would she be if she ran off to share his bed that night?
"Well, if you get the chance, I think you should jump at it. He's had a rough couple of weeks. Nothing makes a man feel better than a little bouncing on a mattress with his favorite lady. At least that's what I've been told."
"Edna, my mother would not be pleased with the advice you give me as my chaperone. I just have to point that out to you." Violet loved the old woman, but she knew her mother would be very unhappy with the things she was always saying to her.
"Oh, I know. Your mother is an old stick in the mud. I don't care if she's younger than me. She acts years older. It's sad." Edna shook her head.
Violet suppressed a giggle. "You're right. I think it's so many years of being responsible for daughters that did it to her."
"I guess it's good I never had children. I wouldn't want to act old like she does."
Violet took one last glance into the mirror to make certain she looked all right. "Am I ready?" she asked, looking over her shoulder at Edna.
"You're beautiful. You were before you started fixing your hair, and you know it." Edna pulled her into a brief hug. "I hope you'll think about what I said about giving the boy a tumble. He would be so much happier if you did."
Violet laughed. "I don't know if that's a good enough reason to give him my virginity."
"You need a reason?" Edna asked with a wink.
Violet shook her head at the older woman and headed for her bedroom door. The time with Edna was certainly skewing her view of the world. She almost thought it would be a good idea to have relations with Jonas.
Chapter Seven
Violet descended the stairs slowly, knowing that Jonas's eyes were on her. He was dressed in formal clothes including a black suit with tails and a black bow tie.
Jonas stood nervously as he watched Violet come down the stairs toward him. He'd always been attracted to her, but until that moment, she'd never taken his breath away. She was truly the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen, and he wasn't certain how much longer he'd be able to resist her charms. He wanted her, but it was more than that. He'd wanted women many times. Violet was special.
She walked straight up to him, smiling. Her shoes had a bit of a heel on them. She'd bought them since they'd arrived in New York, just so she wouldn't feel that she was at such a disadvantage when she stood beside him. "Where are we going?"
He smiled. "I thought we'd go to eat at a small restaurant I know near Broadway, and there's a play I thought you'd enjoy that we'll go to after. It's called Rosemary . It's a comedy. Have you ever seen one?"
She shook her head. "I haven't, but it sounds nice." She'd been to plays in Seattle, of course, but none that were with famous actors. She was certain that any play in New York City would be better than one that would come to Seattle.
He opened the door for her, and once they were on the sidewalk in front of the house, he offered her his arm. It was early November, and the sky was dark. There were electric streetlights that lit the way to the coach he had waiting at the street. He opened the door for her and helped her step into the closed coach and climbed in after her, waiting while the driver closed the door and removed the stairs.
He sat beside her on the seat. "This way neither of us have to sit backward," he told her, slipping an arm around her shoulders.
"I'd rather sit close to you anyway," she said, snuggling into him. "I've missed you while you've been taking care of business." She knew it wasn't the right thing to say, but she just didn't care. She wasn't going to hide how she felt from him, because there was no purpose behind it.
He looked at her with surprise. He hadn't expected her to say that. "I'm sorry I've been so distant. Packing up her things and knowing I'd have to watch Walter be executed...it's been hard for me."
"Are
C. J. Cherryh
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