Chapter Eighteen

JD walked into his rail cars and immediately wrinkled his nose at the smell.

Lila was resting on the velvet duvet while the Chinese houseman scrubbed the expensive carpet.

"I am so sorry. The smell of the engine came through the window. I had opened it because of the heat. I wasn't able to make it to the basin."

The houseman spoke up in a quiet voice, "Missa Autonberry, she fainted. Had to give her smelling salts. She not well."

"Lila, I am distressed at this smell." and he eyed her, "It's in your hair too." with disgust.

She began to cry. He walked over and grabbed his briefcase.

"Sing Yo- pack me and the lady a bag. Have someone air this car out. We will spend the night at the Palace."

Lila washed up as best she could and put on a new dress. He put her lightweight cape around her. He walked out ahead to his rig.

"Come on."

—-&—

Nick brought Maris around to the side entrance. He kissed her again in the darkness.

She clasped his hand, "Three weeks?"

"I will write."

"So will I."

"Good night Maris and sweet dreams."

She initiated a small, quick kiss for the first time and he couldn't get the smile off his face.

"Tu me manques déjà."

"And what my dear did you just tell me?" Moving a wisp of hair off her fair.

"I miss you already," she blushed.

He watched as the doorman let her into the fine hotel. The clock rang for the midnight hour.

Grover called to him, "Ya ever read Cinderella? But I ain't notta pumpkin."

"She's a princess for sure. Home Grover."

"Yes sir Mista Barkley, going to hate to see you go."

"For the first time ever, I hate to leave San Francisco myself. Three weeks sounds like an eternity."

—-&—

Maris took the elevator up to the tenth floor and walked distractedly down the rose print carpet down the hall.

She stopped in horror as she passed her father-in-law two doors down.

"Maris? What are you doing out at this hour? Your hair askew and pink cheeks? Have you been drinking? Where is James David? Home alone?"

"I uh uh was with a friend?"

"Maris!"

She opened her door and he followed her into the suite.

"James David decided to stay at school. He will be here in the morning."

"So you decided to prance the city unchaperoned?"

"No. I was with a friend. Our driver was armed and had a bully stick.

"Who?"

"Just my friend. We were well protected. With an armed driver."

He frowned at her, "What lady of standing would be out at this hour? Absolutely an abomination. You are NOT to associate with this woman, again. Do you hear me, young lady?"

She took a deep breath and almost corrected him—-"Yes Sir. I am sorry."

"You should be, my dearest. I know best how to protect you. When I brought you into my home as a bride, I took a vow to take care of you. Haven't I?"

"Yes sir."

"You made a misstep. It can be forgiven. You have been under the watchful eye of the Petersons or me or the servants at our home and even this week under the very influential Barkley family—-this shows you should leave these decisions to those of us with more experience."

She lowered her head and bit her lip with the irony of his words.

He thought her to be penitent and he walked over and hugged her, "Now don't cry, my daughter. It was a simple error of judgment. All forgotten. But you must not be out without a chaperone again."

"Yes sir," and she allowed him to open her suite door.

"What a lovely orchid. You have such lovely taste my dearest. Who is it from?"

She was glad she hid the card with the handkerchief she kept of Nick's, "I toured the arboretum with the Barkleys; it arrived this morning with my corsage."

"Such a considerate family. I shall drop them a note thanking them for taking you under their wing."

"I will send one, too"

"Good idea. Good night daughter. Will see you at breakfast at 9 promptly."

"Promptly."

She shut the door behind him and leaned on it. She released her breath and nerves.

"I am keeping Nick in my heart no matter what he says."

—-&—

He walked back into the suite; Lila was dressed in the hotel robe after her bath. Her hair was in a towel and he could see her shapely legs.

She was a very beautiful and attractive woman but pregnancy had brought her nausea at any time of the day, bothered by smells, exhaustion, and a rash on her face.

"The maid said pine tar soap would help for the rash. Could we send out for it in the morning? Please JD?" In a weak voice.

"Of course," as he hung up his jacket and hat, "This is something one has to endure with a wife, not a mistress."

He looked over at the untied bodice of her gown.

"Let's go to bed, Lila. At least you can take my problems away from this situation that has arisen. You should be glad I still desire you after that earlier scene. So disturbing a smell."

"Women know these things as the fallen sex. I wonder if she trapped me into a child? Hmmmm, I had not seen her as cunning but? I want the child of course if it's a boy but I would send a girl off in an instant. I have a perfect daughter already, my Maris; he shook off the improper feelings that haunted his dreams. She was a vestal virgin to be untouched by man and appreciated as a paragon…" and his thoughts rambled on as he took Lila abruptly.

&—

Maris carefully removed the orchid from the glass vial and pressed it between some vellum stationery. She dropped a piece of ice into the planter.

She softly kissed the monogrammed handkerchief on her dresser and pulled back the covers. She held her pillow close to her and pulled her hair to her nose. It still smelled of cigar and bay. She drifted off to sleep thinking of the week she spent with Nick Barkley—and the new kind of kiss he taught her.

Her dreams quickly began—

"I miss my sisters— and my friend Missy. The boy next door who kissed me behind the garden shed. I wanted to marry him—-but Papa no Papa. I didn't say it aloud of course—"Mama please I am too young to be a wife." " Be a good girl and don't vex Mr Autonberry or your husband. You will learn all women do—-just let him have his way at night and the days will bring you children and a beautiful home. Close your eyes and relax. Don't kiss him back or he will think you wanton—-"

She moaned in her sleep and rolled over, still holding her pillow, "Oh I already broke that rule," she spoke in her sleep.

"Father, you had no right to find me a wife." David bellowed—-"Yes I do. I am the head of the family and we need an heir. Not one conceived in a brothel." Maris listened at the door of the argument in the hall.

"Bed her, I say or the trust is gone!"

"I don't bed children." and he stormed out of the house slamming doors.

The tears poured. "Mama and Papa will be so sad when they send me home. I am too ugly or plain or something that his son doesn't want me. I have to do better to stay."

"I learned my manners, served JD his papers and coffee, did my lessons, dressed how they asked, went to church and prayed. One day David came back for me, well not for me but for the nights."

"I am sorry sweet child but I have to be your husband. Hopefully, it won't take more than a few times and I will leave you with a child. Then your life and mine will be better. He will always take care of the mother of his heir. Damn, I think he would take you himself, you little porcelain doll. Straight from the shelf."

She didn't say a word back as he awkwardly ravished her with obvious disgust.

"Oh," she cried out in pain as David took her in her dream.

The pain, it hurts so bad—he's gone?

"He was right James David was brought into existence and David left me alone when I missed my monthlies twice in a row. JD was happy and I got more jewelry from him. David would come at Christmas and see the boy. Then he died—JD got more angry and controlling—"

"Maris! You are a widow. Black this year and never again. You are mine and you will never remarry. Raise James David for us. It is our, your lot—-"

She sat straight up in bed sweating. It felt like JD and David were in the room.

"Nick, I promise we will be together if you will have me. I just have to think."