Chapter 30 Montreal: The Ballet

Lucas and Martin had just taken Jack to a nearby park to get some exercise when the modiste arrived. Laura and Elizabeth were escorted by Helen to one of the guest rooms. She opened an armoire that contained several gowns.

"What are all of those?" asked Elizabeth.

"Well, there is a gown for each of you for the reception. And then one for each of you for a trip to the ballet at my invitation. And then of course Lucas wanted you to have one for your date …..dinner and the opera on your last evening here."

"Hmph…" was all Elizabeth had to say.

The modiste's name was Françoise and she was alternatively friendly and very businesslike. She bossed them in and out of gowns until she had captured any alterations that would be made. Elizabeth's were all but perfect fits and would require almost no alteration. Francoise had finally convinced her that the dinner date gown needed to be a little more daring. "You are still a new bride and should show off your assets for your husband. One must keep their attention, n'est-ce pas?" said Francoise with a stern voice but a little wink to accompany it. Elizabeth blushed but agreed with the modiste that it was more attractive with her suggested change. She knew that Lucas loved her no matter what she wore but she imagined him standing a bit taller with her on his arm in this dress. She smiled at the thought of his face when he would see her perhaps descending the beautiful staircase to the entryway.

Laura's gowns required more alteration as she had lost weight since her mother had sent her measurements. But the modiste promised that her gown would be ready for the ballet that evening and for the reception in two days.

The men, with Jack in tow, went to visit one of their family friends for the afternoon. Martin had thought it would be fun for Jack to have some children his age to play with. They had still not returned when the women set out for dinner before the ballet, but Lucas had called to let them know they would be dining with their friends.

They dined at one of Montreal's fanciest bistros; it was Helen's favorite, and they had a marvelous time tasting all her choices. Laura could not believe this night. She was dining on Duck au L'orange and then a chocolate mousse that was as light as a cloud.

Soon she found herself in a box, at the Royal Montreal ballet, at a performance of Swan Lake. She was enchanted by the beautiful scenes and the lovely dancers. They seemed to float in their tulle skirts across a surface that was made to look like a lake. She felt that she had been transported into a magical world of sight and sound. Both Helen and Elizabeth had been to a performance of Swan Lake before, but agreed that this was indeed a superior production. To top off their evening, Lucas had ordered a horse and carriage to take them home. The gaslit lanterns cast a warm glow on the city but didn't obscure the moon and starlight above them.

He greeted them at the door when he heard the horse and carriage approaching the house. They were all glowing from their enchanted evening.

He could barely tear his eyes off his wife who was a vision in dusty-blue satin and lace. He approached her and raised her hand to kiss. "You are a vision, my love." She whispered something in his ear and his mouth dropped open as he blushed. He quickly regrouped and motioned for them to enter as he closed the door behind them.

"Did you enjoy your evening?" he asked them politely but was trying to figure out how to get his wife upstairs quickly.

"Yes, as a matter of fact, we did," said Helen. "It was one of the best productions of Swan Lake I have been to and these two were lovely company."

The normally quiet Laura said excitedly "It was my very first time at the ballet and it was magical. I will never forget it."

"That is wonderful to hear Laura you have so deserved some special experiences. And you, my love?" he asked Elizabeth.

"It was so beautiful. The music was as lovely as the dancing. But to tell you the truth, all the excitement has exhausted me."

"Well of course it has with all the traveling….," said Helen. She winked at Lucas. "Son, I really think you should escort Elizabeth to your room. She needs to be well rested the reception day after tomorrow."

Lucas looked at her with a grateful smile. "Yes, mother I will take her straight up so she can get her rest."

She looked up at him with a knowing smile and a blush bloomed on his face. "Oh my, nothing like having your mother's help in matters of passion," he thought to himself.

Elizabeth blushed as well as she figured out the nuance of the exchange between mother and son. She took Lucas' arm when he offered it, and they headed up the staircase to their room.

As soon as they were out of sight Lucas hurried them along to the room where he immediately locked it behind them. He looked at her with the gleam in his eye that she had seen in the baggage room on the train. He was a man on a mission, and she was in his sights. He moved toward her slowly and took her hand and spun her as if in a dance. He drew her back to him and made quick work of unbuttoning her gown and sending it to the floor. "It is a truly lovely gown but you my love are much lovelier." She stepped out of her dress, and he then began slowly removing her stockings and shoes, taking his time to prolong the experience; she savored his touch as he did. She then helped him out of his suit and shirt and stepped into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his waist and raised her gaze to meet his. He took her face in his hands with a look that spoke love, "you are so beautiful ma chérie", he whispered as he brough his lips to hers. He soon brought one arm around her back and angled her head to deepen the kiss. He was tender and yet insistent and when they could no longer breathe, he released her lips but continued his assault by kissing her neck and gently biting her earlobe while whispering to her his fantasies. She was soon trembling, and he scooped her up into his arms. "Shall we?" he asked as he had on their wedding night. He had been a novice then and had been sweet and adoring. But tonight, he looked dangerous… he was going to keep his promise and she couldn't wait.

She nodded her answer, and he placed her on the bed joining her as he pressed her against him and found her mouth with his. He deepened the kiss immediately and she responded to his urgency with her own. The urge to take her now was almost overwhelming but he wanted to ensure her pleasure first as he knew she was so close. She put up no resistance to whatever he wanted to touch or savor…. she let him carry out desires he had whispered to her, and she followed him wherever he brought her. Finally, she whispered to him, "this time with you" and now he could no longer wait. He coaxed her close to the edge and then he brought them to completion with an urgency that Elizabeth had not quite seen in him before. She felt enveloped in his warmth afterward, as he tenderly stroked her and whispered his love for her until they were both consumed by sleep.

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