Lamont was well aware of eccentricities in those well born or well educated, especially those who pursue professions in medicine and science.
"I know I brought my bag up here, didn't I?" The man almost sounded worried, or scared.
"Here it is, sir," Lamont said soothingly, stooping to pick it up and hand it to the stranger. And as Lamont did so, he noticed the bag wasn't at all heavy.
The stranger took the bag eagerly from Lamont. "My apologies," he muttered. "There is something in this bag that is very important to me, something that took a great deal of work to acquire and something I could never regain without great difficulty were I to lose it, Mr. Barnes. I apologize if I offended you, sir."
"Think nothing of it, sir. Now, about the terms, Mr. --?" Lamont said, realizing the man had never offered his name.
"Mr. Lockhart. Thomas Lockhart. And the terms... I'm quite willing to pay you for, let's say two months in advance?" Lamont nearly had to collect his lower jaw from the floor. He felt hot and nearly sick with eager relief. "That would be fine, sir," he managed to reply.
"And what will you charge me?" Mr. Lockhart asked with a friendly, almost familiar tone in his voice. "I'll also need attendance as I live here, from you and your wife. I assume your wife can cook?"
Lamont nodded at the rapid-fire order of Lockhart's questions. "It's $15 dollars a month and for our services, it's another $60 per month. Does that sound acceptable, sir?" Lockhart nodded, a little lost in thought. "I'm used to waiting on myself, but I do not wish to share lodging with any other tenants."
"We could let you use both floors for the price I quoted you, until another tenant comes. The bedroom on this floor is a bit drafty and the one on the second floor is much roomier and it faces the east. You could do your studies up here and retire below when you've finished. We could serve your meals in the drawing room on the second floor as well."
"Hmm," Lockhart said, pursing his lips together. "That sounds good. But I will pay you $125 per month for both floors and yours and your wife's attendance as needed. I assume that would prevent any other tenants from finding a place here?"
"Yes," Lamont said. "It would be a pleasure to have only you to wait on, sir."
"Do you have a key to the door of this room, Mr. Barnes? I don't like to be disturbed while I'm working and studying."
"Yes, there is a lock on the door and there is one key. I can get it for you," Lamont said.
"Good. $125 per month will do then. I'll begin now by paying two months in advance," Lockhart said as he reached into his coat and produced a billfold from which he extracted $250 in cash. Lamont couldn't recall a time in recent memory where he had seen so much money and judging from Lockhart's billfold, there was even more cash on the man's person.
Lockhart reached out with the cash but withdrew it. Lamont's hand extended eagerly but he quickly retracted it.
"Wait, I need to give you more. I'll need you and your wife's services in running errands for me tomorrow morning. I'll need to sleep in and then I have to get started on my work. I met a few setbacks today, so I have to get caught up on my work."
"Very good, sir. I'm sorry to hear that," Lamont said in his best butler's voice, but his insides were throbbing with excitement such that he feared he would pass out in front of his new tenant.
"Yes. I lost a great deal of luggage, aside from that bag."
"Was it stolen, sir?"
"Hmm? No. It was lost in transit. Hopefully, it will show up soon enough. Until then, I'll have to see about getting some clothes tomorrow as I'm wearing the only change I have in my possession. Mr. Barnes, I'm very grateful to you for taking me in at such a late hour. I feared that I would have to sleep on the streets this very evening when I happened by and saw the sign in your window. It was providence that I saw it in all the fog and rain!" Lockhart smiled at Lamont and Lamont found himself touched by the man's appealing face, generosity and apparent kindness.
"Well, I know a gentleman when I see one, sir," Lamont said with a smile.
Lockhart returned the smile and extended his hand to shake Lamont's, but then remembered the cash in his hand. He scrambled to produce more bills, which he added to the growing pile of money that he handed to Lamont before shaking the butler's hand.
"I expect you'd like to get ready for bed. The bedroom downstairs is ready for you. Is there anything else I can do for you?" Lamont asked.
"I've already had dinner, hours ago really, but I'm actually a little hungry. I don't suppose you have any bread and butter, or perhaps some cheese?"
"We have bread and sandwich meats," a voice said behind Lamont. It was Velma. She stood in the hallway outside the door. "But we could fetch you anything you like."
"Hmm, I don't prefer meat. It's been a long time since I ate sandwich meat," Lockhart said.
"Is it, sir?" Velma asked. "Will you be requiring any beer or wine?"
Lockhart's face darkened slightly. "Absolutely not. I am a teetotaler."
"As are we, sir," Lamont intervened. And that was true, despite the misery they had found themselves in concerning their finance -- misery that was quickly dissipating in the presence of the cash Lamont now held.
"Good. Glad to hear it. I've changed my mind about the food. I'll go to bed now and have a proper appetite in the morning," Lockhart said.
And then, the three went downstairs to the second floor, where they showed Mr. Lockhart the bedroom there. It was a beautifully furnished room. The bed was comfortable and large; a queen size bed stuffed with goose feathers and covered in a warm, downy comforter.
Mr. Lockhart looked at the bed and sighed. "Refuge," he said to himself. "'Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' A beautiful promise, Mr. and Mrs. Barnes."
"Yes, sir," Velma said. She hadn't heard anyone quote the Bible to her since her younger days. But it endeared the young man to her and sealed her opinion of his respectability. Lamont smiled at their new tenant and nodded his head.
Both Lamont and Velma could feel the comfort coming over them. They had one tenant paying double -- and a gentleman to boot! They had experienced such misery in their misfortunate for a long time now. All of their past tenants had never shown the degree of civility and respect they saw in Mr. Lockhart. And the fact they here was a white man, living under the same roof as a black couple, under a roof the black couple owned, hadn't even been an issue of even the slightest sort.
"I'll bring you some hot water, sir, and some clean towels so you can freshen up before bed," Velma said.
Mr. Lockhart turned around quickly from his bag. "Mr. and Mrs. Barnes! I don't want you to interpret the word 'attendance' too broadly. As I told your husband, Mrs. Barnes, I can look after myself!"
Husband and wife were stunned at the shift in Lockhart's personality. He had gone from cheery to officious in the blink of an eye.
Silence fell and it conveyed that they were being dismissed and possibly rejected.
"Very well, sir," Lamont offered. "Breakfast will be ready tomorrow morning at 8:00."
"Thank you. Good night," was all Lockhart said as he walked toward them and closed the bedroom door and locked it.
They might have been snubbed but it was nothing compared to the relief and joy they felt as they walked into their own bedroom and placed the money on the bed.
Lamont stood behind Velma and encircled her in his arms, kissing her on the neck. For once, she smiled and nestled her back against him. It felt like the early days in that moment.
"Look at it," Lamont said. "Just look at all of it!" He felt himself fighting back a tear in his eye as he kissed the back of Velma's head.
Velma looked at the money and as she did, a serious look came over her. "Why do you think such a man is walking about Charleston this late at night with that kind of money on him?"
"Have you forgotten how dim the rich can be sometimes? Remember Mr. Raleigh's wife? She would walk out to the market wearing a diamond tiara?" Lamont said. "He's a rich medical stu
dent. He's young and I imagine he's lived a sheltered life and has no clue about how the world, including Charleston, operates."
"We have a new tenant," Velma said, smiling up at her husband.
"We have two months of rent and then some," Lamont said in reply.
They stood in silence, looking at the spread-out stack of bills. Velma began to cry.
"Velma?" Lamont offered, rubbing her shoulders, but he knew why she was crying. He held her and didn't say anything else.
"I didn't think we would ever have this kind of luck again," she said, turning into his chest. "He says he doesn't want to be waited on much," she said as she wiped here eyes. "But I can tell he'll want to be looked after, the poor gentleman."
As the words escaped her lips, there was a knock at the bedroom door. Lamont and Velma looked at each other, unsure. "Mr. Barnes? Mrs. Barnes?" It was Lockhart on the other side of their door.
Lamont went to the door and opened it. "Sir?"
"I was wondering if you would have a Bible I might borrow?" Lockhart asked, oblivious to the late hour.
"Yes, we do. I believe it's..." Lamont looked at Velma, for it had been quite some time since Lamont had looked at a Bible.
Velma stepped into view. "I keep our Bible in the pantry. I usually read it in the mornings," she said.
"Ah, very good. If I might borrow it tomorrow after you're done with your morning reading then?" Lockhart asked, taking in the couple and smiling at them. Velma noticed Lockhart's eyes on her bosom and the hint of her ample cleavage. He was fast enough that Lamont didn't notice for as quickly as Lockhart had looked at Velma's breasts, he darted his eyes to Lamont and shook his hand.
Lockhart went back up the stairs and Lamont closed the bedroom door. "Now we'll be able to pay Carter back some of that money he lent us. What a relief." Velma nodded, unable to speak.
They put the money away in a small table in the corner of the room, turned off the lights and climbed into bed. They lay in the dark side by side. Neither could sleep. Finally, Velma said, "You can have another go at me tonight, if you want."
He did.
Chapter 3
The next morning, Lamont and Velma went about their business. Lamont ventured out into the still-foggy weather, while Velma worked in the cold, dreary kitchen.
Soon, Mr. Lockhart's breakfast tray was ready and in order. If anything, Velma knew how to wait upon a gentleman.
Just as she was going up to the second floor, Velma remembered Mr. Lockhart asking to borrow her Bible. Putting the tray down in the hallway, she went to the pantry and picked up the book. She placed it under the tray and gripped it along with the edges of the tray and went up the stairs slowly.
She knocked on the second-floor bedroom door and waited. A few moments later, a muffled response came back. "Come in," Mr. Lockhart said. The doorknob wouldn't turn.
"Mr. Lockhart, sir, the door is locked," she said.
"Just a moment," came a less muffled reply. She waited with the tray and Bible in hand until after what seemed minutes, the door unlocked and opened slightly. Slowly, Velma pushed the door open and eased through.
Mr. Lockhart stood with his back to Velma, facing the bedroom window that revealed the grey, drizzled sky, stretching his arms to the heavens and yawning. He was nude. Velma's eyes went wide as she took in his muscular physique: broad shoulders, tapered waist, buttocks carved from ivory and strong legs. There wasn't an ounce of fat on him anywhere.
Velma felt a hot rush go over her and she quickly averted her eyes and placed the tray down atop the dresser by the bed. She eased the Bible out and set it beside the tray.
"Thank you, Mrs. Barnes," Lockhart said, yawning still. She kept her eyes away from him as she made her way to the door. "One moment," he said. Velma stopped, keeping her back to him. "What is this?"
"Breakfast, sir," she said, eyes looking at the floor. He was silent. The whole room was quiet. Velma could hear the ticking of the clock in the hall and the sounds of life outside the house. She couldn't hear Mr. Lockhart until his voice was right behind her.
"Is everything all right, Mrs. Barnes?" he asked, giving her a startle. His hands went to her forearms to steady her. She froze.
"Yes, sir, it's just that... you're not dressed."
"Oh. Turn around, Mrs. Barnes."
"I don't think I should."
"Mrs. Barnes, I insist."
Slowly, she did, keeping her eyes on the floor. His feet and ankles were there, still bare. She couldn't resist a moment of a slight upward glance. He was fully nude still. His penis dangled between his legs. It was long but thin and limp.
"I apologize if I've offended you. I'm not the most modest of people at times. I forget about modesty. I lived for a time in South America, among the natives. Most of them are naked from the time they're born to the time they die. I got used to it so much that I prefer it when I'm in my dwelling."
"I understand, sir. I left my Bible for you over by the tray," she said, pointing toward the dress, not looking at him.
"Ah, yes. Wonderful," he turned and walked to the dresser and picked up the Bible. Velma looked up and watched him walk away, his muscular frame absolutely bare. She felt something go loose inside her. She licked her lip and moved her eyes away as he looked at what she had brought him.
"Mr. Lockhart, if you'll excuse me? My husband should be back in a little while."
"Of course. This is a very well-worn Bible, he said."
"Yes, I've had it since my father gave it to me. He was a preacher here in Charleston," Velma said.
"Nothing compares to the Bible," Lockhart said. "It has something for everyone in it. Every state of mind, and body too."
"Yes, sir," she said. With that, she left the room and closed the door, making a hasty retreat downstairs. Instead of going into the kitchen, she sat in the front room on the first floor and waited for Lamont to return. She found herself thinking about the magnate's son and how she burned something fierce for him. Of course, he never knew such was the case and Velma did her very best to conceal it from everyone. It was something she had never confided in anyone, not even the other maids with whom she entrusted all other kinds of secrets.
Lockhart reminded her of the magnate's son whose very name would scorch Velma's heart. She yearned for him and when she once happened to come across the son and his fiancé engaged in sex in the house late one night, she hid and watched them as they performed sexual gymnastics there in the library of the magnate's house.
She watched them for as long as they indulged each other, hiking up her maid's dress and touching herself and penetrating herself as she watched the magnate's son with his bride-to-be, as his fiancé took him fully in her mouth until he came on her face. Velma came as well, stifling her moan as she spasmed from the orgasm wracking her body. When she opened her eyes, the magnate's son was watching her. He wasn't angry. He seemed surprised, but nothing more. She quickly and quietly escaped the room before the fiancé knew anyone was there.
The magnate's son never spoke a word to her about it in all the years she worked there afterwards.
Seeing Lockhart walk around the bedroom naked brought back memories of the magnate's son's body, perfect and without blemish, as if carved from marble like Michelangelo's David. She had not thought of that moment for years, until now.
What a strange tenant they had, but given that he had paid in advance and was likely to stick around for some time, she shook off feelings from the past and decided to forget what had transpired upstairs.
When Lamont returned home, Velma didn't tell him what happened.
After Lamont and Velma had finished their own breakfast, Velma went upstairs to clear away Mr. Lockhart's tray. As she went up the staircase, she heard talking. She waited a moment at the door until she realized that it was Mr. Lockhart reading out loud to himself from the Bible:
Sugar in Her Bowl Page 4