Chapter Fourteen
Elisabeth went to her room immediately after they got home.
"Dear, Nick and I need to have a serious conversation with the boys. I will tell you all about it when I return."
"You might want to change your shirt with the strange stain on it." She sounded a bit peevish.
And she shut her dressing room door.
He shook his head and did as she asked—-the shirt went into the waste receptacle.
Nick was in his room stripping down his clothes—a few more red feathers spilled out on the floor. He shook his head in half laughter and half frustration. He put on a velvet smoking jacket with his trousers. He wanted to take a bath and get the stench off his body—and soak his lower back.
"Not the way I planned on the evening going. I gotta get to the bank in the morning. Told Grover to check the desk at noon for an envelope and I will drop it by Como's before I go home."
The boys washed up and put on their pajamas; they sat on the twin beds facing each other.
Chip cut the red veil three times, "A souvenir of our time in India. Since we won't be leaving home until we are thirty."
—-&—
Jarrod and Nick had done well together since Peg and Francis had died. They relied on each other to take care of their boys, carte blanche in discipline. Elisabeth was given Nick's permission to help raise Chip too.
They hadn't discussed their tactic but trusted each other's judgment. They came down the hall and met at JT's and William's room in the townhouse.
"Let's get this over with."
Nick went to the twin bed where JT was sitting. Jarrod sat down by Chip.
"Well," Nick began.
"We are so sorry—" came out of the boys' mouths simultaneously.
"Last month, you were expelled from school," pointing at Chip, "And you should have been if you had been caught." Nick railed and motioned toward JT.
Jarrod added, "We got a lot of sorry then. Why should we accept an apology this time?"
JT answered first, "It was my idea. Thought it was funny and we got in there—-then we couldn't stop watching,"
Nick hid his grin and Jarrod swallowed his.
"That's not all, JT. It was my idea to stay for the second show. We did pay for it." Chip added, "James David warned us it was a bad idea."
"Do you have any idea when your money was stolen?"
"Maybe when she danced with us or should I say on us?"
"Likely," Nick smirked.
"How much was in your wallet, JT?"
"All the money from branding season. Almost fifty dollars."
Jarrod frowned.
"Chip."
"Twenty dollars."
"James David?"
They looked at each other, "Well, we shouldn't say."
"Quite a bit.."
JT blurted out, "hundred dollars from his grandfather,"
Nick whistled," that stings."
Jarrod reminded the boys of all the pitfalls of loose women, "Losing your money, as you did and it will NOT be replaced without labor-a child out of wedlock, diseases, your soul. Corinthians says, "Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body." It hurts you, too. I have known many men who destroy themselves and their families chasing skirts."
"Yes sir," they both agreed.
"Can I ask a question?" JT posed.
"Course son. That's what we are here for."
"Diseases?"
Jarrod colored for a moment, "Yes, when a lady is uh let's say promiscuous, they might catch a disease and pass it to you."
"Like the flu?"
"No. Fatal diseases." Jarrod trying not to use street terms.
"Promiscuous?"
"Shares her favors for money or lust with many men."
"Oh. What kind of diseases?"
"Several. With painful symptoms and some kill you."
"Like what?"
Jarrod looked to Nick for help.
He shrugged his shoulders and said, "Well they are trying to be men so—- itch, clap, pox." and he went on to describe in detail the symptoms and results. "Hell, I have known men to die from it. The women too."
The boys looked bilious and Jarrod was a bit nauseous himself from Nick's descriptive terms. They all looked at him in disgust.
"Well, you asked," he defended himself.
Chip spoke up, "Shouldn't have eaten all that Italian food. I think I am gonna puke." he whispered to no one in particular.
"Me too"
Jarrod concluded the conversation, "So boys, I think you have learned quite a bit tonight," grimacing at Nick.
"You have lost money and privileges but if you learn from this—-it will be quite worth it."
"Yes sir."
Nick stood up and stretched his back, "Remember what I told you, keep it in your trousers until you marry. Solves a lot of problems."
Jarrod nodded.
They hugged their boys and shut the door.
"Nick, did you have to say all that?"
"Well, they asked."
"We weren't much older than them when Father took us to Big Annie's."
"Jarrod, I swore I would never do that. Put ideas in my head that weren't there before."
"Agreed," as he patted his brother on the shoulder.
"Pretty mad about losing my wallet. Peg gave it to me."
"Sorry brother. That's not right."
"But if it keeps our boys on the right track, I figure she would understand."
"True."
"Good luck with Elisabeth, Jarrod. She's a smart lady and figured out our predicament real fast."
"Yes, she did. I know that look, quite well, I was given."
"I am kinda worried about James David without a Pa to set him straight. Sweet little Maris may be thirty years or so, but old JD has kept her in a cage."
"Nick, for what it's worth. I think she's a peach."
"Me too. Big brother. Me too."
—-&—-
Maris checked her appearance in the mirror. The afternoon sun shone brightly through the lace panels between the heavy velvet drapes. She was getting ready for the evening. The Palace Ballroom would hold a summer dance for the Pine Crest students, prospective students, and ladies from Marymount school. Parents of new students were invited to attend as guests of honor. James David was a precept and she was to unveil a plaque for her father-in-law's gift to the school
She looked through her sitting room to see her forlorn son on the couch.
"He is such a good boy, I mean man. I am glad that his conscience is so tender to confess to me the sins of the night before. I was not as surprised as he thought I would be. I am, however, quite well-read. I am thankful Jarrod and Nicholas were quite the gentlemen and rescued the boys from such decadent behavior. I am sure they had just the conversations I did with my son."
"I quoted Dickens and Austen and Horatio Algiers—poverty and women in servitude for evil masters. He understood that society is a cause of ills and women being debauched under taskmasters. Women are to be protected and not used for naught. Gentlemen do not take advantage of ladies—-even those who allow them to. Men are to protect us, the weaker vessels, and not use them for ill-gotten gain or dissipation. The money he lost was a consequence of sin. He understood."
"We agreed that this would go no farther and JD would not have to know if he turned from such,"
A knock on the door and James David answered it, "Delivery for Mrs Autonberry."
He fished for a coin on the sideboard and tipped the bellboy.
"Mother, it's for you."
She came out to a large potted orchid and a smaller one wrapped with a pin for her sleeve or décolleté. It was in a tiny glass vial with a ribbon and pin. The orchids were white with fuchsia centers.
She involuntarily shivered as the thought of Nick pinning it on—-"Where did that thought come from?"
"What did you say, Mother?"
"Oh, wondering how to pin it to my new dress."
"Is it from Mr Nick?"
"Yes," and she held the card dear to her heart.
Bella Dona
—-&—-
