Chapter Twenty-one
The lost Holland girl finally made her first appearance in months late last night.
Not only did she look gorgeous as ever, but escorting her out of the party was none other than society's most eligible bachelor Henry Schoonmaker.
So many questions arose from this party and I for one cannot wait to see how this all plays out.
-from Manhattan's Finest February, 25th 1902
Henry pressed his arm against the cold frost covered window and gazed upon the world outside. With his deep eyes, he tried to absorb every bit of peace he could find beyond the clear glass. The snow from their latest storm was now beginning to melt away, turning the streets into small rapid streams rather than granite that was to be driven on. People were laughing as they walked on the sidewalks, enjoying a late winter's stroll while the sun gently shined down upon them. Life was so simple out there, it was easy. When he had seen everything that he could, he let his arm drop to his side. He turned his back to the beautiful day and took a deep breath, not knowing what he should say.
Henry was inside of his office, the smell of leather and brandy hung heavily in the room. He knew it was early in the day to be drinking but it was the only think he knew that would make this situation easier to talk about. Besides he wasn't the one that controlled the amount that went into his glass. Teddy sat at Henry's desk holding on to the bottle as if it was the only thing he had left in his life. He had stayed on Henry's couch the night before in fear of what he might see when he got home. He didn't know how he felt about this situation but as he watched his friend slowly drink away his pain he began to feel sorry for him. Elizabeth was Teddy's prized possession. She was his angel, he worshiped her. Henry knew she was just as crazy about him too but after all she had gone through, the last thing she would put up with was a cheating man which he understood. So did Teddy.
"You need to go see her," Henry finally said breaking the silence. Teddy's glazed gray eyes were fixed on some far off object and did not move when Henry spoke.
"Hiding out here isn't going to fix anything." With that Teddy turned and faced his friend.
"There is nothing to fix," he simply stated. He then took the bottle of brandy and pored some of the liquid into Henry's glass. He picked it up and offered it to his friend who shook his head.
"Your loss," Teddy shrugged setting it back down. He looked at his own empty glass and then at the bottle, deciding if he needed anymore. Before Henry could say anything, Teddy pulled the bottle to his lips and took a few drinks of it before setting it back down.
"Teddy don't you think you should go try to explain what actually happened to Elizabeth?"
"She wouldn't listen. She made that very clear last night."
"But it's been almost twelve hours since you last saw each other. Maybe she has cooled off." Teddy wasn't even paying attention. He was swishing around what was left of the alcohol around in its original container.
"Teddy." Henry called but he didn't get a reply.
"Teddy," he said again but still nothing. His friend wasn't giving him the time of day for they both knew the probability that Elizabeth would be at home. But Henry wasn't about to watch Teddy give up on something he waited so long to get in the first place. He walked over and forcefully hit his desk to get Teddy's attention. He jumped slightly in his seat and looked directly at Henry, giving him a what do you want look that just spiked his anger.
"Have you gone insane?" Henry asked with his hands still pressed down on the wooden surface.
"Have you?" he replied before turning his attention back to his bottle. Henry had finally had enough. He reached out and took the bottle away leaving Teddy's hands empty.
"Hey!" he reacted .
"You have had enough," Henry stated as he walked it over to a shelf on the far side of the room.
"It is not your responsibility to tell me when I should be done," Teddy told him.
"All you have been interested in doing sense you got here is rob me of my liquor! It's as if you don't even want Elizabeth back," Henry said before setting down the bottle. Teddy stood in protest, knocking over the chair he once sat in.
"What did you just say?" he asked slowly.
"I said it's like you don't even care what happens between you an-"
"Don't you say it," Teddy interrupted, " just don't."
"Someone has to Teddy because it's obvious you're not going to face it yourself."
"You have no idea what the hell your even saying!" Teddy yelled at him.
"Then inform me, tell me what I am saying wrong!" Henry snapped back.
"Have you ever had to come to terms with the fact that the love of your life may very well be packing her bags this very moment because of some stupid mistake you made? Oh no that's right. All you do is find some girl who is lonely for the night and invite her into your bed!"
"You better watch yourself," Henry tried to say calmly.
"Why should I? If I have to face my problems we might as well face yours too. You have no idea what it's like to make someone you love cry. I watched as my everything ran away from me because I was stupid enough to stay around another woman who obviously wanted something more from me than just a friendly conversation. Seeing her go killed me and there is no way in hell that she would take me back after the way I treated her. I have accepted that."
"Teddy-"
"No don't even dare try to tell me everything will be work out and it will be all okay again. You don't know what it's like to be in a relationship that actually works. Everyone you have ever been with has either ended by you leaving her or her leaving you or you just right down hated her. So don't try to tell me I can fix this because I hurt her beyond repair. And watching the love of your life cry because of you is the worst possible thing you can ever see." Teddy turned around and picked up the chair he picked up earlier and sat back down. Henry watched him hideaway his face in his hands and begin to cry. He had never seen Teddy so torn up before and it killed him to see his friend like this. He knew the words that he had said were for the most part true. He had not had the best track record but it was because of Teddy and Elizabeth that he wanted to change. He had changed. Elizabeth was Teddy's whole life, like Diana was his. Teddy still had no idea about the two of them seeing each other again and he would eventually tell him when the time was right.
"I'm sorry," Henry whispered. He leaned himself against the bookshelf while he waited for Teddy to look up. When he did, his eyes were puffy and red but the tears had stopped falling.
"I don't know what to do Henry," he whispered back.
"You can start by getting some rest. After that, we will find out where Elizabeth is and I'll see to it that she hears you out. You at least deserve that." Teddy nodded and slowly stood up from his seat. He carefully walked over to the door with his composure intact. He stopped in the doorway and turned back to Henry. He acted like he wanted to say something but no words came from him. All he did was nod before he left Henry alone in his study. When he could no longer hear any drunken footsteps, he let out a sigh of relief. Teddy hadn't even tried to sleep since the night before and Henry prayed that he would be able to now. If not, he would at least pass out from all the alcohol he consumed. He ran his fingers though his hair not knowing what else to do. He was not used to helping a friend in need. Usually, the roles were reversed and he was knocking on Teddy's door with the smell of some kind of liquor on his breath.
Henry walked over to his desk and started to clear it off. He collected the glasses and wiped away any brandy that had not made into Teddy's glass. When that was finished he sat down, trying to think of what he should accomplish next. He then yawned; he too hadn't gotten much sleep. Who could with a sad drunk man roaming around their house. Before he could do anything else, there was a knock at the door. He turned his attention to the door way to see one of his maids standing close by.
"Come in," he waved. She hesitated but then entered Henry's study. She was a short girl with light blonde hair pulled back into a tight bun. Her eyes were a dark brown and freckles that dotted her nose and high cheek bones. Henry had recently hired her and she was still getting used to working for the man who she used to only know from the paper. She acted like she was star struck.
"This came for you Mr. Schoonmaker," she said shyly pulling a letter from behind her and setting it on his desk.
"Oh," he leaned forward and looked at the parchment he had just received. There were no addresses on it, only his name neatly written across the front in very familiar handwriting. It had not come in the mail but directly from the sender's home.
"Thank you Ann," he nodded before picking it up. Ann curtsied and rushed out of the room, leaving him alone. He quickly opened the envelope, wondering what Diana had sent him. Inside was a folded up paper and nothing else. He took in out and unfolded it to find a very short letter that had been written to him.
My dear Henry,
I don't know I will be able to see you again. People have been knocking on Elizabeth's all day asking if I am really back. My sister has yet to leave her room and she will not speak to anyone. I don't know what to do, everything is so overwhelming. All I know is I want to see you, I miss you. There is also something very important that I need to tell you. I don't know how long I can wait. But until then, I'll be here, waiting to hear from you.
Love, Di
He read her letter more than once, trying to figure you what it was that she needed to say. She did seem a little edgy when he took her home last night but he just figured that was because she everyone had seen her last night. Whatever it was wouldn't be big enough that he couldn't handle. He had yet to tell her but he was head over heels for her. He loved her even more than the day she left him and just like that day, he still had every attention of making her his wife.