Julia thought she was clever in telling me I would play the violin at her gathering. I will not be commanded!
Ch 9
An accident. Julia may have distracted Alex with a bit of imitation music but I was not so easily swayed. Judging by the looks of him, my dear new friend Monsieur Leach must have been attempting to steal another man's lady.
I chewed on the inside of my cheek, eyes narrowed in contemplation. What sort of accident could he have suffered? He was standing, so it couldn't have been an accident which had rendered his legs useless. His arms were at his sides and I had seen both hands.
For all intent and purpose he had seemed quite ordinary. He bore no visible scars, though I suppose he could have had some hidden by clothing.
But how would Alexandre have known?
Frankly, I didn't much care what happened to Leach. There were far greater concerns saturating my mind.
The whole prospect of courtship was becoming intolerable. For the majority of my years I had control over my life and what I did. I had my own funds, my own home, and my own means of keeping my bank accounts filled which supported my standard of living. Julia was completely out of line in her attempts to order me about. I would not lie down and show her my belly merely because I was fond of her. I would not jump at her every command. If memory served me correctly, the wedding vows would say that Julia would honor and obey me. It was her place as the feeble-minded female to do as I said when I said it. From what she had planned for Friday night, she was hardly following those marital vows.
Then again, I reminded myself, we were not married.
I paced the floor and cracked my knuckles. Lunch had gone cold. Meg and her damned Rosemary chicken! This was Paris! Rosemary chicken was unacceptable to serve at a French table.
"Did you know Monsieur Leach was attacked by an alligator?" Alex continued.
"An alligator? Now AlexI think he was just teasing you."
"No, he said he wrestled an alligator in Zimbabwe. Maybe that's how he was injured."
"Maybe."
"Who would win between a bear and a lion?"
"Did Archie tell you to ask question like that?"
They were both enamored with this man. I was surprised they didn't invite him over to listen to their poor examples of music. Aggravated by the two of them going on and on about Archie Leach and Julia's demand that I come to her house on Friday, I stomped down the stairs and entered the parlor.
She would not issue orders to me. I would put her in her place for once and for all! Foolish woman thinking she would issue the orders. I would not tolerate her a moment longer.
Meg was standing in the doorway as I approached. She looked at me and quickly moved away, mumbling that there was work to be done in the kitchen.
I straightened my lapels in preparation before marching into the parlor and setting things straight.
"Now, listen here, Madame Seuratti—"
Alex and Julia responded with laughter.
They didn't hear me. They were dancing. Julia and Alexandre were dancing and laughing in the parlor. The rug had been folded out of the way while the desk and chair had been moved aside.
I had never seen Alexandre smile as wide as he did while Julia taught him a simple waltz. He concentrated while she counted the steps, completely oblivious to me standing in the doorway.
"What a perfect little gentleman you are, Alex," Julia cooed as they took two steps back. "You're a natural dancer."
He stared at their feet when she complimented him. "Do you and Father dance when he visits you?"
"No," Julia replied, drawing the word out. "I'm afraid we never have danced."
"He just comes to talk?"
"Yes," Julia answered. She missed a step and ran her heel into the desk.
"What do you talk about?"
"Well…lots of things, Alex."
"Oh."
He seemed somewhat satisfied. His pensiveness made me apprehensive. His mind was like a slingshot. The longer he was silent the more force was behind his next question. I knew he had set Julia up for a shot between the eyes.
"Why so late?"
Julia rubbed her bruised heel. She saw me standing in the doorway and glared at me when she saw my smirk. Her cheeks turned crimson at his innocent question and I raised a brow at her. She would have to find her own way out of this labyrinth. With an easy smile I leaned against the doorway and waited for her answer.
"Because it is easier. Alex, do you have any more songs or have we exhausted our musical selections?" Julia asked. She pulled away from Alexandre and smoothed her skirt before straightening her hair.
"Come to join us?" Julia asked. She turned toward me and folded her arms.
"No, I've come to tell you that not only will I not be bringing my violin to Friday's soirée, I will not be attending."
She nodded slowly. The tables had turned against her. I had backed her into a corner and she could not escape. I would have my own way.
"Archie and Hermine will be very disappointed."
I ground my teeth together. "I don't give a—darn--!" I said because Alexandre was standing there. "I don't care if they are disappointed or ecstatic."
"Well, I will be disappointed as well, but I respect your decision." She patted my hand and smiled. "Will you walk me to the door?"
She walked past me and headed toward the foyer. Her response irritated me. She had nonchalantly strolled past without protesting my words. Even though I had no desire to attend her little English tea party, I still wanted at least a decent fight.
"I certainly hope the three of you have a fabulous time chatting," I said snidely.
She turned when she reached the front door and smiled again. "I'm certain we will have a fine afternoon. Perhaps if you leave the windows open you will hear Archie play. I understand Hermine is taking voice lessons."
"Together they probably sound just as pleasant as the phonograph."
"It will be like having an opera performed in my own home."
There was something about the way she spoke that ground against my nerves. She was being far too civil concerning my rejection of her invitation. My eyes narrowed as I stared at her.
"You need more than an idiot with a violin and some woman howling in accompaniment."
Julia shrugged. "Well I think it will be very enjoyable. We will miss your company," she said. She turned back to the door and waited for me to see her out.
I glanced down the hall to make certain no one was listening. When I was certain we were alone, I stepped forward and took her by the arm. "Why are you doing this?"
"Doing what?" she asked innocently.
"Attempting to force me into some frivolous gathering."
She shifted her weight and pulled her arm away. "Erik, I think if you knew Archie the two of you would find you have much in common with one another."
I glared at her. "I want nothing to do with him."
"Erik, you're overreacting. If you came to tea you would be able to see first-hand that you have nothing to worry about." She paused and offered a warm smile. "I know what you're concerned about. Trust me that Hermine and Archie are not the types of people who would ridicule you."
She was infuriating me with each word. "I don't like him."
"How can you say that? You don't even know him." Her voice remained pleasant which only further annoy me.
"I don't want to know him."
Julia turned her head to the side and exhaled through her mouth. "Well, I believe that is ignorant of you to say."
"The world has judged me each and every day of my life based on my appearance alone."
"Which is unfortunate," she agreed. "But now you are doing the same thing."
"Do not turn this around, Julia. I will be damned if you tell me what I can and cannot do. I have my own rules and reasoning. That will not change now, no matter what."
"I apologize. I only want you to be comfortable. I just assumed you would enjoy an afternoon at my house."
"Is this part of our courtship?" I asked.
She looked surprised by my question. "No, not exactly."
"Then I want no part of it. Enjoy your festivities with your handsome childhood friend and his songbird of a sister."
Julia was silent a moment. I turned away from her and grit my teeth again. The outburst did nothing to alter my mood. If anything I felt worse for behaving like a child. As much as I wanted to cover my face and walk away from her I stayed put and sulked with my back to her.
"Erik?"
"You don't know how difficult this is for me," I muttered.
"You're right, I don't. But I would love for you to join us. It would be an honor for both Hermine and Archie to meet such a talented composer and it would mean a lot to me if you wanted to spend the afternoon at my house."
I refused to turn and face her. She would not win. I would be damned if she would get the upper hand. From this moment on, things would be different.
"Will you be over at two or two-thirty?" Julia asked.
"Two," I sighed.
