A week later, the Pierces went to the opera. This was always a grand affair in Rock Lucian. People dressed to the hilt and turned out in droves. Most of the people there did not understand Italian or music for that matter: they came only to see and to be seen. This was the case with Mr. Randolph Pierce and his brother and sister in law. Valerie took delight in as much of the story line as her simple mind could follow. Mrs. Rosemary Pierce, however, had taught Lydia her love and appreciation for the art of opera: it was the principle reason Lydia had been instructed in Italian while she was tutored.
During the intermission, all of Lydia’s family left their box, excepting her aunt, to whom she never had anything to say. Lydia sat in the front row of the box on the far right side. She was dressed in a blue-gray silk gown, which was cut low, the lowest she had ever worn, and she felt a bit self-conscious. Her hair was coifed and held with green jade combs. She was wearing the pearl and diamond necklace she had been given upon her coming out two winter seasons earlier. She had never dreamed that anyone would be watching her up in the box, so she slowly leaned over the edge after she made sure her aunt was not watching her. She wanted to see all the people milling around below in the seats. She even slid a little out of her seat, before she decided to sit back. When she sat back up, her attention was drawn directly across the theater to the box opposite her own. A tall man was standing in that box and looking directly at her and worst of all…he was laughing. It took her a few seconds, but then she recognized him; it was Brent Howard. She did not know what to do, so she stood up and left the box.
‘Lord, he probably saw down my front with the way I was behaving!’ she thought with mortification. She hurried along not meeting anyone’s gaze. Lydia was heading towards the back of the theater and down a level, where people gathered in between the acts. There she could hide amongst the crowd until it was time to return under cover of darkness.
"Miss Pierce isn’t it?" It was Brent and he looked as if he had just heard a great joke. "Hello, Mr. Howard." She was not about to satisfy him by calling him ‘Brent,’ and she was not about to stop and talk to him. "Ah! You remember my name, but you don’t remember my request, ‘Brent’ or nothing at all." He refused to let her by him even though she stepped to the side to pass. She attempted to make him feel abashed, raising her eyebrows, "You must have run to come this far this quickly." He bowed unmoved. "Do you enjoy the opera, Miss Lydia?" "Dolce far niente," she said trying to stupefy Brent, figuring that he was as ignorant a man as there ever was. "I see, so you are a bas bleu?" Lydia had to admit she was impressed, after all, he had understood her Italian, and responded in French that she was a ‘literary woman.’ "Do you merely understand the opera, or do you truly enjoy it, I wonder." Lydia forgave him a bit. "Well, if the truth be known, I can’t stand the scene, which I hope you don’t take offense at, but I do find it very ben trovato." "I couldn’t agree more, Brent." "May I say that you look stunning," he took her gloved hand and airily kissed it. His forward gesture and compliment surprised Lydia, and she felt heat rising in her face. She opened the fan hanging from her wrist and beat it quickly. He smiled with his laughing eyes. Looking about herself quickly Lydia offered, "I should probably return to my…ah seat." "As should I." He bowed, and turned on his heels walking back the way he came.
Sitting in the box, Lydia’s opera glasses drooped from her eyes, and her mind wandered. It was very dark, but the lights from the stage were throwing shadows about the theater. She glanced across the room to where she had seen Brent. Sitting where she supposed he would be, she could barely make out his large frame. She strained, but she could not perceive in the least who was sitting next to him. She would have felt completely undressed if she could have known that he was staring right back at her person, which was perfectly lit.
Chapter 3
During the week, Lydia’s life at Rock Lucian followed its usual routine. She went swimming in the ocean, played cards with the other ladies, and ate well. All the while, Brent invaded her thoughts, and her thoughts disturbed her. She contemplated his overt attention, and finally vowed to avoid him at all cost, except rudeness. No one mentioned him around her, because he had been determined to be inappropriate conversation for ladies. This only made her distraction worse, because she wondered what it could be that was so terrible that she must be protected against knowledge of it.
The weekend quickly approached, and Lydia was distracted by thoughts of the lovely ball that was to be held Saturday night. Valerie spent a good deal of time with her, shopping for and talking about the ball. All of the wealthy people of Rock Lucian would be there. Valerie was going to wear a gown of red, which Lydia found inappropriate, but Valerie was in the business of finding a husband, so these mishaps could be expected. Lydia was going to wear her violet dupione gown, which was a bit more modest than what she had worn to the opera, but it was still cut lower than anything she had worn last season. This was her favorite gown she had made before leaving Boston; of course, she would have others made for her later in the summer season here in Rock Lucian. She liked it because it had a square neck, which she believed suited her the best, yet she hesitated to admit to this bit of vanity.
The night of the ball, the Pierce family took a carriage to the assembly room. Everyone was excited but Mr. Pierce; he hated all such things, and only went, because it would have looked strange for him to be absent. Valerie fidgeted with her long white gloves, in an unbecoming habit, while Lydia bit her lip slowly, thinking of all the dancing there was to be done. She adored dancing, and it came easily to her. Truth be told, although she would have never thought it about herself, she was one of the best dancers in Boston and Rock Lucian. The carriage pulled up to the assembly room, and a door man ran up to open the door of the carriage and assist the ladies.
They entered the crowded room a buzz with people and music from some assembled musicians. Lydia felt as if she was struck as the whirl of activity came as something of a shock: it had been three months since she had been to any assembly, let alone a ball of this size. Valerie swept her away from her parents, pulling at her arm. "Be careful, Valerie, you’re about to pull off my bracelet." Out of respect for the heavy diamond bracelet latched about Lydia’s delicate wrist, Valerie let go, and she was swept away with the crowd. This was not going the way Lydia had hoped. She did not see anyone she knew. Someone touched her arm, and she turned to see her cousin, Robert Pierce, the younger of her two male cousins, at twenty-five years of age. She was immensely pleased to see him.
There’s my pretty little cousin." He kissed her on the cheek. "Did you just get back in town?" "Yes, and I hurried over hoping I’d see your pretty face." "Aren’t you tired, Robert?" "Oh! No the trip back was very relaxing." Robert had gone to Europe for two and a half months. "Did you enjoy yourself? How I would love to go myself someday." "And so you shall, if I have to take you myself." It was hard to get a straight answer out of Robert, but he was handsome and amusing. "Would you like something to drink, cousin?" "Yes, please." "All right, stay there, and I’ll be right back." He disappeared, and Lydia looked around feeling more relaxed now that she had found someone. He came back with a glass of punch. "Thank you." "Where is Valerie?" "I lost her in the crowd." "And Aunt and Uncle Pierce?" "The same. Is Morgan here?" "Yes, I believe he’s brought his fiancée as well." "Oh good! I’ve wanted to meet her." "Morgan’s not much fun anymore," he laughed. "All the same, it would be nice to see some of my relatives." Robert pinched her cheek laughing. "Would you honor me with a dance, my dearest cousin?" He put out his arm. Lydia was pleased to be given the chance to dance, and this would not be as awkward as dancing with a complete stranger. "I would love to Robert."
As soon as the next dance began, Robert and Lydia were out on the floor dancing. Lydia was thoroughly enjoying herself. Robert also enjoyed the attention his pretty cousin drew, not to mention that she danced so well. He was vain and a bit silly, but on a whole he was a good person and loved his family. Surely, now that he had returned from Europe, he could quickly find a pretty and well to do wife. After the dance had ended, a young man with light blond hair asked Lydia to dance and she accepted, after Robert gave him the nod. She had never met him before, but it was not unusual for Lydia to dance with strangers. She danced with two other young men, and caught sight of Valerie dancing, and Morgan standing off to the side with his fiancée. Then looking over the shoulder of her latest partner, she viewed Brent Howard. He was staring at her, with a look of utter relish. She looked away. She was hoping the dance would never end, because she had no wish to face Brent. But eventually it did, and as hard as she tried to walk in the opposite direction of where she had seen Brent standing, it seemed as if the crowd was purposely pushing her towards him.
She passed directly by him, and he took her hand. "How good of you to come over to speak with me, Miss Pierce," he laughed bending to kiss her gloved hand. "Why do you laugh every time I see you, Mr. Howard?" "Must I always remind you?" "I’m sorry, but I fear people will think we have some sort of understanding if I address you in that way." "Trust me, that your addressing me as anything short of the Devil would shock no one." "You mustn’t speak that way Brent," she said lowering her voice. "As you wish," he said bowing in that maddening way of his. "May I ask who these pretty boys with whom you were dancing are?" "I haven’t known a one of them, except my cousin Robert." "Ah! I’m not acquainted with your cousin Robert, was he the pretty one with the blond hair, or the tall lean one?" He had been watching her the entire time.
Her breath came quicker, and she held her hand up to her forehead. "Do you need some air? You appear flushed." He took her arm, and she had all she could do to keep from pulling away. She did not like the touch of his hands. "No, I’ll be all right, thank you." He smiled that knowing smile. "Then will you afford me a dance? I realize you rather enjoy children for partners, but perhaps I would do." She did not quite know what to say, because she could not recall ever refusing someone, as she knew she now should. "I…I…" "Come now, one dance won’t ruin you, will it Miss Pierce?" "No…" "Good then."
He took her arm, and before she knew what was going on, she had been taken out on the floor. She hoped none of her family would notice her. She did not like the way Brent looked at her, or at least she did not think she should. Brent on the other hand, was fully enjoying his partner. Lydia could feel his thigh muscles pressing against her. ‘Oh God, don’t let anyone know the way he’s holding me.’ He never stopped looking at her. Lydia was somewhat surprise at what a good dancer he was, considering he seemed so inept at social courtesy. The entire time Lydia felt as if she might swoon, but his arms were so supportive, that it was almost like she was floating. It did not seem as if the music had stopped, but he took his arms from around her, and he whispered, "Thank you, Miss Pierce. I hope you didn’t find that entirely disagreeable." "No…certainly not." And then he was gone.
Valerie came running up. "There you are. I’ve been trying to catch up with you all night. Was that Brent Howard you were dancing with just then?" Lydia could not catch her breath, but she managed a weak: "Yes." "Oh! Wait till I tell Mother." "No, please don’t." "Why not?" "It would only worry her, and I wasn’t in any danger…no harm done. Brent was a perfect gentleman." "He may be perfect, but Father says he is not a gentleman," Valerie said smiling. It was no secret when Valerie found a man attractive. "Never mind. Just don’t say anything. All right?" "If you think…" "Yes."
