CHAPTER 32

"Well, well, well! Ya'll are causin' quite the stir!" Allie cooed.

Karlie immediately began to breathe easier. She could see now, looking at the scrutinizing gazes of the New Orleans elite, that Allie had been quite right to shelter her from all of this.

Erik could see, by the look Allie was giving them, that she knew their game and was not afraid to play. He admired her tenancy and confidence with which she lived her life.

"You look very nice this evening Miss Waterford." Erik said giving his love's friend a much deserved compliment.

Allie grinned, "Oh call me Allie, Suga! 'Sides you best be complimenting your lady friend!"

Erik gave Karlie a mischievous grin, "Oh, I let her know how wonderful she looks tonight in the carriage."

Karlie smiled at him in return, but Allie told Erik with a serious tone to her laughing voice, "Well that's just fine and dandy, but if you want these barracudas to know Karlie is more than arm candy you best be real attentive!"

Erik looked at Allie realizing that she was their guide into the bowels of polite society and if they didn't listen to her advice and following her guiding hand, they would be torn apart.

Suddenly, Allie gasped and ducked behind Erik saying, "Quick! Erik, flex somethin' and hide me!"

Erik's lips quirked in a playfully annoying expression as Karlie asked, "Allie, what on earth is the matter with you?"

"Bane of my existence! Dead ahead!" Allie whispered.

Erik and Karlie looked ahead and saw, coming towards them in the foyer, a tall, handsome young man dressed in gold with a flowing gold cape trailing behind him that only made his lustrous blond curls glisten even more.

"This must be the illustrious Beauregard Jackson." Erik teased, watching as the young man strode toward them, looking expectantly for the silver star he had seen fall toward this couple.

"Hide me!" Allie whispered, lifting Erik's arm to hide behind his bulging biceps and red cape.

Erik gently removed his arm from her clinging hands, "Allie, I can barely cover myself in this outfit, let alone cover you." He chided, with a bantering smile.

Beauregard must have caught sight of the shining radiance of her dress, because he headed straight for them, with a huge smile on his handsome face.

"Alexandria…I know you're there…you cin't hide your radiance from me." Beauregard said, in a thick southern drawl.

"Dimwit…why does he always hav'ta fin' me?" Allie murmured, still hiding behind Erik, even though her presence had been discovered.

Erik reached his hand out to introduce himself and heard Allie whisper behind him, "Don' ya dare…don't talk ta him! Don't ya know that if'n ya give a stray dog food, he's yurs fir life?"

Erik bowed his head and chuckled, she was hopelessly infatuated with this man, but afraid to let her guard down. Erik began to wonder if he was that bad?

Karlie waltzed behind Erik and stood beside Allie's shrinking figure, "He's easy on the eyes Allie…what's the matter with you?" Karlie chided, not knowing why this man was any different from the stockpile of others that Allie fended off each day.

Allie pursed her lips and gave Karlie a stern look, "I…he's…" her features softened, "…he makes me all funny feelin' inside Karlie…no man's ever done that ta me…" Allie admitted, looking so forlorn, "I have always been in control."

Karlie smiled at her best friend, "That's love, ya nitwit…ya love this man; ya didn't love any of the others." Karlie smiled, letting her own southern accent come through, something she had worked hard at losing in order to be in theater, "Now, go show him that there is no other woman in this room…but you."

Allie pulled Karlie in for a hug and eased out from behind Erik, giving him a "thank you" nod as she sauntered up to Beauregard.

Allie put on her sweetest smile and drawled, "Why Beauregard Jackson…you sho' know how ta sweep a girl off her feet!"

The blond man just grinned, as he looked her up and down with approval, "Allie, you are the purdiest l'il filly in all of L'siana!" He took her hand and bowed as elegantly as any aristocrat would bow. "May I have this dance?"

Allie lifted her hand and Beauregard took it, guiding her onto the dance floor. Erik and Karlie looked at each other and collectively released the breaths they had no idea they had been holding.

Erik pushed his cape back around to the back and bowed deeply and gracefully, "May I have the honor of this dance, my lady?" He said, with his proper French accent.

Karlie curtsied and accepted his hand; they walked out to the dance floor without taking their eyes off each other; neither one noticing the envious stares that were being sent their way.

Erik's outfit had every woman in the room in swooning mode and they were completely jealous of Karlie being on his arm. He was unaware of the stir he was causing, not even thinking that he would be considered attractive to the multitudes.

The night seemed magical in his arms, he was graceful and elegant, just as any trained dancer would be. Audrey had informed her that Erik was accomplished in the study of dance, even thought he had actually never participated in it.

"Erik, I never would have guessed that you could dance as well as you do." Karlie confessed, looking into his vibrant eyes.

She could barely see them through the helmet he wore, but she knew they were on her, intently.

Karlie noticed that Allie and Beauregard seemed to be having a wonderful time together. Allie had always been protective of Karlie and she had gone into the line of work she was in with a passion, never leaving herself any time for love and relationships.

Karlie knew she needed this man in her life; and so far, he was the only one who had been willing to consider Allie's tough exterior, inner turmoil, and hesitant heart enough to find the vulnerable and passionate woman within.

There were reporters everywhere, waiting to catch a glimpse of the upper class celebrities having a night on the town. They wanted to make a name for themselves in the new year, but Erik completely disregarded them and did not allow them questions or even acknowledge them with looks, this was Karlie's night.

Erik could not remember when it was that he stopped being apprehensive about the people that were watching them, he only knew that the woman in his arms was his life, he could not imagine life without her, and he was awed by the realization that she made him forget what life was like before her.

Just minutes before the clock struck midnight and the crowd went crazy, he dipped her over his arm and leaned over her. Her glorious hair hung down behind her and she looked like a Greek goddess. Erik's right arm was supporting her at her waist, and his left hand found its way to the curve of her neck.

"You have made every moment that I have spent with you, sweet chords in this song of life we have begun to write…and I cannot write it alone." Erik began, his heart beating furiously in his chest. He gracefully moved to a standing position, bringing her pliant and lithe body with him. She stood before him; petite, dainty, delicate…and yet, the very bulwark of his strength.

Erik moved his right hand from around her waist and brought it to rest in front of her, a sparkling object in his fingers, he allowed her to focus on the object until her eyes widened and tears filled them. Her hand flew to her mouth to extinguish the cry of joy that came from deep within her.

"Marry me, Karlie." Erik could not bring himself to look her in the eye just yet. "Marry me…and I will spend the rest of my life by your side, as a partner in everything…I love you…and more than that…I'm in love with you." He finally settled his eyes on hers as she brought her hand up for him to place the ring on her finger while vigorously shaking her head in the affirmative.

He slipped it on, knowing he would never forget this moment…the moment he realized that he would never be alone again.

Karlie finally snapped out of her stupor as the clock began to chime in the New Year, She wrapped her arms around his neck and brought his lips to hers, kissing him passionately as 1872 became part of the history books and 1873 held so many promises.