OLIVIA
Chapter Three
The soft music drifted through
the large ballroom as the dancers swirled in a sea of colorful array. These
were the elite, the cream of Philadelphia society, and they were there to
celebrate the engagement of Olivia Barlow to Caledon Hockley.
If Olivia were any happier, she
would literally float away. Her eyes glowed from the happiness and love she
felt for Cal. He was the perfect man for her. At that moment, she saw him
walking across the edge of the dance floor as he made his way to her. He wore
his black tuxedo and looked so handsome she couldn’t believe that he was
actually going to be her husband.
"There you are, sweetling. I
wondered where you had gotten off to," he said as he bent and kissed her
cheek.
"Mother has me practically
talking to everyone here. She’s over there discussing with Madeline Carter our
trip to Paris for our honeymoon."
"Perhaps she’ll be occupied
for a bit. Why don’t we go outside for a breath of fresh air?"
"I’d like that. It is
getting rather stuffy in here."
Together they made their way to
the large portico doors and exited onto the expansive brick-lined patio.
"What a lovely night,"
Olivia said, pulling her ivory shawl over her shoulders. Her dress was ivory,
too, and was trimmed in royal blue satin over the bodice and sleeves. However,
it was short sleeves, which was fine for indoors but not for outdoors.
"Yes, I agree. These warm
nights won’t last much longer."
"By the time the cold sets
in, we’ll be on our way to Paris on the most luxurious ship in the Atlantic waters."
Realizing what she had said, she turned to him and placed a comforting hand on
his chest. "Cal, are you sure you want to travel on a ship again? I mean,
considering what happened…"
"I can’t go through life
being afraid to sail again, Olivia. I told you I was fine with it, and I
am."
"I know, but still…"
"I said I was fine," he
answered tightly. "You don’t have to keep going on about it. That’s one
thing you’ll have to learn when you become my wife. I can’t have you
questioning everything I say and do."
"Of course, but I was only
thinking of you." She lowered her hand, feeling a little hurt at his
reproach of her.
"I expect certain things
from you as my wife, and that means you will honor any decisions I make and
never question me about them."
He spoke so firmly that Olivia
stepped back to place some distance between them. She had never seen this side
of him before. She knew what her place would be as his wife, she fully intended
to do all that she could to make him happy, and she didn’t want to upset him.
"I’m sorry. I won’t question
you again."
He smiled then. "That’s
better. You may make a fine wife after all, Olivia."
"I want to be a good wife to
you, Cal. I want to make you happy." She stepped back up to him, wanting
to assure herself that he wasn’t angry with her. He lifted her hand and kissed
it softly.
"You just do as I wish, and
you will. You will do that, won’t you, Olivia?"
For a moment, she didn’t answer.
Maybe she was just exaggerating the feeling his words had stirred in her, but
it seemed as if he were saying that she would have no existence outside of him.
That he wanted to own her completely. No, she told herself, he
couldn’t have meant that. Casting the feeling aside, she smiled at him.
"I will do anything to make you happy, Cal. I love you."
He smiled and pulled her to him.
"That’s what I want to hear. I knew I was right about you." Before
she could respond, he lifted her face and kissed her.
Olivia’s heart was pounding in
her chest. She was experiencing her first real kiss, and it was nothing like
she had thought it would be. His mouth was hot and hard against hers, and then
she felt his arm tighten around her waist. He continued to press his mouth
against hers, prying her lips open enough to snake his tongue against hers. She
jumped at the feel of it and felt her legs begin to shake. She had imagined
what it would be like, and it wasn’t anything like this. Overwhelmed with it
all, she finally pulled back enough to get a breath. "Cal, I don’t think
we should be doing this."
He drew back to look at her with
a dark expression on his face. "I’ll decide when it’s enough. I thought
you understood, Olivia. You are going to be my wife, and that makes you mine in
every way."
"Yes, but this is still new
to me. Please…" she pleaded with him, but he didn’t seem to hear.
"I won’t allow you to refuse
me. I’ve already been down that road, and I forbid it. Do you understand? Rose
thought she could keep me on a string like a marionette, but I won’t be treated
that way again. She could have had everything, and instead she chose--" He
stopped then, as if he suddenly realized he had said too much.
Olivia stared at him, scared at
the intensity of the way he spoke. She didn’t understand any of it. She only
knew that he was holding her tightly, so tightly her arms were tingling, and
speaking to her of things of which she had no knowledge. She was frightened of
him, but she didn’t want to be. He must have seen the fear in her eyes, because
he released her and stepped back from her.
"I’m sorry, Olivia. I
apologize for my amorous attention toward you. I shouldn’t have taken it so
far."
Rubbing her arms as she glanced
toward at him, she licked her lips before speaking. "I don’t understand
what just happened. Why did you say those things, and why are you comparing me
to Rose? I don’t think that’s fair, Cal. I am not Rose, and whatever she may or
may not have done should have no bearing on our relationship."
Nodding slowly, he answered her.
"Yes, you are right. Forgive me, Olivia. I shouldn’t have said anything,
and I’m sorry if I frightened you. That was not my intent. Let’s just forget
this and go back in to our party. Shall we?"
Finally agreeing, they returned
to the party, but Olivia couldn’t erase the scene from her mind. What had
really happened between he and Rose on the Titanic? Why was she suddenly
worried? And more importantly--why didn’t Cal tell her he loved her in return
when she told him? Too afraid of the answer to the question, Olivia pushed it
out of her mind, choosing not to think of it for the remainder of the evening.