Page 52 of Margins of Love
“It is all our fortune, darling.Oursas a family.” Eve gave Fave a scolding stare.
“And it is our family, Mother.” Fave’s look was demanding.
“His wife will be one of us,” Arnold dared to interject. “Maybe he deserves our trust in finding the right person for our circles, Aunt Eve.”
All eyes jumped to him.
Fave put his hand on Arnold’s arm to thank him for the support.
Eve mulled this over. She continued pacing the room. Lizzie, Fave, and Arnold sat on her bed like three children waiting for their punishment to be announced.
“You children are”—Eve waved toward the ceiling as if the right word could flutter into her mind—“incorrigible! You think you read about Greek heroes and their quests for romance andGott helf mir’—God help me—‘love!” Her switch into Yiddish made Lizzie smile at Fave and Arnold—they knew they had her support.
Eve put her hands on her hips and frowned, but her strictness was fake. “I will pen a letter and inform Carol that our presence at her ball tonight is conditional upon the Newmans receiving an urgent invitation.”
Fave clapped his hands.
“Wait!” Eve stopped his enthusiasm. “You will speak to your father and pay off the contract immediately. I do not want a scandal on my hands because of a disgruntled bride. Is that clear, Feivel?”
* * *
Two hourslater in Gustav’s study, James entered with a note on a silver tray. “Mr. Pearler and the young Mr. Pearler” —James nodded to Fave and his father—“this has arrived by a special messenger.”
“Thank you, James,” Gustav said when he took the letter. He grabbed his letter opener, but James did not move.
Fave saw the butler's look of curiosity. He had been with their family since his wife died in childbirth thirty years ago. He, Arnold, and Lizzie were like his children. Indeed, he had caught bits and pieces of what had transpired. The staff always knew.
“That will be all,” Gustav said when he read the letter. He sank into his chair.
You seemto think that you can rearrange your priorities in any fashion that suits your whims. Nonetheless, I complied with Eve’s note and urged the Newmans to attend today’s festivities. In return, I ask that your son’s engagement be announced this evening and that he remove his persona from this season’s pool of eligible bachelors. On your path to self-modernization, I cannot assume the role of a passive bystander, and I will not allow your kind to take more than one of our nobles under my patronage—and I understand Elizabeth is due one of us. Her success depends on your compliance tonight.
Yours fondly,Lady Carol Bustle-Smith
Gustav handedthe letter to Fave, who read it and said, “So she will ruin Lizzie if I do not announce my engagement tonight?”
“She will not let you out of the arranged marriage. She wants you out for the season.” Gustav turned to his son with a stern glowering look. “She does not want the Jews to infiltrate the ton.”
“Well, that’s rich,” Fave snapped. “Our money is good enough to pay for the ton, but beware of us soiling their ranks with our… what did she call it?”
“It doesn’t matter what she calls it. She’ll call our bluff!” Gustav said, his eyes showing fear in his eyes.
“Bluff?” Fave asked.
“Of course, it’s a bluff. How can we hold on to tradition and dance among gentiles and not call it that?”
“You make it sound like we are a fraud, Father. Like all you have built is night.” Fave’s tone was incredulous and mocking.
“It is all built on a lie,” Gustav admitted sadly.
“An omission,” Fave corrected him.
Gustav shrugged.
Fave tensed as his father’s fear contaminated his senses. Gustav had been a rigid mountain, not only among the ton but also in their family. He was all that was reliable, strong, and permanent. But suddenly, Fave was overcome with dread that his father could not weather the storm that was Bustle-Smith.
“We need to write to Rabbi Solomon and move the wedding up. I will arrange it for tomorrow. We will take action before Carol can ruin both of my children.”
Fave’s eyes widened, his lungs starved of oxygen.
