"Ruin and Redemption"

Derrick, Lizzie and Esme in Charleston part 1

This chapter begins a segment of the book which ends in two very sexually explicit chapters which many may find offensive. In order not to get too caught up in the story, you may want to skip all the chapters in this section about Derrick, Lizzie and Esme, and continue on to "In the Line of Fire" featuring Josiah. Please read this section at your own risk. You will receive further warning at the start of the sexually explicit chapters.

Lizzie and Derrick arrived at the boarding house in Charleston a little after four PM.

Lizzie needed a nap, but at least they weren’t expected at her cousin’s house for dinner until 6:30, so that left her almost two and a half hours to nap and get ready, as the house was less than fifteen minutes carriage ride from here.

She quickly shucked off her shoes.

“I think I’ll go for a walk,” Derrick announced, looking out the window.

“But we just got here, aren’t you going to nap with me?” Lizzie asked.

“I’m not tired. Why don’t you nap, while I take a short walk? I’ll be back shortly.” Derrick announced, before pulling his boots back on, and walking quickly to the door.

“I’ll be back for Supper,” he concluded from the stairwell, Lizzie staring after him.

Then, for some unknown reason, she felt compelled to look out the window. Derrick had just come out of the building and was striding purposefully towards a red headed woman that appeared to be waiting for him. As Lizzie looked on, she saw Derrick take hold of the red haired woman’s arm and start walking down the street with her, as if they had always belonged together. They were even laughing! What was her husband doing walking down the street arm in am with another woman, as if he were completely in love? Then, just within the range of her vision, Lizzie saw Derrick pull the other woman to him, and kiss her, leaning against one of the public buildings! Lizzie felt as if she were about to fall through the floor. Her whole body trembled. How dare he! How dare he bring her to Charleston to watch him with another woman! Having whores was one thing, bringing her on a trip, and then meeting some other woman here was, was appalling! How could he do this to her?

Lizzie walked out onto the balcony, where perhaps she could see further. Derrick’s hands were all over the woman. For God’s sakes! He was in the street where anyone could see! Her relatives could come by! Oh, how she hoped they didn’t! She didn’t want anyone else to know that her husband would behave like this when he was married to her! As Patsy said, men had affairs, but not like this! Not out in public! She had thought her husband at least cared enough to spare her feelings, to keep things discreet and out of her view. Yet, here he was in Charleston, behaving like some bachelor courting his sweetheart! Her heart felt like it was being pierced by needles all over, and her chest felt as if it were squeezed in. She could hardly breathe. Derrick had not looked at her that way in years, not since the early days of their marriage. She had thought that perhaps he loved Scarlett, not her. But here, here, this woman was obviously the one who had captured her husband’s heart. What else could she think, looking on what she was looking on; this couple was obviously madly in love, so much so they could care less who saw them!

Lizzie assessed the other woman. She had extremely long red hair, and was that perhaps a beauty mark near her lip? There was something exotic about her eyes, and her clothing was flamboyant in a way, yet still stylish. The navy striped skirt and the little hat, that looked almost tomboyish atop her head made quite the impression on Lizzie. She had never seen anyone dressed like, like. What was her name? When and how had they met? Lizzie was curious. And jealous. And not only of Esme, for that was her name, although Lizzie did not yet know it. Lizzie was jealous of Derrick, too, because he got to kiss Esme. Lizzie had never kissed another woman, and it had only vaguely occurred to her before today that she might want to. Now, she felt herself blushing, and becoming uncomfortably fidgety watching the couple below her. What was she doing watching this? She was a lady after all! Let her husband have his affair! What else could she do? She had no place in this! It was time for a nap, and then she would get ready and meet Derrick for Supper. Her cousin would have the carriage sent for them around 6:15, and somehow, somehow they would all make it through dinner. Lizzie would wait until then to confront Derrick and ask him not to, not to, to kiss and fondle another woman outside her window on the street corner in Charleston!