Hat Trick

by Morris Fenris

  Drawing back to coverlet she decided to go to him and have the cards lain out on the table. She had done her duty by marrying him and securing his fortune and she did not hold that against him. He needed to sacrifice for her security now. In her mind that was fair. Not bothering to change she opened her doors and stepped out into the hallway intending to find Robert and have this discussion in whatever place he stood. She found him just outside her suite doors.

  “There she is, so happy to see you up and about and out of your little tizzy, Adel.” He smiled and came to her placing a perfunctory kiss to her tight lips.

  Adelaide looked up and down the hallway. “Why are you lurking outside my rooms?”

  Robert scoffed. “I am not lurking beloved. I came to greet you and bring you down for a morning meal. I would like the company of my wife at our breakfast table.”

  “I am in no mood to take a meal with you, Robert.” Adelaide turned to storm back into her room. Her intentions were to see Elisabeth now, the taste in her mouth to speak with Robert had soured. He appeared smug and unbending in his emotions.

  Robert followed her in, wrapping his arms around her from behind and kissing the side of her neck, nuzzling her loose and bed mussed locks. “I want you, my wife.” he whispered.

  Adelaide struggled out of his arms. “Robert I am not interested at this moment.”

  “You are my wife Adel you have a duty to me.”

  She laughed a hearty laugh. “Duty? Is that what I am to you, a woman to be used for your own pleasure? Is that what we have become, Robert, the elite society that has no interest in love and adventure only money and appearance?”

  Robert was being stubborn. He could have broken down and expressed his love for her and offered her anything she wanted, but he was wounded by his own insecurities. He felt that Elisabeth could replace him in Adelaide’s affections. “Yes your duty.” He grabbed her and kissed her hard on the mouth.

  Adelaide bit his lip and he fell back with a howl. His hand raised and then fell in the same instant to his side, his eyes wide with rage. Adelaide stormed towards the door.

  “Where are you going?” he called after here as he doctored the small incision on his lower lip.

  “I am going to Elisa’s room.”

  “She isn’t there.”

  Adel froze in her steps, keeping her back to her husband. “What do you mean, where is she? I will go to where she is.”

  “She has left.” Robert let his voice calm and become docile, with an air of sadness.

  “Left? Why, when?”

  He moved to her and she cringed beneath his touch upon her shoulder. “She has gone back to London. She felt so guilty after last evening that she could not face you. She did not want to upset you any further than she already had so she arranged for a carriage early this morning and has left already with her belongings. I asked her to stay and at least say goodbye, but she said it would be best this way.” His voice dripped with consolation.

  Adelaide did not purchase his act. She knew Elisabeth, knew her longer than she had known Robert. They had an intimate understanding and she knew with her heart that Elisabeth would not disappear on her in this fashion. She had seen the love in her eyes only last evening. She spun on her heals and pulled a trunk with much effort from her closet.

  “What are you doing?” Robert stood amazed in the center of the room.

  “I told you I will go where she is and if she has left for London then that is where I will go.” Adelaide began to pull clothing from the closet and throw it into the hollow of the open steamer trunk.

  Her actions set his body in motion and he crossed the room in two steps, slamming the trunk closed, nearly catching the tips of her fingers in its latches. “You will do no such thing, Adelaide. You will stay here and return with me, as a wife should.”

  Adelaide’s hand whipped out and struck the side of her husband’s face. “I will not be held hostage, not by anyone, not even you husband. I am returning to the chateau. If you do not step aside and allow me to do so, then you will find yourself without a wife and your beloved name worthless.”

  Her words dangled over his head. What had he done? He swallowed and stepped aside, his rage gone and his spirit broken. “I will not stop you.” He turned and left the room.

  Adelaide looked after him. This would be for the best. They needed the time to think and Robert would return home with a fresh outlook. She was certain of it. Her concern now was Elisabeth. She needed to be certain there was no misunderstanding between them. She had not abandoned her love, and her heart bled as she thought of the time that would span between them as they both traveled, with Elisabeth believing she had pushed her aside.

  Her intentions were clear and in the forefront of her mind as she climbed into the carriage and began her journey back to London. Robert watched from the widow of his suite, lost and remorseful.

  * * *

  Chapter 13

  The silver bells above the door at The House of Camille alerted its staff and customers that a new arrival had entered. Leona emerged from the fitting room to see a rosy cheeked Countess standing in the doorway. She gasped and held her frail hand to her chest. “Good afternoon Countess. Did you have an appointment that I have sorely missed?”

  Adelaide smiled with a polite air. “No dear, I have come unannounced. Is Elisabeth available I wish to speak with her?”

  “Yes Countess, one moment.” The young girl dipped back behind the curtain and scurried to find her employer. She knew where she would find her, in the furthest room, immersed in seams and hems. She did not wish to meet with clients or any other public, so she had remained hidden and buried in her work. “Elisabeth, the Countess is here.”

  Her breath caught in her throat and her needle froze mid stitch. She knew that Adelaide had returned. She had sent word several times and implored Elisabeth to meet with her. Elisabeth had refused each time, for fear Richard would be with her and that the words that he had spoken would somehow be true. She could not face that fact and each time she attempted to her heart broke into another shattered piece. “Please inform her that I am indisposed and she will have to call on another day.”

  “What is she wants her wardrobe?”

  Elisabeth sighed. “Then give it to her, it is taken care of.”

  Leona looked surprised. “Elisabeth you never allow us to hand over finished garments without you.”

  She bit her lip hard to hold back the tears. “Leona, please, just this once do not question me.” she snapped.

  The girl shrank back and left to deliver the clothing and the message. Elisabeth wiped at her eyes. Several minutes passed and she heard footsteps approach, she readied herself for another barrage of questions. ‘Leona I do not…”

  Adelaide stood in the small doorway, looking with love and sympathy at her dear friend. “Elisa,” she hesitated. “I am so very sorry.”

  Elisabeth shook her head, the tears flowing freely now.

  Adel crossed to her and enfolded her in her arms, laying her head to her breast as she stroked her hair. ‘Shhhh” she soothed. “It is alright, everything is alright, love.”

  Elisabeth shook her head. “No, no it is not. I have ruined everything.”

  Adel stepped back and knelt down so that the two were on the same eye level. “You have ruined nothing Elisa. What would make you say such a statement?”

  “You said you had made a mistake to bring me into your private affairs.” she reiterated Robert’s words.

  Adelaide was aghast. “I said no such thing.” She thought for a moment’s time. “Robert told you those words, didn’t he?”

  Elisabeth nodded.

  “He is a horse’s behind.” Elisabeth said in her own form of cussing.

  This brought a giggle from Elisa’s lips.

  Adelaide’s silver eyes softened into liquid pools of adoration. She held Elisa’s hands. “Never think I would ever blame you for what I feel or how I choose to proceed. I care for you Elisa and I would never push you
from my life. We will deal with the Earl when he returns.”

  Elisabeth looked up. “He is not with you?”

  “Thank heavens no. he won’t return to the chateau for another several days’ time.”

  This brought a wide grin to Elisa’s mouth. “I thought he was here in London with you, that is why I did not dare to see you.”

  “Well I can assure you he is not and nothing would please me more than if you did see me. I have missed you so much.” Adelaide stood up with a renewed sense of their relationship. “Elisabeth I want to ask you something.”

  At this point Elisa was so enraptured that Adel could have asked her to jump into the River Thames and she would have. “Anything.” She had not imagined what would be said next.

  “Move into the chateau.”

  “What?”

  “I would like you to move into the chateau with me.”

  Elisabeth was stunned. “Adel how can that be, what about Robert? He will never agree to it.” This she was certain of.

  “Dear, you let me worry about Robert. It is my desire to have you close. I want to be happy and I want you to be happy. I know you are not content in that small room of yours and you can have your own suite, no need to even see Robert.” A gleam twinkled in her eyes. “Besides, you won’t be the only new arrival.”

  Elisabeth looked with suspicion. “What do you mean to say, Adel?”

  “Thomas will be joining us as well. It will be fitting; he will keep Robert so entertained we will never see hide nor hair of either of them.”

  Elisabeth’s heart danced in the cage of her ribs. “Why will Thomas be living there? I thought he had his own home here in London?”

  “He does. It is being redone from top to bottom. Perhaps a woman will finally take notice of him and desire to take care of a brand new dwelling, hmmmm?’

  Adel had not taken notice of the intrigue that flitted across Elisabeth’s eyes. “I suppose I could consider it. Of course if it becomes any type of inconvenience I will move back here to the shop. Can you agree to that, Adelaide?”

  Adel beamed and hugged Elisabeth, coating her salty tear stained cheeks with kisses. “Of course, I will send the men to move your room this very day.”

  The elated duo began to organize and make plans as the afternoon progressed and neither felt any remorse of foreboding to their decision. They were certain all was right and would remain that way.

  * * *

  Chapter 14

  “Come on old chap, you need to be heading home to that lovely little wife of yours.” Thomas’ strong, lanky fingers pushed the tumbler of scotch away from his dear friend Robert. “I think we have both had enough for the evening.”

  Robert scowled at his old friend and current houseguest. “I say,” he pointed hard at his own chest, jabbing his finger into the material of his suit coat, “I say when I have had enough, Thomas. I am a man, a man of means and high society. I say what is best.” His words were jumbled and slurred and laced with spittle.

  Thomas shook his head and dropped his eyes. He had witnessed this scene numerous times in the last few months and he knew the routine. If he pushed, Robert would become belligerent and boisterous, drawing attention from the other club members. He had been warned on several occasions that if he could not handle his drink then he would be asked to leave the club where he had been a member and his father and his grandfather for years, their finances having supported this establishment readily for decades. No, it was best to wait it out with patients, until Robert went from the enraged and aggressive phase to the remorseful, somber stupor that would soon be followed by Thomas lugging his drunken weight, near unconscious, back to the chateau that they both resided at for the time being. He himself, tried to limit his intake to two or three tumblers, so as to keep his sensibilities and guard his friend. It amazed him how these nights, which were becoming more frequent, Richard could drink himself to excess and still manage to rise in the early morning hours and go about his scheduled business with little more than a haggard expression and a cup of coffee at his side. Thomas was not like Robert in that aspect. He took matters to heart with deep introspect and let them effect him to the point of turning away from the strong alcohol that Robert used to dull his pain.

  Robert had his slack face nestled into the crook of his arm with is head resting on the well polished mahogany of the saloon bar. That was Thomas’ familiar, routine cue. He assisted his friend up to a standing position and buttoned his jacket, giving the man the decency to at least appear proper. “Come along Robert, your bedchamber is calling.”

  Robert looked up with glossy, unfocused eyes. “Yes it is, but she won’t be there will she? No she never comes to me anymore Thomas. What shall I do?”

  The duo staggered out into the street and began the short walk back to the chateau. As Thomas supported the weight of Robert’s intoxicated body he tried to calculate how many times their feet, one sure and steady the other without direction and tripping, had taken this same journey since returning with Robert from his summer home in the Grays. It was becoming so frequent he had lost count. They should have remained at Lovelace Manor, the two of them, surely Robert could have attended to the formalities of his work from there and then perhaps, Adelaide, his wife, would get through this odd phase she was making her husband suffer through. At least, had he remained in his childhood summer home she would not have been able to flaunt it right under his nose, no matter how drunk he was. “If it were me,” Thomas said to his friend who really wasn’t listening, “I would have that seamstress thrown out on her ear, and I would have done it myself.”

  By the time Robert and Thomas had returned together to London, at the end of summer, Adelaide and her seamstress having left weeks before, Robert had explained the full situation that had transpired between his wife, her seamstress and himself in its entirety. Thomas had sat in the coach in awe. Part of his mind wanted to reject the whole abnormal scenario and chastise his friend for ever returning to live with an immoral woman, who was clearly only interested in his wealth and would make a fool of him, and then his manly mind, controlled y his physical body, stepped in and praised his friend for such a conquest, imagine two women in the household, willing to provide to his more devious desires. Thomas was indeed intrigued in a devilish way he could not explain, until he pushed the idea away as he strongly disagreed with its nature.

  They arrived at Robert and Adelaide’s London home at the end of that summer, to find, unbeknownst to Robert, that Adelaide had moved her seamstress lover into the chateau. Giving her a full suite of rooms and allowing her to act as if her station was equal with the three of them. Thomas was astounded. The first few days, as he himself moved into the home, while his own town home was being renovated, he had to admit he was curious and aroused at what may be happening behind closed doors with the two ladies and or even possibly Robert. Once it was obvious that Robert was no longer included, nor wanted when the ladies took their leave to “attend” to their aspiring fashion collection. Robert began to sink into a notable depression that was only pacified by “going to the club.” Adelaide had her lover there residing under the guise of helping her to create a new clothing collection that they both claimed was inspired and would be all the rage in the high society circles and although they did sew, Thomas knew it was much more.

  Elisabeth had worked and weaseled and wrestled her way into the inner circle, clever girl that she was. It did not take long for Adelaide to be fawning and falling over her and requiring her to attend social calls and grand balls with both he and Robert. Elisabeth with her worldly knowledge and Adelaide with her societal skills had manipulated the other Earls, Countess’, Ladies and men into thinking Elisabeth was one of them. Even those that knew Elisabeth from her dress shop, House of Camille, had accepted her and none dared to speak against Adelaide.

  It was not that Thomas found Elisabeth unattractive, nor did he believe Adelaide no longer wanted Robert; not truly, it was a phase, a passing desire that would dissipate if t
he distraction was no longer available to her. If a child does not have access to sweets, eventually they will come to find there is nourishment in other means, means that are deemed more “suitable.” It wasn’t wasted on Thomas that Elisabeth was an easement for his friend’s marital relationship, they certainly had needed that buffer, but now it seemed she was something more solid, something more permanent. Adelaide had used her to build a wall; a strong structure that if not halted would become a fortress that Robert would never be allowed to enter and regain his rightful place as a man owning his fortune and household and Adelaide’s husband.

  As Thomas dragged Robert’s limp body over the threshold of their shared home, he vowed he would keep that wall from progressing by any means necessary. He could not stand by and watch his friend lose the one woman he married and choose to care for. It would be a devastation to all he and his family had built and established in this city.

  * * *

  Chapter 15

  “Which one?” Adelaide stood in her laced, silk corset and stockings holding up two exquisite gowns in front of her slight frame. The two women were locked away in Adelaide’s bedchamber readying themselves for an evening soirée; it was the third one they had attended together in this month alone. The cotillions, balls, tea parties and dinners were ramping up for the holiday season and soon they would be attending them weekly. Of course Robert and Thomas joined them for the evening activities, as they should; keeping proper appearances, but the teas and luncheons were strictly for the women, in the company of women.

  Elisabeth looked up from the reflective glass she was gazing in, using it to aide her fingers in skillfully pinning her dark tresses in place. She herself had picked out a daring emerald green gown that cut across the full swell of her bosom and draped off her shoulders in swags of shimmering satin. She turned and gazed at the two gowns, both her own personal designs. Adelaide was becoming a walking advertisement for her skilled ability and original collection. The women in Adelaide’s circle of high society were taking note and they were buying, ordering and keeping Elisabeth and her shop girls very busy in gowns dresses and underpinnings for the Elisabeth had no doubt that her fingers would be immersed in an overabundance of work in the next month with last minute holiday outfits and gifts. She pointed at a dress of blush, embroidered with designs of birds and floral flair in multi-colored satin threads.