Chapter Three

Those seemingly endless summer days of roses and strawberries melted into shortening days of brilliantly vibrant foliage and pumpkins. Lucas' parents traveled to London and Paris for business that autumn, but because he was eighteen and finished with school, he stayed at their Quebec estate. The trips and rarely having a steady home had eaten away at him over the years. Much to his parents' chagrin, he hadn't enrolled in courses at a university, but he assured them he was taking a few months to consider his options, which, if his father got his way, would mean accompanying him on trips to learn the ways of conducting business.

Lucas still very much had his head in the clouds. Because of his love of reading, he'd thought about being a writer. His attempts from his childhood until now had failed. What started as a great idea fell flat by the third page or the fifth, if he got that lucky, and he never shared his work with his mother. He thought he'd saved himself the look of disdain that was sure to cover her face. He'd seen enough of it over the years without adding to it.

Once his parents were gone and he had only the company of books and the servants, Lucas questioned his choice to remain behind. Hadn't he wanted a steady life, to plant his feet somewhere and establish roots? Yet the moment he was alone, he paced, an unresolved restlessness spiking and not waning for days on end.

What do I want with my life? he wondered.

He asked himself that question dozens of times a day.

To travel? Yes, traveling, seeing the world, that was fun and had its excitement, but at the end of it all, what did he have? Some would say he had the experiences. It was true that he could talk at length about every continent except Antarctica, but without someone to share those moments with, what did they amount to?

He knew his parents loved him the best way they knew how, but any question about why they had never given him a sibling had gone unanswered. At the very least, even if they had argued, he would have had a sure companion to conspire or aspire with. A fleeting thought that his parents had been unable to have more children passed his mind, but no, Lucas figured the reason he was alone was because his parents always had been too wrapped up in their own affairs to give a second child any thought when they barely gave the first and only one much thought.

And that thought depressed Lucas.

As he sat at the window in his bedroom that overlooked the gardens, he remembered his summertime stroll with Beatrice. His cheeks and ears warmed as he smiled and closed his eyes, almost tasting her sweet kiss again.

Beatrice. Could she be the companion he needed, someone more than a friend or a sibling? Someone to walk beside him in life. They could go wherever they wanted, do whatever they wanted, and he wouldn't be lonely because he well and truly had someone. Maybe the feeling of home was sought more in a person than a place.

Lucas cupped his chin in thought.

I'll write to Beatrice.

She was at the University of Toronto. His mother had made sure to remind him of that fact often, further reinforcing her disappointment and disapproval of his choice to not enroll in higher education.

A smile crept to Lucas' face as he realized they were without their parents for the first time. What a liberating thought! He had no idea of his parents' plans for Christmas and didn't wish to wait or to be at their whims whether he and Beatrice could see each other again.

So, at his rolltop desk, with pen to paper, he wrote:

Dear Beatrice,

I trust this cooler weather has agreed with you. I must admit I prefer autumn to the heat of summer, but as I was pondering days gone by, most especially this past summer, my mind went to thoughts of you. As I languish here at the Quebec manor, I cannot help but wonder how I will pass my days. My parents are away for several weeks overseas, so with no expected return in the immediate future, I found myself at liberty to make plans of my own. If it is agreeable, would you consider a visit from me? I would find accommodations off campus, of course, but I find myself missing you more with every passing day. Please reply in haste with your thoughts.

I look forward to seeing you, hopefully soon.

Respectfully yours,

Lucas

Lucas read and reread the letter to ensure he was satisfied. He sealed it and took it downstairs to go with the outgoing mail. He went to the library, picked up Dangerous Liaisons, and lost himself in its pages for the rest of the day.

A week later, Lucas checked the incoming mail. No letter from Beatrice. With a sigh, he marked another day off on the calendar, another day of boredom and disappointment.

Two more days passed in the same manner. Then he struck gold.

When he spotted the envelope with Beatrice's curlicue script, his heart rate increased as he picked up the letter. He opened it with care, yet with urgency, and read:

Dear Lucas,

Imagine my pleasant surprise to find your correspondence. Thank you for taking the time out of your languishing to write to me. University life has proven thrilling, a true respite from living under my parents' authority. While I am astounded to hear you have not yet enrolled anywhere, I can only imagine the freedom you must find in paving your own path.

It would be a true honor and most welcome to see you again. Would the last weekend of October be amenable?

I look forward to your reply.

Yours always,

Beatrice

Yours always, he read, again and again. A smile crept across his lips. She says she's mine.

He pondered how he had concluded his letter to her. The "respectfully yours" seemed rigid and formal, so expected of their high breeding. Lucas wanted to scoff. He yanked at the necktie around his collar, as if somehow choked, and removed it. Why had he even put the ridiculous thing on when all he did was lounge about the manor, mostly in his bedroom and the library? Who was he trying to impress and why?

He also undid the top button of his shirt and leaned back into the chair. Raking a hand through his thick locks, he knew his mother would have insisted he visit the barber's by now.

"Well, Mother, maybe your sweet little boy isn't so little anymore," he murmured. "Maybe he wants to spread his wings and see the world for himself."

Lucas penned a quick reply, sealed it, and set out into the city on foot to mail it himself. He didn't wish to wait for someone else to do his bidding. After posting the letter, he bought a train ticket for Friday afternoon to Toronto. He would arrive quite late that evening but would be there first thing on Saturday morning to greet Beatrice.

Lucas returned home. After ensuring he had lodging in order, he marked the important date on his calendar. His personal calendar. He told the servants he would be leaving the last weekend of the month to visit his friend, William, who also lived in Toronto. William Hatford was more like an acquaintance, a boy Lucas had known from secondary school two years ago and who had shared a love of books but not much else. The other young man had been the closest thing to a male friend he'd ever had. In all honesty, Lucas had only brought William around to appease his father, who had begun to insist Lucas make a few friends, as having a social circle would benefit him in business and pleasure throughout life.

As he went to bed that night, a pang of guilt poked at him. He would be lying to his parents, to the servants.

It's not really lying if my parents don't know about the trip in the first place, a tiny voice spoke up out of the depths in his head.

Lucas sat upright and frowned. Where did that thought come from? I'm not a liar.

And he wasn't. At least he hadn't been until that moment. Little did Lucas know how once he told one lie, he would build a castle of lies, and castles built on lies didn't stand.

The last Saturday of October was a brilliant day. The sunshine filtered through the remaining umber and gold that trimmed the trees. Lucas stood under one such wooden sentinel nestled in all its regal glory beside the University Gates at Yonge and College Streets. All the arrangements had been made of where and when to meet.

He scanned passersby for Beatrice. Due to the warmer than usual weather, many people flocked the streets and grassward. Then, suddenly, his vision went dark.

Lucas quickly recovered when her tantalizing voice tickled his right ear. "Guess who?"

He turned and swept her up in his arms. She giggled like a schoolgirl as he twirled her. Then he kissed her, and the strawberries and roses returned.