"I should be back by noon tommorrow," Charles clamped his suitcase shut, "Usually these spasms of my mother don't last long. She has a habit of feigning illness in order to earn herself some company."
I handed him a pair of folded trousers he forgot to pack and he scowled.
"And you have all confidence in me working on my own?"
He shut his case once more with a smile, "Not entirely. But I'd much rather take my chances with your mistakes than my mother's fury."
I laughed, "Fair enough. And I assume you have a list of instructions?"
"Yes, actually," he grinned, "But only two things: book yourself a room at that hotel and then lie low. Such actions should assist you in your endeavors to not foil our plan."
I nodded and Charles grabbed his suitcases. He turned to me, looked me up and down for a moment, and then smiled, "Well. Good luck to you."
"You might be in greater need of it," I chuckled.
The hotel manager pushed a sheet of paper across the desk, "Sign here, if you will, and include the length of your intended stay."
I handed him a pair of folded trousers he forgot to pack and he scowled.
"And you have all confidence in me working on my own?"
He shut his case once more with a smile, "Not entirely. But I'd much rather take my chances with your mistakes than my mother's fury."
I laughed, "Fair enough. And I assume you have a list of instructions?"
"Yes, actually," he grinned, "But only two things: book yourself a room at that hotel and then lie low. Such actions should assist you in your endeavors to not foil our plan."
I nodded and Charles grabbed his suitcases. He turned to me, looked me up and down for a moment, and then smiled, "Well. Good luck to you."
"You might be in greater need of it," I chuckled.
***
The hotel manager pushed a sheet of paper across the desk, "Sign here, if you will, and include the length of your intended stay."
"Thank you," I smiled and then stirred the quill around in the inkwell in thought. According to policy, there were ways I could maneuver around payment until my actual leave of the hotel. And ever since my arrival I had become a fair adept at such a sport; I simply needed to come to a decision of when that time would be.
"Five months," I muttered to myself and signed my name. It was just enough time to accomplish what I needed to and then make myself scarce. As successful as I sometimes liked to think myself, it never hurt to set up a few safety nets.
With a good-natured grin, I slid the sheet back, "Here you are, my good man."
He quickly looked it over and then granted me directions to my room. I followed them, lugging my suitcases of new belongings up the steps and around several corners until I came to the door.
As soon as I stepped foot inside, I nearly dropped my luggage out of surprise. I stumbled to catch it again and then feasted my eyes all the more on the sight. The room was more spacious than Charles' guestroom and it appeared that every spare ledge or corner was trimmed with ornate designs and decorations. Thick, colorful curtains framed the glass window and there was a small couch in the corner full of embroidered cushions. A feathery quilt covered the large bed with pillows that seemed to be stuffed with the very clouds of the sky.
Surely I had expected something to the effect, but the grandeur of it all exceeded even my imaginations. It wasn't a palace and looked as if it could use a quick dusting, but I knew if my family had any knowledge as to my location, I'd be the envy of them all.
With a small laugh of disbelief, I walked across the room, dropped my luggage, and threw myself onto the mattress. I let my self sink into it with complete contentment and came to the decision that I'd forever reside in the upper class if only I were able to return to such a luxury every night.
Perhaps the only flaw in it all was the fact that Charolette's name could've been etched over every surface. I could see why my staying here would impress her to the extent that it did; it was expensive, gaudy, and completely unneccesary--in perfect parrellelism with her concept of happiness.
No matter. I was sure this decision would help in other social areas as well and, as far as future dance partners went, there were many other fish in the sea besides Miss Evans.
As for Charles' whole plan of lying low for two days, my endurance lasted the length of a quater of an hour. Though my new sleeping quaters held much excitement, frivolous furniture could only provide so much company. I tried a book to quench my restlessness but found reading to be more of a chore than an enjoyment. At length, I simply found myself outside of the hotel and climbing aboard the local hansom cab.
With a good-natured grin, I slid the sheet back, "Here you are, my good man."
He quickly looked it over and then granted me directions to my room. I followed them, lugging my suitcases of new belongings up the steps and around several corners until I came to the door.
As soon as I stepped foot inside, I nearly dropped my luggage out of surprise. I stumbled to catch it again and then feasted my eyes all the more on the sight. The room was more spacious than Charles' guestroom and it appeared that every spare ledge or corner was trimmed with ornate designs and decorations. Thick, colorful curtains framed the glass window and there was a small couch in the corner full of embroidered cushions. A feathery quilt covered the large bed with pillows that seemed to be stuffed with the very clouds of the sky.
Surely I had expected something to the effect, but the grandeur of it all exceeded even my imaginations. It wasn't a palace and looked as if it could use a quick dusting, but I knew if my family had any knowledge as to my location, I'd be the envy of them all.
With a small laugh of disbelief, I walked across the room, dropped my luggage, and threw myself onto the mattress. I let my self sink into it with complete contentment and came to the decision that I'd forever reside in the upper class if only I were able to return to such a luxury every night.
Perhaps the only flaw in it all was the fact that Charolette's name could've been etched over every surface. I could see why my staying here would impress her to the extent that it did; it was expensive, gaudy, and completely unneccesary--in perfect parrellelism with her concept of happiness.
No matter. I was sure this decision would help in other social areas as well and, as far as future dance partners went, there were many other fish in the sea besides Miss Evans.
***
"Why Mr. Samuelson!" Mrs. Evan's exclaimed, "What a wonderful surprise. What brought you from your busy endeavors?"
"I apologize for not notifying you of my arrival ahead of time," I said with a small bow, "I was just passing your lovely home and thought I might stop by for a visit."
She smiled welcomingly, "We're glad you did. Here, come in. My daughter is in the parlor; she'll be more than happy to see you."
My reasoninging behind this visit was solely for the notorious Evans' gossip. Their shallow outlooks and petty remarks never ceased to greatly annoy me but without Charles here to recommend me to people or their homes, this seemed my only directory.
After all the usual greetings, I struck up a conversation concerning a promising house I had seen on the way, observing their slightly wilted flower boxes. It was the perfect bait. Before long, I knew the occupants' names, enough history to hold a pleasant conversation with them, and directions to the homes of their aquaintences. It was salted with bitterness and resentment of course, but I was able to sift the pure information from it.
My visit wasn't long. This fact was made known to me by the look of disapointment Charolette shot me and her consecutive invitations to visit again--all of which I agreed to by way of mouth but not heart. From Miss Evan's behavior I learned not only of my next destination, but of the idea that I needed to begin avoiding her presence. If I wasn't cautious with my bachelor status, her parents would get more involved and I'd have far more falling into my hands than the Gransville estate.
The rest of the day afterwards carried on most pleasantly. I visited the first home, telling the family that I'd heard well of them and had the desire to meet them myself. I retrieved more names from them, left on good terms, and moved on down the chain. Since the cab was absent, I chose to walk. This also worked to my advantage as I was able to greet those walking the streets and even make a few generous donations to those I spotted in the lower classes. I stopped in shops for the sole intention of giving a cheerful tip or two and socializing with the customers there and even dared joining a circle of peers I recognized from the ball.
By the time I arrived back at the hotel, most of the money Charles had lent me was gone and my pockets empty. However, my status was full to bursting. Charles' approval would be hard to judge as I had completely disregarded his advice. For the present, however, my last stop was a deliciously soft bed and I wasn't about to let any worries damper a good night's sleep.
She smiled welcomingly, "We're glad you did. Here, come in. My daughter is in the parlor; she'll be more than happy to see you."
My reasoninging behind this visit was solely for the notorious Evans' gossip. Their shallow outlooks and petty remarks never ceased to greatly annoy me but without Charles here to recommend me to people or their homes, this seemed my only directory.
After all the usual greetings, I struck up a conversation concerning a promising house I had seen on the way, observing their slightly wilted flower boxes. It was the perfect bait. Before long, I knew the occupants' names, enough history to hold a pleasant conversation with them, and directions to the homes of their aquaintences. It was salted with bitterness and resentment of course, but I was able to sift the pure information from it.
My visit wasn't long. This fact was made known to me by the look of disapointment Charolette shot me and her consecutive invitations to visit again--all of which I agreed to by way of mouth but not heart. From Miss Evan's behavior I learned not only of my next destination, but of the idea that I needed to begin avoiding her presence. If I wasn't cautious with my bachelor status, her parents would get more involved and I'd have far more falling into my hands than the Gransville estate.
The rest of the day afterwards carried on most pleasantly. I visited the first home, telling the family that I'd heard well of them and had the desire to meet them myself. I retrieved more names from them, left on good terms, and moved on down the chain. Since the cab was absent, I chose to walk. This also worked to my advantage as I was able to greet those walking the streets and even make a few generous donations to those I spotted in the lower classes. I stopped in shops for the sole intention of giving a cheerful tip or two and socializing with the customers there and even dared joining a circle of peers I recognized from the ball.
By the time I arrived back at the hotel, most of the money Charles had lent me was gone and my pockets empty. However, my status was full to bursting. Charles' approval would be hard to judge as I had completely disregarded his advice. For the present, however, my last stop was a deliciously soft bed and I wasn't about to let any worries damper a good night's sleep.
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