Finally, I gain control of my tongue. “What are you speakin’ of?”
Serene rolls her eyes as though I’m an errant child who hasn’t been paying attention. “Lacroix men are terribly stubborn and can’t see what’s in front of them. And he’s a man, and sometimes common sense isn’t so common for them.”
“I still don’t understand what you’re gettin’ at.”
Serene smirks deviously. “You will at your bachelor ball.” Before I can ask her what she means by that, she continues speaking. “How did the invitations go?”
“Livingston and I finished them all.”
“Excellent. I’ll have them delivered at once.” She looks at her belly and gives it a loving pat. “Did you think last night’s date with Duncan went well?”
“Yes. It’s made me even more certain of the final bachelors.”
My confession brings a wide grin to her face. “Don’t tell me! I want to be surprised the day of. That reminds me …” As her voice drifts off, dread trickles down my spine, causing me to sit up straight.
“Yes?” I prod.
“There’s a chance Étienne might not be able to attend because of work. And because of social etiquette.” She pauses to roll her eyes. “I might need to ask another person to step in and take his place to oversee the event.”
Before she can finish her sentence, I know who she’s referring to. “Please tell me it’s your butler, Ben.”
“I’m afraid not.”
Every step I take, there is Livingston. As remarkably frustrating as that may be, I can’t help but note that perhaps his unpredictable arrivals to my dates and the words that come out of his mouth are a welcome distraction from the immense pain I feel from the loss of Miles.
Serene takes my silence as a sign of anger and places a hand over my hand. “Now don’t get mad. Étienne just can’t make it.”
Livingston never mentioned this. I shake my head ever so slightly. I can’t explain to Serene that it’s apprehension not anger I’m feeling at the idea of seeing Livingston. I don’t know what will happen to us after our kiss. “You can, though,” I point out. “You are the perfect chaperone.”
“You’re right. You’re right. I can make it. But what if one the bachelors is suddenly all up in your business? What can I do? Waddle after him, and whack him with my belly?” Serene shrugs. “All in all, I’m glad Livingston is stepping in at the last second.”
Last night, I was disappointed that Livingston didn’t show up to my date with Duncan, but that was before our kiss. I didn’t know how I was going to react when I saw him again. I knew it wasn’t going to be our customary repartee.
“And if he says something that gets under your skin just know he can’t help himself.”
I find myself leaning in, desperate to hear her answer. “Why can’t he, though? I don’t understand his actions.”
Serene lifts a shoulder. “You know the saying, ‘If it looks like a jealous man, walks like a jealous man, and talks like a jealous man, then it might just be a jealous man.’”
“I don’t believe I’ve ever heard that until now.”
“Really? Well, there’s a first time for everything.”
When I arrive home, Momma is pacing the foyer with her hands tightly woven in front of her.
The second she spots me, her eyes widen with excitement. “There you are, dear.”
“I told you I’d be at Belgrave.”
“Workin’ on the invitations for the ball, correct?”
Slowly, I take off my hat and look at her skeptically. “Yes, you’re correct.”
She nods and smiles off into the distance. “Wonderful.”
“I must say, I’m baffled by your reply. You’ve made no effort in hidin’ your dislike for the bachelor ball.”
“No need to split hairs, Rainey. All that matters is people cannot stop speakin’ about this ball.”
“I know. And you didn’t care for that.”
“That was before it became a runaway success! I’ve had two matriarchs from Charleston’s most prominent families visit today inquirin’ about the ball. Of course, I’m still in mournin’ so I had to politely turn them away.” Momma barely stops to take a breath. “Three bachelor’s mommas have sent invites to have tea. I daresay, this will be the event of the year!” Before I can say a word, she places her hands on my shoulder blades and all but pushes me into the sitting room. We stop in the open doorway. My eyes widen and my mouth drops as I take in the room. The fragrance is nearly overwhelming, but it doesn’t compare to the colors before me. It’s a sea of flowers. Every surface is covered, and around the furniture and Persian rug are even more flowers, creating a small maze.
“All from your bachelors, dear.”
“Oh, wow.”
Momma nods, her eyes alight with excitement. “I haven’t seen this many flowers since Nathalie Lacroix’s weddin’.”
“What do we do with all of them?”
“Appreciate the sight and smell and be a courteous Southern lady and write thank-you notes.”
This was quite a lot to take in. I don’t think I’ve ever had one bouquet sent to me, let alone a room full. Yet not one was from the man who could kiss me speechless.
“Did you finish all the invitations?”
“Hmm?”
“The invitations,” Momma says, pronouncing her words slowly. “Are they finished?”
Shaking my head ever so slightly, I shift toward Momma. It takes me a moment to figure out what she’s talking about. “Yes. Yes, they’re done,” I rush out.
“Wonderful.” Momma’s so roused by the attention of the upcoming ball she doesn’t notice my reaction. It’s time for her restorative beverage, but before Momma leaves the room, she holds one of my arms and gestures to the wild array of colors before us. “Just think, somewhere in the midst of all these flowers is a bouquet from your future husband.”
“Uh-huh,” I say numbly because my lips continue to tingle from my kiss with Livingston.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Rainey
If there’s any benefit to having a momma with expensive taste in all areas of life, it’s that I’ve never once lacked for a topic of conversation during each date with the bachelors. Even I learned a thing or two from my tutors and when I was a debutante. The second is there’s no absence of dresses to choose from in my closet. The seconds before I dress, I shed my true skin, and with each button sliding into place or zipper tightening the material around my body, the pain of Miles’s death retreats for a time. I focus on the present and the goals, which is making sure Momma and I don’t lose this house. Time was running out, though, as the topic of conversations ran thin and the list of bachelors grew smaller.
At the beginning of this, I didn’t love the bachelor idea, but it certainly wasn’t the worst. But soon, it distracted me. I found myself anxious to take off one attire and dress in another. I didn’t get dressed for today’s outing with much aplomb, though.