Chapter 55
11th of July 1925 (Saturday)
The car that carried the two men was speeding through the idyllic English countryside on its way towards Stratford-upon-Avon. Serene green fields zoomed past the car windows as the vehicle was eating up the miles, one after the other on the tarmacked road. Every now and then, green was alternating with splashes of red, white and yellow, when they reached fields full of red poppies, dandelion suns and wild flowers, all swaying under the summer breeze, making a different sea, one of flowers and colours. The air smelled of lavender and grass.
English summer; Terry had forgotten how beautiful it was, especially having lived through the hot, stifling summers, all those years in New York. There was his mother's summer cottage, but to be honest, he had avoided going there, so he had visited the coastal little town of Martha's Vineyard where the rich New Yorkers escaped the temperatures of high summer, only on a handful of occasions.
They could see the river Avon at a distance, sparkling under the bright sunlight like a silver blue ribbon cutting through the fields. Ancient broadleaf trees were throwing their shadows on the road.
"Shakespeare's trees."
Terry's reverie was interrupted by Sir Flower's comment. He turned to him.
"The mulberry trees you see, us locals call them Shakespeare's trees." He elaborated further. "Legend has it, that Shakespeare planted a mulberry tree, which we will visit, and cuttings from that tree have been planted elsewhere, making them all children in a poetic way of that one tree planted by the poet himself."
Terry smiled. He turned back and gazed with more attention at the old trees they were passing by. "I had forgotten all those English legends and stories."
"Storytelling is within us."
"Indeed it is." Terry agreed.
The two men had spent most journey by Sir Flower asking Terry a multitude of questions regarding his acting career. Terry may not have known how his father had explained his leaving the family, and frankly he did not care. For himself, he had ample time to create the backstory of Terrence Graham. Though he had been born and raised up to his adolescent years in England, and his parents were comfortable financially to send him to a good school, they had decided to move to America, given the adventurous nature of his father. However, unfortunately, he had died young, not that long after they moved there. They were modern folk, and when Terry expressed an interest to theatre and acting, they didn't stop him. Instead they encouraged him.
He didn't shy away from the difficult years. He was honest about them. Yes, he had been weak at the beginning of his career, he had made wrong choices but he had managed to rise above it all. Most of all due to his love for theatre, and the love and support he had received from the people who were most important for him.
Sir Flower was very understanding. After all, an actor wasn't supposed to live a life wrapped in cotton wool. The characters in the plays weren't perfect and someone who had lived a sheltered life... how could they express convincingly all those emotions and weaknesses the characters carried? To that admission, Terry's smile in agreement carried all the knowledge of what the older man was insinuating.
The road was closing by Avon river, the car racing by the silver ribbon, the river flowed close to them now and it was as if Terry was being transported to that same land of the stories and the fairy tales, where reality becomes a legend to be carried forward into the centuries.
"Beautiful isn't it?"
The quiet figure of Terry sitting opposite Sir Flower, taking in their surroundings - he looked bewitched. The young man's reaction made him smile. "I knew you'd like this place..." He said with a low voice.
The feeling Terry got for Stratford-upon Avon, was almost as overwhelming as it was meeting Candy on board of Mauritania. They passed through the traditional Tudor-styled houses, with walls bright white crossed by the horizontal and vertical dark beams. The famous Shakespeare's mulberry tree. Oh, it was exactly like meeting Candy the first time. Breath taking beauty inside clear eyes like the sky above them, but at the same time whenever he had her in his arms it had been with such care, feeling so privileged to be by her.
Stratford-upon-Avon was beauty's essence. At the same time, the privilege to live in such a place, where you can feel Shakespeare's characters walking within them, made the hair at the back of his neck to stand upright.
"We're heading towards the Shakespeare Memorial. The director of the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre is waiting for us."
"William Bridges-Adam?" Terry asked.
Sir Flower nodded.
"The William Bridges-Adam?!" Terry asked again, with evident the excitement in his voice.
"Indeed, his truly!" Sir Flower confirmed and smiled once more.
William Bridges-Adam was a man set to put Stratford-upon-Avon firmly on the map of renowned Shakespearean theatres. He had been appointed as the director of Stratford-on-Avon Festival back in 1919 and had realised that changes should be made to do that and he had applied himself on the task with great enthusiasm. Keen to modernise the Shakespeare Festival at Stratford, he had created a reputation which had started crossing the ocean and had reached Shakespearean actors and troupes on the other side of the pond. Terry could not believe his luck. In a fleeting moment, he wished Candy was with him to share his happiness.
The air whizzed by his ears on his way to Brighton. He could see the main windmill from a distance. He could smell the sea. Closing by Rottingdean village, he felt nervous. He tightened his grip on the motorcycle handles. It was late in the afternoon by the time he was approaching his destination.
His journey had started from visiting in the morning the HM Holloway all-women prison. He knew he was searching blind. Unfortunately for him, Dr. Gardner had died inside a men's prison, years ago. Abigail Fowler has his only chance if he wanted to get closer to who his real parents were. The answer to this question was something which he had wondered in the past, but he was too angry to even entertain a thought of looking for them. How could they give him away? Not only that, but the fact that money had been exchanged between the doctor and the Blakes, had made his stomach turn whenever he contemplated this act.
The mysterious handkerchief which his mother had kept hidden up until her death could have been a clue. She had said on her letter to him, that it came with him when he arrived. But who and why had they put it within his blankets, if he had been sold? When he saw the same emblem at the mansion of Lord Grandchester, he was shaken to the core. The questions inside his mind burned him. He had to find this woman.
He wasn't to find her in the prison however. She had been released about two years prior. He had asked whether they had some information where she may had been since she left, but there was nothing they could give him. He thanked the prison wardens. On his steps out and while he thought his search had reached a quick dead-end, luck smiled at him. One of the prison guards came running behind him. She had become friends with Abigail Fowler. They had kept in touch by correspondence. Though Abigail had asked her to keep her home address secret, she was privy of the name Christian Blake. Abigail, though she never made her secret known, she had repeated many times her remorse for just one infant. Christian Blake. Abigail was living at Rottingdean village in Brighton.
Not long after was on his way. If he hurried, he would be able to attend Audrey's party that same evening. He had no mood for partying, but given Alice's warning, he knew MacDonald wouldn't lie. While he knew his life was on the line, the safest place to be on that night was at the party.
He was now driving through the village.
Hers was the last cottage on the road before leaving Rottingdean behind. He stopped his motorcycle and dismounted it. He took his gloves off. Pushed his hair back in an attempt to tame it and look more presentable. His throat was dry. The possibility of hearing something that was hidden for twenty-five years made his heart palpitate inside his chest. He also was aware that his search may not bear fruits.
He took a deep breath and knocked at the door. He could hear shuffling inside, slow steps coming nearer. The door opened. A woman, perhaps in her forties, stood there, looking at him. She had dark hair cut in a short bob, ending in curls, just above her chin. The deep wrinkles on her face made obvious a tough life, and her stand-offish gaze did not make her particularly welcoming. However, her voice was polite and carried a warm timbre, which he didn't expect.
"May I help you...?"
"I hope you do." Christian said. "I am looking for Mrs. Abigail Fowler."
The woman did not reply right away. Her eyes stayed on Christian's face.
"She is not here." She said in the end and she was about to close the door, when Christian stopped her.
"Please forgive me for my forwardness." He said. "Can you please tell me when she may be back? I am coming all the way from London and it is crucial for me to see her." He softened his gaze. He could wait if he had to.
"I doubt she'll be coming back today..." She said, looking all the more eager to close the door.
He pressed his lips. Wondered if this woman hid something. Perhaps the woman he wanted to meet was inside the house. "Are you certain?" He asked knowing very well his question was verging to being rude but he had to push as much as he could.
"Are you calling me a liar sir?" She reacted and her stare hardened.
"If it wasn't a a matter of utter importance for me, I wouldn't have asked."
She didn't respond, and for a moment, Christian thought she was weighing his admission. He could hear his heart beating in his ears. The brief indecision he saw in her eyes disappeared fast however.
"No, I am very sorry but I cannot help you any further." She said as a matter-of-fact.
He pushed his hand inside his hair, turning his eyes towards the road. He tried to calm his nerves down. The creaking of the door closing -
No, he couldn't leave empty handed. He put his hand once more at the door.
"Sir, if you don't let me close the door, I will call the police." She threatened him.
"I am not a thug ma'am. I'm in search of answers for my parents." He said, revealing his purpose of his visit.
Even if the admission from his part seemed to stop her temporarily, she didn't look like she was about to invite him in. He had to admit defeat. He hadn't the time to stay there any longer. The more he stayed in one place, the possibilities of having been followed and found increased. He put his hand in the inside pocket of his leather riding jacket. He took out a card and handed it to her.
"Can you please make sure Mrs. Fowler gets my card? If in the unlikely event she visits London. I doubt I will be able to visit again and time soon. I will be going away in a few days."
The woman glanced at the card. She then raised her head. "Christian Blake?"
"That is me, ma'am." He said and tried to smile, even if he felt deflated.
Her stare stood inside his eyes. She was like searching for something. Once again though, whatever may have gone through her mind, her expressions were changing as fast as the clouds that were passing by above them, blown by the brisk sea breeze. The same breeze that made the scarlet roses sway in the rose bushes that rose next to the door. Her blue eyes sparkled.
"Thank you Mr. Blake." She said at the end, clearing a croak in her voice. "I will make sure she gets your card." She sounded absent-minded but for Christian the visit came to an end. He said goodbye to the woman and left her. Just as he rode his motorbike, he heard the door closing behind him.
The woman stood behind the door for some minutes. There was a struggle evident in her gaze while she still was looking at Christian's card.
"Abigail!" A frail voice sounded from upstairs. She shoved the card inside her apron pocket. She patted the stray hair back, pushing them off her face.
"I'm coming mother!" She shouted and walked towards the stairs.
The day had passed without doing much. She had cleaned the house, written her letters to Mrs. Pony and Sister Maria, Patty, George. Annie, she had in her mind lately, but she avoided writing to her, given that Archie had lost his mind for another woman. That summer had proved to be full of surprises for everyone it seems. Problem was that the surprise had two sides. One half was finding what they were looking for and the other half was loosing who they loved. Under other circumstances, Candy would have been much more preoccupied with Archie's and Annie's relationship but given her own problems at that moment, she couldn't but push the thought of the failed marriage of her friend at the back of her mind.
The weather was beautiful. How had she found herself on the sun lounge, and had she been there long? She had no idea - the past day she had spent in a sort of daze since her conversation with Marion - but she did jump up when she heard loud banging from inside her house. Realising there was someone at the door, she rushed and opened it.
"There she is!" The young woman shouted.
Audrey was standing in front of her, looking picture perfect. Hair shining, done in a sharp short bob, nails manicured and painted crimson red.
"Audrey, what are you doing here?" Candy stood by the door, eyes wide open.
"I came to kidnap you darling." Audrey exclaimed.
"What?!" She was taken aback by Audrey's attitude.
"Marion had been calling you today but you never answered the phone."
"I was at the garden..."
"I see..." Her friend did not seem like she was convinced.
"And what about last night?"
"Last night?" Candy asked her.
"Your absence was very much noticed..." Audrey said, half closing her eyes, certain her friend was hiding something.
"What are you on Audrey? Really you make no sense." Candy was losing patience. She was feeling just fine on her own.
"Good God Rose! Really, you're not well! Last night, it was the closing of Christian's exhibition. Your Christian... remember him?"
The realisation flashed inside Candy's eyes. She had wanted to go, but... after her talk with Christian... she had messed up everything. She knew that there would be gossip. She had forgotten her friends however. It wouldn't have taken long to start talking, and here Audrey was, already suspicious that all was not well between her friend and her partner.
"I wasn't feeling well." She threw the easiest excuse she could think.
"But you're feeling fine to lounge in the garden..."
"Audrey, what's the point to this?" Candy sounded impatient. Frustrated even.
"The point is that you're coming with me. As I said I came to kidnap you."
"You're absolutely kidding!"
"I'm absolutely not! Lock your house, you're coming with me now. There is a party to attend. THE party in fact!"
"Oh come on Audrey! I really don't feel like it." She was in no mood attending that particular party. Seeing Terry with Marion... that was something she really had no stomach for. Not now.
"I'm not leaving your door. Driver is waiting."
Candy realised that there was no way out from this. Perhaps, she was overreacting. Perhaps it would be more preferable to man up, face him... and her friend, accept her mess and move on. Tried her damnest to be rational about Terry, Christian, everything. And it was pretty damn obvious that by locking herself in the house, none of her problems would go away. The thoughts were following her steps one after the other, as she was locking up. Smiled to a waiting Audrey, and followed her to the car.
The preparations were following a frantic pace in the Perkins mansion. An army of servants had occupied all the rooms which would be full of guest in not that long now. The band had arrived too. Jazz sounds, the musicians warming up. Audrey's mother looked more like a general than the lady of the house. Garlands of scarlet roses and calla lilies had been woven all the way up the grand staircase banisters and the Grecian white columns that reached up to the ceiling. Their fragrance was intoxicating. The bouquets of black tulips and white roses looked like works of art the way they had been arranged inside the heavy crystal vases on the tables. Red coloured lanterns were hanging from the ceiling in the great entrance hallway. Demonic gargoyle masks and winged angels hung on the walls. Long swathes of transparent white chiffon fabric hung from the ceiling in the hall leading to the ballroom, making it look like you were entering a labyrinth, that could lead you to heaven or hell. Audrey's parents had spared no expense. For a moment Candy forgot everything, and was just looking around her with her mouth hung wide open.
Audrey giggled. "You like?" She asked her friend.
"Audrey, this is truly insane!" Candy said and blinked twice before she looked at her. They quickly greeted Mrs. Perkins who was looking for her husband. She was already dressed in a magnificent black laced gown that reached the floor.
Audrey took Candy from her hand and rushed up the stairs making their way to her bedroom. They came in and she closed the door behind her. Let her back fall on the closed door for a few seconds to catch her breath and then run towards her bed, jumped on it, took a deep breath and let it out with a sound of exhilaration. Sat upright and looked at Candy who was still standing with an amused look in her eyes.
"Isn't this great?!" She asked her, just as Candy was trying to take the whole madness in.
Candy put her hands on her chest. "Seriously, I'm impressed!" She admitted.
Audrey stood up. Walked towards a cabinet and took out a bottle of champagne.
"Sit." She said to her, as she was about to pop the cork. With a loud bang and them laughing, she poured champagne to a couple of flutes. She gave one to Candy.
"To Life!" She said.
"To Life!" Candy repeated with a wide smile on her face. In a way she hadn't expected, Audrey's whirlpool of insanity, had managed to lift her spirits up. Audrey took a big gulp, while her eyes were set on her friend.
"What up with you, Rose?" She asked as she brought the flute down. She caught Candy with the flute midway down. The champagne rushed down her throat. She brought the flute to her lap.
"I'm in a mess..." Candy admitted and took a deep breath.
This was very unlike her. And if she felt she could have solved the mess herself, she wouldn't have said a thing. A peep. Even if it took her long to solve something, she always leaned on her own strength. She was a survivor. But for the first time, she didn't feel like being on her own. Audrey was a friend, but the type of friend, Candy knew she belonged to a different life of her own. Because up till now, her life in London was so extra ordinarily different from the one at Pony's Home where everything felt so simple. That gave her an emotional distance enough to just say what's in her mind.
"I have pushed Christian back..." She said, looking down, listening to her own voice.
"Because there is another man..." She continued, and lifted her head up. She met with Audrey's stare.
"Oh gosh!" She yelled. "This is more serious than I thought!"
"Do I know this other man?" She asked and prompted Candy to take another gulp from the champagne. She complied. She had too, now she had started.
"You do. It's T.G." She said absentmindedly and the moment she said his initials, she paused.
She hadn't called him T.G. since college.
It took Audrey a little while to realise, and then her face exploded.
"Oh - My - God, are you talking about Terrence Graham?!"
"I am... I'm afraid."
Audrey stood there as if she was hit by a lightning. Then she prompted Candy to drink again. Candy gulped all the remaining champagne in the glass and put her hand forward, pointing to it. Audrey poured her some more, emptied her glass too and poured more champagne to hers too.
"And HIM?" Audrey asked, holding her breath. She was very well aware about Marion's infatuation with the actor. In fact, she also knew he had kissed her. For a moment she forgot about the party.
Candy took deep breath. "Well therein lies the complicated part." She confessed.
"What is that?" Her friend asked. She was unsure if she wanted to hear the answer.
"We were in a relationship before..." She said. She emptied the flute once again, quicker than before. Audrey poured more champagne. Candy suppressed a hiccup.
"Ten years before..." She added.
"Oh that long!" Audrey noted.
Candy nodded and emptied the contents of the third glass. She shut her eyes, feeling the gentle burn of her throat, the bubbles tickling.
"And Christian? Does he know?" Audrey asked, each question scaring her more than the last.
"He does... I told him." Candy said. She was feeling warm, her confessions to Audrey heated the blood in her veins. Her cheeks were flushed. She stood up, trying to burn her nervousness, she walked towards Audrey's wardrobes. She opened the double doors, unveiling such exquisite clothes, it would have been the dream of many women, she was aware.
"What will you be wearing?" She turned and asked Audrey. She pointed her hand towards an intricate gown in red and gold, with long winged sleeves, and a clinched drop waist, and a deep V décolletage - Audrey seemed a fan of those dresses - it reminded her Geishas she had seen from a postcard she had received once from Albert, during his work travels.
"Oh that is a work of art." She exclaimed and stayed for a bit, marvelling at the dress. She walked back to the bed, under the stare of her friend, and sat down.
Audrey realised she was veering off their conversation. "So, how did he take it?"
"I've asked him to give me a few days to think things through."
She let herself fall back on Audrey's bed. Eyes set on the ceiling. "I don't know what to do..." She whispered.
"Oh dear..."
"Indeed." Candy agreed.
"You've landed yourself in a pickle, darling."
"A big pickle." Candy added. "Marion... she is crazy with Terry. They kissed."
"I know..." Audrey said. She checked the bottle of champagne. One glass left. She poured it for her friend.
Candy felt lightheaded but strangely better, having started this conversation. She wasn't anywhere nearer to a solution, that had to be said. She had been able at least to share the burden in her heart and mind finally with someone else.
"Obviously, you have feelings for T.G." Audrey said, borrowing at the same time her friend's way of referring to Terry.
"Hah!" Candy laughed, she took a big gulp from her drink. "You think?"
"Just confirming."
The two friends stared at each other and then they burst into laughing. It was evident to Audrey, the dilemma Rose was into. For a few minutes, there was silence. Both of them involved with the own thoughts. The sight of the ceiling blurred inside Candy's eyes.
"Hey, hey... " Audrey said when she turned and realised she was on the verge of tears. "It's not worth it torturing yourself like that, you know."
"You don't know Audrey..." Candy sat upright once again. The bubbles of the champagne had gone up on her head. "I never stopped loving Terry."
She stood up again. Walked towards the window. "I thought I had." She looked outside at the courtyard. Some of the hired staff were pushing fire torches into the ground, marking the path the guests would take later on this evening. Candles were placed all across the marble banisters in the garden. "That is why I had moved here... fresh start and all that jazz."
"I see..." Audrey stood up. She checked the time on the clock by her bedside. Time was running out. If they didn't start preparing, her mother would knock her door soon enough. She got up and walked towards her.
"You know what...I say sod it, Rose."
Candy turned and looked at her friend. "Sod it?"
"Go for it!" Audrey elaborated further. "Him I mean!"
"T.G. you mean?!"
"Who else?" Audrey shrugged.
Candy could not comprehend Audrey's advice. She shook her head. Walked away from the window, leaving her friend behind. "How can I? And Marion? I couldn't do that to her."
"Pff! Marion will find someone else. You know her..."
Even if Rose had reservations, Audrey knew Marion very well. Today she was infatuated with Terry and tomorrow there would be someone else. Rose was different from the rest of her friends. She had showed up in London, with no friends and an appetite to live. They had met for the first time at the charity work for the Salvation Army. Audrey liked her from the moment they were introduced to each other. She had such an open heart and a clear gaze. Her smile was captivating because it was genuine. Inside this endless circle of parties and skin-deep relationships, where air kissing was the most intimate gesture between friends, romances that were nothing more than temporary enthusiasm, boredom or lust, Rose felt different. For her everything was new, and everything she said or did was true. Her feelings were sincere. Even if she was rich, wealth hadn't jaded her. She didn't even live as the tycoon heiress she was. She was without financial worries but she didn't flaunt her money, compared to a lot of others she knew of her own age who spent the family money as if there was no tomorrow.
She had kept quiet about her past at the same time. Whenever Audrey had asked her of her life in the States, Rose had kept things vague. She knew she was adopted, she knew her background. But whenever, they discussed about old flames, men in their lives, her friend kept inconspicuously quiet. Audrey had been wondering. Rose surely was never unnoticed wherever they went. To use a cliché phrase, she was like sunshine in her circle, with her warmth and her bright smiling eyes. So, as she revealed her turmoil, it was a step she took that must had taken her a lot from her to do so. Audrey had no reason to doubt her.
"Don't they say all's fair in love and war?" Audrey said to her, sensing her hesitation.
Candy was silent. Still, even if Audrey was right, how could she approach Terry? Just by thinking of him, her stomach was twisting in knots and her heart... its manic pace inside her chest scared her.
"Even if Marion eventually was fine, I still have feelings for Christian, Audrey. He would be devastated."
That was true. "Consider then this... your love for Terry has endured ten years of separation. Are you certain by staying with Christian, you'll manage to stop loving Terry? And what if he shows up again in another five years in your life? In ten years? How long will it take you to render Terry unable to get a reaction out of you? When will he be indifferent for you, as a man I mean... Staying with one man and having feelings for another, isn't particularly honest for the one that stays by your side."
Those were valid questions. Very good questions indeed. If she had to be honest with herself, Terry would never be indifferent to her. She pressed her hands over her face, rubbed her cheeks and cupped them with her palms. She didn't answer the questions. The expression on her face alone answered them.
"Well then, that settles it!" Audrey said. "Miss Rose White is coming to the ball to meet her Prince Charming!" She shrugged her shoulders with excitement.
"Audrey, stop it!" Candy yelled, laughing at the same time. "I'm not going to the ball as you put it. I don't have a dress and I'm frankly a mess."
But it was too late for Audrey. Especially after having heard the heartfelt confession from Rose. She had already taken the role of the fairy godmother and she felt it suited her like a glove. Not only she was about to throw the party of the season, she was to play Cupid with her friend too. Rose with all her lame excuses wasn't cutting it. And certainly she wasn't going to talk her out of her mind.
"Oh! Poppycock, Rose!", She reprimanded her. "What a fairy godmother would I be, if I wasn't to make sure, you'll look drop dear gorgeous tonight."
Candy felt her cheeks on fire. Having a champagne glow.
"Not that I have a lot to do." She pushed Rose towards her boudoir. "You look smashing when you are in love." She giggled.
Candy brought her hands to her cheeks. "Stop it!" She demanded her friend. This whole folly made her dizzy. She looked at herself in the mirror. She thought she looked tired. Instead, she looked radiant. She never thought of herself as a drop dead gorgeous beauty, but there was a shine in the green eyes, she hadn't realised it was there. Cheeks flushed, having a beautiful tan, plus her extra freckles, some of them even on her eyelids. She laughed. She laughed so much, tears were streaming down her cheeks. This was mad.
Audrey didn't waste time, even if her friend looked she was going insane. She took her hands and a pearl white nail varnish, shooshed her to make her stand still and painted with fast moves her fingernails.
The two girls had a super fun time, getting ready, while having opened the second bottle of champagne, they were clinking their flutes with increased frequency. Once her hair and makeup were done, she looked at herself and felt mesmerised. Perhaps it was their talk and having been able to say what burdened her without hiding anything, and not being criticised and perhaps it was the delicious champagne they were having, accompanying a bowl of fat strawberries. Her hair was styled in a wavy bob, the sun had lightened its colour. Her smoky eyes were looking so intense. But the one thing she had stopped and stared was her scarlet red lips. She blushed.
"What's the matter Rose?" She asked her, trying to suppress her laughter, "You fancy yourself?" The second part of her question drowned in fits of laughing. Once she stopped, she looked back at Rose. "Darling, you're beautiful, no matter what I do." She didn't expect a response from her.
She stood up and walked towards the wardrobe. "You and I, have the same body shape and size. Doesn't that tell you something?" She asked Rose, pausing to think the of the coincidence. "Perhaps it is serendipity that things happen that way." She concluded, talking to herself. Rose felt goosebumps rising up her arms.
Audrey took out an exquisite gown in cream white silk with clinched waist that tied at the front with a jewelled circle. It was her second choice for the party but only because she preferred a more extravagant appearance for her, since she was the hostess of he party. The skirt fell to the floor and felt like a cloud. It swished and shushed with her every move. The décolletage... Rose had objections. "It's too daring." She said.
"Nonsense! It's perfect!" She cheered. The décolletage was a very deep V which ended on the same jewelled circle that held her waist together. "My breasts are showing." Rose protested.
"We could put lace inside, if you think you can't protect your modesty, but I say, you look spellbinding. So you stay as is." Audrey was a fairy godmother boss! She put diamanté hair clippings to hold her waves in place. Gave her a pair of diamond string earrings.
"Take a turn..." Audrey ordered her.
"Hmmm... you pass." She said, acting disinterested.
"Audrey, don't play with my nerves! Do I look ridiculous?" Rose raised her worried voice.
"I can't believe my ears. Confidence my dear! You look a million bucks."
Audrey looked exquisite also. She was known for her eccentric appearances.
"I think we're ready to go down." Audrey said. She opened a tin pill box and scooped some white powder with a tiny metal spatula and sniffed it. The fairy godmother was also snorting cocaine. Rose was looking at her. It wasn't a secret that Audrey sniffed cocaine every now and then. She offered her the spatula. "Take it, it'll calm your nerves."
Candy didn't move. "Look, I know you were a nurse and you've given me a lecture before about my using, but I swear - scouts honour - I don't even sniff much. But for you, just once, it'll tie the spell. Trust me."
The thought of her, being able and free to tell Terry how she felt, made it so tempting. So, so tempting. One last time, she'd behave in the way she set out to behave. No rules.
Finding happiness.
Throwing caution in the wind, she came closer. "What the heck!" She said and took a scoop and sniffed it. It numbed her nostrils and made her eye water. She felt a pleasant warmth spreading under her skin.
"Oh, I love you Audrey!" She exclaimed. "I can't thank you enough." She added and hugged her friend tight. She took Audrey by surprise. She chuckled.
"It was my absolutely pleasure to let me help you." She said, eyes shining. "Shall we go to the ball now?"
"Ready whenever you are." Rose replied.
Audrey passed over Rose's shoulders an amazing capelet made of white ostrich feathers and tied it loosely at the front. "Your wings..." She explained. "You really look like an angel." She commented. "A mischievous one..." She said as she opened the door of her bedroom and winked to Rose who chuckled in response.
He put the jacket of his tuxedo on and took the invitation for the party from the table. A lot have happened since he left for France. And to think, he had been away for a little over a week. He found it difficult to leave Isabel behind. Especially when they were learning about each other, enjoying each other's company without any interruptions or having to hide their relationship. It felt exhilarating kissing whenever they liked, without fear of being seeing from people he knew; sharing the same bed every night. Not that they did much sleeping. He stopped at that thought. He should be back to her as soon as possible. Monday at the latest, he should be travelling back to France. He had lied to her. Made excuses about problems at work. But really it was his cousin's relationship he was anxious for. He knew she wouldn't approve if he revealed to her, the real reason he had to take a short trip to London. She had called him "busybody" when he touched on the subject of Candy's boyfriend one day. She also wondered out loud if he had been in love with his cousin at some point in his life. Archie told Isabel everything after that. He wanted at least with her to be absolutely open about his past.
So he had jumped on the first boat crossing the Channel and had arrived in early evening in London. Before letting Candy know he was back, he had to touch base with Terry. He had no idea what had happened after he had phoned him, revealing all he knew about Christian from hiring that private detective. Terry had said he would make sure to tell Candy what he told him.
He was certain that Candy wouldn't be happy he meddled with her life. He did risk a permanent rift between them, but he had to act. He just had too. He was convinced that Christian was not the right man for Candy and his suspicions were more than confirmed. When he found out Christian's shenanigans he wasn't surprised but at the same time, he became more worried than before. He could have waited till he came back from France but it was impossible to put the knowledge out of his mind.
He had waited for him at the hotel, pacing up and down, till he had showed up. He preferred Terry hadn't known he was coming back. He preferred a surprised Terry than an angry one. The moment he knocked on Terry's room, he prayed everything had gone as planned. Little did he know...
At least he had achieved surprising him. But when he came in Terry's room and turned to look at him, he realised his prayers had not been answered. For starters, he didn't seem amused by his teasing. The seriousness in his eyes hadn't dissipated.
"Please tell me things aren't as serious as you look." Archie had said straight away.
Terry, being the sadist he knew he was, didn't give anything away. Instead he asked him if he wanted a drink. Archie had asked for whatever he was having.
"Looking good Cornwell..." Terry had commented while he was pouring him a whiskey.
Once they sat down, Terry lit a cigarette.
"Christian knows everything." He said. "And I'm afraid, Candy and I are over."
Archie had jumped up. "What the hell has happened?" He asked Terry.
While Terry had started going through the events that took place, Archie was pacing in the living room of Terry's suite, not saying anything. Terry didn't forget mentioning even his blabbing to Marion about them being classmates, and how Christian had deducted that he and Rose were in a relationship in the past. "He thinks I hurt her immensely." He had said. "I don't know what Candy had told him..."
"Obviously not the whole story..." Archie commented after he apologised multiple times to Terry about having let out that crucial piece of information.
"And after I found him in my father's mansion, having tea with him, it's fair to say he now knows that my real surname is Grandchester and Rose... isn't Rose, but Candy."
"Oh Jesus Christ, Terry!" He had said, not believing everything that transpired once he had left London.
"I confronted him about everything, the Mafia connections, I told him we had him followed."
"For Chrissakes man! You know you made my detective useless now."
"He didn't deny anything Archie. I don't think you need your detective any longer." Terry defended his actions. "I threatened him... I told him to give himself up to the police, or else..."
"Or else what?" Archie had asked. His ears were burning.
"Or else, I'll give him up himself."
Archie had sensed his struggle. "You're not sure about this, are you?"
Terry had said nothing. "If you don't do it, by Jove, I will!"
"She'll hate me completely Archie... if she hasn't already. Your plan to reveal everything to her, backfired spectacularly."
"I know, I know." Archie had said and sat down. He was flabbergasted. But once he heard about Terry having come close to Marion... the kiss..."
"What the fuck Terry?" He shouted. "Are you insane?" His reaction had been so immediate and without thought, he didn't see the flash of anger in Terry's eyes.
Archie approached Candy's house. He had been dispirited after his catching up with Terry the night before. Saturday, he actually killed time by visiting the Ardley offices. Took care a few work things. It was imperative to talk to Candy but he had decided not to visit her during the day. He didn't want a big fight and he wanted her to go to that damn ball. Certain, she would suffer seeing Terry with Marion smooching together, perhaps it could be that strong an image, to kick her inside and finally accept she was in love with Terry more than that lame Christian.
He parked the car. Knocked at her door but there was no answer.
Perhaps she's already left with Christian...
It didn't matter. He just wanted to check whether she had already left and she had. He smiled. At least, when she would see him at the party, she wouldn't be able to express her anger as openly.
Terry stood up. "Are you done with the debriefing Archie?" He had asked him. The tone in his voice having taken a 180 degrees turn.
"I'm sorry Terry." Archie had replied. "I shouldn't have reacted like that."
"What would you do when the woman you love kicks you in the gut every single time?"
Archie really had no answer. And to that, he couldn't blame Terry. Of course, he could have been more open to Candy but then again, it was Terrence Grandchester we were talking about. Terry didn't do "open". Especially when another man had taken his place.
"Not only that, but I have to keep a secret the fact that Christian would dance around my dead body if he could."
Terry had been right. It was that fool of a cousin who had been so stubborn, Archie thought. He knew she loved Terry. Unlike Terry who hadn't heard a word from her in ten years, he was with her. She was his family. Even if he missed the nuances in the female behaviour, Annie was keeping him abreast of all her worries about Candy and her turmoil.
The Perkins mansion came to view. As he came close, he thought he was approaching a circus. The press was there also. Cameras were flashing, photographing every guest who was coming in. All women dressed in extravagant costumes. Some men also, though most of them wore tuxedos. He left the car to a valet some distance away from the mansion and started walking within its grounds. Lit fire torches marked the path leading to the main entrance. Candles were lit across the stone banisters of the gardens. He was impressed. He wished Isabel was with him. But then again, perhaps it was better she wasn't there.