“It’s a debutante ball,” Declan said. “Probably the biggest one in Charleston. And boring as hell.”
“Declan!” Anna said. “That’s not true! It’s a beautiful affair, Charlotte. Don’t listen to my silly son. The girls wear these big beautiful white dresses and there’s dancing and food and everyone drinks too much, so the whole place is in a great mood.”
“You should go with me,” Declan said. “You can be my date.”
“She certainly cannot be your date,” Henry DeGraff suddenly bellowed. “You know good and well she’s not allowed at St Vivian. It’s for members only.”
Suddenly everyone was silent. Charlotte wanted to fall through a crack in the floor and never be seen again.
“Dad,” Declan said. “She’d be my guest. And since when do you even care? You hate the St Vivian Ball. You don’t even go anymore.”
“I’m just being honest,” Henry said. “You know how it is. This is Charleston. Unless Charlotte is from one of the old families or is the daughter of a member, she can’t come.”
“Since when did you become such a snob?” Declan raised his voice. “It’s a stupid dance where girls get paraded around like they’re part of some weird virginity auction.”
“You better watch your tone, boy,” Henry said, pointing his butter knife at his only son. “I don’t like how you’re speaking to me.”
“I don’t like how you’re speaking in front of Charlotte,” Declan said. “It’s pretty rude to come into dinner, not even acknowledge someone, and then tell them they’re not good enough to participate in your fucking archaic ritual.”
Henry threw down his napkin, “You will not use such language in front of your mother. I won’t tolerate it. I think it’s about time you left the dinner table.”
“Well on that we both agree,” Declan said. “Charlotte, come on. I’m so sorry you had to witness this crap. And by the way, I was going to tell you this after a nice dinner, but I might as well say it now. Charlotte is also my girlfriend. And I was really looking forward to introducing her to you both. But for people who claim to be such experts on etiquette and manners, you seem to have none. So, yes. We’ll be going.” He stood up and offered his hand out to Charlotte.
She took it as she glanced over at Anna, who was giving her a sympathetic look.
“Charlotte,” Anna said. “I’m sorry about this. I hope we can maybe make up for it. My husband and my son, unfortunately, do this often. Just know it’s not you. It’s them.”
And with that Charlotte followed Declan out of the dining room and back to the carriage house.
********
“God, he pisses me off!” Declan yelled as they walked into Charlotte’s bedroom a few minutes later. He kicked his shoes off and collapsed onto her unmade bed. “He can be such a dick.”
“I didn’t take it that way,” Charlotte said, lying next to him. “I’ve been treated much worse by my customers. And he was just being honest. I didn’t take it personally.”
“Well, I take it personally,” Declan said. “He’s always like that. He loves to make people feel beneath him. He really gets off on it. He’s all about being exclusive and keeping a tight circle. He and his asshole friends who think their shit doesn’t stink because their great-great-great grandfather showed up here one day on some boat from France. I mean, seriously, what kind of people base their identity on something like that? I’ll tell you the kind. People who have nothing else going on for themselves.”
Charlotte stared at him. She wasn’t sure what to say.
“Anyway,” Declan said, pulling her on top of him. “I have something else planned for us for tomorrow. A surprise of sorts.”
“Oh yeah?” she said, kissing his neck. “Tell me!”
“Nope,” Declan smirked. “You know me, Char. I like to show you things. Not just tell you.” He slid his hands up her dress. “Now, let me have my dessert.”
********
The next morning the two lovers had changed into more comfortable clothing and were driving in Declan’s BMW towards Charleston Marina.
“So we’re traveling by boat?” Charlotte asked as they pulled into the parking lot.
“Yep,” Declan said. “Hope you don’t get seasick.”
“I have no idea if I do or not,” Charlotte replied. “I’ve never been on a boat before.”
Declan looked at her surprised, “Really? Never?”
Charlotte shook her head, “Nope. This will be another first.”
Declan grinned, “I like popping so many of your cherries.”
Charlotte smacked him on the arm as he laughed, “You’re terrible, Declan DeGraff.”
They walked hand in hand down the dock to a small house boat.
“I rented her,” Declan said, hopping off the dock and onto the stern and holding out his hand to help Charlotte get across. “We’re going to float around today and spend the night on her tonight.”
Charlotte’s eyes widened, “Really? Declan, this is so great!”