Moonlit Danger

Fingering the tan parchment, she drew a breath to calm her fluttering heart. She should ignore his missive; pretend she never saw it, never read, never hoped that he would truly feel the same way. She carefully opened the paper and re-read the simple instructions inside.

'My one darling, things can't go on like this. I must see you alone. Come to the Colosseum immediately after dark tomorrow. There will be somebody to let you in. No one whom you need fear will suspect'

'Your D.S.'

Dare she? She wondered. Delphin was engaged to her friend Alida. As much as she and Alida disagreed with each other she knew she did not wish to cause her any distress. Her own heart ached with need, however, and spurred her into action. Sitting at her desk, she penned her response.

‘My darling, I wish to discuss a matter of grave importance therefore I shall meet with you at the Colosseum tomorrow after dark. Please be careful in making the arrangements for I would not wish for anyone to learn of this.

Yours, Grace’

She slipped the note into an envelope and placed it on the edge of her desk. For a moment she stared at the note he had sent to her then held the edge over the flame of a nearby candle; it would not do her well if anyone were to see it. She dropped the burning paper in the nearby ashcan watching as his words turned black and crumbled to nothingness.

“I shouldn’t have come,” Grace said bashfully.

“I’m glad that you did.” Delphin smiled as he led her along the stone parapet.

His hand was warm and firmly wrapped around hers. She felt a thrill run through her as they moved deeper into the Coliseum. She glanced a couple or two hiding in the shadows their bodies entwined in a fashion she had never seen before.

“Up here,” Delphin stated as he ascended a set of stairs.

She giggled as she followed. “Where are we going?”

“You’ll see,” he replied airily. They climbed a second set of stairs then moved a few yards to the right where a blanket lay in wait. He motioned for her to sit; in which she complied. He pointed to his left – “Well? What do you think?”

Her gaze followed his fingers and she saw that they were overlooking the entire Roman landscape. Her breath caught in her throat as she took in the sight of the moonlight over the city. It would always be her favorite memory she was certain. They sat in silence for a long while holding hands and watching the landscape change with the angle of the moon.

“I’m honored that you chose to meet with me,” Delphin stated quietly breaking the silence which had surrounded them.

“I could not contain myself anymore,” she confessed. Her head bent as she stared at the ground below them. “I know I should not be doing this but my feelings for you are overwhelming.”

“As are mine for you,” he said fiercely. He raised her hand in his and pressed a kiss upon her fingers.

“Oh Delphin,” she cried. “It isn’t fair!”

“I know,” he told her. “But there is nothing we can do. Don’t cry darling.”

She sniffled and swiped at the tear which had escaped. “I’m sorry.”

Delphin moved closer and wrapped his arm about her shoulders. She felt his lips against her head. “I am sorry too. But let’s not dwell upon our misfortunes,” he replied. “Let us enjoy this time we have together.”

She lifted her head to smile at him and he lowered his mouth to steal a kiss. She was surprised at first, holding herself still as he feasted upon her lips. Slowly, he lowered her to the blanket. She wrapped her arms about his neck and contented herself with the knowledge that tonight would change her life.

The moon was high above them in the sky as they gathered themselves and set about returning to their rooms. Grace overflowed with happiness as she watched Delphin fold the blanket and place it in a bag.

“So, what happens now?” she asked enthusiastically.

“Happens? What do you mean?” he frowned as he straightened his clothes.

“With you and Alida?” she laughed.

He continued to frown at her. “I still don’t know what you are getting at Grace. Alida and I are getting married, why should that change?”

Her smile faded as she stared at him. “But… we…”

He laughed humorlessly. “What? You thought that I would leave her for you?”

She gaped at him. “I thought that… I love you. I thought you loved me too.”

He chuckled and shook his head. “Silly girl. Alida is bright and vivid; she will be the perfect wife for a successful lawyer like me.”

“But you don’t love her, do you?”

He stepped over to her and put his hands on her shoulders. “Of course not,” he whispered. “But what can I do? Everything is set. All our friends have been notified, I’ve been promised a promotion when I return from my honeymoon. You understand, don’t you Grace?”

She looked up into his eyes as she fought back her tears. The corners of her mouth turned up in a small smile. “Yes,” she whispered.

He placed a chaste kiss on her lips. “You’re always so agreeable,” he smiled. “I love that about you.”

Grace descended the stairs and entered the drawing room of her family home. It was good to be back in the States again. The boat trip home had not been easy on her. She never fared well on the sea and after her bout of illness she was still feeling under the weather.

“Good morning Grace.” Her Mother greeted as she walked into the room. An array of breakfast foods sat on the side table to the right. A fire crackled merrily in the hearth, though it was spring there was still a chill in the early morning air. Grace tightened the shawl about her shoulders and moved across the room to stand in front of the fire.

“Good morning Mother,” she replied tiredly.

“Are you still unwell?” Mother asked concerned. She held a saucer and cup of tea on her lap.

Grace smiled gently and nodded her head. “I may not yet be through with the fever.”

“Were you ill again this morning?”

“Yes,” Grace replied. “I should be okay in a little while. It happens like this every day.”

Her Mother cast a worried eye at her. “I wonder…”

“Yes?”

“Grace, where were you that night in Rome?” her Mother asked speculatively. She turned and placed her saucer on the table.

Grace rose from her chair and walked to the window to look outside. “I told you,” she replied keeping her back to her Mother. “I was out sightseeing.”

“Alone?”

Grace hesitated to answer. She stared at the dew on the grass outside the window watching in wonder as the morning light slowly melted to whiteness away.

“I’ve been watching you,” Mother stated quietly. “I know that you are heartbroken over Delphin Slade; but you must let him go. He belongs to another.”

“I know,” Grace replied tersely. She clenched at the ends of her shawl.

Her Mother moved quietly across the room and stood directly behind her. Their faces reflected in the glass. “Did you meet with him that night?”

Grace bit her lip and bid her tears to remain intact. She felt her Mother’s hands touch gently upon her shoulders.

“Did he hurt you?” Mother pressed.

Grace shook her head as the tears welled in her eyes and spilled onto her cheeks.

“You’re pregnant, aren’t you?”

Grace turned around to look directly into her Mothers face. “I don’t know,” she said wearily. “But I think so.” She burst into tears as her Mother grabbed her and pulled her close.

“Easy child,” she soothed. “It’s going to be okay.”

“I thought he loved me,” Grace sobbed. “I thought he would leave her to be with me.”

Her Mother’s head moved slowly back and forth. “Men are unfeeling cowards,” she said softly. “They don’t care whom they hurt as long as they get what they want. But don’t you worry, Grace. Father and I will take care of everything.”

Grace drew back in surprise. “No,” she said vehemently. “You can’t tell Father!”

Her Mother smiled indulgently. “He already knows, Grace. We’ve already discussed the possibility. However, even if you were not in this predicament, it is time you found someone and married. Father and I have a suitor in mind.”

Grace scrunched her face in disgust as she considered the possible candidates that her well-meaning parents had in mind. “Do I want to know?”

Mother chuckled and pulled her over to the settee where they both sat down. “It’s not that bad. My parent’s chose your Father and I think they did a pretty good job. Don’t you?”

“Yes, but you are forgetting that I have met everyone you may consider and none of them are in the slightest bit attractive to me,” Grace supplied.

Mother patted her hand and pulled out her handkerchief. “Wipe your face dear.”

Grace took the handkerchief and complied. The dampness on her cheeks quickly drenched the small scrape of cloth.

“It just so happens that neither you nor I have met the young man your Father has in mind,” her Mother told her.

Grace paused in her ministrations. “We haven’t?”

Mother shook her head again.

“Well, who is he?” Grace pressed. The handkerchief scrunched into a ball in her hands.

“His name is Horace Ansley,” Mother supplied. “He started working for your Father last month.”

“He sounds ghastly,” Grace moaned. “And if I say no?”

“I don’t think you have much of a choice,” her Mother said wistfully.

Grace lowered her head. “I guess I don’t.”

She wrapped her arms around her waist and hugged herself. Silently she blessed the child she secretly hoped was growing inside of her. ‘A baby,’ she thought. ‘Delphin’s baby.’ The only thing she would ever have from the man she loved with all her heart.

Horace Ansley turned out to be a man of good looks and charm not unlike her own. Grace breathed a sigh of relief when they spoke the first time. He was an educated man by books and life. He had guessed her predicament first off and had agreed to act as the Father to her child. He, however, had no desire for further children and Grace was to content herself with her only offspring. It was an arrangement she was happy to agree to.

They were married in mid-summer and by the end of the year Grace gave birth to a healthy little girl. Her Mother attended her during the birthing and as Grace held her child for the first time, she wept with joy to see that she resembled her Delphin. And as the years passed by, Grace was reminded of Delphin more-and-more in every action that Barbara carried out.

It had been difficult at first, to watch him from across the street. She had accepted this as her punishment for falling in love with Alida’s man. But as the years went by and she saw how Delphin and Alida were often entertaining this person or that, she was grateful not to be put through such difficulties. She preferred the quiet life that she and Horace lived. She never had to worry if she was wearing the right clothes or serving the right food. Nor did she find herself dragged along to one wretched country after another. No, she was happy being just who she was – Mrs. Horace Ansley.

When the occasion arose that she would happen upon Mrs. Slade in public, they were always polite; a smile and a simple how do you do, before each went off on their errands. Grace didn’t begrudge Alida the fact that she was married to Delphin because she knew that she had the best thing he could ever give to her, Barbara. Oh, she knew that Alida did not feel the same way. Alida was always flaunting her status as Mrs. Delphin Slade with off-hand remarks and the on-going attempt to better her surroundings.

Grace knew that it had been Alida whom had spread some silly rumor about her being raided by the police. It was such a worthless thought that it did not seem worth the bother of mentioning it. Alida Slade could live in her own little world and Grace would live in her own. As luck would have it, Delphin and Alida finally moved to an apartment further North in the city. Grace was happy for the breathing room.

Some years later, on a rooftop in Rome their worlds collided once again. As their daughters ran off in the night to meet with suitors of their own, the mothers sat and watched the evening break over the rooftops. Listening, with some trepidation to the confessions of her longtime erstwhile friend, Grace was able to come to terms with her past. The man that she had loved from afar had been a pawn, just as she was, in the game the other woman had been playing.

Grace was shocked to learn of the lengths Alida had gone to protect her relationship with Delphin. She never realized that Alida had known of her feelings, never realized that Alida had feelings of her own. She was at once ashamed and horrified. Ashamed of the things she had done and horrified to know that Delphin had never felt anything for her. How could he? If Alida had sent the message then Delphin knew nothing until she had replied with her own. What he must have thought of her? No wonder he wouldn’t even consider leaving Alida for her!

She gathered her things and prepared herself to leave the rooftop as Alida continued speaking. And once again, Alida had to boast about her fortunes, rubbing in the fact that she was still and always would be better. Grace took a step towards the door then stopped and turned back.

She was tired of the games and the belittling comments from this woman she called a friend. “I had Barbara,” she said then she began to walk away. With her confession she felt the world lift from her shoulders. With a quick glance over the wall, she smiled at the shadows encompassing the city. She was certain that this would always be her favorite memory.