Maripolite

Untitled Part 29

Nathalie could feel eyes on her as she walked into the dining room and she squeezed Charles' hand tighter to which he responded by pulling her close.

There were place cards on the tables and she saw Charles looking for their names. "It appears," he said "That we're not seated together"

"So where am I seated?"

"I don't know but I'm seated next to father and Marco Quentin is seated next to me"

Charles threw the name under the table onto the floor and pulled out the seat next to his father for me making himself comfortable in Marcos'

"Won't your mother be upset that you messed with her seating arrangement"

"Why do you care if my mother is upset," He said with a plastered smile

The first dish was salmon. It was raw.

The portion was so small that Charles finished it in two bites and Colt noticed my hesitation "Not your kind of dish"

"No," I said shaking my head pulling my lips back flashing my pearly whites in his direction

"Neither me," he said pulling his lips up to his ears and rolling his eyes into his head we laughed together.

The seat opposite me was empty along with a few others in the hall as Grace said some of her guests were late. She was sitting to the other end of the long dining table which had anywhere from twenty-five to thirty seats.

The second course was a bowl of very light tomato soup and as the waiter set it down before me I felt the presence of another guest approach to fill the seat opposite mines. I raised my eyes to see Diana gracefully set her purse down as Colt rose to his feet helping her with her chair.

She nodded but I froze and forgot to do the same I pursed my lips and looked over to Charles whose eyes were squinted at her while his hand reached under the table to squeeze my thigh reassuring me that everything was going to be okay.

Dianas' dress was the color of my soup and as I ate I made an effort to relax into the conversation the gentleman sitting beside Diana had engaged me in, "What's it like being on the arm of the most eligible bachelor in Chicago." He asked

"Never mind him" Charles interrupted "He's a shipping tycoon I can't even smell that kind of money" sending those around into fits of laughter Diana included and I realized how radiant she was and questioned what about me made Charles want me more than he would want her.

She tossed her jet black hair which rippled down her back and it was clear that Charles had a type. I wondered if I was a type like Diana or if Diana had been a type like me a fact I slipped away for another day.

The salad was next on the menu and it came with the most delightful seasoned croutons that weren't too hard like the store-bought kind and not too soft that it got soggy when clothed with sauce. I ate them first and had to agree with Diana when she commented "They're the only bread I ever eat"

I smiled back and Charles reached under the table and squeezed my thigh drawing my attention away from her and towards another discussion that was happening a few seats down the table.

Three more dishes were served braised scallops, stuffed pasta and a tantalizing rack of lamb. I wanted to finish each one but noticed that Diana hadn't finished hers so I held back not wanting to embarrass myself or Charles.

"Aren't you hungry?" He asked when he noticed somewhere around his tenth bourbon of the night

"It's a lot I filled up quickly," He only shook his head and planted a kiss on my cheek and I could feel the blood run to my face and see the stolen glances in my direction as the whispers quietly escaped to fill the room.