Hannah continued giving orders while her face was getting redder at a time. Only six hours lasted before the first guests arrived.

"I am sure everything will be great, Hannah. Don't worry so much", Annie was telling her. The girl had come to the Mansion that morning to help her supervising the preparations.

The old woman looked at her while an unhappy sigh let out from her lips.

"I am not worried about the house itself, Miss Annie", answered the woman. "The staff is very professional, as you can see. I am worried about Miss Candy. She went to work to the hospital this morning, and although she asked the afternoon off, I fear the worst. I hope she arrives on time! Mr. Albert didn't want to tell her that on this occasion he intended to celebrate something more than her birthday party. He wanted it to be a complete surprise for her. What if she doesn't arrive on time? What if she doesn't come at all?".

Annie tried to make her worries disappear.

"Nothing of that will happen, Hannah. She knows that all her friends will be here tonight. She won't turn us down".

I hope so, anyway, thought Annie. However, because she knew her friend so well, Annie could tell that Candy would dare throw them all in case there was an emergency. At that precise moment, she saw Albert coming down the stairs. He saw her immediately and came towards both women with a big smile in his lips.

"I am glad you came, Annie. Thanks for helping us. As you see, this place has become a madhouse this morning," he said to her as he offered his arm, "I do not know what would I do if Hannah were not here to take care of everything," he continued, winking at the old woman. "Excuse me, Hannah but I have to talk with this young lady for a minute."

She smiled briefly while she run towards the other side of the room where someone was asking for her help.

Meanwhile, Albert took Annie to the top floor of the house.

"Candy's dress has just arrived from Mme Bradley's study," he said, "I would feel better if you could give me your opinion about it. They took as reference the size I provided from looking at other of her dresses. Do you think I were too risky? What if it doesn't fit her?".

Annie gripped his arm and gave him a quiet look.

"Don't worry so much, Albert. You have an excellent taste to dress a woman. I am sure it will fit her perfect."

He took her to Candy's chamber. There, over the bed, she found the most beautiful dress she had ever seen. She couldn't avoid a shout of amazement.

"It's... it's wonderful, Albert."

Annie let her hand approach the soft mauve material. The diaphanous textile covered her fingers and slipped slowly till it covered again the bedspread. She took it again by the bodice and put it over her. She noticed it had no sleeves, that shoulders and arms would be exposed. It was tightly fitted to the body, with an exquisite style. The skirt, down to the ankle, was composed by various superposed materials of diaphanous silk in violet and turquoise, that matched also with a mauve shawl with golden glints of the finest texture. She tried to imagine Candy with it. Her plentiful and curled golden hair contrasting the light violet material; her pupils matching the green glints of silk; her pale and soft shoulders' smooth skin over the refined shawl. Her still and peaceful beauty shinning with its own light, as it should always have been.

The young lady felt a distressing prick as she remembered how she had cursed Candy's life when she had met her again while the latter worked at the Legan's, dressed like a humble stable boy and sleeping with the horses. She knew she could never forgive herself for those years of denial that had followed that meeting. Her stubbornness, not recognizing her orphaned nature nor her growing up at Pony's Home; her forgotten friendship with Candy –at that time, with no name, nor money- in order to be able to be accepted by the richest neighbour families, her envy when she knew Archie loved Candy…

She pressed the dress against her breast as she tried to stop her tears.

I tried to take your position when it was your sole right, Candy, as I got the Brightons to adopt me in your place. Although I feel very sorry for that now, I know I will never be able to repay the pain I made you suffer in the past. Life has already taken care of you giving you some compensation, but it is not enough. Not even the silent pain I continuously feel, knowing the special place you have in my husband's heart, can take away the sensation of guilt I suffer. I know I don't deserve Archie's love because of the meanness of my heart, but I try to mend my sin. I truly do. I am sure he will never requite my love as I wish, with the same intensity he felt towards you, but I try to love him with all my soul and carry alone this weight of sadness. I know that is my penance and that I deserve it, Candy..."

Annie moved away from Albert so he couldn't notice her confusion.

"I'm... convinced... that this is the perfect dress for Candy, Albert", she tried to say as she left the outfit over the bed, "it will enhance her beauty in every sense."

He smiled with satisfaction.

"Thanks, Annie... for everything you have done in our behalf. And, above all, for being one of Candy's best friends."

Annie put her face down, trying to avoid his noticing her insecurity and the intense sadness that his words had evoked. I only have tried to be such a good friend for her as she is for me, she thought while Albert was taking her back to the ground floor.

There, all the giddy preparations for that night continued.

(...)

The guests' voices could be heard over the tenuous waltz the orchestra had just started to play. Female joyful laughs, male awkward hoarseness, light taffetas, cigarette smoke... the mixture contributed to make a picture of cheerfulness and delight.

Just as Albert had thought, Annie and Patty's models had caused great sensation among the guests. Both dresses were a bit shorter than usual, and Patty had even taken her corset off. However, their glance hadn't lost any distinction, nor her modesty had been affected at all. Their garments presented material of brocade and velvet respectively: Annie's showed some trimmings of fox fur in the farthest end of her long sleeves cuffs; Patty's had a tight jacket that emphasized the girl's high swan neck. The elegance of their attires was obvious though it was miles away from Chicago's society's dictates in terms of fashion. Despite the new confections that had began to revolutionize French fashion at the beginning of 1919 and that had been imported to the USA by some well-known dressmakers, very few ladies of Chicago's high society had taken the initiative of changing their wardrobe following those new ideas.

Mrs. Mollie Barrington, an unavoidable reference in clothing matters to any young lady who was to be officially presented in society and also a basic pillar of the high bourgeoisie of the town, was angrily commenting Mr. Albert Andrew's rude attitude towards her, as he had forgotten to ask her opinion about his protégées' dress for that occasion.

"I think he has ordered the dress Ms Andrew will be wearing tonight to that cheeky dressmaker, Mme Bradley. It seems Megan Snoward saw him… Poor woman, she couldn't breathe normally till she told me. Do you know that dress exposes her shoulders and neck? I think it's indecent", she said in a low voice to widow Grey, a great observer of the conservatism and one of Mrs. Barrington's best friends. "Mrs. Cornwell and Miss O'Brien wear her dresses, too. What a nerve! Have you seen their dresses' shameless length? They just go down the calf! How do they dare show their ankles in public! And those transparent socks!".

"I think they are called stockings, Mollie," answered the widow as her face turned red. "I'm not going to lie to you. I bought a pair the other day, just to see them closer. Even though they are indecent, they have such a delicate and soft touch...".

Mollie opened her eyes wide, she couldn't believe her ears.

"You tried them on? You too, Virginia! I can't believe it! If they had already tempted you, what can we expect? Corruption will invade us. Chicago will become another Sodom and all of us will be burned up, punished by the Lord."

Widow Grey hid her ashamed face behind a fan, while her eyes implored her friend's pardon. Oh, Mollie! What would happen if you knew I am wearing those pair of stockings just now! Will I be condemned to hell? Very nervous and contrite, she wandered her look around the dance-hall.

Not only Annie and Patty's models had been all the rage. There had been also excited and surprised shouts when some girls started to smoke cigarettes with holders, leaded by the overwhelming Jolie McPherson who, always looking forward to be a focused creator distress in every social meeting, had had his abundant hair cut to chin length, following the European fashion.

Jolie was the only child of an important banker from New York and had just moved to Chicago. She was immediately noticed by all Chicago's high society because of her peculiar fancies and considerable fortune. Soon enough, she became one of the most pursued heiress by all single men of every age. Beautiful, intelligent, generous. Her rebellious nature had been criticized hardly because she wasn't the type that followed established traditions, but her firm and independent character paid no attention to unwanted disapproval.

Mr. Madsen, at the main door, played the chamberlain and was introducing the guests as they arrived. Just next to him at the entrance-hall that had become an improvised assembly-hall, Albert played the host part greeting and thanking his guests for coming. He had chosen for the occasion a dark grey tail coat along with some matching trousers, and a white shirt with a neckband trimmed at the chest with a fine line of frill. His attire, as impeccable and elegant as usually, broke its seriousness thanks to an informal hair style, too long and almost white-blond, that he had tied back with a low tail following the eighteenth-century model. His thin figure looked comfortable and quiet while he stood up attending his guests. Nothing seemed to trouble him on the outside, but in his mind he was deeply troubled about Candy's delay. She should have arrived an hour ago and he had apologized to the guests pointing out that her delay was due to unavoidable personal circumstances.

From the other end of the room, Hannah looked after all the details, resolving every last minute little problem. In spite of all, she couldn't hide her distress due to Candy's absence and her eyes looked inquisitive to Albert, who returned quieting looks to her from time to time.

Patty, who had been punctual driving her Ford, was chatting with Maxi Rippendale, a pedant to whom she had been introduced that evening, when she felt Annie's interrogative look on her. Just too quick, she excused herself to the man, happy to get rid of him, as she walked towards her friend.

"I have been looking for you for a while, Annie. Where have you been? How come Candy has not arrived yet?", she smiled as she whispered so the rest of the guests couldn't notice her worry.

Annie took her hand and brought her to a lonely row of balconies that surrounded the dance-hall.

"We have to pick her up, Patty," suggested Annie, "you have got a car and it won't take you long to arrive to the hospital. You have to bring her here somehow. Albert can't continue excusing her delay."

Patty nodded, then a movement in the garden called her attention. An unmistakable figure was running towards the service door.

"We don't need to worry. She's just arrived."

Annie sighed as she leant on the balcony. Then she felt a hand touching her shoulder.

"Darling, what's the matter? You have come running towards here as if the devil were chasing you. What bothers you?". She recognized her husband's nice tenor-like voice.

"Don't worry, Archie. All has already been solved. Patty and I were wondering where could Candy be but we have just seen her running through the service door towards her room."

Archie looked at her with tenderness while he held her by the shoulders. She's a charming wife, he thought, who could have guessed that I would end up being happy with this marriage!

"Then, my foolish girl, now that you're not worried anymore, may I ask you for this dance? You're overwhelming tonight and I know every men in the hall envy me for monopolizing you," he said as a new waltz started to be played. She nodded as she excused herself to Patty.

Knowing she was alone, Patty spent her time watching the guests. As it had been planned, there had come the cream of Chicago's youth with some representatives of some of the best well-known families of the city, plus Andrew's family and friends. With Albert's consent and knowing Candy would prefer it so, they had avoided inviting the Legans and Aunt Elroy, who had all moved to Boston.

The girl yawned weakly as she moved to one of the service tables to ask for a cocktail. Spying the surroundings with the corner of an eye, she observed that Rippendale was walking towards her, and she tried to escape. She was lucky when she found opened a small door at the entresol from where she could see the entrance-hall perfectly. Patty gave herself a moment of complete solitude and silence before coming down again. She couldn't help smiling as she saw Rippendale looking for her everywhere without success. Then her eyes moved to Albert, who, at that very moment, was getting ready to receive another guest.

"Mr. and Mrs. Terrence Grandchester," anounced Mr. Madsen in a pompous way, as half of the hall turned round in a sign of recognition to the new comers.

Albert, Patty almost shouted as she kept back a cry, shutting her mouth with her hands. Her curiosity had made her coming closer to the flight of steps of the banister which headed to the ground-floor. Fighting to listen to the conversation that both men were having, she lost sense of reality. At that precise moment some steps took her away from her thoughts. Promptly, she hid herself behind some near curtains. In spite of her fast breath and her scamped heart-beats, she was static enough to remain soundless. Feeling secure, it didn't take long for her recognizing Candy's dumbfounded figure at the stairs. Her exceptional watching place allowed her to see how Candy's face muscles had been engraved. She appeared shocked, like her body, victim of a sudden numbness.

It is him. Why is he here? Why has Albert invited him? I don't want to see him. I can't let his memory come back to me as vivid as before or I'll go mad.

Candy couldn't stop watching both men. From her eyes run silent tears that she hadn't noticed at all. She just felt some icy cold that invaded all her body as her eyes couldn't stop looking at the scene that was taking place at the ground-floor.

Albert's figure had lost all his dearness next to Terry's, whose face burnt Candy's pupils as if it was pure fire. Nothing looked real for her, except him. She observed him with eagerness, thirsty of him, trying to record in her mind all the details that her eyes were able to capture from the distance.

He's as thin as before. More athletic than last time I saw him at that crummy theatre, perhaps. His look is still, almost proud, it doesn't drag along its past torture, nor does it seem muffled by alcohol. His lips have lost that sour grin that dominated his face, and his smile reminds me of those ones he used to lavish so rarely in the past. He has matured, he's now a man instead of an impetuous boy. I think he has never been more attractive...

Albert took Susanna's hand to his lips, without even fondling it, dedicating her a smart compliment about her beauty. Then, he received Terry's greeting with the hug that he only deserved to his best friends. Both men had a similar disposition: Terry slightly thinner and with a paler skin.

"It's a pleasure that you both could come. Terry, Susanna, you should exhibit yourselves a bit more in Chicago. You know there are lots of people that adore you."

Terry leant his head forward, resting his hand on his host's arm.

"Thanks for inviting us. We were looking forward to see you again."

Susanna, standing next to her husband, led her body lean against his. Albert, worried, offered to look for a seat for her at once so she could take some rest. Susanna stopped him, fighting against the uncomfortable feeling that invaded her when she noticed she was considered as a handicapped.

"I have begun to walk recently, Mr. Andrew. That's why I get tired so soon, but I am making some progress, isn't it so, Terry?"

"Yes, darling, if there's someone that can achieve it, that's you," answered him with tenderness in his voice.

Albert felt uncomfortable, witnessing this involuntary token of tenderness between them, and said:

"Please, Susanna, may I call you by your name? Call me Albert. I have always been a great fan of yours. I am dying to see you playing again. All your fans will be very happy of your recovery."

Susanna couldn't avoid blushing at his compliment. A lot of people had forgotten she had been an actress a lustre ago and she still missed those past usual comments on her performances.

"Thanks, Albert. My husband is helping me a lot. My greatest dream would be to go back to stage, performing his counterpart with a female main character. Doctors have promised me that, if I continue my treatment and persevere as I have been doing up to now, I will be able to go back to work next year."

Albert displayed a sincere smile and leaded the couple to a group of guests who welcomed them with a remarkable token of joy.

Patty was still hiding behind the curtains when she noticed that Albert had seen Candy's visibly inanimate figure at the top of the steps. Silent and agile as a feline, it didn't took him long to be by her side. Nevertheless, she didn't noticed him as her attention was still captive on a certain figure at the ground-floor hall.

Patty didn't miss a detail of how Candy's figure affected Albert, irresistibly beautiful with the dress he had given her. The model was perfectly tight to her body, shaping it with undeniable attractiveness. She had had her hair put up in a Venice style bun that led some of her rebel curls out. Her cheeks were blushed and her lips half-opened, her breath escaping restlessly.

Albert had never seen Candy so beautiful. His eyes were enchanted by the vision of her warm beauty. His only wish at that moment was to hold her and fill her trembling lips with his kisses. He came closer to her in silence, afraid to break the enchantment, and only his common sense made him give up his wish. Candy didn't see him. Her eyes were full with tears. He knew she had been a witness of Terry's arrival, he knew she was unable to take away her eyes from him, so he obliged himself to walk away some distance to avoid her noticing his intimate agony.

From her hiding place, Patty could see how Albert's face was contracted in a grimace of pain and, how just thanks to a great gesture of his will, he took control again over his reactions and hid his feelings behind a mask of impassivity. It was after this when he allowed himself to come closer to Candy again.

"What are you doing up here on your own?" he whispered, trying not to scare her.

She looked away for an instant. She still couldn't see anything besides her own anguish, but was attracted by the familiar sound of his voice.

"I...," she managed to say.

Albert came closer very slowly, calming her with words. He took her by her shoulders and placed her away from the stairs, afraid that she could lose her balance due to the shock she had just suffered. She leant on his shoulder while he took her to the smoking-room and made her sit on a sofa. There, he sat in front of her, took her hands, and started to rub them between his to warm them.

"Why have you invited him to come, Albert?" she asked, with her look lost in the fire embers of the chimney.

"I had to, Candy. After all, he's the Duke of Grandchester. It could have been an enormous lack of ceremony not doing so."

She looked straight to him, her eyes flashing with anger.

"Since when do you mind about ceremony, Albert?"

He raised his head to observe her and there was steeliness in her eyes when he talked to her again.

"You are right. It's been a stupid excuse."

Candy stood up, deeply angry.

"Then, why?"

The man sat back in the sofa and lighted a cigarette without missing any detail of her movements.

"It was necessary for you to see him again. You can't stay hiding in your shell forever. You have to face your memories and assume reality. That's the only way if you want to be able to be happy again."

She gave him an ironic glance.

"Why haven't you asked me my opinion? Do you think you know better what is the best for me?"

Albert nodded while he observed her straight.

"Unfortunately, I do. And that's why, right now, you are going to dry your tears. You will come down with me to the ballroom. Everybody has already been waiting for you for an hour."

The girl turned confused against him.

"You won't oblige me to come down!"

His look just reflected determination. She looked at him furious. Candy's thoughts were dominated by an overwhelming feeling of agony and anger. Far away in her mind, there were now the thankful words she thought to dedicate him for the wonderful dress he had given her as a present. Oh, Albert, I didn't expect this from you! How is it possible? You who have always been my comfort, my relief, my refuge.

Albert tried to held his feelings back as he stood up from his chair and shaked off some rest of creases from trousers.

"You've got your eyes wet. Please, dry them before we go down."

Candy wiped her tears away and tried to dress up her ruined make-up while she contemplated herself on a mirror. Albert turned his back to her. Leaning against the large window of the room, he admired the light sets that had been placed in the fountains of the garden. He felt an absolute sadness that overcame his heart, but walled his feelings. I can't let her see me like this. Just tonight. Till then, I will resist anything necessary. I knew it would be like this from the very beginning... His voice was still when he spoke again.

"Although I didn't tell you before. This is not only your birthday party. It is also your coming out, an occasion to give you the opportunity to be presented to Chicago society as an official member of the Andrew family. Tomorrow I will no longer be your tutor, as you have reached full legal age."

Candy was not listening. When she turned to look at him, he had already opened the door of the room and was waiting for her. Albert watched her for a moment before starting to come down. He smiled as a sign of approval and offered her his arm. She took it and let him guide her to the hall, where everybody was impatiently waiting for them.

Note of the author:

Thanks again Vio (), for your wonderful translation of chapter 3. Hope I could pay my debt some day.

Ó 2000 Rosa Carmona