by Sharon Kleve
The costumes of the guests were magnificent, with real diamonds, rubies and emeralds decorating some of the costumes of medieval ladies-in-waiting, a few exotic princesses, many nursery rhyme characters and bandits, knights and princes. The imaginations of the elite of New York had been released on seamstresses, cobblers and milliners in order to be dressed for tonight.
Tatiana searched the masked crowd for any familiar faces. She turned when a sweet Mary, Mary Quite Contrary sought her attention. “It’s me,” Lily whispered. Her blonde curls were covered by a huge bonnet with silk flower decorations. “Merritt’s over there.”
Tatiana swerved to glance in the direction her friend pointed. “Where?”
“There, next to King Henry.” She used her watering can to point out a tall man garbed as a Druid.
“He didn’t tell me that was his costume,” she whispered back to Lily. “I thought he was coming as a Roman Legion soldier.”
“He was,” she said. “But since that was your character’s enemy, he decided to support your efforts to free Britain.” She giggled and studied Tatiana’s costume. “I must say, you portray a ferocious warrior queen. I’m quite astonished at the transformation.”
Tatiana tossed her head. “Thank you. I feel quite confident that we will have some success this evening.” She felt her aunt behind her and turned in order to give Lily time to blend back into the crowd.
“Let’s go up to the supper rooms, there’s such a crush down here,” her aunt complained. Because going up the stairs would take her very close to the punch bowl where the Druid stood, Tatiana agreed. They stood in the slow line snaking up the stairs, and she was within arm’s reach of Merritt.
“Most Bodacious Boudica, I live to serve thee my Queen.” Merritt fell dramatically to his knees and people in the crowd tittered.
“Rise, my humble servant, your queen accepts your service.” She struck her spear on the floor three times and several people applauded. Tatiana really was enjoying the attention her costume brought her this evening.
“I bid thee to serve me a cup of wine.” She lifted her chin with as much regal attitude as she could muster.
Within moments, Merritt had grabbed a glass of champagne from one of the waiters circling the room and handed it to her with a bow. “If only Your Highness will reserve a waltz for her humble servant, I shall be glad of it.”
She handed him her dance card and he filled it in several places. Her aunt was too concerned watching the guests to notice. When he returned the card to her, Aunt Olivia snatched it out of her hands to examine it.
She nearly tossed it back. “The Druid of England indeed. What poor manners your friends demonstrate, Tatiana.”
The rebuke didn’t find a target this evening. Tatiana was too excited and too happy to let her dour aunt affect her mood. She glanced in every direction to see elegant, beautiful and even a few frightful people in costume.
When they reached the upper room, there were small tables scattered about with an extravagant buffet supper presented on long tables at the side of the room. Her aunt led her to a table with two older women seated at it.
“Olivia and Tatiana, do sit with us.”
Tatiana recognized the voices as two of her aunt’s closest friends. Obviously they’d planned to sit together for supper. But, Tatiana was too excited to be hungry and she brushed aside the invitation.
“I’m going to go back downstairs for a bit. I’m enjoying seeing all the costumes and I haven’t recognized any of my friends yet.” She put a note of excitement into her voice. “I’ll be back up a bit later.”
Her Aunt Olivia didn’t look happy with the pronouncement, but she could hardly object when there were so many people gathered. She could hardly slip outside unnoticed and dance in the moonlight.
Not that the idea didn’t sound delightful. She imagined for just a moment that she and Merritt waltzed in a candle-lit plaza with the moon and stars gleaming above them.
But, it was snowing, so there’d be no moon, no stars and certainly in this costume—nothing but shivering in the cold winter night.
She patiently stood in the line moving slowly down the stairs, searching frantically for Lily or Merritt. The lighting in the ballroom was dim, so she couldn’t easily make out individuals in the crowd. Then there was a flash of light, and the room became more illuminated as the people stood silently in awe, then a huge round of applause circled the room.
In the center of the ballroom stood a woman in a gown illuminated by electric lights. Tatiana was awestruck, as she watched the woman pivot slowly. Her huge belled skirts moved as they glimmered and glowed with light.
Many of the people on the stairs rushed forward to get a better look at the marvelous dress. Tatiana held back in order to search for her friends from the higher elevation of the stairs.
A leather gloved hand dropped to her bare shoulder, and just when she was about to turn and perhaps demonstrate to this insolent man that she was a priestess and warrior, she heard Fletcher’s dark laugh.
“Please don’t run me through with your spear. I’m simply here to relay a message. Merritt is waiting to talk with you. He’s stationed himself on the left side of the orchestra.”
Even in the shadows, she could see where Merritt was standing. She nodded, and laughed when she found Fletcher standing one step above her garbed as a Cavalier.
“I would doff my great feathered hat and bow to you, -Your Highness, but this crush of people has glued me to this step until someone moves.”
“Thank you, sir. I appreciate your assistance.”
“And might I add, your garb is most distracting this evening. You quite took my breath away.”
She knew he was teasing her, because that was Fletcher’s way, but she warmed to his compliment anyway. The more she got to know Merritt’s older brother, the more she liked him. If he was an enigma, some lucky woman would someday discover the key to unlocking this handsome man’s heart.
But she was intent upon locating another handsome man, one who hopefully had found some answers to the questions they were pursuing.
When she finally got to the bottom step, she wove her way through the crowd, avoiding panniers, armor and several already intoxicated gentlemen. Their ribald remarks to her were not appreciated and one rather obese gentleman felt a flick from her spear to his soft belly. She was glad to see him bend over in shock.
Finally, after what seemed like a trek through the jungles of Africa, she found her Druid. He handed her another glass of champagne and she winced. “I can’t drink much more of this on an empty stomach and remain standing.”
“Sip it slowly,” advised Merritt. If we can find a quieter place to talk, I’ll tell you what I’ve learned and then we can slip upstairs and sample the buffet.”
They followed a few people down a marble floored hallway to a smaller room. There were chairs and lounges set around the room, and they sat. There weren’t many people in the lounge so they were free to talk.
“I’ve been asking some questions about our subject of interest, and this is what I’ve discovered. The lady and the gentleman we’ve inquired about were indeed a couple. It was fully expected they’d be announcing their engagement.”
He glanced at another couple seated a few feet away, but the other man had pulled a huge ostrich feather from his companion’s elegant headdress and was tickling her with it.
“By all appearances, the families were delighted at the match. He was not yet as wealthy as he is today, but it was assumed with his energy and initiative, he’d soon be on his way. “
Tatiana leaned forward, eager to hear every detail. “Then what happened?”
He shrugged. “No one seems to know. There were rumors and gossip, of course. All I can discern is that Lorelei Howland got on a ship sailing to France, and then she disappeared. No one has heard of her since.”
Tatiana was stunned. Now that she recalled, there was no grave with Lorelei’s name on it back in the family cemetery at Chemsworth. No
r had anyone ever mentioned her as deceased. Tatiana had always assumed she was dead.
“Could she still be alive?” The wonder of it took her breath away. “My aunt could be living someplace in France, or Europe. She could still be alive.”
Merritt sat back with pride. “Exactly the conclusion I’ve come to recently. The tragedy isn’t that Lorelei died, it’s that the family sent her someplace and left her there.”
“And they blamed your father, but we don’t know why.” She shook her head. “Do you think he jilted her and that drove her mad?”
“I have no idea,” Merritt said. “But, by tomorrow I plan to have the answers to all of our questions. I’m going to confront my father and demand that he tell me what happened.”
He reached for her hand and she smiled at him. “Do you think he’ll tell you? It seems that it has all remained a secret for this long, no one will be happy that we’ve opened this Pandora’s box.”
Merritt gently rubbed her gloved hand and small sparks of delight traveled up her arm. “I’m going to insist my future happiness depends upon his honestly.” He stared into her eyes. “I want to see you, Tatiana. I want to attend balls with you, invite you to dinners and take you to the opera. I want your aunt to allow me to court you, and if she forces us apart again, I swear it will break my heart.”
He put her hand over his heart and she could feel it beating. “I want for us to be together and if it causes some members of our family pain, that’s just the price that they’ll have to pay for our future happiness together.”
She wished she could fall into his arms, but the couple who had been teasing and frolicking were paying far too much attention to them.
“Fair Druid, never fear. The ferocious warrior queen will vanquish our enemies. We shall never surrender until we’ve won.” She stood and raised her spear.
The other couple applauded, then ignored Tatiana and Merritt as they returned to their own romantic play.
“Let’s go get some supper, and you have to dance with me at least three times, because I’ve nearly filled your dance card.” Merritt rose and extended a hand to Tatiana. “I find I’m quite excited to discover this Amazonian side of you, my dear.”
Tatiana smirked. “I’m discovering that instead of a parasol every woman might better carry a spear.”
CHAPTER FIVE
“That was certainly quite a display you put on last night, Tatiana. I heard several disparaging remarks about that costume you wore. It was nearly indecent.”
Tatiana’s bubble of happiness burst. She’d come down to the dining room expecting her aunt to still be in bed. They’d arrived home from the ball after two o’clock in the morning, she thought the older woman would sleep at least until noon.
“I had many very lovely compliments,” she replied, grabbing the silver coffee pot. “I was even told by one gentleman that I was enchanting.”
“And who was that man in that dreadful brown costume who waltzed with you three times? I swear I didn’t see him after we removed our masks at midnight.”
Tatiana lifted a silver cover and scooped some eggs onto her plate. She spread jam on a biscuit and filled her mouth in order to avoid her aunt’s question.
“Is he someone you know?” her aunt persisted.
“I thought it was Adam Fremont, but later I discovered he was wearing the costume of Henry the eighth.” She bit into the biscuit again.
“Did you manage to dance with any of the gentlemen on the list I gave you?” Her aunt was clearly irritated with her this morning.
“How would I know, they were all wearing costumes?”
Since she wasn’t appearing in the best of light today, she might as well push her advantage.
“I’ve been wondering about something for a while. When you were talking about Aunt Lorelei, you mentioned a family tragedy. I thought that meant she died.” She gazed across the table, straight into Aunt Olivia’s eyes. “But, that’s not what happened, is it?”
Her aunt looked as if someone had struck her. Her face went pale and her lower lip quivered. The hand holding her coffee cup began to shake.
“I don’t…of course she…” Her aunt put the porcelain cup on the table. She seemed to be trying to regain her composure. “I told you I didn’t want to talk about this with you.”
“But, you are preventing me from visiting with my friends because of something that happened to your sister. I’m the one making the sacrifice, so I have a right to know what took place.”
“Right? You’re a child. You have no rights other than those I give to you. I’ve been very patient with you, Tatiana, but you have pushed me to the breaking point. I’m done with all this nonsense!” She rose from her chair and banged her hand on the table. “Go to your room and have Mary pack a bag. We’ll be returning to Chemsworth today. The city has had an ill effect upon you. You defy me, refuse to listen to my advice and now you are demanding information you’re not entitled to know.”
“I won’t go.” Her voice was as cold and clear as she could make it. “I’m an adult, and I can decide where I wish to live and who I wish to associate with. I’m not a child you can order about anymore.”
Her Aunt Olivia stormed around the table and grabbing the china teapot, she flung it across the room. Tatiana stared open-mouthed as she watched it shatter near the fireplace.
“What is wrong with you?” She put her arms above her head with elbows crossed to protect herself as her aunt descended upon her. At any minute she expected the woman would strike her in the face.
“I cannot…bear…it! Get dressed, we leave today.” Her aunt was breathing heavily. “If you refuse, I’ll have you dressed and carried out to the carriage.”
With that, she turned away, stared down at the broken teapot and then stamped out of the room.
Tatiana didn’t know what to make of the last few minutes. She’d never seen her aunt act so unhinged. What had happened? Was it Tatiana’s defiance in the face of her orders, or did the memory of what happened to her sister break something loose in Olivia Howland? Something that looked like madness.
It was terrifying, and Tatiana knew that somehow she needed to get a note to Merritt. She desperately needed his assistance, because she was counting on him to contact the only person who could save her.
*****
Merritt stared down at the message, as confused and concerned as he’d ever been. Tatiana’s plea was simple, to find the man she named in the note and send him to her country home.
He nodded at the young maid who’d arrived at his father’s mansion early this afternoon. “Thank you, Miss…?”
“I’m Mary Smythe, Miss Tatiana’s personal maid. She’s real kind to us, sir, and I could tell things were a bit off today with Miss Howland.” The young woman shifted from foot to foot. “She tossed a fine china teapot right into the fire, and well, that ain’t usual for her.”
Merritt wasn’t sure how to respond to that bit of information. “So, Miss Howland, seemed unusually upset today?”
The maid nodded and looked around, as if to make sure there was no one nearby to overhear their conversation. “She’s been lookin’ peaked the past few weeks, and been asking Miss Tatiana where she’s been and who she’s been with. Things like that.” The girl gave him a soft smile. “‘Course, I knew Miss Tatiana was spending time with you and your cousin. Miss Tatiana has been the happiest I’ve seen her in a long time. Your friendship has acted like a tonic upon her.” She blushed, perhaps realizing she was taking a familiar tone with a man she didn’t know very well.
He pulled several bills from his pocket and handed them to her. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you delivering this message to me directly. I’ll do what I can to locate this gentleman.”
Mary stared at the money in her hand, her eyes wide. “Thank you, sir.” She bobbed him a curtsy and his butler opened the door to let her out.
Merritt tapped the envelope on his chin, thinking, as he traveled down the hallway. He paused in front of
the door to the office and knocked. A barked “come in” was the response.
His father sat at the huge desk and his brother paced across the room. A usual scene for a day at home with the family.
“I might need your assistance,” he told them and described the message he’d just received and for his father, the background of what they’d been doing in their investigation.
His father rose from his desk. “You’ve been making inquiries about me?” his voice thundered through the room. His face was quickly turning red.
Fletcher stopped pacing and stared at Merritt. He was silent, clearly waiting to see what would happen next.
Merritt stood in the center of the room like a condemned prisoner facing the judge. “To be honest, we didn’t think you’d tell us anything.”
His father looked at Merritt, then turned to slant a furious glare at Fletcher. “Have you also been involved in this ridiculous investigation of my past?”
Fletcher leaned against the edge of one of the bookshelves that took up over half of the room and nodded. “I couldn’t let my baby brother have all of the fun, could I?”
This did nothing to improve their father’s disposition. “If you have embarrassed me in any way, I swear, I shall—”
Fletcher held up a hand to stop any further threats. “Yes, we’re well aware of all the things you will or can do to us, although I believe it’s a bit late to send us to military school. And now that this particular cat is out of the bag, perhaps you’ll share some information with us.”
His father fisted his hands several times, and finally slumped back into the chair. His expression moved from one of obvious anger to one of resolve as he sighed. He pushed one hand through his graying hair and nodded.
“I’ve held my tongue for over thirty years. That was my promise to Lorelei. But, it’s her own family asking about what happened to her and I know that bitch sister of hers, Olivia, would never spit out the truth.”