Mardi Gras Madness (Carnival of Love)

Chapter Sixteen

Ethel turned to Sonia as Barbara dropped from the rail into Frank’s arms.

“Hello, Ethel,” Sonia greeted her. “Have you been sitting behind me all the time?”

“Yes. Sitting behind you and listening,” Ethel said pointedly.

“My, my,” Sonia mocked. “I do hope you weren’t shocked. Who is the little maenad who flings herself into the gallant arms of Frank Dupree?” she asked as Frank and Barbara moved away together.

“Her name is Barbara,” Ethel said slowly.

“Barbara?” Sonia wrinkled her brows attractively. “Should that mean anything to me?”

“Did your he-virgin tell you the name of his sweetheart last night?”

“For God’s sake!” Sonia looked her astonishment. “Don’t tell me that’s the Babs whom the poor dear denounced so because she, as he so naïvely put it, had been unfaithful to him.”

“None other,” Ethel said shortly.

“What a small world this is,” Sonia chuckled. “The two babes from the woods certainly are learning city ways with a vengeance. When Frank and I teach them all we know they should be ready to go through marriage without boring each other.”

“I don’t think Babs will ever look at Bob again,” Ethel said slowly. “They’ll probably both be so ashamed when they get home that they won’t speak to each other.”

“Don’t be silly!” Sonia said vehemently. “This’ll be the best thing in the world that could happen to either one. They both had to learn what it’s all about. Your Babs will be around with a reward for me some day.”

“Tell me about Robert,” Ethel interjected. “How did he seem to feel about Babs?”

“He didn’t say a whole lot about it,” Sonia admitted. “We found more interesting things to do than talk about his sweetheart. He wanted to be all broken up about her, but I snapped him out of his gloom.”

“And he’s taking you to the ball at Brierly Manor to-night?” Ethel asked slowly.

“Circumstances permitting,” Sonia said huskily. She leaned forward so her lips were close to Ethel’s ear and spoke guardedly:

“I’m throwing a thing at my house in his honor this afternoon. We’ll be at the dance if we survive,” she added hopefully. Her eyes were bright and her lips twitched.

Ethel turned to look at her and surprised a strangely furtive gleam of passion in the slumbrous depths of Sonia’s eyes. She flicked her red tongue out to moisten her dry lips.

Ethel drew in her breath sharply and looked away. She had heard whispers of the orgiastic things Sonia sometimes arranged at her home.

“Would you like to come?” Sonia touched her shoulder. “A few extra girls are always in order,” she went on avidly. “Everyone will be masked... until the lights go out. After that it doesn’t matter.”

Her smile suggested a wild abandonment.

“And Robert will be there?” Ethel questioned queerly.

“He doesn’t know what I’ve arranged for him,” Sonia admitted complacently. “I told him I’d throw a little party. Better join us.”

“I will.” Ethel breathed faster. Sonia’s gaze held hers with hypnotic force. Her eyes spoke of mysteries which they would probe together. Of secrets which they would mutually comprehend.

“I’ll be there,” she said quickly. “But tell me more about Cousin Hattie. I know her too. I can’t imagine her at Mardi Gras.”

“I haven’t seen her since she wandered off with her Mr. Simpson,” Sonia admitted smilingly. “The Lord only knows where they ended up.”

“Mr. Simpson?” Ethel asked sharply. She laughed gayly. Could it be the same man? She remembered that was the name of the fellow whom Barbara had asked her to pick up at the station.

“Is he a widower?” she asked.

“I think so,” Sonia told her. “Cousin Hattie’s likely to get her eyes clawed out if he has a wife lurking in ambush. I know he spoke of a couple of kids... Boots and Buddie.” I remember the names because it seemed so funny to hear him say them.”

“That’s the same man.” Ethel laughed helplessly. “To think of those two together at Mardi Gras!”

“You couldn’t appreciate them without seeing them last night,” Sonia told her serenely. She arose. “I’ll expect you this afternoon,” she said with a meaning glance. “I’ve got to get away and prepare things a little bit.”

“I’ll be there,” Ethel promised. “And with a mask on.”