Lancelot and my Linda showed up at the table a couple minutes later. Linda was bubbly. Lancelot excused himself saying he had been ignoring his friends at his table. He bent and whispered in my ear, "Thanks for giving her the card, Luke." He was gone.
I looked at Linda and said, "He just thanked me for giving you the hall pass."
She giggled and said, "Yeah, I used it."
I had such a sinking feeling in my stomach. I felt betrayed. In all our years together, Linda had never made me feel betrayed.
I asked, "When, where?"
She replied, "Just now, out on the patio."
Muscles tightened all over my body. I thought, "Even if she goes to my room, the night is ruined."
She looked at my face and saw the turmoil in my mind. A look of deep regret passed over her face. She realized that she had inadvertently led me to a very wrong conclusion. She reached out and touched my lips with her fingers. She said, "I showed him the pass, Luke. That is how I used it. I wanted him to know it was me telling him no, not you." Relief washed over me like a cleansing tide. I captured her small hand in mine and kissed her fingers. The adrenaline in my bloodstream began to dissipate and my tense nerves settled in the next minutes.
She said, "He is elated that I have the pass. I told him explicitly no but he doesn't hear that word often. He thinks he still has a chance. This is our night, Luke. She came to me and held me while I calmed myself. I felt ashamed for what I had thought.
Bobby handed her a glass of wine. "He said, "Linda, I advised Luke to give you the hall pass. He told me this morning that you wouldn't use it. I told him you needed it if he wanted you to have a free choice. I'm glad you chose the way you did. I would have felt like shit if you had gone the other way. I become jealous every time I see you look at Eric." He had generated some emotion in her. Her green eyes sparkled brightly through the new mist in them.
She took Bobby's hand and squeezed it. She said, "If I was going to sleep with anyone other than Luke tonight, it would be you, Bobby."
Michelin and her young dance partner came back to the table. She kissed his cheek and thanked him for the dance. He bowed to Bobby and went away. Michelin sat down with Bobby.
Suddenly bagpipes filled the room with sound. It's hard for me to think of that sound as music. Three tall straight young girls in Highlander dress appeared on the dance floor. The pipes played and the girls danced.
I took Linda and walked to a large plush chair that had been moved closer to the wall and into the shadows. I sat in the chair and pulled her down on my lap. We made ourselves comfortable and sipped our drinks. We watched the dancers. The music changed and another group of dancers appeared. The dance was different. This happened several times.
I enjoyed the dancers but I had found the high slit in Linda's dress. Her skin beneath was warm and smooth. I touched her button. She moaned in my ear and squirmed in my lap. She said, "Oh Luke."
Bobby later told me that we had been treated to four different dances. They were the reel, the jig, the strathspey and the waltz. I only recognized the waltz but they were all beautiful to watch. Truthfully, I missed some of the show. Linda and I were making out some.
After the show, the music was Scottish country. Country-dance was the order for the next hour or so. There was no way Linda or I could participate. Bobby and Micheline danced three different times. They danced well together.
The country dancing ended. I asked Bobby to find an appropriate recording of Texas country. Linda and I demonstrated the good-ole Texas two-step. We were alone on the dance floor for a minute and then Bobby and Michelin joined us. Bobby had spent two years in Texas. He knew how to two-step. He had evidently taught Michelin. We weren't as impressive as the dancers we had just seen but everyone cheered for us.
The night wore on and around one in the morning, people began to come by our table to bid us goodnight and to thank Bobby and Michelin for the party.
I asked when the party would be over. Bobby answered, "It is over now. A few of our guest will stretch it out as long as they can but I have told the announcer to call the last dance at two."
I said, "I promised to dance with Anne once more. I had better go do it."
Linda said, "I promised Lancelot another dance too. He hasn't yet taken no for an answer. He thinks I might still change my mind and go home with him." She looked at me and whispered in my ear, "Don't worry Luke. He might help to build a fire in me but it will be yours to put out." I saw her finger the necklace around her neck. She pulled it out from under the fabric of her dress and kissed it. She smiled at me and said, "I always have this to remind me of the man who truly loves me."
I helped her from her seat and we went to Lancelot's table. Lancelot rose to his feet as we approached. I said, "Laird Littleton, my wife has informed me that she has promised you another turn on the floor. Please return her to me before the last dance. I reserve that dance for myself."
He answered, "So shall it be Mr. Bowman. I thank you for your indulgence." He bowed to Linda and took her hand. They walked away together.
I turned to his sister and said, "Miss Littleton, It would be my honor if you would favor me with a dance."
She smiled and offered her hand. I helped her rise and we proceeded to the floor. I held her and we danced in silence for a moment. She cuddled in close and laid her head on my chest. In her small voice, she said, "Luke, please forgive me for being so forward. I have only now come to realize the significance of this night and this party for you and Linda. I was a fool to think I could butt in."
I squeezed her closer and answered, "There is no forgiveness necessary. I was swept off my feet by your presence. I was unable to communicate with you properly. I hope that our interactions of this night will not hinder the further development of our relationship. I want us to become very special in each other's eyes and hearts."
She said, "Oh Luke. Nothing will stop me from pursuing this relationship."
I thought that was enough conversation. We had agreed to take this up again at some time in the future. That was enough to make me happy. I had been afraid that she would never want to talk to me again.
Anne wanted to talk. She said, "I want you to know me better before you leave. Please don't let my actions tonight make you think of me as a tart or a trollop. I am of twenty-six years and have had three lovers. I was monogamous with each of them for the period of our relationship. I have never been sexually involved with anyone that I had known for less than several months." I have no excuse for the slutty way that I acted tonight, except that I thought it would be now or never. I can't stand the thought of missing the only chance that I might have to be with you.
I think I fell in love with you before I came here. Eric's description of you made me feel as if I was about to meet the man I had always dreamed of. While you were having that first dance with your wife tonight, I realized how understated his description had been. Even now I am Jealous of her."
I said, "That is enough Anne. I would never think of you as a tart. The attraction that you feel is a two-way street. Just let me hold you and enjoy being with you. We will take this up from here at another time."
She replied, "Since I am already in this deep, may I make one more trashy remark?"
I chuckled and said, "Certainly if you wish."
I saw her blush even in the dim light. She giggled and whispered, "At another time, I intend to give my body to you. I will be very aggressive and it will be the best sex you have ever enjoyed."
I wanted to shut her up so I stuck my tongue in her mouth. That worked. My hand found its way and I fondled her breast. The monster became very hard very quickly. She felt him rise against her belly. She captured him and held him in her hand while we kissed. The music stopped.
We stood together quietly in the dark and took a moment to recover. I saw Linda and Lancelot slip through the door to an outside patio. The next musical piece began.
I took Anne's hand and led her to the French doors that led outside. I could see Linda and Lancelot through the glass. They were not dancing but sitting at a small round metal table. Nothing naughty was going on. They were holding hands. They appeared to be talking and enjoying each other. I took Anne through the door.
There was no one else about. Anne came into my arms and we began to sway gently in time with the music. Linda looked up and saw us. She motioned for us to join them.
We approached the table and Lancelot rose to greet us. He asked us to sit. He said, "Mr. Bowman, I have a heartfelt apology for you and your Lady.
I said, "Address me as Luke. I will call you Eric."
He replied, "Oh good. That will make what I have to say so much easier." Anne giggled under her breath. She was enjoying her brother's distress.
I intended to let him off easily but I let him squirm on the hook for the time he took to collect his thoughts. I let him begin.
He said, "Linda has finally made me understand how special this trip and especially this party have been for you. Her commitment to you is unshakeable. There is no way I could possibly compete with something as powerful as that. I have been such an ass for trying." He only paused long enough to catch his breath. He said, "Please forgive my arrogance and stupidity in..." I held up my hand and stopped him mid-sentence.
I said, "Eric, it is my belief that the four of us want something to come of this relationship. That can't happen tonight. This is a special night for Linda and me." I paused and then continued, "I hope it does happen at another time. I think that Linda and I will come back here a few months after Michelin's baby is born. We both want to meet the child. I think that the four of us should meet and take up this discussion at that time." I went on, "I think we should meet privately away from Wilkinson Manor."
Eric asked, "Where shall we meet?"
