Only in America: Skinner's Story
A TPDoEQ special edition
by Lady Norbert
28 April 1900
Can I eat one meal in this bloody town without being reminded that Everett exists?
We'd just set down to breakfast when Mrs. Singer came bustling over with a handful of weeds. Least, I thought they were; turns out they were a bouquet of wildflowers Everett left for Bess. Idiot doesn't even know what kind of flowers she likes best (pink roses). I still say they look like weeds, but she seemed happy with them.
30 April 1900
Well, it would seem there's going to be a rather big to-do here in town in a few days. Everybody's getting dressed up fancy to go to a ball. We talked it over at lunchtime and the others all want to go.
I'm not crazy about it. I don't know how to dance.
Once again, though, Sawyer's too smart for his own good, and he pulled me aside after lunch. "You are going to this thing, aren't you?"
"I dunno, maybe I'll skip it."
"You think Everett's going to skip it?" he asked pointedly.
I didn't know how to answer that, so he kept talking. "Damn it, Skinner, would you just do something about it already?"
"What am I supposed to do?"
"You could try telling her the truth. Come on, man, it's not like the rest of us don't know."
I snorted. "You ever read the storybooks, Tom? Guys like Everett - they're the ones that get the girl. Not the guys like me."
"Here's a revelation for you, Skinner. This is real life, not fiction."
"I'm not good enough for her!"
I really hadn't planned to say that, but it did have the bonus of shutting him up, so I plunged ahead. "I'm bloody transparent! I'm a thief! I've got nothing to offer her!"
He was quiet for a minute. "You're right," he said. "You've got nothing to offer her...except the one thing she really wants."
I looked at him. He looked at me. "Are you crazy?" I asked finally.
"Are you blind? She adores you." He grinned. "But if you don't want to take my word for it, find out for yourself. Take her to the ball."
"Ahh...that's another thing. I can't dance. I mean, I know I danced at Christmas, the polkas and whatnot, but that was just galloping around the room. I can't do any of those fancy ball dances."
"Oh, is that all? No problem. Come with me."
Later
I was half-afraid Tom meant to teach me how to dance himself, but instead, he took me up to see Mina. She and Jeks were in their room, and when Sawyer explained what was on his mind, they both agreed that she should show me how to waltz, at least.
"It's about time you did something about this, Skinner," she said lightly. "And goodness knows, we all want that Everett character out of our lives. Henry, dear, if you'd find us some music?"
Not the most complicated thing I've ever done, I admit, but I was nervous. I stepped on Mina's feet more times than I could count. She was really tolerant, though, and didn't complain once. Eventually I did start to get the hang of it; being a thief does come in handy at times like that. I'm so accustomed to stealth that it lends itself a bit to gracefulness.
By dinnertime, Mina declared I'd improved dramatically, but I still felt really uneasy. "We'll practice more tomorrow," she promised.
1 May 1900
Bess went to do a bit of shopping this afternoon, so while she was gone, Mina and I resumed the dance lessons. The ball's tomorrow, but by the time we were done, she assured me that I had learned to waltz as well as Everett. "So what's your plan for the ball?" she asked.
"Don't really have one," I admitted. "Just...going to try to figure things out."
"All right, let me help." She explained the basics about a formal ball, how I needed to get to Bess before Everett did and ask her to be my partner for something called a Grand March. "After that, she's your lady for the evening - the Grand March and the first and last waltzes are yours. We'll get Tom and Henry and Nemo to try and partner her on as many of the other dances as possible, to keep her away from him. After the last waltz, you can escort her back here." She cocked her head and smiled teasingly. "Think you can handle this?"
"I don't know. I hope so."
"And if it all goes well tomorrow night?"
"If it all goes well - and let's face it, that's a huge if - then...I guess...I'm going to have to have a talk with her the day after."
"Good." She didn't look teasing anymore, but almost approving. "We've been waiting for it, you know."
"Since South America?" I knew I was too obvious when Bess almost died, but I wasn't really in the mood to control myself.
"South America?" she repeated. "Oh, no. I can't speak for the others, but I've been expecting this since Egypt."
2 May 1900
We ate supper early, and then everyone went upstairs to get ready.
I had a bath, and put fresh greasepaint on my face and neck. I realise I must be the strangest-looking thing in town, and if it were any other girl in the world, I reckon I'd be humiliated to go out looking like this. But it's Bess, and...well...she's different, is all.
I heard her tell Mina her dress was pink, so I decided to wear a green suit, because pink and green look sort of nice together. I dug out my dress gloves and put them on, and cleaned my dark glasses, and that was really all I could do. I went downstairs to the other men, where the ladies were, of course, making us wait.
Bess came down first. She was wearing pink, like she'd said, and I couldn't stop myself from watching her walk down the stairs. Never saw that dress before. She had my mother's locket on a ribbon round her neck, and some of her hair was hanging down on her shoulders...never saw those before either. Not that they were completely bare, but, well, I was looking at a little more of Bess than I'm used to seeing.
"Here's our bonny English rose, then," I said cheerfully, trying to hide both my nerves and the fact that I was out and out staring at her. She blushed, but smiled, and waited with us until Mina made her appearance.
The dance hall was done up pretty nice, I have to say. Everyone was talking all at once, so the place was rather noisy. Mina had told me that married couples aren't supposed to do the Grand March together, so she accepted Nemo's invitation to be his partner, and Jeks asked Mrs. Singer to be his. Tom and Bess were standing a few feet from me, and she was apparently explaining all of this to him. Then he put his name on her dance card, and she put her name on his, and then he walked over to where some girls were giving him the eye.
I spotted Everett, who was alone, and I knew he was going to make a beeline for Bess as soon as he realised she was alone too. But when I tried to say something, my voice got stuck in my throat. So I did the only thing I could think to do - I took her hand and looped her arm through mine. She didn't seem to mind; she smiled when she saw it was me.
"You're supposed to ask first, you know," she said primly.
My voice came back. "Oh, right, sorry. Do you mind if I hold up your arm for awhile?" She just laughed and shook her head. As we lined up to go in to dance, I saw Everett catch sight of us. He didn't look too happy that I'd beaten him to the punch, and that made it that much sweeter for me.
So we went through the Grand March, which was kind of boring. From what Mina had said, it was basically just a way for everyone to show off how good they looked to everyone else. Then there was a Schottische dance, which Bess said she doesn't know how to do, so we sat that out. After that it was time for the first waltz, and I started to get nervous again. Mina caught my eye and gave me an encouraging smile, which I appreciated, but I was still worried that Bess would notice how badly I was shaking.
She didn't. And when the music started, and we were actually dancing, the shakes stopped. I guess I was doing all right, because she looked surprised. "I'm impressed, Mr. Skinner - I had no idea you could waltz so well."
"Well, I haven't told you all my secrets, you know." Not yet, anyway.
"I'm beginning to suspect that." She smiled at me.
After the waltz ended, we joined the others, and Henry invited Bess to dance with him for the polka that was about to start. So they went off spinning around the room, and I relaxed a little; she wasn't with Everett at least. "How did it go?" Mina asked.
"Pretty well, I think." I grinned at her. "Thanks."
They came back after the polka, and - as Mina had suggested the day before - the men passed Bess's dance card around between them. Tom had her for two dances, Henry for one more, Nemo for one, and our landlord, Mr. Singer, even claimed her for a polka toward the end of the evening.
Unfortunately, Everett found us then, and asked if she could spare him a dance. For some reason there were some spaces left on her card, and she agreed to waltz with him in the second "set," as it was called. It was one more dance than we hoped she'd have with him, but at least it was only one.
The break ended, and off she went with Nemo for the Spanish waltz. Then there was another of those Schottisches she doesn't like, so she sat talking with Tom's friend Becky until it was time for her first reel with Tom. Then Everett came to collect her for their waltz.
Now, when Bess danced with Henry and Nemo and Tom, I didn't pay much attention. But I watched every step she took with Everett. And while I was watching, I happened to overhear someone say his name.
There were two older women sitting just within my earshot, discussing the deputy mayor's love life. "There he is dancing with that English girl."
"They say he's very taken with her."
"I don't really see why. She's a mousy little thing, isn't she?"
"I think he could do better."
If they hadn't been women, I might have asked them to step outside. I guess it was obvious that I was getting mad about something, because I saw Everett look over at me with a kind of funny expression. He must have said something to Bess, because when they turned she glanced at me too, looking a little concerned.
He brought her back in one piece, and she seemed a bit quieter than before, but still looked like she was having a good time. Jeks took her out to try one of those Schottische dances that she says she doesn't do well, and I was bored with standing around, so I asked Mina to try it with me. She seemed extremely entertained by my attempt. Then there was another reel, and another polka, and then it was time for the last waltz. As I watched, everyone around her met up with their partners until Bess was left standing all by herself.
Now or never, Skinner, I told myself. I tapped her on the shoulder, and when she turned around, I bowed. She seemed a little flustered, but smiled, and we went out on the floor.
It was a quiet dance. I didn't even hear the music too much. I had other things to occupy my attention. Those biddies think Everett could do better? Better than her? Not bloody likely. We wheeled around the dance floor, and I wondered what she was thinking. What she was feeling.
I guess she felt the need to say something after awhile, because she started looking around at the other dancers. She commented on how attractive and graceful the American girls were; I hadn't really noticed. Then she said, "All the different colours of hair and dress; it feels as though I'm back in my aunt's hothouse, among the orchids and hibiscus and stargazer lilies."
"Hmm," I said, looking around. "Yeah, I see what you mean." I did too, sort of. I thought about the flower analogy, and as we bowed at the end of the song, I dared to say what I was thinking. "I prefer English roses, myself."
I had to smile at the look on her face, which told me clearly that she understood exactly what I meant. She didn't seem to mind, either. She took my arm and we left the dance floor. "Could we get some air?" she asked timidly. I told her that of course we could, and we made to go outside.
We ran into Tom and Jeks out in the entrance hall; Mina and Nemo had already gone back to the hotel, and they invited me to join them for a drink. "Capital notion," I said, grinning. "First, though, I've got to see my lady back to the hotel." They grinned too, at that; I guess they could tell that the evening had gone pretty well.
"Better hurry," Tom said, suddenly dropping the grin. "Looks like someone else is after that privilege." He nodded toward Bess, and I turned to see Everett asking if he could escort her back. Before she could say a word, though, I took her arm and put it through mine again.
"Sorry, mate," I told him, "but the lady is with me."
He looked furious at this remark. He gave us a short little bow and said goodnight, and then vanished into the crowd.
Bess, on the other hand, looked delighted. She settled her arm more comfortably in mine and smiled; her grey eyes shone silver in the candlelight. "Shall we?" I asked.
We walked slowly through the dark streets to the hotel. I don't know about Bess, but I was trying to make it last; it was the first time I'd really been alone with her since we got to St. Petersburg, and even if we weren't talking, I was just glad to have the time with her. I'd gotten so used to the way things are on the sub - being able to be with her pretty much whenever I want - that I never realised how much I'd miss it.
How much I'd miss her.
We reached the hotel and I took her to the stairs. "Had a good time, Bess?"
"I've had a lovely time," she assured me. "Thank you, Rodney."
I grinned at her, and took her hand off my arm, but before I gave it back I bent, and kissed it. She blushed again, but she seemed to be glowing. "See you tomorrow, then?"
"Yes, of course. Good night." She started to go up.
"G'night, love." She turned then, and smiled at me before I watched her disappear up the staircase. I've been calling her that for so long - since before anything started to change for me - that I wonder if she knows what I mean when I say it now.
Well, she will before much longer.
I went to the pub down the street, where Tom and Henry were waiting for me. I ordered a Scotch on the rocks and, when it came, I looked at my friends and held up the glass. They clinked their glasses with mine, and I downed the drink. "Life," I told them, "is sweet."
"Sounds like it went well. So, are you going to tell her?" asked Tom, slyly.
"Speaking as her unofficial brother, Tom, is that your way of saying I have your blessing?"
He laughed. "Sure, Skinner. You're just what I always wanted for a brother-in-law." He winked, and Jeks chuckled.
An hour or so later, we headed back to the hotel, passing the dance hall. They were cleaning up, getting rid of the floral decorations and sweeping out the place. "You two go on ahead," I told them. "I'll catch up in a minute."
It wasn't hard to get one of the leftover flowers - they were being tossed anyway - and I found a rose that was just the same shade as her gown. Unlike Everett, I know what she likes. Pink roses, not weeds.
I didn't want to just hand it to her; but I wanted to see her face when she got it. So back at the hotel, I took off the suit and washed away the greasepaint, then slipped down the hall to her room. I put the rose on the floor and knocked, then stood against the opposite wall, hoping no one would come along and run into me.
After a moment, she opened the door; she was still dressed, though her hair was down. She looked around, puzzled, then spotted the flower. I heard her gasp as she picked it up and smelled it. She looked around again, and even though she couldn't see me, I think she knew I was there, clever girl. She touched the flower very briefly to her lips and said, "Good night," then closed the door.
Back in my room, I opened my trunk and dug out all the money I had with me. It wasn't much, but I hoped it would be enough. Diamonds don't come cheaply.