Whistler took me to a tavern that night, as soon as I saw him I knew that my life would never be the same. He was handsome, more so than I had ever seen. He was quite the ladies man, but if you had the face of an angel wouldn't you be too. We blended into the shadows so that no attention and suspicion would be drawn to us. You have to remember that a girl of my age and station didn't generally frequent these types of establishments. He continued to drink and he was rather loud and somewhat obnoxious, but he still took my breath away. He was magnificent and beautiful. I do believe that sometime later I heard someone say that Michelangelo couldn't have created a better work of art. I watched him for several moments before Whistler told me it was time for us to go. I knew deep down that he was right, I don't think I could have taken seeing him leave with some common barmaid or desperate girl that had no future.
Whistler explained to me after we left that I couldn't tell anyone of the meeting, or of seeing this man. He told me that it was important. I mentioned my up coming marriage to him. He told me not to worry about anything, my decision was made and everything would be taken care of. It occurred to me after I was in the safety of my own bedroom that I should have been worried and a little more afraid than what I was, but it all felt right. I knew deep down that I had made the right decision and that my life would never be the same, but now it had a purpose even if the details were still a little sketchy.
The next afternoon my father was to meet with my future in laws and husband. I was not able to attend this meeting because the dressmaker was coming to start work on my wedding gown. Society wedding really can be tiresome. I just prayed that whatever was going to happen to rectify the situation I was now in would just happen.
By the time my father came back from the meeting, he was visibly upset. It must not have gone well I remember thinking to myself. I approached my father as one would approach an angered animal when one wanted to soothe it and find out what had angered it. "Good afternoon father" I said in my sweetest most sincere tone, one that knew would soon have him answering all of my questions and eating out of the palm of my hand just like thousands of times before. "Did lunch go well?" My father gave me a look that told me lunch did not go as well as it should have considering his baby girl was about to be made a bride to someone that by all rights should never have even gotten the chance to begin with. My mother walked into the room and said to my father " Now dear, that boy has every right to be upset and try to rebel he just needs time like Renee does." His reaction was startling, "Yes, well he should have at least been there for the meal. If he wasn't the only one that would be acceptable and if our word hadn't been given he would not be marrying my daughter." He never used harsh words around mother or me. I left the room shortly after that; I really needed to figure out a few things.