Heaven, I am in heaven,
And my heart beat so, that I can hardly speak;
And I seem to find the happiness I seek
When we are together dancing cheek to cheek…
-- Fred Astaire (Cheek to cheek)
Timothy returned to school but did not see Victor for a while. Upon enquiry he found out that Victor had gone on a holiday. The entire Banks family was vacationing in Greece. Then came the news of Victor's engagement to Amy Osbourn. "She is the daughter of family friends." - a common friend explained.
"That's good." Victor sighed in relief, "No need to worry about Lydia anymore." The trouble maker was gone and the world was a peaceful place once more. Timothy drowned himself in the project he was handling. He wanted to surprise his father.
And then, it was Christmas time; and Christmas brought charity gala. It is that event of the year when you meet old friends and make new connections. Timothy's eyes scanned the hall…there were many old faces and some new.
Then, his eyes fell on Victor and Lydia. "Lydia?" – He almost choked on his wine. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Lydia was on the floor dancing in Victor's arms! Both were lost in each other.
Timothy left his seat and went on the floor. Watching Lydia closely he realized from the way she looked at Victor that she was very much in love with him. Her feelings were deep and strong.
"Does she not know of his engagement?" – he wondered.
And Victor? He was mesmerized. He glowed in her love. He was oblivious of everything and everyone, drowning himself completely into her. Timothy noted the way he looked at her, it was as if he was falling in love with her.
"Shouldn't he be with his fiancée? What is he doing here…looking at her like this?"
Timothy was not the only one who was puzzled. Frank was equally shocked. "Why is he behaving as if he is in love with this girl instead of your cousin?" Frank asked his wife Arya.
"In love? – how is that possible? Men don't fall for such girls … these girls fall on men … they fall for their money… butLove? Darling, that's flirtation! Besides, Victor is engaged to Amy." Arya was puzzled
"Then, what is he doing with that girl? Look at them – they look like lovers."
Arya looked at Lydia and said - "She is just a pretty face. Darling, you know how it is with men? She's just a seasonal infection… a holiday amusement. Who takes such girls seriously?"
"It's not as simple as that. Have you seen her eyes? Could anyone be more in love?" – he had never seen anyone so fluid, so expressive, so innocent – who was she?
What a night Lydia had! She had danced herself dizzy. She lay in her bed thinking about Victor. What bliss! To be swinging so in her lover's arms all night: this turn and that twirl; how in-sync he was with her, matching every step … every heartbeat. "Darling … darling, Victor! She was dazed."
And Victor? – O! he looked divine; he danced like a divine; and his kiss – those soft lips playing with hers –she could still feel them. She always knew he was hers and now she had her proof. They had sealed their love with that kiss. She had given herself to him in that kiss.
She was anxious when he did not come to her for a month. He was nowhere to be found. No one knew where he was. She had so much to complain about – so many tears to show him – "Who does that to their loved ones?"
"I had gone to Greece, with family, on vacation." – he explained to her. "I was compelled to. They wouldn't take no for an answer. You know how it is in families like mine? You have to listen to the elders."
He told her how he had missed her and what a torment Greece was without her. He wanted to come to her at the earliest. What a sweetheart he was!
They had just returned to Glensfield. And here he was in her arms – dancing to his heart's content; lavishing all his attention … all his affection upon her to make up for the lost month.
He didn't talk to anyone all night – no friends…no relations. "I am all yours tonight…only yours." He had said. Would that satisfy his darling?
And he kissed her…that tender touch of affection which says - you are precious to me.
He had put all of her doubts to rest. No wonder, she was in heaven. Could you blame her for being in love?
But one person did blame her when he saw her swinging in the arms of an engaged man. "How could anyone be so blind?" Timothy fretted and fumed.
His eyes followed her all evening; they saw every twist, every turn; that look on her face and those eyes – those insanely expressive eyes - the doorway to her heart.
"Fool, what a fool! Wait till you find out his truth. I want to see the look on your face then." - he said in jealousy.
And then, the lovers escaped. He blinked and they were gone! "Where did they go?" He looked for them frantically…in the rooms…the powder room…he even entered the ladies room. Such was his obsession with her tonight.
He eventually found them in the narrow corridor quite secluded, quite deserted. What were they doing?
Kissing…Victor was bent on her. Timothy stormed towards them and would have torn the lovers apart if he was not pulled and dragged out of the way by Mark.
"You father said not to make a scene. Mr. Frank Tulliver is here. We should take his help."
"If he is here, then he must have seen them too. It did not stop Victor from flirting anyway…"
Both Timothy and Frank were simmering with anger for Victor. Both decided to take matters into their hands. While Frank decided to confront Victor, Timothy decided to enlighten Lydia. After the dance was over, he had Mark deliver Victor's engagement photographs to Lydia that night.