When they had the earthquake in San Francisco
Back in nineteen-six
They said that Mother Nature
Was up to her old tricks
That's the story that went around
But here's the real low-down
Put the blame on Mame, boys
Put the blame on Mame
"Kate it's beautiful."
"You like it," Kate grinned, cocking her head back so that Alice could catch a better glimpse of the hat.
"Absolutely stunning."
"Hmm," she said chewing the bottom of her lip and setting the hat back on the stand, "I'm not sure. It seems ridiculously overpriced."
"So is everything else in New York," Alice quipped.
"You may not have noticed Madame of Fortune but there is a depression going on. I feel guilty throwing away money on a hat while people are starving," Kate lectured turning back to Alice.
However, Alice was no longer paying attention. Standing just a ways away was a tall man with a powerful frame lazily scanning over ties. Almost on instinct she ducked behind the nearest clothes rack, her eyes still wildly on the man.
"Alice?" Kate called looking around in confusion, "Where did you go?"
"Kate. Hush!" Alice begged, peering through the clothes.
"What the heck are you doing on the ground?"
"Nothing in particular," she smiled guiltily, "Just checking out the view."
"Oh," Kate nodded indulgently, "and how is the view down there?"
"Absolutely superb."
"Well I'm glad you enjoy it because I am not letting you up until you tell me the real reason you are hiding behind a clothes rack."
Slowly, Alice crept up to per over the metal rack. The coast was clear. "Thank God," she muttered.
"Alice have you lost it, what the heck has—"
"Good Lord if it isn't Alice Roberts." Came a smooth voice from behind. Alice quickly turned to see the tall man grinning mischievously down at her.
"Dirk," she gasped, unable to think of anything else to say.
"Never thought I would see you again," he smirked, "I was sure you would be on the first train out of this city."
Alice scrunched up her nose in disgust, "your effect on me was not quite so strong as to drive me straight out of the city, Dirk."
"Lucky me,' he smirked taking a step closer but Alice was quicker. In one lithe movement she managed to place Kate between herself and Dirk.
"I don't think you have met my sister-in-law, Kate. Kate this is Dirk Tyler," Alice nervously introduced.
"How do you do," Kate nodded curtly, offering him a gloved hand.
But Dirk only had eyes for Alice. His cloudy blue eyes gazed appreciatively over her curves as she stood there unwittingly tantalizing him. As a distraction he began fiddling with his hat, unsure of what else to do to keep his attention away from her alluring neckline.
"Alice I feel as if we should catch up. After all it's not every day that lovers cross each other's paths once again," he smiled charmingly, sweeping his hat back onto his straw-like hair.
"Lovers?" Kate lifted an eyebrow towards Alice.
"Well more than lovers really," Dirk grinned, "she was my fiancée."
"I see," Kate frowned, scrutinizing the man more closely.
"Dirk, please," Alice pleaded, hoping to draw the conversation elsewhere.
"What darling? It is not as if it was a secret, all of New York's high society knew about the engagement. What's the big secret?" Dirk continued to smile, although a more bitter tone had crept into his voice.
"I am married now. That's the big secret," Alice snapped, her patience waning.
"Married? You?" The man took a step back as if he had been slapped.
"Yes of course. Just because I couldn't stand to marry you doesn't mean I would never marry," Alice explained, a little more smugly then was necessary.
"Well sure," he growled, burying his hands deep in his pockets so that Alice could not see his hands balled into fists.
Alice looked him over nervously. What could he want? She had left him two years ago. He could not possibly hold a grudge that long. Alice could have slapped herself, who was she kidding. Dirk was famous for carrying a grudge. How else would he have made it so high up on the social ladder.
They once had a shootin' up in the Klondike
When they got Dan McGrew
Folks were putting the blame on
The lady known as Lou
That's the story that went around
But here's the real low-down
Put the blame on Mame, boys
Put the blame on Mame
She sat shivering on the bed; her eyes flitting over her overly decorated prison. How she ached to rip down the silk curtains and shatter the priceless vases against the intricately painted wall. But she didn't dare. It would be unwise to further his wrath. So she continued to shiver on her canopy bed.
"Madame! You are not dressed?" shrieked Lilith, barging into the room with arms flailing. "It is almost nine! Master Tyler is expecting you for breakfast."
"I am not hungry," she replied childishly, pulling her legs close searching for some kind of warmth.
"To be quite honest it really does not matter. You could be dying of fever and you would still be dining with the master. It is not your place to deny his requests," the housekeeper informed her with a superior tone.
"Lilith, do not make me," Alice begged, her tone going up a pitch to fight back tears, "I can't stand him. I really cannot."
"Ha," the older woman laughed cruelly, "do you really think that matters, dearie? You should feel blessed to be engaged to master Tyler. To marry a prominent figure in society is what every girl dreams of."
"And if he beats me. Is that what every girl dreams of? To be beaten every time they displease their husband?" Alice countered, snapping her head away from the now fuming woman.
"I will not stand here as you belittle Master Tyler. The man has only given you what you deserve. Speaking out of turn and singing in public disgraces his family name. If he does not wish for society to believe he is marrying a performer then he must control your flimsy habits."
"Flimsy habits!" Alice stood up in indignation, "you mean that living my life is considered to be flimsy habits. Well fine then. I suppose Dirk should just call off the engagement. Heaven forbid he should have to marry a woman with flimsy habits."
"As much satisfaction as it would give me to inform the master of this, I have little doubt that I would just be wasting my breath. You have that man under your spell," Lilith informed her, tossing her a dress from the wardrobe.
"Breakfast will be served in ten minutes," she said in way of goodbye, closing the door firmly behind her.
How had this happened to her? What had become of the kind, charming man she had met at a social only months ago? This had to end, she thought, this cannot be my life forever.
Mame did a dance called the hoochy-coo
That's the thing that slew McGrew
So you can put the blame on Mame, boys
Put the blame on Mame
"We should have dinner sometime, sweetheart," Dirk suggested holding the door for her as they walked out of the department store.
"I am not so sure that is such a good idea, Dirk," Alice replied searching the sidewalk for her car and driver.
"Sure it is," Dirk insisted, "listen it doesn't have to be awkward, you can bring your man and I can introduce you to my new gal. Come on sweetie. Just say yes."
"Dirk I really don't think—"
"Great! It's a date. I'll see you at the Hampshire Inn. Reservations will be at seven. Don't be late," The last bit was said in a slightly ominous tone and Alice felt a shiver as the words left his lips.
Alice bit her lip as she watched him walk away.
When Mrs. O'Leary's cow
Kicked the lantern in Chicago town
They say that started the fire
That burned Chicago down
That's the story that went around
But here's the real low-down
Put the blame on Mame, boys
Put the blame on Mame
"Sleeping in a little late don't you think, darling," Dirk drawled, not bothering to look up from his newspaper.
"I am sorry," she apologized, quietly slipping into the seat next to him, "I did not sleep very well last night."
The pair fell into an uncomfortable silence, as their every movement echoed around the large dining room. Alice could only imagine the gossip that was flying passed the kitchen door as the servants and cooks discussed her apparently uncouth manner. She could hardly believe the snobbery slipping off of the maids. It is not as if she was something Dirk picked off of the side of the street. She was raised in a very prominent family back in California. What right did these people have to judge her?
"Mrs. Templeton stopped by the other night. Right after you retired. She wishes to know why you have not been attending the Hartford Ladies Society meetings. I informed her that you have been quiet ill lately."
"Dirk," she quickly began, "I am sorry I sometimes lose track of time. I do not intentionally—"
Dirk held up a hand, "It hardly matters. I know how spacey you can be."
"Well no it is not that. You see I am writing a song. I sent it into one of my producer friends and he thinks that perhaps—"
"Good Lord you did what!" He barked, standing up in furry, "I told you to stop it with all this song writing. Can you just imagine what people will think if they hear my fiancée has gone off and found a career? How dare you demean me like that."
"Dirk I certainly did not do it to demean you," Alice fought back, now furious herself, "I merely did it because it is a passion of mine. And Mr. Landers said he absolutely loved the song."
"Damn the song. If you think for a second that I will allow a woman to earn a living, than you have another thing coming."
"But if you would just listen then—"
"Enough!" He bellowed, striking a fist down onto the table, "I am not discussing this. This hobby of yours needs to end. I will not have people thinking that I am so poor I need my wife to bring money to the table."
"Is that all you care about?" Alice shriekd, "what people think? Don't you even care what I think? I think you are a horrible man who is too small-minded and too pompous for his own good."
"I will not be spoken to like that in my own home, Alice," Dirk shouted, his face livid.
"Then perhaps I should leave, Dirk," Alice said in a voice barely higher than a whisper, but he heard.
Remember the blizzard, back in Manhattan
In eighteen-eighty-six
They say that traffic was tied up
And folks were in a fix
That's the story that went around
But here's the real low-down
Put the blame on Mame, boys
Put the blame on Mame
Alice wearily placed her coat onto the hook, her mind still buzzing from the meeting with Dirk. Now what was she going to do? She flopped tiredly down onto the couch while her mind played out possible solutions to her new found problem.
"Long day, sweetheart?" Came a familiar voice from across the room. Slowly, she let slip a small smile letting Luck's comforting presence wash over her.
"Kate could not decide what to wear to her parents' anniversary party. We must have walked through the entire department store looking for an outfit," she murmured drowsily.
"Glad I missed it," he smiled, coming to sit next to her, "but that doesn't explain why you look like you just watched someone kick a puppy."
"Oh well I," she began to stutter, "I met someone today."
"Is that so," Luck said, his foxy eyes cursing over her, looking for any signs that may explain her distress.
"Yes," she swallowed, no use lying, Kate would only let it slip sooner or later, "His name is Dirk Tyler."
"The infamous investor?" Luck asked, confusion clear on his face, "How do you know scum like that."
"I was—well I was engaged to him," she said quietly, deeply ashamed, although she did not know why. She kept her eyes firmly on her hands. Alice did not dare look to his her husband's reaction to the news. She had meant to tell Luck about her previous fiancée but she continued to put it off not wishing for the man's shadow to be cast over her marriage.
"I see," Luck said slowly, his eyes resting heavily on her.
"Is that all?" Alice asked, slightly annoyed, "That's all you have to say."
Luck blinked in surprise, "What am I suppose to say?"
"Oh I don't know," she moaned frustrated at her own mixed feelings, "but he invited us dinner tomorrow."
"And you don't want to go?" He guessed, slightly relived though he tried not to show it.
"Well of course not," she said, "there is a reason I left him."
"Care to elaborate," Luck asked somewhat suspicious now.
Alice snapped her head up, her eyes slightly gleaming from unshed tears. She tried to speak but she could only shake her head. Luck eyes softened, unable to stand seeing her in pain. Gently, he pulled her close, wrapping his arms comfortingly around her shivering form.
"I understand."
Put the blame on Mame, boys
Put the blame on Mame
I would deeply like to apologize for such a delayed update. Even though it is summer my schedule is still filled to the max! But thanks to everyone for being so patient and I really hope you enjoy.
I would love to hear reviews on this one. It is a somewhat different style and I would like to know what you thought of the story!
The song is Put the Blame on Mame from the movie Gilda.