Author's Note: Pictures of the dress and diamonds can be seen in this chapter at the Big Valley Writing Desk – Behind Closed Doors.
Chapter Fifty-Three
Sharon looked at herself in the three-way mirror in the dressing room of the Fleur Salon. She wanted to hate the dress, just because of Sarah, and Sarah's pronouncement that the dress was perfect for her. However, she could not – the color, style and trim were all perfect. The only issue was the fit of the dress.
"Tis lovely, but I am laced so tight for it to fit. How will I do that by myself?" When Sharon had first seen the dress, she had thought the waist was way too small to fit her. Sarah though had called an assistant, who had relaced Sharon's corset extremely tight.
"There is no way to get alterations done before tonight." Sharon explained, before tilting her head. "What hotel are you staying at?"
"The Empire." Sharon replied, still trying to figure out why her husband's ex-wife was being so kind and helpful to her.
"Then that solves the problem. They have female staff who can act as ladies' maids. It will be billed to the room, but you will need some money to tip them." Sarah said and added what the going rate was for the service. She then turned to the assistant "Mattie, please help Mrs. Barkley to undress, and box up the gown. In addition, please add white gloves, and one of our mother-of-pearl fans."
It was with relief that Sharon watched Sarah leave the room. She was also glad that gloves and a fan had been thought of. Sarah had been nothing but gracious and kind – providing the information about the lady's maid, and what she would need to be tipped.
Once Sharon was back in her clothes, she was escorted back into the Fleur Salon. Sarah was waiting for her, with a glass of champagne along with canapes of cucumber sandwiches, brie with apples, smoked salmon with capers. By now it had been hours since she had eaten, and Sharon would happily have devoured everything.
The memory though, of how tight her corset had to be laced, kept her in check. She accepted a glass of champagne, which Sarah informed her came from an old French monastery. After two polite sips she took one of the salmon sandwiches, remembering them from when she was in Ireland. It was delicious and she took two more sips of the golden bubbly liquid.
Sharon was not sure if it was the champagne on an empty stomach, or just her natural forthrightness that caused to ask what she had been wondering about since she came to the store.
"Can I ask why you are being so helpful?" Sharon tilted her head as she regarded the other woman.
"Do you know how I met Adam, my current husband?" Sarah answered the question with a question, which made Sharon shake her head. She did not want to play games with her husband's ex-wife.
"Heath and I, along with Priscilla and Nick were in Denver. Priscilla was closing out her sister's estate, and Heath was trying to get the mine owners there to support mining reform." Sarah's voice held a bored tone as she made the comment. "I am sure you know all about Heath's obsession with the subject."
Sharon wanted to comment that men's lives were at stake but did not as she wanted Sarah to finish her story so she could get out of the store. She chided herself for even asking in the first place.
"One night we had this ball to go to, hosted by one of the biggest mine owners. After we arrived Heath promptly left me alone, to go pursue his cause. Just as I was about to cry, Adam found me and introduced himself." Sarah smiled happily at the memory. "For the rest of the evening he kept me company, introduced me to people, and made sure I was taken care of. Heath had never done anything like that. Knowing what I know now, I should have cut my losses then, instead of waiting for his by-blow to show up." Her countenance took on an expression of disgust.
"Simon is a fine young man. He will be going to live with his grandparents this summer when they move here." Sharon did not care for Sarah's reference to his parentage.
"Yes, my mother told me all about the grandparents turning up." Sarah gave Sharon a cool look. "I do understand though that Simon is still at the big house, with your sainted sister-in-law. I bet Heath does not like that."
It bothered Sharon that Sarah knew so much about what was going on with the Barkley's. She wondered if Penny had told Sarah about the talk that her mother had had with her. There was also the fact that Sarah was not fond of Priscilla, based on the remark she had made.
"Never mind, that is all the past." Sarah spoke before Sharon could say anything. "As to the reason why I am being so helpful to you, is because your evening will be a repeat of mine at the ball in Denver. Heath will desert you, for the Vice President without a second thought. Hopefully though you will find a charming man who will keep you company."
"Sadie, I thought you were going to rest." A man came into the salon, and walked over to Sarah, putting his arm around her. Sharon noted his appearance and clothes – they were well tailored and reminded her of what His Grace had worn. She inferred also that this was Sarah's husband, Adam Cohen.
"Sharon and Heath have been invited to the Vice President's dinner tonight." Sarah explained, after introducing Adam. "Sharon is being gracious enough to let her honeymoon be interrupted." She added, giving Adam a knowing look, which made Sharon feel uncomfortable.
"I can see why a man who has presidential ambitions would want to reach out to your husband." Adam said in an interested voice.
"What do you mean?" Sharon and Heath had both been puzzled about the why of the invitation; maybe she could find out.
"Vice President Cabot Burwell is from an old Boston family, who made money in textiles. The man prefers politics to business and was smart enough to jump on the labor movement bandwagon." Adam started to explain. "He has been a big supporter of reform for factory workers – better pay, better conditions. Of course this was after he had made his money."
Sharon nodded her head and waited for Adam to continue. She thought she knew where this was going but wanted him to confirm her hunch. While Adam had been talking, he had brought a chair over, for Sarah to sit down on. It was clear that Adam was a doting and loving husband, which made her sad for some reason.
"The man wants to be president, but he needs to increase his recognition in other parts of the country. Your husband is very well known for his work on mining reform, which would broaden the Vice President's political base if he had standing out west."
"I can see that, but it sounds very calculating." Sharon mused, not surprised at what she had just learned.
"The German Chancellor once remarked that politics was like sausage; if you do not have a strong stomach, you should not watch either being made*." Adam quipped with a smile.
"You said he was from Boston?" Sharon trembled inwardly, as she remembered how the Irish had been treated in that city. Would the man hold it against Heath that he was married to an Irishwoman?
"The Vice President is rumored to be quite the ladies man." Adam seemed to know what Sharon was thinking. "I am sure that you will charm him." His smile was genuine, and she suddenly felt surer of herself. Sharon could see how he was successful in running the store.
"Well thank you for your help, I do not want to keep you any longer." Sharon smiled at Sarah. She had not mentioned her condition, since it would have been improper because they were not close friends or family. "It was very kind of you to take the time." Yes, it had been kind of Sarah, even if it was for the wrong reasons.
Sharon, once she settled into the carriage, the large box next to her, suddenly felt dirty. Yes, she had a dress – the most dazzling dress ever, worthy of a duchess – but the price was so high that it hurt her pride. She could recall the eighteen-year-old colleen who had refused to accept charity from the Barkley's.
Now though she had let Heath's ex-wife dress her, while the woman's husband explained politics, even as he had charmed her. In one part of her heart, she could see how Sarah would have been swept off her feet by Adam Cohen. He was sophisticated, urbane, and Sharon recalled at how he seemed to know her concern about the man being from Boston.
However, there was the fact that while she had stood up for Simon, Sharon had done nothing to support her husband. She winced as she recalled the pity in Sarah's eyes and voice, when she made the comment about the Vice President's dinner. It was with a sigh that she hung her head, feeling like she had not acquitted herself well.
Just as she was thinking those thoughts, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a handkerchief. It was simple cotton, and in one corner were three roughly stitched shamrocks in green thread. Sharon started to tear up, as she recalled Mother Flynn helping Tara to do the stitches. Her mother-in-law had done the best she could, within the limits of society and her station. Mary Margaret Flynn had only wanted the best for her grandchildren.
As Sharon thought that she looked over at the box that held a dress worthy of a Vice President. It was because she was Mrs. Heath Barkley that she was going to the dinner. Sharon remembered Adam's comments and realized that she was in a unique position to help Heath. Sitting up very straight, she realized that by helping Heath she was helping Sean and Tara.
Heath Barkley was sitting in a brocade covered wing chair in the hotel suite, trying to focus on the papers in his hand, as he waited for Sharon to get ready. There was a glass of bourbon on the marble topped table, and a lit cigarette in the black onyx ashtray. After he had finished at the mining exchange, he had gone over to Jarrod's office.
His plans had included the visit, even before the Vice President's invitation. When he arrived at the office Jarrod's law clerk was quite helpful, as Heath explained about the dinner invitation with the Vice President. He had hoped to look up the man's politics, and any information about his character.
The law clerk supplied several issues of the Congressional Quarterly, which covered legislation that happened in both the senate and house of representatives. The Vice President, Heath learned, was president of the senate. He had asked Joel what it meant, and the young man explained that while the Vice President had no real political position, depending on the President the man could be a conduit to the legislature.
Now, he took a sip of his drink, and then picked up his cigarette, to take a last drag. He had found the reading heavy and dry, but he had noted several references to labor reform laws. They all referenced factories, but in reading some of the testimonies, Heath saw parallels between the factory floor and the mines. Joel had told him that the Vice President was from Massachusetts and had been a supporter of labor reform.
He pulled his watch out of his vest pocket – he was in white tie, with his studs and cufflinks being solid gold with the ranch brand. The watch was gold, with his initials on the front. Victoria had presented it to him his first Christmas with the family.
Just as Heath, after checking his watch, was wondering if he should go check on Sharon, he heard the double doors open. When he turned around, what he saw took him aback, even more than the wedding had. A society beauty was standing in front of him, dazzling in couture fashion and jewelry worthy of a European Aristocrat.
Her dress was heavy white duchesse satin with yellow embroidery on the bodice and hem of the overskirt. The underskirt was yellow pleated silk, while the bustle was more of the same white duchesse satin. The top of the bodice, the shoulders, and all down the back had yellow satin bows that had been ornamented with topaz-colored crystals which sparkled.
Even as Heath was marveling at the dress, it was the jewelry that he could not believe. The diamond necklace that graced Sharon's swan like neck, was echoed in the matching bracelets – with the floral clasps that followed the design of the necklace – that graced the long white kid gloves she wore.
Her hair was formally put up, rather similar to her wedding, but this time a diamond flower brooch was the center piece of the style. Her earrings were round cut diamonds, which diamond flowers hung from. The shades of the dress complimented her coloring perfectly, and the diamonds were the icing on the cake.
"Are you just going to stand there open mouth? You know we have a formal dinner to attend." Sharon looked at Heath with amusement.
"Well now I was just wondering if you would be ready in time." Heath bowed slightly, smiling at her with admiration. "The Vice President will be impressed, as will San Francisco society." He had been concerned that the evening might be more than she could handle, but now realized how baseless his thoughts had been.
"Can I ask if you took those diamonds with you when you left Ireland?" Heath wanted to change the subject, to get away from the feelings she was stirring in him. He was in fact very concerned about how his wife was wearing a king's ransom worth of jewels.
"As if!" Sharon looked at him, as she laughed and tossed her head, as the diamonds send rainbow sparkles around her. "Your mother presented them to me the morning of our wedding. It seems that your father was very generous with jewelry, and she has been passing it on to Audra and Priscilla. I almost cried when she gave them to me."
The news about Victoria passing on jewelry to Audra and Priscilla was news to him. Heath wondered when it had started – he knew that she had never offered anything to Sarah. He did not blame her, as their marriage had, he now knew, had started to derail in the first year.
"My mother likes you very much. She was quite happy that we were marrying." Heath offered, thinking that he would have to say thank you to Victoria when they returned to Stockton. The gift was generous, while making clear that she felt about Sharon, as she did about Audra and Priscilla.
"Let me get your cloak" Heath stated and went into the second bedroom. While he was out earlier, he was reminded of how chilly San Francisco could be, even in the summer. Heath doubted that Sharon had an evening cloak, as he thought about how thin her pelisse was that she wore in Stockton.
"Cloak? I don't have one." Sharon felt herself start to panic, as Heath left the room. Her breaths were shallow, due to how tight her corset was laced, and she started to feel lightheaded. As she grasped the chair for support, she was chiding herself for not thinking of an evening wrap.
"Yes, you do." Heath came back into the room, carrying a large, rectangular box that was tied with red ribbon. He put it down on the loveseat and indicated for Sharon to open the package. Her expression when she saw what was inside made Heath smile.
"Tis tis so beautiful!" Sharon's hands were shaking as she picked up a black silk velvet cloak. When she looked at the lining, it took her aback when she realized it was mink. The fur was soft and glossy, and Sharon held it up to her face. "It is so generous of you." She was touched that he had thought of the garment and had picked out such a magnificent one.
"While I was out today, I went by the store where my mother gets her outer garments from." Heath had in fact just planned on getting a plain velvet cloak, but the owner of the store knew Victoria. He had brought out the mink lined one, which Heath could see was good quality. Not wanting to lose face with the man, Heath had purchased it, inwardly gasping at the price. He took the garment from her and draped it on her shoulders. Heath stood slightly apart from her and kept his touch impersonal.
"Shall we go meet the Vice President?" He asked, as he put on his outer garment of black wool, with silk lapels.
"Considering that we are all fancied up, why not?" Sharon smiled, the excitement shining in her eyes. Heath thought to himself, no matter what happened tonight, he knew he would never forget the evening.
*While this quote is attributed to Otto von Bismarck, there is in fact no record that he really made it.
Author's Note: Today fur garments are politically incorrect, but in the 19th century through the 1980's a fur coat, especially mink, was seen as a sign of wealth and success.