No, no, the utmost share Of my desire, shall be Only to kiss that air, That lately kissed thee.
To Electra
Chapter 15
“Should I choose this one or this one?” Evelyn held up two beautiful long silk gowns in front of the hanging mirror on the north wall of Glube H on Barrington Street. One of them was a baby rose pink, embellished by a crocheted bust sweep, complete with a shimmering purple ribbon tied around the waist. Another was an emerald empire waist gown with a sweep train. At the bottom of the train were embroidered light green ivy leaves. Its sleeves were a shimmering gossamer, a rose petal’s silk. “I’ll try them both on.” The pink gown hugged her body comfortably while bringing out her naturally rosy cheeks. The way the emerald gown’s sheer cap sleeves fell mimicked the way her hair did when it was let down. A handful of fabric was pinned to the side by a delicate flower brooch with two moderately sized emeralds embedded within.
She showcased each dress to Betsie. “What do you think? Which one?”
Betsie tilted her head to the right with one hand clasping her cheek. “Oh, dear, they’re both lovely. Which do you like better?”
“If I knew, I wouldn’t be asking you, Betsie. I like the pink one because it is soft and elegant, but the emerald, I believe, would match my green eyes a lot better. It exudes a type of fire, a brilliance which I find mesmerizing.”
“Well, then, your heart seems to have settled on the emerald gown. Buy that one.”
“Oh! Here is the perfect accessory to go with it.” Evelyn held up a peacock feather attached to a headband.
“Exquisite! You’ll be the belle of the ball.”
“Me? I think not. You’ll take on that role flawlessly.”
“Nonsense, what do you think of this canary yellow dress?”
“It suits your sunny disposition very well.”
The women made their way to the counter, gabbing on about how excited they were.
“All our hard-earned money spent,” Evelyn sulked. She reluctantly handed over her dress to the salesperson.
“This is a special occasion. The whole city is invited to this event. We’ll get the money back. The hospital cannot do without us.”
After the women swiped their purchases from the counter, they banded arms and skipped out of the store.
Betsie murmured, “I hear you’re going with the good doctor.”
“And what of it? He’s been such a good friend to me.”
“Oh, well, call me blind, but there is more than friendship on his mind.”
Evelyn’s mouth twisted in confusion and surprise. “Betsie Randall, what a scandalous thing to say! I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You must have said yes right away. I know if I were twenty years younger I would have.”
Evelyn stopped in her tracks and laid a firm hand upon her friend’s arm. “I did not say yes right away. I couldn’t. Before I gave him my answer, I searched for Carl in all the hospitals and medical institutions which were on a list given to me. I went to the school they had used for a morgue. My love for Carl...no one can take that away. Now that it seems Carl is...gone—it’s time for me to move on.”
“I understand. I’m sorry if I seemed to make light of the situation. I’m sure it’s hard for you to do this, to take a chance at a new beginning.”
Evelyn smiled meekly, knowing her friend was trying to help, trying to be positive.
***
Having had a goodnight’s rest, Betsie and Evelyn went to the hospital to work their last day before the following grand evening. Evelyn was busy all morning doing her usual chores and duties as nurse. As she hummed a childhood lullaby to herself, a bang aroused her from the mundane routine. Betsie’s strained face appeared before the slowly swinging doors. “Evelyn, Doctor MacCrae is wanting our immediate presence.”
Evelyn deftly put away a pile of clean sheets and followed Betsie into the operating theatre. Crying and moans of pain rang in her ears as she beheld a poor man who had been shot in the chest near his left lung. Blood soaked rags covered the wound. At the sight, Evelyn wondered what had happened to this man; but this was neither the place to think of it nor her job to pursue it.
“Nurse Richardson, stand across, here. Hold this.” Doctor MacCrae handed her the clamps. His movements were sharp, precise, beautiful at which to look. “Nurse Randall, anesthesia.”
“Yes, doctor.”
Once the man had been put under, Doctor MacCrae and Evelyn had a hard time catching the bullet. It would not relent escaping their grasp, but soon after, their perseverance won over. Both were thankful the man’s lung hadn’t been punctured. He would be weak for a long time; but they had an optimistic outlook for his recovery.
“Nurse Richardson, please stitch him up.” Evelyn was now confident in her abilities to stitch a wound, unlike the first time Doctor MacCrae had asked her to. She had done it several times after watching others do it countless others. She cradled the needle between her fingers and started to sew. In and out, tightening, pulling, her fingers owning the practical magic which flowed through their tips. Once she had finished, she looked up to see Gerald’s eyes piercing her own, roving over her face.
“Well done,” he said.
She smiled in reply, heat rising up her neck.
“Thank you, everyone.” He congratulated all the staff in the room. He then turned to talk to a senior doctor who had just entered, relaying to him what had transpired. That was the only real excitement which happened during Evelyn’s shift. After her work, she went to visit Clyde to teach him some arithmetic. She brought some paper and a pencil and wrote down her own problems for Clyde to answer. At the end of their session, she left the tools with him so that he could practice even more. Every trace of the measles was gone and in place of sickness was a glowing face of a young boy, carrying in his heart all the hope of the world. After a long day’s work, Evelyn went home, ate a quick supper, and laid her head down to rest for the night, dreaming of the possibilities that could appear tomorrow night. Possibilities of what...she wasn’t sure.
***
Betsie and Evelyn worked only the morning the next day. After their shifts, they almost ran home, for the excitement bubbling inside them was almost unbearable. They napped for an hour and then commenced the beautification process. They, one by one, bathed in oatmeal, rubbing their skin all over with the natural exfoliant. Evelyn eyed her emerald gown draped over the chair in front of her mirroir. As she carefully placed it over her undergarments, she revelled in the slick glide of the fabric. The shimmer of the silk basked her in an ethereal, fairy-like glow. She sat down and shimmied the feather hairpiece into her long hair. Wavy tresses adorned the nape of her neck. She put on bare minimum rouge and powder, indulging in a more natural, fresh look. Content with the way she looked, she sat down upon the sofa and started to read a novel.
“What do you think?” Betsie came out of her room, bright and beaming, wearing her dress.
“You look stunning!”
Contrary to Evelyn’s look, Betsie had doubled the coverage on her face and had opted for a pompadour.
“My...” Betsie’s eyes started to glisten. “I feel as if I’m watching my own daughter at her debutante.” She wiped away a tear.
“You’re more a mother to me than my own mother ever was.”
“It’s an honour to hear you say that. Thank you.”
“No, thank you.”
The women didn’t have to wait long until Gerald, clad in a fancy evening suit, rang the doorbell and sashayed them into the carriage. Although it was somewhat cramped, the three fell into easy conversation, shooing away any awkwardness. “Who’s staying at the hospital, Gerald?” Evelyn asked. A need for medical services would never sleep. “Well, all those senior doctors who don’t have a taste for a grand evening such as this have huddled together, bunkering down the fort.”
“Oh, there’s a few like that whom I know,” Betsie added.
Such delight was being passed around the three friends. Smiles were bright and laughter never ran empty. They arrived at the entrance of the Halifax Ladies’ College, masses of people being escorted into the building. Gerald brought both ladies inside and insisted on getting them some punch to drink.
While Gerald was fetching the drinks, both women looked at their surroundings in awe. A grandiose chandelier hung in the centre of the gymnasium turned ballroom. Flowing dresses and men’s dashing suits created a kaleidoscope of wonder. Huddles of young girls whispered to each other and pointed at the young men they fancied. Some even seemed to take a liking to Gerald. A pang of jealousy swept over Evelyn as she watched them dish flirtatious glances his way.
I don’t understand. He’s not even mine. Why do I feel this way?
She held her head up a little higher and cast down her eyes at her rivals. Trying to ignore them, she continued to glance around the room. Many of the older women held onto their husbands’ crooked arms, listening to either a political or work-oriented conversation. The musicians’ fluid movements of their arms and bodies, as they swayed to the music they played, created beautiful lines in a dance of their own. Gerald finally advanced to where they stood with their promised punch glasses in his hands. As soon as Betsie took a sip from hers, an older jovial fellow asked her to dance. She gave Evelyn her glass and accepted the offer.
“Did I say how beautiful you look tonight?” Gerald whispered in Evelyn’s ear.
“No, you didn’t. Are you sure you’re not thinking of any of those young women over there ogling you in a very indiscreet way?” She jutted her chin toward the babbling group of girls.
“Ah, do I sense a hint of jealousy?”
“Well, it seems as if you’re the expert. What do you say, doctor?”
“I don’t believe it’s very gentlemanly of me to reveal your secret.”
“If that’s the way you want it.”
He beamed a handsome smile which made butterflies flutter madly in her stomach. “I did really mean you.”
“I must say you look quite dashing yourself. I didn’t know you could dress so lavishly for an occasion. I’ve long seen you in your medical garments; I couldn’t imagine your wearing anything else.”
“Now you are jesting.”
“Yes and no.”
“Would you give me the pleasure of this dance?” He bowed with his hand outstretched to hers. Couples were starting to dance the foxtrot. The beat was impelling Evelyn to tap her foot.
“I’d love to!” She placed her hand in his strong clutching fingers. Gerald and Evelyn swept through the floor, each playing off of each other’s rhythm and movements. After the dance was over, both were perspiring a little. They sat down upon some chairs, commenting on the other dancers’ techniques. Throughout the night several young men came to Evelyn and asked to dance with her. Loving to dance, she could not refuse. Several upbeat songs were played. When the music slowed to a lower tempo, out of the corner of her eye, Evelyn saw Gerald waltz with Betsie, twirling her about the room.
A minute later he excused himself from her and walked out of the room with a look of extreme frustration. What had he seen that made such an impression on him that he would have to leave the room in such a fashion? Ten minutes passed. Evelyn was constantly being asked to dance by bachelors and old married men alike. When she finally had a moment to herself, she sat in a secluded corner and watched the evening’s magic unfold before her eyes.
“Good evening,” A familiar voice touched her ears.
“Good evening,” She turned her head to the left to see a face she slightly remembered but could not place.
“Have you found some of the answers you were looking for?
Now she remembered where she had seen this distinguished face before. It was the woman who had housed her that stormy night on the Dartmouth shore. “I...How...? You don’t look the same.” That haggard face had been washed clean to be a blank canvas for a drastic transformation of rouge and powder.
“Yes, it’s quite different isn’t it?”
“What do you want? Why do you tell me these words? I don’t understand.”
“I see you are with a special someone tonight.”
Evelyn’s nerves were pricked by such personal games this woman played.
“Excuse me, may I?” Gerald’s voice resonated to the right of her, as he firmly asked her present acquaintance to relinquish her to himself. “I was starting to think I wouldn’t have a chance to dance with you again.” He whisked her to the centre of the room.
“You dance quite well. I’m surprised. I wouldn’t have imagined a doctor to be so accomplished in the arts.”
“I have many hidden secrets.”
“Do you?” Evelyn giggled. “Well, I’ll tell you a secret. This song ‘You Made Me Love You’ is one of my favourites. Ever since I heard it a few years ago, I fell in love with it.”
“And why is it one of your favourites?”
“It talks about falling prey to passion, that other person who cannot help but resonate in your mind constantly. Yet at the same time, it’s falling into a trap you’ve helped make. It’s so tantalizing.”
“You have a darker side to you I didn’t know about. Have you ever helped create a trap you eventually fell into?”
“When it comes to love, not yet. One never knows what’s around the bend.” Fully relaxed and at ease, Evelyn and Gerald fell into perfect step with each other, listening to each other’s slow breathing. “When you were dancing with Betsie, you seemed to be upset. Is everything all right?”
His eyes snapped to hers, a wide-eyed scrutiny ensnaring her curious gaze. “Yes, everything’s all right. I did see someone who I thought I wouldn’t see. I had to speak to them for a few minutes on some matter of...private business.”
“Oh, I didn’t mean to pry.”
“Please, don’t apologize.”
The night, full of gaiety, was coming to an end. Everyone’s feet were starting to ache and the music started to fade around eleven o’ clock at night. Gerald escorted Evelyn and Betsie to their apartment. After Betsie giddily floated inside, Gerald and Evelyn stood out in the cold discussing what a wonderful evening it had been.
“Thank you for procuring a carriage for us. I had a wonderful time. I almost don’t want this night to end.”
“I had a wonderful time myself all because of my engaging date.” Gerald picked up her hand, held it between his own, and kissed the top of it. “Have a good night.”
“You, as well.” Evelyn’s heart fluttered as he strode onward to his own home. What a spirited night it had been! She had enjoyed the dancing so much, especially when Gerald had asked her to dance. Something inside her was igniting. She was afraid, unsure. For now she had no need to think about it.
She was wondering at the sudden change of mood she had seen occur for but a brief moment. She had never seen him that way before. So she decided to ask Betsie to see if she knew any additional information. She knocked on Betsie’s bedroom door. Betsie was sitting down on her bed, combing her tousled hair. “Betsie, did you notice Gerald acting differently when he was dancing with you?”
“Yes, the occurrence was all very strange. Wasn’t it grand? I’ll never forget this night.”
“Betsie, please concentrate.”
“What?”
“Gerald’s strange behavior...well, go on.”
“Oh yes, where was I? Oh, he asked to be excused. Of course, I said he could be. Because he left, I decided to go fix my toilette a little. I sat down upon the sofas in the outer room, east of the ballroom. Once I had touched up my rouge, I spied him thirty yards away from me standing in front of the large window near a side door. There was another man much smaller in stature than Gerald talking with him. I didn’t stay long, but it seemed to be that Gerald was very angry. He raked his hand through his hair rather fiercely, whispered something, then stomped off. But when he was dancing with you afterward, he seemed to be normal again, even glowing.”
Evelyn’s mind was racing trying to understand what had happened. “That’s all you saw?”
“Yes.”
Evelyn would continue thinking in her own bed. “Have a goodnight, Betsie.”
“Evelyn?”
“Yes?”
“Have you thought about the possibility that...Gerald might have feelings for you?”
“Yes.”
“All right. I just thought I would ask you so you won’t be surprised when the time comes.”
“I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready.”