CHAPTER 35: ONE SWAN AND ONE ADROIT LITTLE DUCK

The Beaton Residence

At the conclusion of the waltz, Lucas and Garland reclaimed their corner of the sofa. Thomas watched them and tried to remember if he had ever said so much as a hello to Lucas. He approached the sofa and shook Lucas' hand. "Bonjour, Lucas."

"Bonjour, mon adorable garçon," replied Lucas with a broad grin that displayed his enormous teeth.

Thomas shook Garland's hand. "It's good to see you, Garland. I confess that bonjour is the extent of my Manchester French. Would you please tell Lucas how happy I am to see him and how much I enjoyed watching the two of you dance."

Garland translated, and Lucas smiled and drained two glasses of champagne in friendship. Garland patted the cushion next to him. "I read about your Savoy triumph in the paper. I felt very much the proud papa."

Thomas accepted the dance master's invitation to sit. "I appreciate the vote of confidence, but we both know it was more your triumph than mine." Garland shrugged. "I'm curious, Garland. How is it that you're fluent in French?"

"I was born in Soho, but my parents are French, so French was my first language."

"I hope I'm not too forward, but how did you and Lucas meet?"

"You're never too forward when you ask a performer to talk about himself, dear boy. Lucas and I met professionally. I advertised for an accompanist, and he auditioned. I had no expectations. One doesn't look at Lucas and think, There's an artist." Garland turned and gave Lucas an affectionate squeeze. "He surprised me. He played exquisitely and responded to my every request for a change in tempo or style and always without sheet music. He knew his business. But when I tried to interview him, he refused to speak. He handed me his card and left. If he hadn't been superior to every other candidate, I wouldn't have given him a second thought."

"What happened?"

"I needed an accompanist. I needed Lucas. So I went to the address on the card and found his sister there. She told me about him. He had been born and raised in Lille. When war was declared, he enlisted."

"Was he suffering from shell shock? Is that why he wouldn't speak?"

Garland shook his head. "No. I had thought so too, but he had survived the trenches well enough. Perhaps you know that Lille was occupied by the Germans during the war." Thomas nodded. "While Lucas was at the front, the munitions depot in Lille exploded. Lucas' home was flattened, and his father, mother, and two younger brothers were killed. Only his sister survived. She was married and lived on the other side of some factories that shielded the rest of the town from the blast. When news of the family's fate reached Lucas, he was devastated."

"I should think so." Thomas turned to Lucas, who smiled and nodded, and Thomas smiled and nodded in return.

"After the war, the sister and her husband moved to London, and Lucas came with them. What can I say? I hired him on the spot. He wouldn't speak for the first year I knew him. Then one day I told him that I loved him, and he spoke."

"What did he say?"

"He said, I'm hungry."

"You're joking!"

"I swear I'm not. But after three helpings of cassoulet, he told me that he loved me too." Garland took Lucas' gorilla hand in his. "We've been a couple for six years now."

Thomas was silent as he absorbed Garland's story.

"I can see there's something on your mind, Thomas. What can I do for you?"

"Garland, may I ask you a personal question?"

Garland smiled. "My darling boy, when I've patted a man's bottom, he's entitled to ask me whatever he likes."

"Garland, are you and Lucas ..."

"What? Go ahead, Thomas, ask."

"Are you faithful to each other?"

Garland laughed. "Before I met Lucas, I was an animal. I wanted anything that wasn't wearing a skirt, and I was happy in my pursuits. Why not? But after I met Lucas, my old ways held no pleasure for me. I know I'm a terrible flirt. It's habit, I suppose. The truth is, I never wander. Why would I? Lucas is all I need."

Thomas sighed. "I envy you, Garland."

Garland patted Thomas' cheek. "You're a sweet boy, Thomas. Perhaps the right man will come along for you, and perhaps he won't. Either way, you must live your life, and either way, you're entitled to some fun. Why are you sitting with two old dogs like us when you should be dancing?"

Thomas looked at the other couples. "What if someone wants to lead? I won't know how to follow."

"There's nothing to it, Thomas. You begin everything with your right leg, that's all. What are they playing? A foxtrot? Come, I'll show you."

Garland may have been small, but when he took the lead, Thomas knew who was in charge. At first, Thomas couldn't remember to begin on his right. He was afraid he would trip and squash Garland like a bug. But Garland was patient, and soon the two were gliding together like two swans. Well, one swan and one adroit little duck.