Chapter Seven
Dinner with a King
When Friday rolled around Sarah found she could barely contain the excitement she felt. She helped Karen with breakfast and even Karen noticed her upbeat mood. "So what gives, Sarah?" Karen asked lightly as she made lunch for Toby to take to school.
"I've a dinner at my professor's house tonight. I really love going there," she admitted. "There are all these important people, and they listen to what I have to say, as if I really matter."
Karen nodded, "That's nice dear."
Sarah leaned on the counter trying to decide which dress to wear. "So I won't be home for dinner. I'll come home from the bookstore and change. And these things go late. They serve drinks at Seven-thirty. It'll be after midnight when I get in, so don't worry."
Her stepmother smiled. "It would be nice if it had been a real date." She was wistful.
Sarah sighed, "Karen, let's not start this again. The last date I had was a total disaster."
Karen nodded still feeling guilty about setting the girl up with a boy she'd thought was a nice boy. The young man had tried to take advantage of Sarah who'd ended up walking three miles home. "There's going to be a turn in the weather they say," she changed the subject adeptly. "So dress accordingly. Oh and could you drop Toby off on your way to the bookstore?"
"Not a problem." Sarah hugged the woman.
Toby was dragging his feet about going to school. He got even more reluctant when Sarah told him she'd not be home for dinner.
"Can I come?"
"No, Toby, this is a grown ups dinner." Sarah said pulling into the school parking lot. She'd noticed the sudden attack of clinging. "But I have tomorrow off and we'll spend the whole day together."
Toby got out of Sarah's car and waved her off.
Mr. Emrys had given Sarah a key so she could come in early and do set-ups. She got caught up on the billing before the front door of the store was unlocked. When Emrys arrived it was with sixteen cartons of books he'd purchased at a few estate sales. Handing the invoices to Sarah, he took the cartons over to a table to be sorted down. Sarah entered the stock into the inventory and put a price on each of the volumes purchased. One or two were books on a waiting list, and those she pulled a placed aside with notes to call the interested parties. It was near noon when Emrys
told Sarah he was making a postal run, asking her to keep an eye on things as she started to put up the new stock.
Sarah was on the ladder, placing a book when the door opened. The man entered and the room was filled with a strange electrical charge. Sarah looked toward the door and called out. "I'll be with you in a moment."
"No hurry," a voice replied. A very male voice.
Sarah finished her task, descended the ladder, brushed off her hands and moved to the front of the store. "Hello, and Welcome to Emrys' Emporium of Used Books and Tomes'. I'm Sarah. May I be of help?"
The man gazed at her with mild interest. "I'm looking for a rare book, out of print and of adult content."
Sarah looked at the man. He was tall, lean and elegant. His face was somewhat obscured by the finely trimmed Vandyke beard. Sandy brown hair had already started to gray at the temples was still thick and wavy. His demeanor was cultured and his speech was like song. "If you give me the title I'll be able to see if we've got it in stock. We've an…erotica section that Mr. Emrys keeps in a private room." She could barely take her eyes off him. He looked as if he'd stepped out of a Giorgio Armani' ad.
Bold blue eyes, the color of the ocean at peace, twinkled. "Wise to keep such material out of public view," he agreed, "The book is called. 'The Romance of Lust'."
Sarah keyed in the title and the computer registered that there was more than one copy. "We have several copies of that title. One marked here is in mint condition." She turned the screen off. "If you'll follow me, sir."
The man raised a long index finger to his face, the soft hair of the van dyke beard moved gently under his fingers. "Thank you. Did you say your name was… Sarah?"
"Yes sir." She led the way back to the room that was kept locked so children would not enter. "The erotica section is in here." She unlocked the door and stepped in. "We keep this door locked so little ones don't wander in."
"Indeed." He looked about the room, and then back at Sarah.
Sarah pulled all three copies of the title and placed them on a table. "If you'd like to select the one you'd like."
The man moved to the table and placed a hand on the best copy. "This one." He handed it to the girl.
Sarah said quietly, "Will that be all, sir?"
The man smiled, "It will do for now."
Sarah exited the room, and locked it up again after the man exited. She took the book back to the front and began to ring it up. "That will be 57.03, sir." The man handed her three twenties and accepted the change. She placed the book in a plain bag and handed it to him with the receipt. "Thank you sir."
The man smiled down at her, still mildly amused. "Thank you, young lady." He inclined his head and turned to leave.
Sarah felt a sudden chill go through her; there was something about the man. A scent in the air, that was vaguely familiar. Something spicy, and exotic. She watched as he exited, turned and walked slowly down the street. It was almost a relief to have him leave the store. She returned to her task of restocking, hopeful that it would calm her. She went back to the sorting table and was so intent she didn't hear the bell. Two hands at her waist nearly sent her up the ladder.
"Easy, Love!" a voice tickled her ear. Slowly William turned her. "I did say Hello Sarah."
"I didn't hear you." She gasped, gripping the edge of the table for support. "Oh William, you nearly scared the life out of me!"
"Sorry, love." He sniffed. "Look, I came to ask you to go to a concert on campus with me tonight."
Sarah blinked. "How did you know where I worked?"
"You told me the other day." He smiled. "Earth to Sarah! Concert?"
"I can't." Came her reply. "I've an engagement tonight. But thank you."
William took a seat on the edge of the table. "What kind of engagement?"
"A dinner with some of the professors… a discussion group I've joined." She pushed him off the table.
Rolling his eyes to the sky he groaned. "Boring!" He slid an arm over her shoulder, and laid his head on hers. "Think of how much more fun a concert on the green with me would be."
"Stop it William!" She pushed him off. "I've already accepted this dinner engagement."
William's clear blue eyes danced. "It's from His Nibs! I know it."
Sarah blushed. "I don't know what you're talking about."
The English man laughed. "The hell you don't, love. That lucky sod!"
"Stop it," she groaned.
"On one condition," he taunted. "You promise to go to the next concert with me… that's in a week's time!"
"Fine. One concert…as friends." she reminded him.
Pretending to be hurt he pouted, "Of course." He looked at his watch. I need to be going. Have fun at dinner tonight Sarah, but not too much!"
Finishing up the task of restocking, and getting the rest of the inventory straight, Sarah was glad when she looked at the clock to find it was nearly time for her to quit. She looked toward the door and wondered what could be keeping Emrys. It was not like him to be gone from the store for this long. When he did arrive it was with a scowl on his face.
"What on Earth happened to you?" She asked, setting a cup of tea before him.
He picked up the tea, sipped and gave her a grateful gaze. "You my child are a wonderful woman!" He sipped again. "Dreadful day. The lines, the shoving. I can only image what November is going to be like."
"I sold a copy of 'Romance of Lust' today." She told him as she wrote down her time on her time card.
"Did you? How odd, that book does not sell well." Emrys gave light thought to her words. "So who bought it, a bored house wife?"
"No, a man." Sarah shivered thinking of the stranger. "A stranger, but a most familiar one."
"Oh?"
Sarah rubbed the cold spots on her arms. "Tall, lean, well bred and well to do. And he had the strangest cologne… like spices." She shook her head.
Emrys was not looking at her, if he had he'd have put far more weight to her words. "Well, look at the time, Sarah. You should be off and get ready for your evening. Have a nice dinner and I'll see you on Monday."
Sarah arrived home to hear Toby shouting down the stairs that he hated everyone and everything. She looked at her stepmother. "What's that all about?"
She handed Sarah a note saying that Toby was being a disturbance in class. Karen shook her head. "He's talking about quitting the sports program."
Patting her stepmother's arm she went up the stairs. "I've got a few moments, let me see if I can talk him down." At the top of the stair she turned and went down the hall to the room next to hers. "Hey Squirt."
Toby looked up from his pillow, red eyed and leapt off the bed into his sisters' arms. "Sarah!"
Slowly she led him back to the bed. "Ok, what gives?"
The towhead sat beside her and hung his head. "I got into a fight."
"Over?"
Toby looked up, and at the closed door, then mouthed very slowly. "Magic."
Sarah shot a look at the door, "Shhhh." She warned. Leaning closer she whispered. "What did you fight about?"
"Trent said there was no such thing." His voice was raspy from his tears.
Sarah gathered him in her arms. "Oh Toby, most people don't understand. They can't cope with the reality of magic. That's why it fled this world." Her voice was soft and still.
Toby snuggled in. "Sarah, are you sad we left?"
Sarah sighed, "Sometimes, yes," She admitted to her brother. "But we can't look back, we have to go forward."
Toby, with eyes wiser than a child's said back in a firm voice. "Sometimes the way forward, is the way back."
Sarah hugged him. "Promise me you won't let them taunt you into a fight over magic." She leaned closer. "HE wouldn't like that." A promise extracted, she watched as he went down stairs to apologize to his mother.
Sarah went to her own room. She had only an hour to get ready and be on the road. Opening the closest, she was glad her mother had been so instant on buying after five dresses. She was also glad her mother had friends in the costume department. Many of her dresses had graced stages and movie sets. She pulled an emerald green dress that had a scooped neckline and a lovely sea-foam chiffon scarf hanging off the belt. It had an elegance of a long ago time. The only piece of jewelry she wore with the dress was an emerald orb Toby had given her on her last birthday. Surveying her reflection in the mirror she was satisfied she looked mature and well bred.
When Sarah went to the front hall closet to collect a coat for the evening her father whistled. "Who's this for?"
"Daddy!" she chided.
Toby looked up from his place on the couch beside his father, "You look nice."
"Thank you gents." She bowed. "I'm going to be late if I don't leave now. Don't wait up, these dinners run late." She blew a kiss their way and exited the front door. The sun was already sinking into the horizon. She was surprised at how little traffic she was encountering. She pulled her car into the drive, and recognized the vehicles belonging to the Benson's, the Durst's and the Truson's. The only one missing was Lawson. She wondered who he was escorting this evening, as he seldom brought the same lady twice King told her.
Sarah smiled at Glisten when he opened the door. "Good evening, Glisten."
"Miss Williams." He greeted her warmly in return. "May I take your coat?" Sarah surrendered her garment and awaited instructions. "Professor King and the other's are awaiting you in the salon. Follow me." He bowed to her.
Sarah could hear them, King was speaking loudly, and Durst was arguing back. Smiling she followed the manservant. As she entered the salon, the men went still. "Good evening, I hope I'm not late."
King moved toward her, his hand extended to her. "Not at all my dear, you are blessedly on time." The look of relief on his face pleased her.
Margo raised a glass to her. "Thank God you arrived. These two are at war again."
Playfully Sarah nudged the professor. "No starting wars without me!"
King winked at her, "I promise." Then he led her to the makeshift bar, "I've something for you to try." He handed her a mixed drink.
Sarah sipped it and looked up at him, "It's very nice. No Lawson tonight?"
King shook his head, and looked slightly perturbed. He placed a hand at her elbow and directed her to a seat.
Dr. Benson sipped his drink, "You look lovely this evening, Sarah." He addressed her by her given name for the first time.
"Thank you, Dr. Benson." She acknowledged the compliment.
Margo nodded, "You know, my dear, I think you simply have the best taste of any young person I've ever know. You must tell me how you know where to shop."
Sarah blushed. "I would have to give credit to my mother and the wardrobe department of some of the theaters she's worked in." she smoothed her skirt.
Molly Truson leaned forward; her voice dropped an octave and was very intense. "That explains your flare, child."
King lighted on the arm of the chair that Sarah was seated in. "Yes, she has flare, but she also has substance." He raised his glass to Sarah.
Sarah blushed in spite of trying not to.
Marie Durst looked at her husband, "Why can't you ever say nice things like that to me?"
"Good lord," he sounded exasperated, "Marie we've been married for over twenty years. King's not married! He says nice thing to women all the time."
King shook his head, "No I don't."
Sarah felt the color rise in her cheeks, and quietly sipped her drink.
Margo stood up. "Stop embarrassing the girl." She chided them all. "So Garrett, which of the new policies is it you plan to attack tonight?"
King smiled. "You know me so well, Margo." He tossed his opinion, and waited for the fall out.
Dr. Benson was livid, "King, you don't understand the American way of doing things. You never did!" He turned an eye to Sarah, the only student in the room. "My dear tell him! He's wrong."
Sarah sighed, "I can't, I agree with him."
King looked at her with a pleased smile. "Really, now that's a first."
"Don't get too comfy with it, it won't happen often," she promised.
Margo laughed. "Oh enough, when is dinner going to be served?"
On cue Glisten entered to announce dinner being served.
King stood and helped Sarah to her feet then offered her his arm as he'd done before. Again he seated her to his right, and paid the most attention to her during the dinner. Again he asked her to act as his hostess in the music room. Again he asked her to give him a moment when he was seeing the other guests to the door.
Sarah had stayed in the Salon when the others had gone to the door. She was looking at a painting and fingered the orb at her throat. King pulled the doors shut as he returned. He pulled his tie off and unbuttoned the top buttons of the shirt. "Alone at last." He moved quickly to her side, took her into his arms and pulled her into a long sweet kiss. He raised his head; "Hello you. I've wanted to do that all night." Sarah looked up, still dazed. He led her to the couch, and took a seat, pulling her down with him. "Cuddle time." He snuggled in.
Sarah looked up at him, not knowing what to say. Or if to say anything for that matter.
King's smoky glasses hid so much of the expression of his eyes. "Well you didn't expect me to just shake your hand did you?" he teased lightly.
"I don't know what I expect with you," she said honestly.
Warm hands held her gently. "Now you see? That's the problem with you American women. None of you have any idea of what a proper courtship is."
Sarah bolted up, "Are you courting me?"
Mischief played with his lips. "I'm trying to, Sarah."
Raising to her feet she moved away from the couch. "Why?"
Resting an elbow on his knee, he placed his chin in that hand. "You attract me."
"How? I haven't done anything?" Her eyes widened.
"Haven't you?" He made no effort to chase her; "To start with, there's the broken shoe. Very few women would have been so apologetic for having arrived late. Then of course there's the wonderful way you argue. Not to mention, my darling girl how damned pretty you are." He patted the couch with his free hand. Slowly she returned and sat lightly down beside him. "And I like the way you blush when you get flustered."
"You fluster me just to see me blush?"
"No, I fluster you because I like to win!" He crowed. "Sarah, you're not seeing anyone else are you?"
Sarah thought for a moment, "Not exactly."
"Oh, there are other men, but you're not giving them the time of day, eh?"
Sarah looked at him, wondering if she could explain Jareth to anyone. "Let's just say there are some men in my life, but I'm not seeing any of them."
King leaned back, "Honesty time. Do I attract you?"
Looking at him she smiled, a little too sweetly. "Do you think I wore this dress for Dr. Benson?"
"Oh I hope not." A wicked smile played on his lips. "Margo would tear your hair out." They both laughed, then he questioned her again. "Is it the secrecy thing that troubles you?"
Sarah nodded, "I don't like feeling like I'm sneaking around."
King sighed, "Can't be helped at this time." He pulled her close again. "The new policy on teachers dating students you know." Slowly his hand caressed her. "However if we are discreet, as we've been, there should be no problem. Unless you want to scream sexual harassment." The caresses became a grip. "Then of course I'd be duty bound to give you something to scream about."
"I imagine you would." She felt the panting before it became visible. "I think you could be a very dangerous man to piss off, Garrett King."
King began to ease the grip, and resumed his caressing, "This is the second time you've made mention of the dangerous side of men, I think that does not bother you. You've said a man should have a dangerous side."
"I'll admit I find a dangerous edge to a man… intriguing." 'Careful Sarah, it's is uncharted territory.' She told herself. "So you think we've been …discreet?"
King watched her lips move, "Perhaps not as discreet as we should be." The caress became a grip again. "I'm not sure if I'm the moth or the flame."
Sarah tucked a bit, "Wait. Please." Her voice trembling stopped him. "Professor."
"Garrett."
Swallowing she blinked. "What?"
He drew a long breath, "When we are alone, I'd like for you to call me Garrett, Sarah."
"Garrett." She lowered her eyelids. "I'm not very experienced. I'm sure you've noticed."
King traced her chin with his index finger. "Sarah, a warm hand shake is not going to do it for me. You've got a beautiful kiss-able mouth, and I intend to kiss it as often as I can. However, if it makes you feel more secure, I have no intentions of forcing myself on you. If you were more experienced, we'd likely be rushing up the stairs for a quick tumble.
"For now, I can be satisfied with a tender kiss, here and there, and a loving embrace. I am more then willing to go slowly, until you are ready for more."
"Really?" Her eyes were suddenly pleading.
"Shhhhh," he hushed her as he lowered his lips to hers. Gently he lulled her into a safe haven. With measured restraint he kept his hands from ripping off her garments and having his wicked way with her. It would be all the better when she was ready he told himself. Raising his head, he whispered, "Now, was that so bad?"
Sarah rested her head against him, "Garrett, this is crazy."
"Do you want to spend time with me, Sarah?" She nodded and he continued. "I promise to go slow." He looked at the clock. "But for the sake of appearances, I must now send you home." He pulled her off the couch as he rose. His arms enfolded her, "I will not have your reputation questioned."
Sarah blushed. "There are others who would not worry so."
Warm hands cupped her face. "Ah, but they are not with you, now are they? I know a treasure when I see one, Sarah." He placed a kiss on her forehead. "Come dear, I'll see you to your car."
The night had turned almost cold, and Sarah was glad of the warmth of her coat. She unlocked the car, and looked up at the man. "Good night…Garrett."
He kissed her cheek. "Good night, Sarah."
