Mardi Gras Masquerade (25 page)

In a soft voice, he said, “You’re pure and innocent, like a blossom that has just opened its petals to the sun for the first time.
 
You’re like an angel who’s in danger of
havin
’ her wings singed as she’s drawn to temptation.”

Maria was startled by the beauty of the man’s words.
 
They made her tingle with joy and, also, fear, the fear that she might not mind having her wings singed at all.

“Let’s go back to the house,” said Steve.

He did not wait for Maria to consent.
 
After taking her hand in his, he led her back across the lawn.
 
The garden seemed oddly empty when they passed through it, even though it had been filled with the spirit of their conversation only a short while ago.

Steve guided Maria right back to the door of her bedroom.
 
He stopped there to turn and look at her.

“It’s hard to say goodnight,” he whispered.

Amazing herself, Maria replied, “I know.”

The man leaned forward as if he was going to kiss her, and then, instead, he raised her left hand to his lips and kissed the sapphire ring on her finger.
 
The shimmer of its light was reflected in his eyes.

“Goodnight, butterfly,” he said sadly.

“Goodnight, sweet prince,” she whispered back.

Steve heaved out a long breath, and after giving her one long, penetrating look, he released her hand and walked away.
 
Maria continued to stand in the doorway, watching him until he was gone.
 
At that point, she walked into her room and shut the door.
 
Long after she went to bed, she remained awake.
 
Every now and then, she would turn to inhale the fragrance of the rose that she had left on her pillow.

CHAPTER 11

Maria was awakened by the feel of a hand gently caressing her
      
cheek.
 
She opened her eyes to see Steve looking down at her.

“As fair at rest as she is at play,” he said in a sort voice.

Maria smiled lazily up at him.

“Good morning,” she said, happy to have him near her.
 
“Have I overslept?”

“Just a touch.
 
I wouldn’t have awakened you except for the fact that I have to go into the office today, and there’s somethin’ I wanted to show you before I left.”

Maria sat up and asked, “What is it?”

When Steve’s gaze moved downward to take in the filmy folds of her negligee, she suddenly felt self-conscious.
 
He chuckled softly when she pulled the sheet up around her chest.

“Such maidenly modesty,” he said with a grin.

“I’m not accustomed to having men come into my bedroom unannounced.”

“Tell me about the ones who
have
come in . . . announced.”

“Oh, Steve!
 
You know what I meant!”

“Happily, I do.
 
Now, I’ll turn my back for five seconds to give you a chance to make yourself decent.”

“Five seconds?”

Steve stood up and turned away, counting, “Four . . . three . . .”

“Slower!” Maria cried out with a laugh, as she scrambled out of the bed to get her robe.

“Two . . . one.”

The man turned back with a sly smile just as Maria slipped her second arm into a sleeve.
 
She quickly pulled the robe closed.

“You’re a speedy one,” he commented.

“I have to be to keep up with you.
 
Now, what did you want to show me?”

“I was busy while you laid there, lost in your dreams.
 
Let’s go into the bathroom.”

Maria shook her head at her lack of comprehension, but followed him anyway.
 
Once they were in the commodious room, Steve closed the door by reaching over Maria’s shoulder.
 
He stood there, smiling at her.

“Well?” she said with expectation.

“Look around.”

Maria looked at him strangely, expecting him to pounce on her as soon as she turned away.

The man laughed and said, “Go on!”

With a distrusting expression on her face, Maria did as he asked.
 
Her skepticism was replaced by incredulity.
 
Hanging on the back of the bathroom door was a formal satin ball gown.
 
The golden material shimmered in the light.
 
Sparkles were strewn over the two lacy flounces that were attached to the sides of the full skirt.
 
Maria gasped in ecstasy.

“Where did it come from?” she cried.

“I got it at the same shop where I bought your
weddin
’ gown. Fortunately, the designer already had your measurements, so she was able to alter it for you as a surprise.”

“But, why, Steve?”

“For the ball tonight, naturally.
 
I’ve been
plannin
’ to take you there for several days.”

“You’re incredible!” Maria exclaimed as she threw herself into his arms to hug him in delight.
 
“I’ve never seen such a gorgeous gown!”

“What about your
weddin
’ dress?” Steve reminded her, as he looked down into her beaming face.

“Except for that.” Maria gladly conceded.
 
“I feel like Cinderella!”

“You’re
makin
’ me feel like Prince Charmin’.”

“Wasn’t it the fairy godmother who gave Cinderella the gown?”

“I don’t feel comfortable with that
analogy.”

“Oh, Steve!
 
You know you’ll always be Prince Charming to me.”

The man caught her hands in his and gave each one a kiss in turn.

“I’m glad you like it,” he said with a sparkle in his eyes. “The
matchin
’ shoes, gloves, and purse are on the counter.”

Maria spotted them instantly and said, “You think of everything.”

“I’d be happy to take the credit, but you have your famous designer to thank for the details.”

“I’ll have to give her a call.”

“You do that.
 
I think she was almost as excited about this surprise as you are.”

Maria stood on tiptoe to give Steve a light kiss on the cheek.

He looked down at her longingly, and then said, “I wish I could stay here to see how you look in the gown, but I’m running late already.”

Maria’s smile faded.

“Do you really have to go?” she asked.

“I’m sorry to say I do.
 
There are some arrangements I have to take care of.”

“When will you be back?”

“Around three.
 
We’ll be
leavin
’ for the ball at four.
 
If you need any alterations on the dress, Mrs. Grey will give you the designer’s number.
 
I’m sure she’ll be happy to come over.”

“Thank you no much, Steve.
 
I really meant what I said last night when I told you that you make me feel like a queen.”

“And tonight, you’ll be the belle of the ball.”

He leaned down to give her a kiss on the cheek.

“
A tout à
l’heure
,
mon
ange
,” he said in a seductive voice. “I’ll see you later.”

Maria sighed after he walked out the door.
 
This was like a fantasy that she never wanted to end.

She could not wait until after breakfast to try on the gown.
 
She had to call in a maid to help her with the small buttons in back.
 
The woman clapped her hands, sharing in Maria’s enthusiasm as she whirled about the room with an imaginary dance partner.

But tonight, there would be no need to look for a partner.
 
Steve would be there, and they would dance until dawn if she had her way.
 
He would look devastatingly handsome in his black tuxedo.
 
She could imagine how every woman in the room would envy her.

After viewing the dress from every conceivable angle in the full-length mirror, Maria reluctantly let the maid help her to take it off.
 
If it would not have looked absurd in front of the staff, she would have been happy to wear the golden gown all day.

With all of this excitement, Maria could barely manage to eat her breakfast.
 
All she could think about was
Steve and the wonderful time they would be having that night.
 
As she was about to leave, it came as a surprise when Mrs. Grey entered the dining room it to tell her that she had a telephone call.

“From Mr. DuPont?” Maria asked with a smile.

“No, from a woman who identified herself as your roommate.”

“Who did she ask for?”

“She used only a first name . . . Maria.
 
Could there be some mistake, Miss?”

“No,” Maria replied, relieved that her friend had not given her away.
 
“I’ll take the call in the study.”

“Very good, Miss.”

Maria walked anxiously to the study.
 
She felt uncertain about how her roommate would react to what she had to tell her.

After picking up the receiver, she said, “Hello, Marla?”

“Maria?
 
Is that you?”
 
  

The model’s voice was garbled by a bad connection.

“Yes,” Maria replied.
 
“I’ve been trying to call you all week.”

“What the hell is going on there?” her friend demanded in an angry voice.
 
“Why are you staying at Tienne’s house?”

“Things got a little complicated . . .”

“A little complicated?
 
I just called the hotel and asked for Maria Jones in the DuPont suite, and the clerk tells me that Miss Maria Fontaine moved out to stay with the DuPonts several days ago.
 
I had to tell him that there was an emergency to get this number.
 
What do you think you’re doing?”

“I tried to call you and explain, but I could never get a hold you at the apartment, and the receptionist at the agency me you were on vacation.”

“That’s true.
 
After you left for
New Orleans
, my friend, Chuck, invited me to go with him to
Rio
for Carnival.
 
That’s only fair since you got to go to Mardi Gras.”

“You’re in
Rio de Janeiro
?
 
In
Brazil
?” Maria asked in disbelief.

“Yes,
I’m calling from our hotel.
 
Now you tell me why you’ve been going around using my name!”