The Letter

by Rebecca Bernadette Mance

“Really? Kim Su, you mean I have liberty that other women don’t have?”

  “Of course, mistress not live by rules, I think better than wife.”

  “That is a very interesting thought.”

  The idea of not living by rules was quite appealing, quite appealing indeed.

  “What should I wear Kim Su? What would he think I would look good wearing?”

  “Red.”

  “Red?”

  “Men go crazy over red on woman. You beautiful in red…Boss go crazy right in the ball room.”

  “Then let us go get a red dress to make him go crazy,” Victoria laughed.

  “This sound fun,” Kim Su laughed, untying her apron. “You want to knock your man off his feet? You already knock man off his feet.”

  “Maybe Boss eat you up right in the ballroom.”

  The two women giggled.

  *****

  Cursing mentally for the hundredth time that week, William put his pen aside. He had tried to find an opportunity to go see Victoria for days. But there had been utter chaos when he returned from the vineyards.

  Several deals had gone through quicker than expected, there had been an attempted robbery at the bank, and last, but not least, he had been forced to deal with Faith, who wanted to see him every night since his return. He was perplexed at her petulant response to him taking a trip to the vineyards without inviting her and her parents.

  Faith didn’t even like the vineyards or the “rustic” living she endured when she went there. She complained every time he went, but she wouldn’t go herself. Women were never happy, he concluded.

  Well, not all women. Victoria had enjoyed the vineyards, almost as much as he did, in fact.

  To his immense pleasure, she had been fascinated by the wine-making process. She had even had a few ideas of her own. She had actually suggested to him that he could change the position of the grapes as he planted them to arrive at a different taste in the fruit. A keen mind she had. If only all women were as intelligent as Victoria.

  He wondered if she would like the diamond teardrop necklace he bought for her as a reward for giving him such a fulfilling weekend. Of course, he couldn’t present the necklace to her with those words, lest she throw the gift back in his face. He would have to use a little more tact and finesse.

  Unfortunately, he wouldn’t be able to see her for a few more days. He had several engagements to attend with Faith. Perhaps it was better. She had become an obsession. The last thing a man needed was to be obsessed with his mistress.

  Faith breezed into his office without a knock. “William! Your mother wanted to be sure that we were going to attend the fundraising ball this week?”

  William smiled at his beautiful fiancé, wondering why; despite her delicate beauty and poise, she didn’t move him to passion as Victoria did. In fact, Faith didn’t move him at all. Perhaps in time.

  Better that way anyhow. The only thing worse than being obsessed with his mistress was to be obsessed with his wife.

  “Of course, why is she so concerned? We go every year and she has asked me twice if we plan to attend,” William said as Faith gracefully sank into the chair opposite his desk and smiled a dazzling smile.

  “Well, she said only everybody will be there, just everybody.”

  1CHAPTER 22

  Dressed in gleaming red satin and trimmed in velvet, Victoria turned every head in the shimmering ballroom as she floated through the gilded, double doors that were swung wide to welcome the endless stream of guests pouring through.

  She was alone, already an intriguing story….but dressed as she was, in a gown that invoked thoughts of deep passion, while elegant enough to pass through the doorway of the charity ball, she was even more riveting.

  Kim Su had swept her hair up and secured it with sparkling hair pins that left her silky waves cascading down her back.

  Despite that he was unlikely to publically greet her, Victoria’s heart raced in anticipation and excitement as she scanned the room in search of William. It would be enough to see him in this magical setting.

  Kim Su had said this was an extravagant yearly affair where all the wealthy aristocrats gathered for a charity benefit. Because she was an unknown and would be considered a social pariah, Victoria was surprised when she reached the bottom of the expansive, sweeping staircase and was greeted immediately by one of the hostesses of the charity ball.

  “Welcome,” the woman smiled in a cold polite fashion taking Victoria’s hand into her chilly grasp. “I am Mrs. Alexander Greer.”

  “Thank you. I am Victoria Riley,” Victoria answered smiling into Mrs. Greer’s ice-blue eyes. Victoria’s chin came up under the woman’s frosty measuring survey.

  Despite her bravado, Victoria’s heart beat wildly while she was descended upon by several more people who introduced themselves while scrutinizing her.

  For a while small-talk prevailed with a polite pelting of personal questions directed at Victoria. She had her answers well rehearsed for several days before the event and easily deflected the questions.

  “Where are you from Miss Riley?” one matron, named Annabel Hazelwood asked while her tiny, moss-colored eyes roved over Victoria’s gown assessing its quality.

  “My family is from Fort Worth, Texas,” Victoria answered, smiling with practiced airs. “I am only here for a short business visit for my father, who was too ill to travel.”

  “A business woman, hum,” came the disapproving reply from the widowed Ms. Hazelwood. “How very interesting….” Victoria smiled at her own boldness. She was a business woman alright…the likes of which would shock the very curl out of every one of those biddies’ well-groomed hair fashions!

  As the conversation moved around, Victoria relaxed into her role. Her gown and manners had satisfied the crowd for the moment, even if she had admitted to dabbling in her father’s business.

  When her initial novelty faded, many of the women moved away to their familiar circles to discuss Victoria and decide if this commoner who had obviously been invited for entertainment was worth knowing.

  Several men remained to talk and stare at her with open admiration. As she made small talk with the well-arranged gentlemen, Victoria discreetly scanned the room in search of William certain that if he was there she would have seen him by now.

  Hearing a commotion by the door, Victoria turned to view of the entrance while politely bantering in conversation that required little attention with the gentlemen surrounding her.

  Her heart lurched to a stop and she was overcome with ridiculous shyness when her eye found William towering at the top of the staircase as if her thoughts had conjured him.

  Quickly, she faded back into the throng, murmuring her apologies to her fast- formed admirers. She deftly migrated toward a potted plant in a dimly lit corner where she could openly follow William’s progress down the stairs without witnesses.

  But dear gracious!

  He was so absolutely handsome and politesse in his black tails with a charcoal vest, black trousers and a shimmering cape draping off of his broad shoulders. Every inch of him, from his shiny black top hat to his polished shoes fulfilled the image of the aristocrat that he was. She covered her heart with her fist in reaction to the impact of his visage.

  Victoria’s heart squeezed when he removed his hat and cape and handed them to the attendant by the door. She unclenched her fist and her trembling fingers smoothed non-existent creases from her gown.

  Here, he was in his element…smiling his casual sensual smile that summoned the pack that pressed toward him when he reached the bottom of the stairs. He gave back the words of greeting and handshakes were eagerly given.

  Here, he was king.

  And on his arm was the most beautiful creature Victoria had ever seen.

  Seeing his fiancé cut sudden and deep. Her heart plummeted to the ground.

  Golden hair, dressed in a powder blue gown, trimmed in delicate lace, the girl was a perfect beautiful doll.

  Desperately attemp
ting to swallow the painful lump in her throat, Victoria followed the shining couple’s progress as they moved through the crowd together with accustomed steps. William smiled down and touched Faith in a familiar loving manner elegantly plying all the gestures of a man soon to be married to the woman he adored.

  Bile rose up in Victoria’s throat and waves of bitter pain sliced through her heart. Why would William invite her to the ball to witness him with his beautiful fiancé?

  What a cruel game he played. Or was it some perverse sexual stimulant?

  A rage sizzled away the hurt.

  Damn him! How could he make love to her the way he did.....then go about with this woman as if the sun rose and set on her? And make Victoria stand witness no less.

  Of course, he had never tried to deceive her about her role. It was clear from the start that she was a toy…an object of lust …a vehicle to slake his needs. When she made a deal with the devil, she could expect no less.

  Rage seethed, racing against pain.

  She didn’t want him anyway. She only wanted the store, and to be with Mandy and Johnny.

  So if all that were true, why then did her heart feel jagged as if it had been cut with a broken piece of glass?

  Worse still, here she was like a school girl — hurt for the first time. And like an idiot she was hiding behind a potted plant.

  Victoria Riley wouldn’t let herself wallow in sorrow and hide behind the potted plant all evening!

  Finding her pride, she made a liberating step away from the potted plant.

  Boldly, she glided back into the ballroom, her strides slow, deliberate and sensual. Instantly she was pulled into another group of men interested in the exotic, unescorted woman dressed in red.

  ***

  Across the room, William scanned the crowded ballroom with detached interest anticipating another tedious evening.

  He wondered idly what Victoria was doing at this moment. Perhaps she and Kim Sue were pursuing some culinary delight. Or embarking on some home improvement project Victoria insisted on doing rather than just allowing him to hire someone to do it for her.

  His eye hit the object of his thoughts in the form of a vision beyond his wildest dreams stopping his heart. Dressed as she was, Victoria was more ravishing than he had ever imagined.

  Victoria?

  At the ball?

  Looking stunning.

  In red.

  Hell, and she was standing in a large group of gaping men.

  Blind jealous fury raced through William like wildfire. How had she gotten in to this exclusive affair and why?

  William took in the scene of Victoria surrounded by lusty-eyed gentlemen… his very own acquaintances as enthralled by her beauty as he was!

  Damn her.

  How dare she come here! She, who was only his was dressed like that, so that the entire world could enjoy her exotic beauty?

  Just wait until he put his hands on the bold girl!

  With exquisite control, gained only through his years of discipline, William gently led Faith through the horde toward Victoria on a false errand of greeting to an acquaintance, Colonel Burk.

  With Faith on his arm, William stopped a few yards from Victoria and her devotees to talk to Colonel Burk, a long time friend of his father. While Faith chatted with the Colonel and his wife, William was close enough to eavesdrop on the conversations being carried on a few feet away between Victoria and her admirers.

  Victoria saw William from the corner of her eye. To her jealous satisfaction he had made his way over to her almost immediately upon entering the ball. There was no mistaking the fury in his eyes that scalded her as he moved closer to her despite his outer facade.

  Let him be angry, she thought with jealousy seeking delicious revenge against his loving attention to his fiancé.

  “Miss Riley, I would like to have a dance with you,” Arnold Chase, the son of a wealthy jeweler in town, asked her as one piece of music ended and another began.

  Victoria smiled a deliberate seductive smile.

  “Of course, Mr. Chase, I would be happy to dance with you.”

  Some yards away William watched as Victoria was led to the dance floor by Arnold Chase. Grinding his teeth together, William let his lids drop to cover his fury.

  “Darling, do you wish to dance?” Faith asked, touching his arm, obviously noting his acute interest in the dance floor.

  “No, no, pardon me darling, I just thought I saw an acquaintance of mine. But of course we can dance later if you wish?” William tore his gaze from the dance floor where Victoria was dancing far too close to Arnold Chase and tried to focus his mind back on his fiancé and the Burks.

  “Of course, but later,” Faith replied, turning her attention again to the Colonel and his wife.

  Despite his efforts, William’s gaze returned again and again to the dance floor where Victoria floated around like a beautiful temptress smiling up at Chase, the besotted fool that he was.

  When the music stopped, William’s hungry gaze followed Victoria and Arnold return. When they were back in the admiring group, William turned for a perfect view of Victoria over Faith’s head.

  To his complete annoyance, Victoria’s soft laughter reached him like a siren’s song. She was utterly enchanting and entertaining to the audience who had joined her growing circle of admirers.

  If he didn’t know any better, William would mistake her for a society girl on her debut.

  Except the red dress framing her glorious beauty and sensual wiles that captured everything she was.

  Where had she learned to smile such sultry smiles?

  No matter. A society girl she was not and she had no business going around this ball as if she belonged here. Obviously, she did not care about her position in life, most importantly her position in his life.

  To his fury, minutes later, she danced again with another gentleman….then, yet another. Within the hour, she had danced with at least five different men gracing them all with provocative smiles and beguiling eyes visibly melting the randy victims around her into piles of mush.

  By the time Victoria left the dance floor with the last gentleman, William had the overwhelming desire to sweep her up and cart her right out of the ball over his shoulder.

  How dare she come here acting like she belonged here . . . flirting and dancing with practically every man at the ball!

  When Faith went to dance with her father who had joined them a few moments before, William moved in to abort Victoria’s inappropriate debut.

  Moving to her side, he took Victoria’s hand into to a firm grip.

  “I believe this dance is mine,” William said, giving polite nods to the startled men surrounding Victoria while smoothly disengaging her from the group.

  “Of course every dance is mine,” he said when they were out of earshot of Victoria’s admirers. “You appear to have forgotten that.”

  “Let me go,” she whispered.

  Victoria tried to pull her hand from his grasp as he stealthily forced her to the dance floor.

  On the dance floor he pulled her to him with such force that she rammed against his body.

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing here?” he demanded, his voice a low, dangerous growl. His eyes flashed like lightning in a summer storm.

  She had never seen him so angry. Victoria’s heart hammered in her chest like the wings of a humming bird.

  When she saw the beautiful Faith sweep by glancing at them curiously, fury unfolded in her heart. How dare he invite her here, humiliate her with his fiancé, and then get angry with her for her own justified actions?

  “I am dancing and having a brilliant time. What are you doing?” she asked sweetly, blinking her eyes in exaggerated innocence.

  “You do not belong here,” he said against her ear in a harsh outraged whisper, his grip tightening around her waist.

  “I was invited and you don’t control my life,” she answered stubbornly.

  “That, my dear, is where you are compl
etely wrong. I do control your life, at least for now. It was what we agreed to.” His words, chilly and businesslike and delivered with vexing arrogance, only served to fuel her ire.

  “Oh yes, I am to be your slave while you go around acting the perfect gentleman with your lovely bride.” Her words were bitter and jealous even to her own ears, but the green eyed monster reared its ugly head and was not going away any time soon.

  “You knew this was how things would be, Victoria,” he reminded her. Then a smile curled his lips. It was a knowing smile that made her want to slap his sensuous lips off of his face. “If I didn’t know better, darling, I would believe you were jealous. Now of course you know that would be a terrible mistake for a mistress wouldn’t it? It would mean your feelings had become involved. Too involved — indeed — which is a very bad thing for a mistress.” His low tone sent shivers down her spine.

  “Feelings? For you? That will be the day!” she whispered furiously. “Let me go.”

  “When I let you go, you are going home,” he commanded in a silky, threatening voice.

  Victoria was beyond angry, glaring back at him with her chin set stubbornly and her eyes flashing fury. He thought he could tell her what to do. He thought he was going to run every aspect of her life, control her every move, while he, on the other hand, could do exactly as he pleased.

  The music stopped and she abruptly jerked away from him. Caught off guard by her sudden burst of strength, he let her go. Spinning away from him, Victoria made a hasty retreat back to her group of admirers.

  Other than watch her go and make his own way off of the dance floor, there was little William could do to stop her without making more of a scene.

  Already, he had attracted Faith and her father’s keen attention — not to mention his mother, who was mocking his folly with one of her vicious knowing glances.

  Had his mother invited Victoria? It would be like her to arrange such a thing, if nothing else than to illustrate the rigid and unforgiving social chasm between himself and Victoria.

  How in the hell had she acquired an invitation and why?

  “I say William, is there someone you wish to speak with?” Faith’s father, Mr. Anderson asked in a stern voice leveling William a pointed stare.