Mardi Gras Masquerade (16 page)

“Goodnight,” she said in a trembling voice.

Steve did not reply or make any attempt to stop her as she walked off into the darkness.

CHAPTER 7

When Maria awakened the following morning, the first thought to cross her mind was that she knew she had to get away from Steve DuPont.
 
Her feelings for him had become too strong to resist.
 
She loved him, but she could only believe that what he felt for her must be only instinctual.
 
There could be no tender affection in his soul, not after the unconscionable way he had forced her to submit to their mutual desire last night.

After she had breakfast alone in the dining room, she walked out into the garden to think about what she should do.
 
A while later, one of the maids found her to say that the dress designer and her assistant were waiting to see her.
 
Maria went in and showed them to her room.

The designer was an animated, mature woman who had been caught up in the romance of the approaching nuptials.
 
She asked Maria to turn her back until she had taken the wedding gown out of its wrappings so she could display it properly.
 
When Maria finally turned back, she was overcome with ecstasy.

The gown was like something out of a storybook romance.
 
The skirt was composed of layer after layer of delicate lace that would bell out around her when she wore the accompanying petticoats.
 
The high, puffed sleeves at the shoulders supported the form-fitting bodice with its sweetheart neckline.

Feeling truly like a bride, Maria could not wait to try it on.
 
After slipping out of her over-garments, the designer helped her into the matching lace petticoats.
 
Once she got the dress over her shoulders and fastened by a row of tiny pearl buttons in back, she knew that it fit her perfectly.
 
Even the designer had to comment that the measurements Mr. DuPont had given her were so accurate that no alterations would be necessary.
 
Maria hid her embarrassment as she recalled how these measurements had been acquired.

As she stepped into the dainty white high heels with silk rosebuds on top, the assistant placed the full-length veil on her head and pinned it to her hair.
 
Maria swirled about the room in ecstasy.

The façade was forgotten as she allowed herself to believe this really was her wedding gown.
 
She could not imagine that any other dress in the world could be lovelier.

“Would you like to look in a mirror?” suggested the designer.

“Oh, yes,” Maria answered the smiling woman.

She quickly walked to the closet and threw open the door.
 
Inside was a full-length mirror.
 
Maria drew in her breath when she saw how she looked.
 
The tight bodice accentuated her slim waistline against the outward swell of the tiers of lace.
 
The puffed-up top of the veil gave her an appearance of greater height.
 
It was the perfect gown to display her natural assets.

This was the gown that Steve had selected for her.
 
The smile slowly faded from Maria’s face as she stared at herself in the mirror.
 
She had no right to be happy.
 
That woman in the white gown had never been asked to be a bride, and Steve would not be the groom who waited at the altar next Tuesday.

It had all been a fantasy.
 
By believing in it, even for these few precious moments, Maria had let herself see the fulfillment of her dreams that could never be.
 
The return to reality from such heights had a devastating effect on her.
 
Now, more than ever, she understood exactly what she wanted from life, and there could be no acceptable alternative.

“Is something wrong?” asked the designer.

With a downcast expression, Maria replied, “I want to take off the dress now.”

“Don’t you like it?”

“It’s the most beautiful gown I’ve ever seen.”

“Ah, I understand, Mademoiselle.
 
You are overcome by your rapture!” the woman exclaimed, feeling the need to make things right.

“Yes, I love it,” Maria agreed, so she would not hurt the designer’s feelings by giving her the wrong impression.

After the dress had been put back in its wrappings, the woman told her that she would take it back to her shop to press it again.
 
The veil and shoes would remain, and the gown would be returned shortly.
 
Maria thanked her, and she was once again left by herself.

All of the magic was gone now, leaving only despair in its wake.
 
Maria stared at the lustrous veil that had been left on a head form on her dresser.
 
It was as ethereal as the dream she had dared to believe, and like the dream, it was not meant for her.

Suddenly, the room became a cold, haunting place.
 
She did not belong there.
 
This was all meant for another.

Without considering what she was going to do, Maria swiftly packed her bags.
 
Hot tears scalded her cheeks to fall and dampen her possessions.
 
It did not matter how; she had to get out of there today, right now.
 
It was Friday, the last day that she would have all to herself.
 
It did not seem likely that Steve would work on the weekends.
 
This would probably be her only opportunity to escape.
 
She had to hurry.
 
There was a chance that he might be on his way home right now.

When Maria was done packing, she went into the bathroom to place a cool, damp cloth on her eyes.
 
It would not do for anyone to see she had been crying.

The time had come for her to think of a way to get out of this situation before Steve dragged her into it any deeper.
 
She would have to leave before he came home from work.
 
While he was in the house, she would never be able to affect an escape.

Their goodbyes would have to be forgotten.
 
Even if Maria could manage to look the man in the face for what she knew would be the last time, he would never let her go.
 
To him, she was only his brother’s property, meant to be protected and restrained if necessary.

When Maria considered her appearance to be satisfactory, she sat at the vanity table to apply a bit of makeup.
 
She had to look natural and carefree for the servants.

Then an audacious possibility came into her mind.
 
As far as anyone there knew, she was destined to become the mistress of this household.
 
Unless the staff had been instructed otherwise by Steve, they would not risk insulting her if she told them she wanted to go out for a while.

But how could she explain taking her luggage with her?
 
That might present a problem.
 
Would they allow her to go if she said that she wanted to return to the hotel in town until the marriage took place?

This might arouse their suspicions enough to call Steve and tell him what she planned to do.
 
She had no idea how long it would take a taxi to get to the house and then the airport.
 
It might be far away.
 
During that time, a member of the staff might phone Mr. DuPont at his office to tell him of her plan, and he would return home as fast of possible.
 
He might even ask someone to detain her.
 
That would be no good.

Then, a new plan occurred to Maria.
 
This one, while it was more perilous, might have a far greater chance of being ultimately successful.
 
She would put it into action immediately.

Maria left her room to wander idly about the house.
 
In actuality, she was looking around to see where all of the employees were and what they were doing.
 
It was important to be aware of where everyone was.

Once she felt that her knowledge was complete, Maria looked for the housekeeper, a pleasant, middle-aged woman.

When she found her, she walked up to the woman confidently and said, “Mrs. Grey, would you please have the car sent over?
 
I’d like to take a ride.”

“Mr. DuPont is using the limousine in town,” the housekeeper informed her.

“Aren’t there any other cars on the estate?”

“There’s only the car Mr. DuPont keeps for his personal use.”

“Will you show me where it is, please,” Maria replied in her most commanding voice.

“It’s in the garage, Miss Fontaine, but no one has ever used it except Mr. DuPont.
 
I don’t know if he would approve.”

“Why shouldn’t he?
 
You know my position in this household, Mrs. Grey.
 
Do you think Mr. DuPont would be happy if he found out that you refused to give me the keys to his car?
 
All I want to do is to take a little ride in the country.
 
It’s quite boring for me to sit here by myself day after day.”

“Of course, Miss Fontaine.
 
I hadn’t thought of it that way.
 
Will you be going out after lunch?”

Maria had not realized how late it was.
 
It might be wise for her to have a bite to eat now, considering that it might be quite a while before she got another opportunity.
 
On the other hand, she wanted to get away as quickly as possible, and besides, she did not know if she would be able to eat with all of this excitement.

“I’ll find some place along the road,” she replied.

“Are you sure you’ll be safe, Miss?
 
It might be best to wait for Mr. DuPont.”

“I appreciate your concern, but you seem to have forgotten that I’m bored
now
.
 
If Mr. DuPont calls, you don’t have to tell him that I’ve taken his car.
 
I’ll be home before he is.”

“Whatever you say, Miss.
 
I can get you the spare set of keys in a moment.”

When Mrs. Grey left the room, Maria fidgeted nervously until she returned.
 
It seemed to take forever, but in fact, only a few minutes had elapsed.

“Would you like a map of the area?” the housekeeper thoughtfully asked.

That was a detail that had not even occurred to Maria.
 
She had not paid any particular attention to the roads while she had ridden in the limousine.
 
If she had set out without a map, she might have become lost in minutes.

“I would appreciate that, “Maria replied.

“There’s one in the library.
 
I’ll get it for you.”

Again, Maria had to wait as the precious seconds ticked away.
 
There might be the smallest possibility that Steve would return home for lunch, even though he had not done this before.
 
She had to be out of there before he arrived or her escape would be foiled.

Mrs. Grey eventually returned with the map in her hand.
 
After that, she escorted Maria to the garage to point out the black convertible foreign car that Steve DuPont kept for his personal use.
 
Once the housekeeper was gone, Maria studied the map.
 
It appeared that the airport was not that far away.
 
She would drive the car there and leave it in the parking lot.
 
Once she was back in
Illinois
, she would call the DuPont house to leave a message for Steve to pick it up there.
 
He had the limousine to use until then.