Chapter 6:
When Niles returned downstairs and entered the large hall from which B.B. had emerged and from which the soft music was coming he instantly stopped and gaped at the spectacle. He had known that the Babcock estate was incredibly spacious but it seemed he had still underestimated just how big it was. Somehow B.B. Babcock had transformed this particular part of the house into a ballroom and Niles could only wonder what they would normally use this space for. In a corner a little band was set up and people were distributed everywhere, either sitting together at small tables around the edges of the room, nibbling on hors d' oeuvres and sipping champagne or dancing in the centre.
While he stood there and took it all in a waiter passed him and made sure he wasn't going hungry. Niles helped himself and then popped a devilled egg into his mouth when a voice suddenly addressed him: "Perhaps we should stay. It could help your father."
"Pardon?" he turned to look at C.C.
She had got rid of her old clothes and was wearing a beautiful dress and heels, only her slightly messy hair served as a reminder of her old look. To him she looked utterly gorgeous but he figured that now wasn't the right time to tell her so.
"Why would you say that?" she demanded "How on earth could this help my father?"
"Perhaps it'll stop the gossip a bit? I mean, who would throw such a lavish party when they have money issues?"
C.C. rolled her eyes. "The Babcocks would…come to think of it, half the people I know would. Keeping up appearances is the main motto to live by. It's not unusual that people would choose the risk of getting further indebted over confessing the truth and being shunned by their social circle."
Niles silently had to agree with her. "Alright then, maybe not that but perhaps your father conducts some business at such festivities? And this way he can help keep his business afloat just a while longer?"
C.C. pondered this and then nodded slowly. "That could be true but that still doesn't mean that my being here would help in any way."
He sighed at yet another lost battle and then glanced over at Stuart Babcock who was sitting in a corner of a table unhappy.
"Alright so my comment was out of line and unfounded," he said, taking C.C.'s hand in his "I'm sure it's not the first time that I have proven to be less than perfect."
The perplexed look on her face vanished and made room for a smirk. "True, I have seen you fail an awful lot."
Gently he tugged her a little closer and then guided her to the dance floor where they began to sway softly. "But give me a break, Babcock," he continued "it's not so often that one is granted an audience with the Wicked Witch of the West."
C.C. cackled and then rested her forehead on his shoulder, trying to regain her composure. "I thought I was the Wicked Witch of the West."
"Oh no," he opened his mouth in mock horror "that title must be earned. You're just an ordinary witch."
She chuckled warmly and then muttered into his ear: "You really know how to charm a girl."
Niles tried to ignore the shiver that ran down his spine at feeling her breath wash over the shell of his ear and instead straightened his back a little. "Indeed I am. How unfortunate that there are no girls around. Only wrinkled old bags."
He grinned at her but earned an elbow in the ribs a second later. Then C.C. relaxed against him once more and for a little while they enjoyed the silence while dancing to the beat of the music.
"You know," she eventually spoke up again "as much as I hate you for getting me stuck here, I really am glad to have you by my side."
Her admission was soft and shy and terribly uncharacteristic for her which made the moment even more meaningful. He wanted to tell her that it was an honour and that he would always be around if she needed him but found it impossible to get the words out in light of the deal he had made with her mother.
"Of course," was what he settled for, hoping that this answer wouldn't disappoint her and that she'd hear the emotion in his voice.
C.C. smiled against his skin and then pressed a small kiss to his neck which let him relive the shiver from a moment ago but when he looked up he saw that B.B. Babcock was observing him coolly but with a look of definite satisfaction and so whatever happiness he had experienced was suddenly gone. From then on it was impossible for him to enjoy his night but he still kept on smiling, hoping to at least put C.C. at ease.
When the evening finally wound down and most guests were bidding their goodbyes Niles and C.C. also tried to leave, thinking that they might slip out unnoticed. But of course B.B. Babcock's eagle eye had never left them and so she easily caught them at the staircase.
"Heading up to your rooms, I see." She commented and they both froze.
"Yes, we were going to change back into our clothes and then head home." C.C. replied and started to climb the stairs again.
"Don't be silly, Chastity. You'll be spending the night." Her mother chuckled and she frowned.
"No, actually I'm heading back to New York. If I can survive a night here I am fit enough to go back to work tomorrow."
"Oh work, work, work…just like your father." B.B. sighed dramatically "But I won't accept that excuse. Besides, both of you had more than one glass of champagne to drink. I don't think it's safe for you to drive."
Her eyes may have looked concerned but there was an edge to her voice that suggested it wasn't beneath her to tip off the police herself if they didn't decide to stay.
"We could just leave early tomorrow morning, C.C." Niles carefully offered, knowing that he was probably ruining their truce again.
"Listen to him," B.B. chimed in, patting his hand "it would be a shame for this night to end already, wouldn't it?"
Niles swallowed and cast his eyes downward while C.C. frowned at her mother. "You're making me feel uncomfortable. But alright…we'll leave first thing in the morning."
When he felt her heading up the stairs he immediately followed behind, avoiding eye contact with B.B. as he went. They walked in silence until they reached her room and it was then that Niles realised that he probably should've gone to the guest room. They both remained in an awkward silence, neither one knowing what to say.
"I think I may have underestimated you earlier," Niles spoke eventually "You are no ordinary witch."She frowned lightly and silently asked him to elaborate. "Well, it takes some witchcraft to make this evening bearable." He winked and she broke into soft laughter.
"That is the lamest line I have ever heard," she managed in between snorts.
"Alright, alright. So I'm not some smooth operator like the rest of your toy boys."
The words "smooth operator" only served to heighten her amusement and soon she was rocking back and forth with laughter and as much as Niles wanted to glare at her, he just couldn't keep a grin off his face.
"You're certainly not…" she said and he noticed the same softness in her tone that he had heard before in the be told he was surprised because he had expected her to be more annoyed with him. "Do you want to come in still for a couple of minutes?" she asked, opening the door to her room.
He peeked inside and caught a glimpse of the décor. It looked almost exactly like his guest room and he wondered if it had been like this when she had lived in it as a child or if her mother had simply transformed it to match the rest of the house once all the children had left. He could picture a little C.C. wandering the long corridors of the estate, experiencing a loneliness he knew a lot of upper class children felt. And for a small, weak second he wanted to accept her offer and stay in her room with her. He wanted to curl up on the large canopy bed with her and offer some comfort. But then he remembered that this estate held a darkness for him too and he couldn't bring himself to exploit her vulnerability in this place.
"I think I'd rather turn in," he replied gently and brushed an errant strand of hair behind her ear, wishing that he could wipe her disappoint away just as easily.
"So you'll come by tomorrow morning?" she asked, leaning into his touch ever so slightly.
"Yes, trust me, I'll be there." He quirked a grin "If my job was ever good for something then it's managing to get up early."
"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow then." She said and started to pull away but Niles held her gently in place.
"Goodnight, C.C." he murmured and captured her lips.
She released a small sigh and felt a tingle go through the rest of her body but then moved away, reminding herself that she was still somewhat angry at him. Niles watched her mouth a silent goodbye and slip into her room and then he turned around and started walking again. Somehow he needed to figure out a way to tell her the truth and soon because their growing intimacy was only going to make things worse.
The next morning C.C. was surprised to wake up by herself and not by Niles knocking on her door. She yawned and stretched and then rolled on her side to glance at the clock on the nightstand. It was almost 5. She groaned and kicked the sheets off her and then walked across the room to the bathroom to freshen up. Once she was washed and dressed in her old clothes she slipped out of the room, hoping to spend some time snooping around her father's office in hopes of getting some answers. She knew that her attempt was a long shot because she had no idea when her father had moved back to the estate and if he kept any documents there or just at the firm. Nonetheless, she didn't know what else to do given the earliness of the hour and so she proceeded deeper into the estate. She had just reached out to push the office door even further open when her father's voice stopped her in her tracks.
"Beatrice? This is Stuart…yes I know what time it is," he was whispering frantically "You have to forgive me for being so blunt but…we need the money now. I can't keep the business running anymore and your daughter is getting worried. Please…you promised!"
C.C. frowned and carefully leaned forward to catch a glimpse of her father but his office chair was facing away from her and the phone conversation ended before she could find out much more. All she had gathered was that her grandmother was somehow involved in this or that she had at least promised her parents money. The good news was that Beatrice Mason was a straight-talking lady who didn't care about wealth or appearances. Sensing a real chance to finally discover the truth C.C. hurriedly snuck back down the corridor and to the guest room. There she knocked once and then entered without awaiting a response. Niles was standing in the middle of the room, only wearing trousers, his hands busy buttoning up his shirt. Her eyes momentarily darted across his chest until she reminded herself to stay focused.
"C.C.?" he frowned.
"I just overheard my father on the phone," she began and then filled him in on what she had witnessed.
"Perhaps she just promised them support?" he suggested and she couldn't stop herself from rolling her eyes at his naiveté.
"This is the Babcock family. My grandmother never liked how my mother changed when she became married to my father. I don't see why she would help him now. Which is precisely why we have to go! I have to talk to her."
"I thought we were going to go back to New York?" he asked.
"I know, but I can't possibly do that now when I have finally made some progress."
Niles nodded quietly, not quite agreeing but at a loss of what else to do.
Several minutes later they were in his car and on their way to Connecticut. Niles kept silent, knowing that they were bound to discover whatever B.B. Babcock had been trying to hide by forcing him into the deal. And soon C.C. was going to find out why he had always taken her mother's side and their relationship would be back to square one.
"What's eating you?" she finally asked "Yesterday you made that big, cocky speech about being a morning person and now look at you, grumpy old man."
"We were going to head back to New York. I have a job, you know?" he snapped back, gripping the wheel so hard his knuckles were turning white.
C.C. frowned and sat up straighter in her seat. "I am not forcing you to come along. If you don't want to do this then you should've just opened your mouth instead of sulking like a little girl now."
He glared at her for as long as he could. "I didn't have a choice. You command every single little thing because you cannot control your damn curiosity! We could all lead a peaceful and happy life if it wasn't for you second-guessing everything. Have you even noticed how close we've got? And now you're going to pick that apart as well!"
C.C. squirmed a little uncomfortably and grabbed on to the edge of her seat. Whatever secret thrill she had experienced by their exchanges and light kisses was suddenly blown away when put so harshly in words.
"Just drop me off at my grandmother's and I'll handle things myself from then on." She said coolly and only spoke to him again when she was required to give directions.
