Nobody Knows

5

 "I don't think I like it either," said the old lady. "But what can I do? I can't possibly get rid of the thing. I mean Adelaide spent countless hours making it especially for Dewey."

"Dewey?" Harlan asked.

"Oh, listen to me. Rattling on about kin like you would know. I mean, how could you? You weren't even a thought between your parents when Dewey lived here."

Harlan was amazed. Miss Cary had talked about him and his parents and their future conception of their son without so much as the slightest tincture of red appearing in her cheeks. It was a wonder. A miracle.

Miss Cary! A spinster. A rich spinster, at that. And not so much as a blush at the mention of such unmentionables.

"Course," Miss Cary continued, "I'm sure you heard all about the famous, or should I say, infamous, DeeDee Bonafee."

"You mean . . ."

But Harlan had no chance to finish his sentence.

"He's getting out of the asylum," said Miss Cary, not skipping a beat. "They say it runs in our family, don't you know. Father's side. Though if I'm completely honest, Mother's too. And why on earth they decided to hang me with the name Cordelia-Bonafee is beyond me."

At this point in her monologue, Miss Cary demurely dropped her head, sneaking a peek of herself in the full-length mirror that filled the room.

Miss Cary looked at Harlan curiously.

"Are you afraid of dear DeeDee?"

Miss Cary brought the sheer lace gown up to her chin, admiring the magnificent horror of frills and lace and miles of material.

"I know I said I wasn't sure about this, Harlan. But Adelaide has worked so hard on this. It's a replica of the gown I wore the day DeeDee sliced up dear Rafe like a hog on killing day. There! Right there where you are standing now."

Miss Cary stared lovingly into the mirror.

"I was such a beauty then. Drove men mad. That's what I did. Father thought it best, for his career and all, to have him put away. I guess Father was right. Got poor DeeDee out of a trial, at least."

She sighed.

"He'll be here any day, you know. But from what I hear, DeeDee walks the dusty roads of Memory Lane. That place broke him."

She laid the gown on the bed, gently rubbing out any wrinkle with her hand.

"That's why they released him. Too old to worry about anymore."

Suddenly, she smiled.

"But won't he be flabbergasted when he lays eyes on me in this! Oh, do say you like it, child. Don't crush the hopes of my little heart. After all, you must know I'd never condescend to marry Jane-Pantie."

She brushed a silver curl neatly into place with a withered finger.

 "Not when brother DeeDee would have me. Ten years older than me. Papa always was a lady's man. Not that Mama minded. I guess I was what you'd call the after-thought of legitimacy."

She stared off into space.

 "Papa should have never sent him off. I'm sure I could have convinced a thousand juries that DeeDee was only protecting my honor. I know I could have gotten him off. I just know it, Harlan."