Chapter Six
Heath did not show up for supper. Ed kept the reservation with Audra and Isabella. Scotty looked quietly around in the Moses Basket. She even spent some time in Ed's lap.
Dinner stayed with small talk. Audra had explained to Isabella when they got back to the room about the broken romance between Maria and Heath.
"Mestizo grosero" rang in her ears still.
Don Alfredo could have been describing her as well as Heath.
Al Montero came into the restaurant, "May I?"
Ed looked at Audra and she said, "Yes of course."
Al was very mannerly and continued with the talk of the horse sale. He mentioned the breeding stock that Maria and Roberto were looking for.
Audra, well-versed in horses, asked some more questions.
"The prices seem fair from what I have heard. I may buy a pair myself."
Isabella stayed very quiet.
"Senorita Beaufort, you are very quiet tonight. I hope I have not offended you in any way."
"Oh no. I am just tired and it has been a long day."
"I understand. I hope to see you tomorrow." and he kissed her hand. She lowered her eyes, uncomfortable with the attention.
Ed walked the ladies to their rooms. "I will be here by 8:00 so we can get an early start. Now to find your no-account brother."
Audra put her hand on his, "Ed, don't be too hard on him for disappearing; today was hard for him"
"I gathered that, Audra."
Isabella added, "If you see Heath, please let him know, I asked about him." and she lowered her eyes embarrassed that she blurted out her thoughts.
He raised an eyebrow, "Hmmmm, I should be jealous but I am in a generous mood, I will pass on the message. Lothario to Cupid — what a transformation I am making."
Audra grinned and the ladies turned in for the evening.
Heath was in a local saloon. It was crowded with horse traders and he gave a fierce look to anyone that tried to join his table.
"Get me two more beers while you are up." and he laid some money on the table.
He stared into his mug unblinking, "Maybe a burr—you go on Nick."
"Cut loose for the Fourth. It will be real fun."
"Your Father felt deeply about everything—-even when he was wrong."
"To keep a line pure is a sacred trust"
"And loneliness and crying yourself to sleep—"
"A name that is only half yours—-on the kindness of Senora Barkley"
"Ruled half of the world in the name of Spain"
"Pass on her heritage as pure as it was when she received it herself"
"You will forget because I love you"
He finished off his beer and went back to the hotel full of pain and regret brought to the surface.
—&—
Liesel's first dance of the evening was with the governor; the second with the French attaché. Both men were older and charmed her. They both wanted information about what Jarrod was going to do with the Beaufort shipping in San Francisco.
She laughed and played it off by telling the truth, "It's news to me but I have found Jarrod to be very honorable. He will do the right thing for our family."
Her third and fourth dances were with Jarrod. He explained what he had heard about her father's company.
"I trust you, Jarrod. I am nervous about his intentions but I believe you will do the right thing for the children and me."
And she stopped in her tracks as Ghislaine and her Swiss escort literally bumped into them on the dance floor. Jarrod glared and held onto Liesel's hand so she would not bolt.
"Oh forgive me Jarrod and —-what is it? Oh yes, Elizabeth— I would like to congratulate you on your wedding—-so sudden. You were just at my opening heading to England to see your sister and next thing I read, you are married. Congratulations!"
Liesel couldn't get a word out and looked mortified.
"Thank you, Miss de Klim" and he waltzed his shaking wife out onto the terrace.
"Liesel, I am sorry, honey. I had no idea she would be here. I promise."
"I know you didn't. I just need to get my thoughts together." and she pulled away from him.
"No Liesel, not this time. Last time I almost lost you to a panther. I am not going to let you walk away this time or ever." He said firmly.
They stood staring at each other unblinking. He took her into his arms and kissed her firmly. She was stiff at first and he continued to kiss her until he felt her finally relax and respond.
"That's better. Now let's talk" and he walked her over to a bench.
"Do you trust me?"
"Oui"
"I am not attracted to Ghislaine and I regret the base relationship we had for a few months. I ended it before I left for Europe with Mother. I am sorry, so sorry about the letter. And the newspaper column."
She nodded and put her palm on his cheek. "You have nothing to apologize for, my dearest. It is me wholly me. I must work through some hurts from my past. I know with all my heart you are a wonderful and trustworthy man. "
"Liesel, I married you. I knew I could come to love you and I have completely. You have nothing to worry about ever with us."
She smiled at him, "You are the kindest man ever, Jarrod Barkley."
"Liesel, I want you to come to love me as a man and as your husband. Am I hoping too much?"
She looked ashamed, "How can I tell you what I know about Ghislaine. Even the gold Worth dress she is wearing tonight. It confirmed my suspicions as soon as I saw her."
She thought back more than three years ago: A delivery of a Worth dress came from the salon to her home in Paris. It was addressed to Charles. "Clearly it wasn't for me," she said to her housekeeper as she struggled with the late stages of pregnancy with Jack. Swollen ankles and heavy breasts. She made the driver return the package to the shop. The ticket said gold soie, silk. The card said, Love Charles.
Jarrod's voice brought her out of her memory, "Liesel, Liesel are you feeling well?"
"Yes. I am just a bit emotional."
"Liesel, are you keeping something from me?"
She didn't answer.
"You can tell me anything, you know that."
She nodded but didn't answer.
He held her tight and frustration was setting in, "Will she ever love me? She can't even give me hope in the matter."
Several other revelers came outside loudly talking and drinking. Jarrod pulled Liesel into the shadows.
He whispered, "We will talk about this later."
They composed themselves and went back into the soirée. Jarrod grabbed two champagnes from a waiter and Liesel downed hers to his surprise. She took a second one quickly.
They danced distractedly two more times; both of them lost in their previous conversation. Jarrod couldn't imagine what Liesel was keeping from him. Liesel couldn't imagine telling him about Charles and Ghislaine. It felt like some kind of scriptural abomination to her.
Jarrod did not leave her side but after the fifth champagne of the evening, Liesel felt a bit nauseous and needed to use the water closet.
"I need to use the nécessaire. I will join you back in a few moments" and she glided across the room.
He went outside for a cigar trying to ascertain," what in the hell" was going on in "his pretty wife's head."
"She never drinks this much. She never lashed out about the photograph or the letter; the society column either. She just quietly kept it inside. She told me several times there was no reason to apologize again. She didn't blame me for Ghislaine's actions. She seemed sincere. How in the world do we get past this?"
The more he thought, the more angry and frustrated he became. "I have seen too much to be wide-eyed again."
He remembered the games Ghislaine would play: pouting, hinting, flirting with other men, demanding, using her wiles in the boudoir to distract him.
"Damn, she is messing with my marriage whether I want her or not. I have to go find Liesel and sort this out."
He ground out his cigar and headed back into the crowded room.
"Monsieur Barkley, can you come with me? Your wife is in need of you. She is not hurt but in need of la consolation. Please forgive my interference but the Beaufort family is very dear to my family in France''
Jarrod recognized the woman at his arm as the French consulate's wife.
She pretended they were chatting personably as she took his proffered arm and discreetly went into a une pièce pour conserver le vin or wine larder. She looked around and closed the door.
Liesel was sitting on a stool with a cool rag with the Governor's wife next to her. Walls of wine and glasses were stored in the cool room.
She looked up at Jarrod and then Liesel, "You need to tell your husband what happened. And remember you have many, many women championing you." squeezing her shoulder.
The ladies peeked out of the room and left quietly.
"Are you ill?"
She shook her head and looked downward.
Liesel looked embarrassed and mortified. She got up weakly.
Jarrod gently pushed her back onto the stool, "No ma'am. Not until we get this settled."
She went over the trip to the water closet in her head, trying to choose the right words to not betray her deepest pain but not endanger her marriage. She could tell she wasn't leaving the wine closet without telling Jarrod what happened by the look on his face.
She began haltingly, "I went to the water closet and when I came out Ghislaine was in the vanity at the mirrors. She recognized my dress under the partitions"
Jarrod clenched his fists and took a deep breath.
"We both had on a Worth dress. The fabric was discernible. She said some unkind things. I am fine now. Can we head home? It's been a long night."
"No," he said a little too firmly.
"What things did she say?"
"Jarrod, please don't."
"Yes, Liesel. I want to know." He said quietly yet forcibly.
"The consulate's wife and as well as the governor's wife were on the other side of the lavoratorie and overheard. Several other of their friends too. They defended me. It's all over. I just got a little weak-kneed from too much champagne. Please let's go."
"No. About the society column? I found the clipping in your purse when Rose broke the lotion bottle."
Tears welled up. "Yes, I shouldn't have kept it I know but I wanted to make you proud of me, that you made the right choice."
"Oh Liesel, you were the best decision I have ever made."
And he kissed her on top of the head. She stood up to go.
"No Liesel, the rest of it."
She sat back down and exhaled. "She made some comments about what you prefer in the la chambre à coucher, moments privés entre mari et femme"
He furrowed his brow, "My French is lacking."
She barely whispered, "Our bedroom, between a woman and a man".
The champagne was still muddling her head and her words.
"Oh Liesel, that vile, vile woman. I don't know how I ever, ever—." and shook his head with his eyes closed.
He looked at her and knew there was much more to the story, "And?"
"She assumed I was enceinte and that was the reason for our quick marriage. She quoted my late husband that I was a breeder, a mare, a dam with a good bloodline. She even knew I lost a child between Rose and Jack. I did not know people outside my chateau knew such about me."
And she couldn't get out any more of the story without sobbing. He held her and let her cry.
After drying her tears, he said, "Let's go home, my dearest. I love you and I am sorry you had to endure that for my sins."
She whispered faintly, "It's not your fault. It's Charles. It's the dress."
He quizzically looked at her, and a waiter opened the door for more wine, "Pardonnez-moi".
"We were just leaving" and he took Liesel out the back towards the carriage houses.
The next morning at breakfast after Lia took the children outside to play, Liesel addressed it with Jarrod.
"I had too much champagne and I allowed Ghislaine and my insecurities to hurt us."
She said, ``Can we never speak of this again?"
Jarrod started to answer no, when she continued, "Have you ever had something so dark in your past that it rips you apart to remember? Charles is that for me."
He wanted desperately to ask her to explain more about Charles and the dress and even the miscarriage he didn't know about—-he had tossed and turned all night, wanting answers. His inquisitive nature and need for the truth squirmed to be sated.
He began to ask then a fleeting thought silenced him and tightened his heart—-Rimfire.
"I haven't ever told her about Rimfire. I do have something so dark in my past it rips me apart to remember—Matt Parker, Julia, CASS HYATT " crossed his mind.
"I do understand Liesel. We all have those parts of our past. But I need you to know I can be trusted with anything you ever want —-or need to tell me."
"Thank you, Jarrod. You are such a true and honorable man. I am blessed to have you."
"I love you, Liesel"
She leaned over and kissed him warmly.
He responded but wondered sadly, "Would she ever love him? How do we get past this?"