THE BROKEN HEARTS

Chapter 11: "The White Rose Ball"

In the following days, the last week of the year, life was back to normal. There was a show almost every evening at the theatre. Annie took advantage of the time to make her dresses.
The invitation of the White Rose Ball arrived. It said that ladies should wear in a white dress and the men in black.
Patricia, who was spending more and more time with Albert, went to see Annie at Terry's.

- Patty! Said Annie smiling, how are you?

- I'm fine... I need you...

- What for?

- For a dress for the White Rose Ball

- Oh, but I'll probably won't have the time...

- You don't have one all done?

- Yes, I have a few models, but they're for my line...

- Can't you make an exception for me? I promise to talk about it in my magazine!

- Really? Well all right then, I can give you one of my dresses...

- No, I want to pay for it, said Patricia, you're working hard Annie and every work is worth a salary...

- All right, said Annie, I also made Eleonor Baker's dress...

- Wonderful! I'm going to advertise for you...

- But I don't have money to pay you for that yet Patricia

- You'll pay me when you'll have some...

- By the way, said Annie, I wanted to ask you something...

- What?

- Is something going on between you and Albert?

- Why are you asking me that?

- Because... on Christmas day, Terry insinuated...

- What?

- That your lips were swollen...

- Oh my God! He's really perspicacious that Terry!

- So, it's true? You and Albert?

- Yes..., said Patricia blushing, he's simply wonderful!

- Oh my God! You and Albert? I'm happy for you!

- It's like the world's been turned on its head! Who would've thought? Albert and I, you and Terry...

- Me and Terry? Said Annie, there is no "Me and Terry", we're just friends...

- Annie, come on. You're talking to me! I know you...

- What do you mean?

- You've got a thing for Terry...

- Patricia...

- Well?

- Well... I didn't know that Terry could be so charming...

- Ah...

- But it doesn't mean that we're a couple... we're just friends, like during that summer in Scotland...

- Annie... I was with Alistair and he went to the war, without even kissing me... he went to die... Candy went to the war... did she even kiss Terry? Knowing Terry, I'll say yes... But she sacrificed herself instead of staying with the man she loves and she went to the war to hide her pain... and she went to die... Life is nothing Annie... Alistair too taken by his inventions to be romantic, then it was his obsession to go to the war... So I'm kissing Albert as much as I can... If it doesn't work out for us, at least I'll have the kisses and the presents he's giving me...

- Patricia, Terry still loves Candy... I don't want to do it again... like with Archie...

- Annie, Albert still loves Candy and he will always love her, but it doesn't mean that he can't love me too...

- You really think that Terry could love me one day?

- We can love different ways Annie, believe me... and you know that too, right?

- I have to concentrate on my career... I don't have time to think about that...

- Don't close you heart to love...

- I thought you would encourage me to go back to Archie.

- After the way he treated you? I'm your friend Annie, I'm not Eliza!

The two friends burst out laughing. They went to Annie's work shop and she gave her a white dress...

- It's splendid Annie! Said Patricia.

- I wanted to finish my models with a wedding dress...

- If Albert proposes to me, I'll order my wedding dress with you!

- You got a good catch Patricia, don't let him get away!

- I have no intention to, said Patty smiling.

Patricia was taking her clothes off to try on Annie's dress so she could make the necessary adjustments.

- Terry is a good catch too, Annie...

- Don't start please...

- You like him don't you?

- That's not the point...

- What is the point?

- It's Terry Patty. He has lunch in a restaurant which is also a hotel and he books a table and a room... to hit the sheets...

- Maybe he wants to take a nap after lunch...

- With a girl.

- It bothers you...

- Yes... well no. He's free to do what he wants...

- But you wouldn't him to sleep with other girls?

- Yes. But I have no right to ask him anything like that...

She was done putting pins on the dress for the retouch... Patricia took of the dress and put her clothes back on.

- Annie listen to me... all I'm saying is that, if you like Terry, don't let him get away either...

- We're just friends, Patty. But thanks for the advice. You can come and pick up the dress tomorrow night.

- Thank you sweetie! You're saving my life! And I'd rather give you my money more than anything!

Patricia left and Annie continued to work on the dress. Then she finished Eleonor Baker's dress. When Terry came back in the evening, he found her still working.

- Good evening, he said smiling.

- Hi Terry... you're coming back late...

- Yes, at the theatre, Robert wanted to speak to us...

"Or you were sleeping with a girl" Said Annie to herself.

- Are you done for today? Asked Terry.

- Yes Terry... I should stop... and go eat something...

- You haven't eaten yet?

- No, I didn't see time pass... the ball is in two days...

- Let's go eat then, said Terry.


Terry was thinking about the kiss he inflicted on Annie, the night of the premiere, and about what Charlie had told him. That kiss seemed way too familiar ... he was getting close to Annie... No, that couldn't be it... she was Candy's sister... She wasn't the kind of girl you had fun with and you sleep with. Like Charlie was saying to so well, she was a princess that that had to be treated with respect... she needed to have serious suitors... What if the dandy had really changed? No, not him! He humiliated her! Annie deserved better... But who?


Annie was at the table with Terry and she thought he looked a little worried. He was thinking about something, maybe about the women he had just slept with? At the theatre, they were all throwing themselves at his neck. Not to mention all the flowers and the invitations barely hidden from some women, and a lot of them were married! They were probably neglected by their husbands... If she had married Archibald and he had continued neglecting her, would she too have taken a lover to satisfy her? She was asking herself that question and the answer wasn't as clear cut as she thought it would be...So she can't really blame those who were throwing themselves at Terry who would end up satisfying them, after all he was a man, a young man, handsome, charming, attractive, riche, talented and single on top of all that. Terry was a good catch, for all the women, whether they were married, call girls, single women... And she Annie was living with him, being "just friends"? For him, she was Candy's sister, whom he had to protect and help, nothing more... Was Patricia right? She was living under the same room as a good catch like Terrence Grandchester, should she let him get away? Or should she try her luck.

No she was his friend and she had to make him feel comfortable. After all, he had the goodness to let her live with him.

Terry looked at her while she was eating.

- You're silent tonight Annie...

- I'm a little tired, that's all.

- How was your day?

- Very good. Patricia came to buy a white dress for the ball.

- Oh, congratulations! That makes two customers with my mother...

- She insisted to pay the store price...

- Albert must be spoiling her...

- And you were right by the way, she's dating Albert... you've got the eye.

Terry just smiled.

- Terry, can I talk to you about something?

- Of course...

- I... noticed that a lot of women throw themselves at your head...

- Why do I have the impression of hearing my mother talking?

- I mean, that it doesn't bother me if you want to spend some time with them... you can come back late or even sleep out. It's not my problem. Don't mind me...

- I was right! I'm really hearing my mother talking to me!

- The first time we had lunch together; you had a room booked in a hotel... Maybe my presence is making things a little awkward between us... but that's fine. You can do whatever you want. Maybe we should've talked about it a little when I came to live here with you...

- How nice of you Annie, thank you! Said Terry ironically.

- I'm serious Terry... and you're joking, to avoid the subject...

- Really?

- I'm being serious; don't feel obligated to come back early because of me... I'm a big girl and I understand those things. I don't want you to think that I'm giving you a curfew or something like that...

- Mum is giving me permission for the whole night?

- Stop making fun of me Terry. You know very well what I mean...

- Of course I understand, you're giving me the green light to sleep with girls at the theatre, like Susanna and Karen...

- No! Not them! Said Annie way too quickly.

- Not them? You want to choose them too?

- I mean... I didn't mean that...

- Then all the fans who invite me in their beds then?

- That's not what I meant... and you know it...

- I see what you're saying...

He continued eating like there was nothing to it and he drank his orange juice. Then he said:

- If I understand you correctly; you're telling me that I can sleep with women I haven't met yet, and it's not necessary to let you know that I will be coming back home late or that I won't be coming back... You're giving me carte blanche! That's very generous of you Annie!

Annie became bright as red and ashamed and she looked down on her plate.

- That's not what I mean, she repeated again

She wasn't saying the whole truth, because that's exactly what she meant, but not the way he was saying it.

- And now why not continue the course? You want to teach me on how not to get a girl pregnant? Or on shameful illnesses we can catch by having sex all the time... Can I come with them here? Since after all, this is my house isn't it? He continued joking.

But in reality, he was upset to see that Annie thought about him as unfaithful, to the point he would sleep with whomever... Why was that bothering him? She wasn't thinking about him as a potential suitor? She still had the dandy in her mind? It made him angry. She was telling him to go sleep elsewhere... so she could take the dandy back? So he didn't count for her at all? But why was that bothering him? But it was hurting him...

- Terry, if you understood that I'm encouraging you to spend the night outside of the house by sleeping with whomever, then I didn't make myself clear, she protested, that's not what I meant... what I meant was... oh dang! Forget about it! I don't know how to express myself!

Terry looked at her and his anger went away. Annie looked so vulnerable and so fragile, but she was stronger than looked. The poor girl was trying to make him feel better... he thought about the kiss he had given her, but in his memory, she was responding to the kiss and they were on his bed... Whoa! What was that?!

Annie continued with a sigh:

- What I'm trying to make you understand, it's that you've got your life and you don't have to mind me. I think I'm selfish... you helped me, you're letting me live under your roof without asking me for rent money, you gave me a job, a workshop and I take your evenings too, while you could've been with...

- Annie, for the love of God! I'm not a saint! I like helping you and spend time with you...

- I don't want you to feel forced to stay here with me... and if you decided not to spend the night here one day...if you decide to sleep out... I'm not your overprotective mother Terry...

Terry was starting to get irritated by this conversation.

- So if one night I don't come back from the theatre... you're not going to be worried at all?

- As a matter of fact... because you don't answer to me...

- All right... you won't go to the police or check hospitals to see if I wasn't in an accident... I can have fun with peace of mind...

- I see that I'm annoying you. I beg your pardon, said Annie after a moment of silence, that was not my goal.

Especially since she was thinking the opposite.

- Of course. But I appreciate the fact that you're worrying about my love life, but it's not necessary. I'm old enough to take care of it on my own.

- You're telling me to mind my own business?

- Mind your own business Annie Brighton! Said Terry with a disarming smile.

Annie was melting, he was so handsome!

- Let's forget this whole conversation, she said.

- What conversation? He said innocently.

She burst out laughing relieved. That horrible and embarrassing conversation has disappeared between them. Terry smiled and burst out laughing too. Annie was relieved... she was afraid to have irritated him. They want to have tea in the living room talking about everyday things.