Part One, Chapter Eight
Declaration of Love
...
Courtney saw Mike exit the room. She got out from behind her hiding space and ran after him. He went down a hallway and Courtney continued to follow him. She stopped in front of the open door to the library and called out for him.
"Mike!" she called.
Mike turned around. Courtney beckoned him with her arm to follow her into the library.
"Mike," Courtney breather happily.
"Courtney," said Mike. "Who're you hiding from in here."
As Mike walked inside, Courtney closed the double doors of the library.
"What are you up to?" Mike continued, curious as to what Courtney was doing. He sat on the arm of a small chair. "Well, why aren't you upstairs resting with the other girls? What is this, Courtney? A secret?"
"Oh, Mike, Mike," said Courtney, "I love you."
"Courtney!" Mike gasped.
"I love you, I do!" Courtney continued.
"Well, isn't it enough that you've gathered every other man's heart today?" Mike asked. "You've always had mine. You cut your teeth on it."
"Oh, don't tease me now," Courtney begged. "Have I your heart, my darling? I love you, I love you."
Mike stood up.
"You mustn't say such things," said Mike. "You'll hate me for hearing them."
"Oh, I could never hate you," said Courtney, "and I know you must care about me. Oh, you do care, don't you?"
Mike nodded.
"Yes," he said, "I care."
Courtney closed her eyes waiting for a kiss.
"Oh, can't we go away and forget we ever said these thing?" Mike asked.
"But how can we do that?" Courtney asked. "Don't you want to marry me."
"I'm going to marry Zoey," Mike said.
"But you can't," said Courtney. "Not if you care for me."
"Oh, my dear, why must you make me say things that will hurt you?" Mike said. "How can I make you understand? You're so young and unthinking. You don't know what marriage means."
"I know I love you," said Courtney, "and I want to be your wife. You don't love Zoey."
"She's like me, Courtney," said Mike. "She's part of my blood and we love each other."
"But you love me," Courtney said pleadingly.
"How could I help loving you?" said Mike. "You have all the passion for life that I lack. That kind of love isn't enough to make a successful marriage for two people as different as we are."
"Well, why don't you just say it, you coward?" Courtney said, suddenly angry and glaring at Mike. "You're afraid to marry me. You'd rather live with that silly little fool who can't speak except to say "yes" and "no" and raise a passel of mealy-mouthed brats just like her."
Courtney began walking quickly away.
"You mustn't say such things about Zoey," said Mike.
"Who are you to tell me I mustn't?" Courtney snapped. "You led me on, you made me believe you wanted to marry me."
"Now, Courtney, be fair," said Mike. "I never at any time-"
"You did, it's true you did!" Courtney exclaimed now in tears. "I'll hate you till I die! I can't think of anything bad enough to call you."
Courtney raised her hand and slapped Mike's face.
Mike didn't say anything, he just walked away and left the room."
Courtney saw a porcelain vase on the table. She picked it up and threw it at the wall. Someone whistled and the head of Duncan Butler popped up. Courtney gasped.
"Has the war started?" he asked.
"Sir, you-you should have made your presence known," Courtney stuttered nervously.
"In the middle of that beautiful love scene?" Duncan asked. "That wouldn't have been very tactful, would it? But don't worry, your secret is safe with me."
"Sir, you are no gentleman!" Courtney snapped as she began to walk away.
"And you, Miss, are no lady," said Duncan.
Courtney turned back to him, looking offened.
"Don't think I hold that against," said Duncan. "Ladies have never held any charm for me."
"First you take a low common advantage of me," said Courtney, "then you insult me."
"I meant it as a compliment and I hope to see more of you," said Duncan, "when your free of the spell of the elegant Mr. Wilkes. He doesn't strike me as half as good enough for a girl of your, what was it? Your 'passion for living.'"
"How dare you!" Courtney snapped. "You aren't fit to wipe his boots."
Courtney turned and began running out of the room. Duncan laughed.
"And you were going to hate him for the rest of your life," Duncan said.
Courtney ran out of the library. She began running up the stairs but stopped when she heard voices coming down the stairs. That meant some of the girls were up. They were Zoey Hamilton, Heather Wilkes, and Courtney's sister, Anne Maria O'Hara. She went to hide behind the stairs.
"She certainly made a fool of herself running after all the men at the barbecue," said the voice of Heather.
"That's not fair, Heather," said Zoey. "She's so naturally attractive, the men just naturally flock to her.
"Oh, Zoey, you're just too good to be true," said Anne Maria. "Didn't you see her going after your brother Alejandro?"
"Yes, and she knows Alejandro belongs to me," said Heather.
"Oh, you're wrong, Heather," said Zoey. "Courtney's just high-spirted and vivacious."
"Men may flirt with girls like that but they don't marry them," said Heather.
"I think you're being very mean to her," said Zoey.
Courtney heard, and when they reached the bottom of the stairs, watched, the scene, tears started coming out of her eyes.