Entangled Heart: A Tale Of Love And Deception

Chapter Three

"Mother, Father, and Bryce were all the same. Nobody was suspicious of our love. My mother used to complain that I went to St. Jude's church "at all hours," but that was only because St. Jude's is a very high church congregation and my mother is a Methodist Episcopal. She objected to the morning and evening prayers. Nobody had any reason to suspect the minister. Ethel, he's so charming! Very good! So creative! I believe that all of the female members of the church adore him.

Consequently, he must be extremely unhappy if he is a good man.

Of course, he is innocent and completely unaware of their admiration. He only ever thinks of me when he is in the holy office, despite the fact that I am the only woman he loves. If only you could witness him emerge from the vestry wearing a white surplice and sporting a bemused expression and prophetic eyes. So mysterious! So gorgeous! It should not surprise you that I revere him.

"But I do not understand—how did you meet him socially?"

"I met him at Mrs. Taylor's first. Then he spoke to me one morning as I came out of church, and the next morning he walked through the park with me. And after that—all was easy enough."

"I see. What do your father and mother think—or rather, what do they say?"

"Father always says what he thinks, and mother thinks and says what I do. This circumstance simplified matters very much. Basil wrote to father, and yesterday after supper he had an interview with him. I expected it, and was quite prepared for any c****x that might come. I wore my best white dress, and had lilies of the valley in my hair and on my breast; my father called me 'his little angel' and piously questioned 'how I could be his daughter.' All dinner time I tried to be angelic, and after dinner I sang 'Little Boy Blue' and others of the songs he loves; and I felt, when Basil's card came in, that I had prepared the proper mood for the interview."

"You are really very clever, Dora."

"I attempted to continue singing and playing, but I could not; the sounds all flowed together, the words were lost. I walked to mother's side and put my hand in hers, and she said softly: 'I can hear your father storming a little, but he will settle down the quicker for it. I dare say he will bring Mr. Stanhope in here before shortly."

"Did he?"

"No. Bryce was to blame for that. I have no idea how Bryce found himself in the house at that time, but he tends to naturally slip into any interview where he might cause trouble. Nevertheless, everything worked out for the best because when mother heard Bryce's voice over all the other noises, she exclaimed, "Come Dora, we shall have to interfere now." Then, I was ecstatic. I felt qualified for the interview because of the way I looked.

Do you truly mean to join the three men who are fighting?No doubt. Mother was remarkably composed, cool enough to stop a hurricane, yet she gave her husband a look he could understand.

She then shook hands with Basil and prepared to say something to Bryce, but he grabbed the initiative with his customary impertinence and ordered him to "retire and take me with her" in a tone that was quite insulting. He also called me that "demure little flirt." You should have witnessed your father explode in rage at what he said. 'Mr. Ben Denning owned the home, and Bryce had four or five rooms in it by his courtesy,' he said, reminding Bryce. Additionally, he said that the "ladies present were Mr. Ben Denning's wife and daughter, and that for him to order them out of his parlor, where they were always welcome, was impertinent." "Sir, that sly girl with her pretended piety and her sneak of a lover is my sister, and I shall not permit her to disgrace my family without making a protest," responded Bryce, who was white with rage.

"And after that?"

I sobbed and placed my arms around my father's neck, demanding that he stand up for me and prove that I wasn't "sly" or "a sneak." Father kissed me and promised to make amends with any man who dared to label me either sly or flirtatious.

"I thought Mr. Denning performed superbly. Who said what to Bryce?

"Mr. Stanhope, if you are not a cad, you will leave the house, he added as he turned to face Basil. You have no business interfering in the business and disputes of your family. Basil did not respond to Bryce since there was no need because father spoke up quickly enough. Instead, he sat mother and was standing with one hand on the back of her chair. He stated that Mr. Stanhope had requested to join the family and that, on his part, he would do so without reservation. He then asked his mother whether she shared his views, to which she grinned and extended her hand to Basil in the reverse direction. After another kiss from my father, Basil's arm was wrapped around me, and I can't deny that I looked stunning—almost like a bride! Oh, Ethel, it was absolutely lovely.

"I'm positive it was. Then, did Bryce leave the room?

"Yes; he left in a rage, vowing never to think about me again. At breakfast this morning, I apologized to Bryce for his distress, but my father was confident that Bryce would find plenty of solace in the knowing that his disapproval of my decision would justify him not getting me a wedding gift. You are aware of Bryce's cruel nature.

On the contrary, I thought it was excessive and very luxurious.

"In terms of Bryce, absolutely; with regard to everyone else, his behavior is too cruel to take into account. Why, Father gives him a $20,000 annual stipend, and whenever he can, he empties Father's cigar boxes.

"Let's discuss Mr. Stanhope; he is far more fascinating. When will you tie the knot with him?

In the springtime. Grandmother Cahill left me a large sum of money, and my father will also give me some cash. My father told me this morning that I was a fairly wealthy little woman and that it had been wisely invested. Basil has some personal wealth, along with his stipend; things will go quite well. One of the best families among the ancient Boston nobility is Basil's family, and he has close ties to the English Stanhopes, who are among the greatest of the nobility.

"I wish Americans would discover their own noble nature. They keep trying to graft on some English noble family, and I'm sick of it. You will always read about a man's ancestry from a Scottish chief or an English lord, regardless of how wonderful or intelligent he may be.

They are unable to stop falling, Ethel.

"They don't have to blame everything they've done on it. Father often worries for me in the same way. Being a Rawdon, he wins cases that are challenging with ease. Because he is a Rawdon, he was compelled to such perfection by nature and heredity, which is why he is gorgeous, noble, gentlemanly, and even a wonderful horseman. Dora, that is very upsetting, and if I were you, I wouldn't let Basil start singing about "the English Stanhopes." Aunt Ruth and I are constantly sick of the English Rawdons and are incredibly grateful for the Atlantic.

"Ethel, I don't think I'll feel that way. Father and I both enjoy aristocracy, and he thinks the Dennings are a beautiful old family.

Why discuss genealogy when there is a man like Basil Stanhope to take into account? Let's assume he is ideal and decide that he will wed you in the spring. At that point, the ceremony and the wedding attire will take place. Of course the wedding will take place in a church.

We will exchange vows in Basil's own church. I have trouble sleeping or eating because of how happy and successful it made me feel! I really believe, Ethel, that every woman in the church is in love with Basil, so there will be ladies there who are ready to burst with jealousy.

"You've said it before, and I know you're mistaken. Many of them are already married and deeply in love with their husbands, and the females who attend St. Jude's are not the ones who choose to wed clerics. Their gloves and parasols would be impossible to afford with Mr. Stanhope's entire income.

"I don't believe you are happy that I'm getting married. You can't be Basil's rival. I will continue to love you.

"Dora, I would never allow jealousy to interfere with my life. Nevertheless, you won't feel the same way about me when we get married. I won't anticipate it.