Рита Браун - Scarlet Fever

“Different times. I knew it was a way up and out, and now you must remember, Yvonne, that the Lorillards and the Laprades were free blacks. I knew I could attract another well-to-do black man to marry. Which I did. My sister, Graziella, beautiful herself, wasn’t logical. I knew I had to think for both of us.”

“So you married for money?” Betty knew she had but had never said it out loud.

“I did, but then I realized I hadn’t married for enough.” She laughed. “Yvonne, you and Victor made a fortune. You may not have been as single-minded as I was but you considered the bank balance.”

A long breath followed that, then Yvonne replied, “I knew he was ambitious. I’d been courted by football players and basketball players, famous, rich, but something told me they would not fare well once the playing days were over. I was right. Also, they have been petted and protected even in high school. They expect everything to come to them. At least that was my experience. I wanted someone who would make something of himself through his mind.”

“You found him,” Sister simply affirmed.

“I thought I loved him. We built a fabulous business.”

“And?” Betty prodded.

“I never factored in what middle age does to men…or women, for that matter. But how can you when you’re young?” Yvonne wondered.

“Oh, I think you pick up a whiff. You know, the man who preens before every woman, the woman who has her first face-lift at thirty-five,” Aunt Daniella said.

“Well, I suppose. You all know what happened. But as to power, your original question, yes, beauty supersedes logic. But I don’t think it affects women the same way.”

“Yvonne, you mean a beautiful woman, let’s say she’s gay, isn’t undone by another beautiful woman? Or what about women in general? We notice but…” Betty shrugged.

“You’d have to ask a gay woman, but for straight women, when have you heard a woman say, ‘I saw him and knew I’d marry him.’ Or ‘It was love at first sight.’ Think. How many women have said that to you?” Yvonne answered.

“Uh, I’ve heard women say they noticed a man was handsome.”

“Sure, but love at first sight?” Yvonne stuck to her point.

“I never have and you know how old I am. I think women are more logical. Now, I have seen women made a fool by a man once they’ve decided they love him. It’s funny because men accuse us of being more emotional. I think they’re the emotional ones.” Aunt Daniella looked out as they crossed the Robinson River, not a big river.

“I have a type. Maybe we all do, but I have to be able to talk to a man. Don’t you?” Sister asked.

“I do,” Yvonne agreed.

“I…well, I think I can size men up easily.” Aunt Daniella added, “But then, I wasn’t looking for love.”

“You found it though. You loved Mercer’s father.” Sister remembered him.

“I did. He grew on me. I liked him. I would have never married him if I didn’t like him. He was my second husband, Yvonne. I learned to love him. He was a good man.” She snapped her fingers. “Heart attack. Fifty-six.”

They rode on, talking about everything. Sister drove to Horse Country’s front door. “Ladies, disembark. I’ll park in the lower parking lot. This one is full. You won’t get wet.”

“You will.” Yvonne leaned forward.

“No. Betty, tell whoever is behind the front desk to unlock the downstairs door. Sometimes it’s locked. Sometimes it’s not. Then I can dash in.”

“Will do. Come on, girls.” Betty opened her door, then opened the door for Aunt Daniella, escorting her into the store.

Yvonne made a dash for it then stopped right inside to take in the store. She hadn’t expected it to be so sophisticated. She’d been dragged to enough tack shops by Tootie before she left Chicago to go to Custis Hall.

Betty, making sure Aunt Daniella’s shoes weren’t slippery, turned to Yvonne. “You could spend an entire day in here.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of.” Yvonne laughed.

“Hello, ladies. Betty, didn’t see you at first.” Jean Roberts was behind the counter.

“Sister’s coming up from downstairs,” Betty informed her.

“Good. I’ll tell Marion.”

Marion came out from her office, greeting everyone, and immediately took Aunt Daniella by the elbow as Yvonne followed.

“I haven’t seen you in years. You look wonderful.”

“Marion, so do you, and you probably should know this is Tootie’s mother.”

Yvonne laughed. “Ever since I’ve moved to Virginia I’ve been introduced as Tootie’s mother.”

“She’s a beautiful girl and so talented. Sister updates me on her riding, and she’s almost finished with UVA. She compressed three years into two.”

“Driven. Tootie has always been driven.” Yvonne smiled and Marion could imagine her on the runway, especially a runway for a hunt fashion show.

“Let me show you the hacking jackets I just got in from England.” Marion steered them to the rear of the store, where she guided Aunt Daniella to a small wing chair. “As I recall, you are partial to a bluish tweed.”

“I am.” Aunt Daniella fingered the fabric. “Oh, Marion, I won’t be riding anymore.”

“That doesn’t mean you can’t wear tweed to a hunt breakfast and show everyone up.” Marion laughed.

Jean joined them, pulling off the rack a gorgeous medium-weight windowpane jacket, which she held up under Yvonne’s gorgeous face. “Hmm.” Jean pulled a more honey-colored one. “Ah, what do you think?”

If there was one thing Yvonne knew, it was clothing, but hunt clothing was a new category. The fabric brought out her luscious skin.

“You can buy ratcatcher but you can’t buy formal wear. Sam would be crushed. He truly wants to be with you for that.” Aunt Daniella nodded her approval of the coat, which Yvonne slipped on.

To Marion and Jean, Yvonne explained, “My trainer is Sam Lorillard and I’m a beginner, but I am determined to hunt next year. He wants to bring me here and put me together, so to speak.”

“Of course,” Jean agreed, for she knew Sam; she knew most of the state’s horsemen.

“However, you can buy a tweed coat and you can wear it everywhere but especially to a hunt breakfast,” Aunt Daniella encouraged her.

As the two tried on jackets, ogled vests, Sister walked outside in the rain to see where Harry had fallen. The steps were steep and in the rain she could well imagine a slip. She dashed back in, a bit damp. Then Betty did the same thing. They looked at each other, clasped hands, and then let go. His death wasn’t exactly a sorry end, for it was swift. It seemed too early an end, though, but when you like someone, it’s always too early.

They walked back to Aunt Daniella and Yvonne.

“What do you think?” Yvonne had the tweed on, looking divine.

“Perfect.” Sister smiled.

Marion touched the sleeve. “You will probably ride in this next season, so don’t shorten the sleeves. They are long but when your arms are forward, hands on the reins, the cuff will be at exactly the right place.”

“Okay.” Yvonne pushed her arms forward to see for herself.

“Will you put this behind the counter? I want to see everything.” Yvonne was fascinated.

“You go ahead, honey.” Aunt Daniella rose, following Marion and Jean back to the front, where she sat in the zebra wing chair.

Roni, now behind the counter, asked, “Would you like a drink? Tea? Coffee? Cold drinks?”

Suzann, beside her, winked. “We do have spirits.”

“I’m sure you do. I would like a Coca-Cola. The caffeine will pick me up. Rain makes me tired.”

“Me, too,” Roni agreed.

Saturday was always a big day at the store, and it filled with people. Martha Kelley took over behind the counter so Suzann could go downstairs to answer questions about some bridles. Ladies had come in from a hunt all the way in Michigan, and Suzann shepherded them happily.