Chapter 11
Written by Tita Calderón
Translated by Fay
The words of that book seemed to be dancing in front of her eyes; although she was trying to concentrate on reading she could not...She closed the book and looked carefully at the cover. The title was "Queen Margaret". No doubt it was a very interesting story which Aunt Elroy had suggested to her, but now she couldn't concentrate on that book. She had that kiss on her mind...
That kiss had kept her floating, hallucinating, sighing...She felt like a bird...It seemed to her she was flying whenever she recalled what it was like.
The two of them alone in the darkness...And those lips were so...so sweet, so insistent, so experienced...over her own lips...They had taken her to heaven!
But although it had been sublime, there was also something that disturbed her, that imprisoned her in a cloud very close to desolation; the thought that she had been the one who had caused it...
She brought the book to her chest and sighed. Maybe that was why Albert had moved away so abruptly, and his distant attitude that morning was more mortifying than disturbing to her. He had hardly looked at her, or rather, he hadn't looked at her at all.
She sighed helplessly, with her heart beating, and her lips felt an almost uncontrollable yearning to taste his lips again.
If only she could make him fall in love with her...But how? It seemed to her as unattainable as heaven.
It was best not to think about it because her heart almost stopped and her body was ignited with no reason at all. She decided to analyze Aunt Elroy's words.
After their usual refinement lesson she had confessed her fears to her. Candy was paralyzed when she heard her...
—"Candice, I would like you to continue living in the mansion when you get married," she had told her.
—"And why wouldn't we do that?" asked Candy, visibly confused.
The old lady took a deep breath, trying not to show weakness, but it was useless; she felt so vulnerable and what was worse, in front of that scatterbrained girl. However, she knew that if she wanted them to stay there, it was preferable to talk to her before talking to William.
—"William is thinking of buying a penthouse near the company for you two..." – She took another deep breath. – "But if you leave...the house will be very lonely...As you see, Archie barely comes here."
Candy bit her lip...That was something unexpected.
—"I would like William and you to live here...I won't be bothering you... I won't be interfering in your marriage."
—"Aunt...I don't know what to say...Albert hasn't told me anything..." she confessed hesitantly.
—"That's why I suggest it to you...before William tells you. I'm sure that if you ask him, he will stay," admitted Aunt Elroy in a defeated manner. "Living with an old woman like me must be a bother...but..."
—"Don't say that, Aunt...Besides, this house is so beautiful," said Candy, completely absorbed in the words of that imposing woman who seemed so fragile now...
She had never seen the old lady as vulnerable as she was that moment; and what's more, she had never thought she would live to hear her asking for something, especially something which had to do with Albert's decision. That was what most baffled her, because she didn't believe she was capable of influencing his will; that was absurd. It was almost impossible that she could change what Albert had decided, but she would give it a try, although the idea seemed crazy to her.
It was as crazy as the thought of trying to make him fall in love with her. It was like trying to touch the sun with her hands.
The crunching of the leaves as someone was stepping on them called her attention. In a reflex movement she removed the book from her chest and looked up at the imposing figure, at the calm walking, at the excellent features of that man who took her breath away and who was approaching through the path between the plants. The breeze was slightly moving his hair and he seemed to her like an angel fallen from heaven. He had his hands in his pockets and he was looking at her with inscrutable eyes while he was trying to force a smile on his lips.
Her heart stopped for a moment before starting to beat frantically and sending blood straight to her cheeks that betrayed the nervousness she felt with his mere presence. She swallowed hard, not knowing what to do. A moment ago she was in the depths of despair because of his distant attitude and now that she saw him coming straight towards her she wanted to disappear. The memory of that kiss not only embarrassed her but it also upset her. She didn't know how to behave in front of him.
She swallowed again and smoothed out her dress, trying to look calm.
—"Hello."
—"Hello," Candy smiled nervously. "What are you doing here so early?"
—"I came for lunch," he answered seriously.
—"How nice!" – It was impossible for her to conceal her joy. – "You haven't eaten lunch here for a long time," added Candy with a nervous smile, trying to behave normally.
She felt strange. That kiss had distanced him from her and that made her sad.
Albert took a few steps away. He felt strange too.
—"When does your guest arrive?" he asked suddenly, without looking at her.
Candy was surprised.
—"Guest?" she repeated.
—"Yes; wasn't a guest supposed to come for lunch?" he asked again, looking at the trees far away.
—"Well, yes...but..."
—"Candy!" interrupted Dorothy in the distance.
—"Here I am, Dorothy," called Candy.
Dorothy stopped short when she saw the owner of the house next to her.
—Good afternoon, Sir Ardlay."
—"Hello, Dorothy."
—"Were you looking for me, Dorothy?" asked Candy, seeing that the girl had remained silent.
—"Well...yes, Miss," she stammered nervously. That man could make even the goddess Aphrodite herself nervous. "Madam Elroy wants to know if you are ready."
—"Yes, Dorothy, thank you."
Dorothy walked away quickly while Albert was looking at the sky with interest.
—"Aren't you going to change for your guest?" he asked quietly.
—"Actually, no..."
Candy hesitated as she looked at her clothes.
—"Your guest has come a long way just to see you," said Albert, trying to hide the sudden annoyance that invaded him.
—"Well, yes...but I don't think it would make any difference how I look."
Albert clenched his fists...That was too much.
—"I should have guessed it," he said coldly and with a touch of irony.
—"Albert, what's wrong?" asked Candy, noticing the harshness of his words and his hard expression, even though he wasn't looking at her.
—"What's wrong?" he retorted, turning around. "How am I supposed to be? Happy?"
He looked at her with piercing eyes.
—"Yes, I suppose so," answered Candy nervously, seeing Albert's change.
Now he seemed annoyed.
—"Well, I'm not," he declared, running his hand through his blond hair which was not so long now.
Candy moved away a little but then she turned to him again. Her heart had almost stopped.
—"I didn't think it would bother you if I had a visitor."
—"Yes, it does bother me," he said, extremely frustrated.
—"Why?" retorted Candy, almost on the verge of tears.
—"What do you mean, why?" he asked emphatically, fixing his eyes on her.
Candy didn't reply because she knew she was ready to cry. Albert was very annoyed and above all, he had never given her such a distant look. And everything because of that kiss.
—"I had never thought...you would be so happy with that visit," he confessed, trying to calm down when he saw Candy's troubled expression.
He had to control himself; he took a deep breath. He didn't lose his temper easily...but being replaced by Terry destabilized him. Just one visit and she seemed to forget she was engaged.
—"Why shouldn't I be happy? I even cried with surprise."
—"So you admit it?"
He felt hurting inside. He wanted to leave at that moment. He couldn't hold a peaceful conversation while he was feeling so uncomfortable. He turned and took a couple of steps.
—"Why does it bother you so much that Patty is visiting me?" asked Candy, unable to hold a tear. She wiped it off immediately. She didn't want to look like a crybaby.
Albert stopped and looked at her as if she had lost her mind.
—"What has Patty got to do with this?" he asked disorientated.
—"I don't know why you are annoyed that Patty is having lunch with me and that I'm glad to see her," said Candy, swallowing the tears that were struggling to come out.
—"I wasn't talking about her," he answered confused.
—"And whom were you talking about?"
Candy tilted her head to look at him.
—"About Terry," replied Albert, looking steadily at her.
—"Terry?" Candy blinked in surprise. "What has Terry got to do with Patty visiting me?"
—"Isn't Terry the one you're expecting?"
—"No..." answered Candy bewildered.
—"Who visited you yesterday, Candy?"
Albert felt the ground wobble slightly under his feet.
—"Patty," replied Candy without hesitation. "Who did you think it was?"
—"I thought it was...Terry," he confessed.
—"Terry?" She frowned. "Why would he visit me?"
Albert felt confused...That moment he understood Archie's question that morning and his aunt's suggestion that they should be hospitable, even George's words...and the misunderstanding he had referred to...He would pay for this...
—"Well...you see, Candy...Terry was in my office yesterday and I thought he would come to visit you."
—"Terry in Chicago?" Candy couldn't stop her heart from skipping a beat. "...And what did he want?" She looked down at the book she was holding tight in her hands now, trying to prevent Albert from finding out the impact of the news.
Albert swallowed hard...He wished Aunt Elroy would come and help him get out of this. He, who had always been so sensible, had been blinded by jealousy...He had never before let himself be carried away by emotion, but there was a first time for everything, and no doubt this had been the first time for him...and it had to be with Candy. Who else could take out all of his facets...? Only her.
He kept silent. What was he going to tell her?
Candy was looking steadily at him, waiting for his answer.
—"Actually he wanted to talk about certain things..." he confessed after a moment.
—"What things?"
Albert felt like an accused in a trial. However, he deserved that since he had let jealousy dominate him. He looked at her for a moment, and decided to tell her the truth. Her eyes were scrutinizing him thoroughly.
—"He wanted to ask me why you hadn't looked for him in the traveling theatre in Rockstown.
Candy was breathless, and blinked her eyes.
—"And why did he ask you?" she inquired bewildered.
—"He thought I would have the answer, so I told him to ask you...that's why I thought he would come and see you."
—"He didn't," Candy said thoughtfully, turning her face away from Albert. "You told him to come and see me?"
Her question sounded more like a reproach.
—"I suggested it," he answered, almost in a whisper.
—"Why?"
Because I was an idiot, he thought. Or because of my cursed principles of freedom.
But neither of those answers would convince her.
—"I thought it would be good for you to talk," he replied after a moment.
Candy's heart constricted with pain. Why did Albert want them to talk? She was full of doubts.
Then she felt Albert's hand under her chin. She hadn't noticed he had sat next to her. She avoided looking into his eyes.
—"Candy?"
It sounded more like a plea.
Candy looked up and immersed herself in that blue which was now her entire world. If only she could make him feel the same...That she had become his entire world too...
—"What's the matter?" insisted Albert, brushing gently her cheek with his thumb.
The excessive love she felt made her think that he was also looking at her with the same intensity.
—"I..."
She remained speechless.
What was she going to tell him? If she invented something, Albert would notice it. For a moment she didn't like at all the idea that he knew her so well. She took a deep breath.
—"I...I don't know...or rather, I don't understand...Why did Terry ask you about that? And I also don't understand how he found out I saw him in Rockstown."
Albert debated with himself for a moment, while he was trying to decipher Candy's look.
—"His mother told him you had been there."
—"Oh..."
She didn't know what else to say.
She relived the moments when she had talked to the great actress in that coffee shop, closing a chapter in her life. At that time she hadn't felt it that way, but seeing it in perspective, that was what she had done.
—"And...why didn't you talk to him then?" asked Albert quietly.
—"Well...because..."
She was struggling to find an answer. Until that moment she hadn't even realized why she had left without saying a single word to him.
—"Because...I...I was looking for you," she confessed.
For a few moments she felt again the old desperation to find him, the anxiety of knowing nothing about him. Back then, not even Terry's presence in that theatre had managed to calm down her anguish to find Albert.
She already loved him back then. That's why she hadn't talked to Terry...The truth was right in front of her eyes.
Albert's heart stopped and the air was trapped in his lungs. Had he been more important to her than Terry at the time?
—"Candy!"
A voice was heard in the distance.
Both looked at each other for a fraction of a second before turning around.
—"Hey, Patty!"
Candy raised her hand trying to appear calm.
Patty slowed down her steps when she saw Albert sitting next to Candy. She couldn't help getting nervous. It was silly to feel intimidated by that young man who might have been her uncle, but now she felt as if she didn't know him.
—"Hello, Patty. It's so nice to see you," Albert greeted her as he stood up.
—"Eh...hello, Albert." – Her cheeks blushed. – "Madam Elroy told me I would find you here, Candy," she excused herself.
Albert was more handsome than she remembered and she could see on his face that familiar expression that reminded her of Stear. Her heart constricted with pain.
—"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you," she added quickly, trying to control that pain she had felt again upon returning to Chicago.
"You're not interrupting anything," Candy hurried to answer, although deep inside she knew she was lying. "Albert and I were just talking, as always. Isn't that so, Albert?"
—"That's right," he smiled. "It's a pleasure to have you with us again."
—"The pleasure is mine... I've missed you all," added Patty.
—"And we've missed you too, Patty," continued Candy, taking Patty's hands.
Patty felt she had interrupted something important.
—"I leave you to talk," was the only thing Albert said before he walked away.
Candy followed Albert with her eyes, confirming to herself that her love for him was not something new.
—"I think I've interrupted you, right?"
The intensity of their looks betrayed them.
—"No, Patty, not at all."
Candy smiled so that Patty wouldn't notice her turmoil.
At that moment she would have wanted to be alone...completely alone.
Archie and Annie joined them shortly after lunch. And although Patty was very happy to see her friends again, she kept feeling out of place, imagining what it would have been like if Stear was there...Everything in that place made her wound bleed again. She took a deep breath; she had to learn to live without him.
Behind her glasses, she looked closely at Annie, who, as always, overflowed with love for Archie, but something in him seemed different...He looked at her with more tenderness than she remembered. She sighed happily. At least that love was reciprocated now.
She turned her eyes towards Candy and Albert...They made such a beautiful couple. Although Albert was a little more mature than Candy, she noticed that he simply adored her. And it was needless to say that Candy looked at Albert with worship. She remembered when Candy talked about Terry and how her eyes were illuminated, but now she looked different, as different as a woman looks when she finds true love.
She had witnessed their camaraderie, but now there was something more...It was felt in the atmosphere when those two looked at each other...something that made her heart break with sadness and loneliness...She turned her eyes away, trying not to look at them. It hurt her. She met the face of Elroy Ardlay, who smiled at her. She couldn't define that but she knew that the old lady shared the same feelings with her...
—"And what made you come, Patty?" asked Annie timidly.
—"It's...because of the announcement of Candy's and Albert's wedding...When I read it in the newspaper I couldn't believe it. Then my grandmother Martha encouraged me to come."
She looked at her grandmother who smiled with complicity.
Candy had been so happy to see her friend that it didn't occur to her to ask about the reason for her visit.
—"Oh..."
She blushed.
—"Everybody has heard about the wedding from the newspapers," added Archie, somewhat awkwardly, recalling Granchester's visit the previous afternoon.
Luckily Albert had dispatched of him.
Albert exchanged a look with Archie.
—"Well, if you excuse me, I have to leave," Albert added, looking at his wristwatch.
—"Can't you stay a little longer?" Candy almost begged him.
—"I'm sorry, little girl, I can't. But I'll try to come home early," he said smiling.
—"I'm coming with you, Albert," said Archie. "I haven't finished yet the statistics you asked me to do this morning," he admitted.
Albert felt a little guilty as he remembered how angry he had felt at the office that morning.
—"Let's go then, work is waiting for us," he answered with a smile.
What a change, thought Archie, smiling too.
Albert approached Candy and kissed her on the forehead. It was the first time he did that in front of everybody but he wanted to make amends for his unfounded jealousy. Aunt Elroy just turned her eyes away while Candy was blushing.
Archie hesitated a little. He wanted to do the same with Annie, but they had no formal relationship like Albert and Candy, so he just winked at her, and she blushed as if he had kissed her.
Somebody's clearing of the throat caught Candy's attention; she had remained spellbound, with her gaze lost. She felt her forehead burning and wished that kiss had been on her lips instead...
All eyes were upon her, as if everybody was waiting for a reply from her.
—"Eh?"
Patty smiled, seeing that her friend was in a world of her own. She felt nostalgic. She would never feel so in love again.
—"I asked you," said Annie, "if you would have tea at my house this afternoon."
—"Tea?"
Candy was still in the clouds.
She looked at Aunt Elroy who just rolled her eyes, while Grandmother Martha was smiling.
If everyone began to notice that she had fallen in love, it was very likely that he would notice it too; that is, if he hadn't already noticed... And that kiss...She blushed.
She had to replace that idiotic expression she probably put on every time she looked at him with an indifferent one. She tried to straighten up in her seat while she was paying attention to the conversation with Annie.
—"My mama has sent you an invitation," said Annie, seeing that her friend didn't know what she was talking about.
—"Of course we have received it," Aunt Elroy hastened to reply, as she saw that Candy was very distant.
She brought the napkin to her mouth, trying to hide her smile.
—"Will you come?"
—"Certainly," answered Aunt Elroy.
—"Will you go too?" Candy asked Patty and her grandmother, trying to find an excuse not to attend.
—"Yes. Annie has invited us too."
—"But, Aunt Elroy," said Candy hurriedly, "I don't think I can come with my foot like this."
—"Candice, you don't need to do anything with your foot in order to have tea," explained Aunt Elroy.
—"Yes, Candy. My mama said she's going to give you the most comfortable seat."
Candy could hardly conceal the panic she felt. Since she and Albert had been engaged, they hadn't stopped receiving invitations. Her foot had been a good excuse. But now it seemed Aunt Elroy didn't care about that.
—"I think I'm not ready yet to attend something like that," she admitted, looking at her plate.
—"You are ready," the old lady assured her.
—"You don't have to worry, Candy. Only a few people will be there," added Annie.
—"We're going to have a lot of fun," said Patty, trying to cheer her up.
Candy bit her lip doubtfully.
—"As William's wife," Aunt Elroy began to say, "you will have to attend several gatherings. Sometimes you will go with him and other times you will have to go alone. You will be received by the best families. It's about time you familiarized yourself with this kind of things."
—"I'm not Albert's wife yet."
—"But you are his fiancée." – Aunt Elroy's firm voice made her look up. – "And you have to behave as such. With your head held high."
Her gaze swept the faces of the women who were sitting at the table, and all nodded slightly in agreement with her.
Albert arrived at the office with his heart beating as usual and with a faint smile, although he kept wondering:
Why didn't Terry come?
When George entered the office, he immediately noticed William's changed mood.
—"Is everything all right?"
—"George," he said, debating with himself about how he would make him pay for the information he had omitted, "I think I should ask you to make an expense projection for the next twenty years. Would that be too little?"
He looked steadily at him.
George smiled widely.
—"I'm willing to do it if you wish, but I'm glad you are feeling better."
—"I behaved like a fool in front of Candy," Albert admitted. "I let jealousy possess me."
—"You?"
George couldn't believe it.
What characterized William was his way of thinking before acting. To hear him say that he had let himself be dominated by jealousy was something out of the ordinary and only confirmed that he was in love. George smiled pleased.
—"Yes, I..." Albert admitted in resignation. "I was so sure that her visitor was Terry that I didn't think of any other possibility...I saw him so determined to see her yesterday..." – He brought his hand to his chin. – "Why do you think he didn't?"
—"Maybe he thought it would be best to let things as they are."
—"I don't think so..." – He pondered. – "Anyway, George, I want you to find out if he's still in Chicago."
—"I will..."
Albert watched George as he was leaving, while thousands of questions were crowded in his mind. He would have much preferred that Candy and Terry met once and for all and told each other everything they had to say, than living with that anxiety.
Before entering Annie's house, Candy sighed courageously. She recalled all the times she had been humiliated by Eliza and her friends, and how many times they had looked down on her. Entering Annie's house as a guest still caused cramps in her stomach.
But she would do her best to be strong and face everything.
At least now she was with her friends and she also had Aunt Elroy, who, against all reason, seemed to support her.
—"Candy, my dear, what a pleasure to have you here," Mrs. Brighton greeted her. "Madam Elroy, Mrs. Martha, Patty, welcome to my house."
Candy swallowed hard. The order in which she used to greet was always starting with the most important person. Surely Mrs. Brighton had been mistaken.
They entered the parlor and contrary to what Candy had thought, all the women who were there greeted her politely. She could even swear that Annie's mother boasted with her presence.
She was introduced to each one of the guests. She already knew some of them because they were Aunt Elroy's acquaintances and she had seen some others at the engagement party. But when her eyes fell upon Elizabeth Robinson she felt again that feeling of discomfort she felt whenever she saw Eliza and her friends.
—"Candice," she greeted her coldly.
—"Elizabeth," she replied, while she couldn't help admiring the beauty of that woman.
She was the tallest of all the women present and she had the most arrogant look. From time to time Candy felt her gaze running all over her and their eyes met a couple of times.
She couldn't help wondering how it would be if Albert and Elizabeth had been engaged... A stab of pain pierced her soul with a much more overwhelming force than when she had separated from Terry.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth wanted to find out what William had seen in her that had made him propose to her. She had to find a way to approach her.
Eliza hadn't been able to give her much information. She only said that she was an orphan who had worked in the stables of her house, a thief, and all that stuff and nonsense in order to discredit her. If that was true William would have stayed away from her. There must be something else and she would find that out...
—"Did you know that Marian has also studied at St. Paul's?"
Mrs. Brighton's words made everybody present turn their eyes to the aforementioned lady. She was a woman in her early twenties, with big brown eyes and a bulging belly that betrayed her advanced state of pregnancy.
—"Really?" asked Annie.
—"Yes, that's right," she answered, a little intimidated by the looks of all the women who were there.
Elizabeth smiled with superiority.
—"It was there you met William Ardlay, right?" she asked, without looking at Candy.
—"Yes, I met him there," she replied, somewhat confused by that question.
—"Were you classmates?" asked Candy with interest.
Albert hadn't talked to Candy about his life at college and that had aroused her curiosity.
—"You might say that." – Marian didn't know who Candy was, or why she was interested in him. – "We were studying in the same year, but of course in different classrooms. You know boys and girls never mix at St. Paul's."
—"That's true," Annie hastened to reply, while Patty and Candy nodded.
—"Have you studied there too?"
—"Yes," answered all three in unison.
They looked at each other and smiled.
—"Marian," said Elizabeth with a hypocritical smile, "this is Candice." – She turned her eyes to Candy. – "William Ardlay's fiancée," she finished.
Marian was taken aback by that information. She was slightly disturbed but then she recovered.
—"Really?" she asked, trying to hide her bewilderment.
—"Yes," answered Candy with a smile.
—"Well, this is a surprise..."
She looked away for a few seconds while memories of the past were flooding her.
—"And how is he?" she asked, unable to hide her interest.
—"Very well," replied Elroy Ardlay with an icy look.
—"It's a pleasure to know William's 'fiancée'." – Marian looked at Candy with interest. – "What happened to your foot?"
—"I fell from a tree."
—"From a tree?"
—"I was trying to help some little birds that fell from their nest."
She had perfected her lie to such an extent that she had believed it herself.
—"Just like William..."
Candy looked at her without understanding.
—"William was just like that at St. Paul's, always hanging around with all animals. Sometimes he was reprimanded for that."
—"Really?"
—"Yes, that's how we became friends. I hated vermin and I started screaming like crazy when a lizard climbed on my uniform. He appeared out of nowhere and rescued me from that horrible animal. From then on I was eternally grateful to him."
Her memory brought her back to the exact moment when William jumped from a tree and took gently the lizard. Marian had looked at him with a rapt expression and from that moment she had fallen in love with him. And how could she help that; he was the handsomest boy she had ever seen in her life. That black uniform in contrast with his blond hair made him look more handsome than any other boy.
He was sensitive and seemed to hide a distant sorrow, but he never spoke about that.
The times she talked to him were when she found him among the trees, and she visited that place regularly in order to speak to him... although in the end he broke her heart.
—"Apparently he likes taking care of the helpless until now," said Elizabeth coldly, looking at Candy from head to toe.
Everybody turned their eyes to Candy, waiting for her reaction.
—"Yes, he has a noble soul," remarked Candy, not being upset by the derogatory comment.
Elizabeth looked elsewhere, disregarding her.
—"And what was he like at college?" asked Candy again.
—"Reserved, distant. I think that was what made everyone crazy about him."
Candy looked at her, without knowing whether she should feel jealousy or pride. The idea of a reserved and distant Albert didn't fit the Albert she knew...warm, tender and protective.
—"And how did you meet him?" Marian hastened to ask, before the memories flooded her eyes.
—"Well...I met him on Pony's Hill, near Lakewood. I think he was about twelve years old," answered Candy, while everybody was looking at her with interest.
—"Then you met him long before I did. He was about fourteen when we became friends. And how old were you?"
—"Six."
All of them opened their eyes wide, even Aunt Elroy...She had never thought their friendship was so old.
—"Please, let's pass to the tea room," asked Mrs. Brighton.
As soon as Albert got out of the car, George intercepted him.
—"Any news, George?"
—"Yes," he answered, looking at him worried.
—"I'm listening."
George took a deep breath.
—"It seems young Granchester was hanging around the mansion in the afternoon. A guard saw a young man with his characteristics and when he approached to ask him whom he was looking for, he left."
Albert straightened up while looking at him carefully.
—"And it seems he returned to New York; he checked out of the hotel."
—"Thank you, George," said Albert hesitantly.
He brought a hand to his chin, thinking about Terry's behavior.
—"I don't think you should worry about Miss Candy," George continued. "She's not in the mansion," he explained, seeing Albert's concerned face.
—"She's not? Where did she go?"
—"As Peter told me, she has gone with Madam Elroy to Miss Annie's house for tea."
Albert meditated for a moment.
—"Are they back now?" he asked George.
—"No."
—"Richard, take me to the house of the Brightons."
—"Right away, sir."
The afternoon had been entertaining for Candy. She would have liked to know a little more about Albert's student life but Aunt Elroy had changed the subject and had urged her in a very subtle way to talk with Patty.
A maid approached Mrs. Brighton's ear to warn her that William Ardlay was looking for Candy.
—"Candy, it seems your fiancé has come to see you," she said with excitement.
Receiving William Ardlay at one's home was a luxury not everybody could have.
—"Albert?"
Candy opened her eyes wide in excitement, while she was trying hastily to take up her crutches.
Everyone present looked stealthily at the threshold, in an attempt to see him.
—"Why don't you ask him to come in?" added Elizabeth with interest.
—"That is not necessary; we were just about to leave," said Elroy Ardlay coldly.
Candy looked at her somewhat bewildered but she just followed her. Albert was at the door, waiting for her with a smile.
—"Albert!"
Albert had been talking with Mr. Brighton as he was waiting for Candy. When he saw her the entire world was illuminated.
To be continue...
