"Ruin and Redemption"

Derrick, Lizzie, Esme and Charleston pt. 2

Lizzie pushed him violently, but Derrick wouldn’t budge. Finally, she started crying again, before going to the sink to wash the tears from her face. It was almost nine by the time they finally made it down to the kitchen and ordered their food. They had already started to clean the kitchen, so Derrick had to pay extra to have the kitchen reopened and food prepared for them.

Lizzie bolted her food down, not even looking up from her plate when it finally arrived. Derrick regretted then that he had not ordered more, and he pushed the few remaining bites on his plate over to her. Lizzie did not think twice about finishing it off, before tearing off her clothes, turning out the lights and going straight to bed. Derrick tried to hold her and comfort her, but she pushed his arms away roughly, so he left a little space that night between him and his wife.

The next morning, Lizzie stared at him bleary eyed. Derrick was already dressed. He had a date with Esme that morning. But now he couldn’t leave Lizzie alone. She would know where he was going, and he was worried about having her in the room by herself. Who knew how he would calm her down afterwards? He would simply have to bring Lizzie along with him. Esme would forgive him, he hoped.

“Lizzie,” he said, carefully. Right now, he wished he had his father’s nonchalance. Henri LaPoint never felt he had to explain anything to his wife; Henri would not care whether his mother carried on or not about his mistresses. But Derrick felt badly. He felt he owed Lizzie some sort of explanation, but he was helpless when it came to thinking what that might be.

She turned to stare at him, sitting up and flinging off the covers. Was he going to leave her here again while he went out about town?

“I think you should come with me today. I had already arranged to see Esme, and, and I think maybe you should come along, you know. It doesn’t seem like you should be alone here. Maybe you could have a good time, even.”

“You want me to come along when you see your, what should I call her, your whore?”

“Esme is more than a whore, Lizzie. She’s a courtesan! And she isn’t charging me anything today; it’s supposed to be a date.”

“And I your wife, should come along on a date with your mistress, then?” She asked incredulously.

Derrick couldn’t remember his father ever doing something like this, now that he thought of it. What had he gotten himself into?

“Yes, Lizzie, if you want to.” Oh, why hadn’t he simply told her they were going to her cousin’s house, and then left her there while he saw Esme? It would be so much easier that way! Then again, it might be nice to have her along. His wife and lover both out together. It could be a dream come true, but the feeling in his stomach, that was clenching like a fist told him differently, “Just go ahead and get dressed; I’m meeting her in a half hour and I don’t want to be late.”

Lizzie was tempted to throw the dress in his face, along with the corset. Against her will almost, she found herself getting dressed. She couldn’t resist the opportunity to meet Derrick’s mistress and find out as much about her as she could. Maybe then she could feel a bit more in control of this strange situation. And it was better than being left alone in her hotel room for who knows how long. She would come and do her best to learn all she could.

Soon they were dressed and out the door. Strangely, Derrick gave their driver a large tip. His eyes were bright and his cheeks flushed. Lizzie had not seen him look so much like a little boy since, well, since they were children, or pre-teens. She tried not to show her discomfiture, and even found herself joining in his happy mood from time to time. He was even whistling. Derrick LaPoint, whistling, like a common laborer or carriage driver! Could that really be her husband, who was always so mindful of maintaining their social station? Lizzie smiled seeing him so happy! But why was it another woman who was able to do this for him, and not her? Why couldn’t he ever be happy with just her? What had she done to deserve a husband who could never, ever be hers?