Ch. 2
One week later found Erik and John taking a turn about the gardens as night began to fall. The sky was strewn with hues of purples and vibrant oranges, mingling together in a passionate dance of colors that looked to be painted by the hand of Aphrodite, herself.
"Sometimes I fear that the deadlines for this project are too demanding, but I have confidence that you can accomplish the task. You have not failed me, yet," John remarked as he folded his hands behind his back and casually began to lead their venture back to his estate.
Erik nodded his head and said nothing. He was still unaccustomed to hearing compliments that were meant for him, and hearing them uttered from the lips of someone who's character greatly lacked in substance was not flattering in the least.
"I am very grateful to have such a hard-working partner, in fact; it seems as if you hardly sleep at all, let alone maintain a social life!"
Though Erik silently agreed, his thoughts became somewhat bitter at the confirmation of his lack of companionship. Yes, John could ignore the fact that he wore a mask so long as money was in his pocket, but how could he expect anyone else to ignore it? Perhaps if Erik had even the slightest chance to have associations, then he would not work himself to the point of exhaustion, instead, and would reserve a bit of his time for the company of others.
"But I do believe that a holiday is greatly needed for you. After the theatre is completed, I insist that you take vacation and enjoy a bit more of your time."
Ah, yes, the theatre. Such a bittersweet request it had been for him to have designed the one and only theatre located in a two-hour radius of town. Erik had had mixed emotions on the matter, even being indecisive on more than one occasion.
At first, he had harbored a bit of excitement at the prospect of designing something so familiar, for he was well-acquainted with the grandiosities of a house of the performing arts. He could not only take pride in, but also enjoy, the idea of his work being accomplished and filled with musical talent once more.
And yet, the task had brought about repressed memories of the time when he himself had lived in such an environment, warning him of the fact that he was still teetering on the edge of despair.
He would not make the same mistakes again, no; he would design each room and area entirely different, though once it would be completed, he did not think that he would be able to admire it with his own eyes, and he was appreciative of the fact that it was a small distance to get there, anyway. While it would not resemble the catacombs of his dark and dreary home beside the lake, or the layout of the stage in which the woman he loved had once sang, he did not think that his heart could manage the burden of anything that reminded him of who he once was.
Forcing the thoughts from his mind, he allowed himself to dwell on the slight relief in which he felt about the idea of a vacation. The last two-and-a-half years had proven to be tedious and time-consuming, and even he could not function much longer through the fatigue that had consumed him, both physically and mentally.
But what would he do with himself? He could not imagine that staying in the confines of his estate would prove to be worthwhile, and he feared that it would only leave time for his thoughts to drift into the recesses of shattered dreams.
Perhaps I shall travel, he concluded. There had not been many places in which he had visited, and with the world to explore and wealth at his fingertips, it would not be difficult to carry out such a plan.
And yet, how would he get around with the sight of his face?
He was at a loss as to what to do with his allotment of time, and yet he decided that an idea would come to him, soon enough.
"Come, let us go-"
Suddenly, John hissed under his breath when he caught sight of a young woman not far from the two of them. She was so close, in fact, that he called her over with a snarl.
Erik's attention was drawn once more to a woman scurrying towards them as they quickly approached the large house. From afar, he could only see the color of her dress-a light blue-and her bonnet, but as she made her way closer with a frightful expression on her lovely features, his eyes grew wide and he had to quickly hide his surprise.
The two men stopped in front of her and John scowled at the woman whom Erik had seen earlier that week.
The light blue color of her dress gave a glow to her brown complexion, and Erik thought that certainly there was no color that would look terrible on her figure.
"What on earth are you doing, girl?!" John snapped curtly at her, almost forgetting that he had a guest in his presence.
How he would have kept silent so as not to bring her presence to the attention of his business partner, yet he could not so easily allow her disobedience to go unnoticed. Besides, he knew that Erik would not be one to gossip about such things to others, anyway.
Erik felt somewhat uncomfortable at the tension that had formed in the air, but he could not look away. Not with her rich brown eyes staring intently at him with a look that he could not quite pinpoint.
Her feminine eyebrows were furrowed in confusion as her gaze left Erik's to look at the man who had been accusing her. Her full lips were set firmly together, as if there was a bit of rebellion to her silence.
"Have I not told you that you are to be mindful when strolling about?!"
Erik had never seen John so irritated before, and his harsh tone of voice felt unnecessary. Still, he did not wish to intrude on whatever personal matter was between the two of them, and so he pretended to be preoccupied with the sight of the lake in the distance.
"I am sorry," the woman spoke. Her voice was soft, and yet the expression on her face betrayed the sincerity of her behavior.
Erik could see that she was upset, and he wondered what was going on. Who was she, and why was she being reprimanded as a child would be? He guessed that she was in her twenties. And why would John be acquainted with a woman of mixed race, when society frowned upon those with colored skin? By the lightness of her shade, he surmised that one of her parents had to have been ivory-colored, and so she was not entirely dark, but she was still not white, either.
Perhaps she was a servant, he thought, but then why would she be dressed so elegantly? A servant would hardly afford the delicate chiffon-wrapped bonnet that she wore, let alone the fine material of her silk gown.
He could not help but to observe her out of the corner of his eye-the attractive structure of her face, and how prominant her jawline was. She looked as if she had stepped out of a novel of a fairytale in a far-away and exotic land.
His breath caught in his throat when her eyes moved to his. She studied the outline of his mask with intent, and he felt uneasy at the thought that she was attempting to figure him out. Her stare was so unmoving that it felt as if she were trying to peer into his very soul.
"Make certain that it does not happen again!" John snapped before dismissing her with a wave of his hand.
The woman nodded, but her eyes never left Erik's. She picked up her skirts and returned inside.
How different her behavior was to the frightened countenance that Erik had beheld the other night! He had just witnessed a woman who seemed to be repressing her inner strength. In the stead of the fire and courage that he could see were written on her features, was a compliant and obediant woman. And yet he knew better, for he could see the anger in her eyes and the glare cast in the direction of Mr. Abraham before she had walked away entirely.
Erik and John resumed their journey into the house, and it wasn't until after they had reached the library when the silence was broken.
"Was that a servant of yours?" Erik asked, attempting not to sound too curious.
He was entirely puzzled by the display of emotions that he had witnessed outside, not to mention the fact that a brown-skinned woman dressed in fine clothes had been perusing the land.
Erik was certainly not one to hold prejudices of any race, for he knew all too-well the feeling of not belonging and being ridiculed for something that could not be chosen. But he was not ignorant of the fact that, if anyone of consequence in society had discovered that there was a mixed woman who was not a servant in the house, Mr. Abraham would be the target of much opposition and disgrace.
The fact that everyone had, for some reason, believed their white skin to be superior to any other color, had not deterred him from finding her to be the most beautiful woman that he had ever laid eyes on.
It was a thought that troubled him greatly, and he immediately chided himself mentally for it.
"No," John replied. "If only she were a servant, then it would be less burdensome!"
Erik was confused by his companion's choice of words, and he waited for him to continue.
"I will tell you something that is the most displeasing thing of all, but I trust that my secret is safe with you," he added.
Erik was a bit surprised that John would confide something personal in him, but he nodded anyway.
"She is my niece. No one is aware of it, so I ask that you say no more on the subject."
A niece! He never would have guessed that John would have a niece in his charge, let alone one so different from other women and undesirable among others!
He knew what John had meant-that none of his acquaintances were aware of the situation, and that he had done-and was doing everything-in his power to keep it that way. Should anyone discover the truth, or catch a glimpse of her, then his and his family's reputation would be ruined.
Ah, so that was why he was adamant about her staying in-doors!
And then he felt a most peculiar sensation-a tugging at his heart followed by a dull ache in his chest. How rare he had ever felt empathy for another human being, and he could relate, much to his dismay, to what she must have felt as a prisoner and to have been rejected by the world.
Nothing else was said about her, and John carried on with their discussion as if the instance of her disobedience had not occured.
When it was time for Erik to leave, he was met with Hattie in the hallway. She wore a maeve-colored evening dress and had adorned herself in a string of diamonds that hung about her neck. Her brown curls were twisted and braided ever so intricately and pinned with pearl pins.
How her gawdy appearance and lack of humility had never ceased to amaze him, as he watched her smirk and spin around to display her figure more prominantly.
"Mr. Destler!" she exclaimed, placing a delicate hand on her chest when she had stopped in front of him. "What do you think? Is it not stunning?"
Erik looked away from her and down towards the floor, dreading the conversation that she would engage him in. If there had been any way to avoid her, he would have done so eagerly.
"I am to attend a ball this evening," she explained, inching her way closer towards him.
Oh, if only she were glancing at him, with that sly look in her blue eyes, out of a genuine interest rather than the facade that she maintained! What he would not give to have a woman sincerely wish for his presence and to want for him to court her!
And yet, he knew otherwise. She was simply putting on a charade in order to tempt him, for she knew that she would be a wealthy woman if she could seduce the likes of him.
And how thankful he was that her behavior was vulgar to him, for he knew that he could not be tempted to make the same mistake of wooing a woman once more! If anything, she was the last woman on earth who could persuade him to consider it!
She pretended to pout, her scarlet-painted lips sticking out, and he wondered if she thought herself appealing by such a look.
"I do wish that you would join me, for there is no other man whom I would rather have the pleasure of dancing with!"
Hardly! he wished to laugh in her face, yet his expression remained cool and aloof. He wondered if her beautiful face would contort into a look of horror if she were to ever see the marred skin of his cheek beneath the mask. She did not know what it was that she was wishing upon herself!
He allowed her to brag a bit more, though it was wearing thin on his patience. But finally, she agreed to let him leave, and he quickly opened the front door, fearing that she would change her mind.
But before he was able to escape completely, his eyes wandered toward the staircase at the end of the hallway that could be viewed from where he was standing, and there he saw those captivating brown eyes staring back at him.
From the top of the stairs and hidden behind the elegantly-carved railings, he saw her watching him. And when her eyes had noticed Ms. Abraham twirling about in her gown, he could see the envy found within their chocolate-colored depths, longing to be her.
And just as quickly as he had seen her, she was gone.