Mardi Gras Masquerade (5 page)

She finally replied, “I can’t think of any other reason for me to come here other than a desire to see Mardi
Gras
.”

“And that was your only desire?” the man asked, putting a coy emphasis on that final word.

“You said you would ask only one more question and that makes two,” Maria impulsively counterstroked.

“
Touché, mademoiselle
.”

Feeling somewhat awed by his soignée, the librarian felt the need to add, “Of course, I’d like to stay and see more of the attractions in
New Orleans
.
 
It seems to be a fascinating city with all of this old world charm.
 
It feels like a page out of a dream.”

“How poetic, butterfly.”

Bluffly moving on, Maria said, “I believe you owe me an answer to a personal question of my own.”

She looked up when she said this to catch the man’s reaction.

“What would that be?”

“You never told me your name.”

“Now, that’s getting’ too personal,” he replied with a grin that touched his eyes more than his lips.

“You won’t tell me?”

“You’re
unwrappin
’
all the layers of my mystery, but I’ll answer you anyway.
 
My name is Steve.”

“Steve,” Maria mused to herself.
 
“It suits you.”

“As Maria suits you.”

“I always thought it was too glamorous.”

“For a model like you?
 
Isn’t glamour the essence of your lifestyle?”

“I suppose it is,” the girl answered briefly to cover up the lapse in her facade.

“Tell me of all the wonderful places you’ve visited throughout the world, Maria.”

“I don’t want to talk about anything business-related now.
 
Why don’t you tell me about yourself?”

“There’s nothin’ much to tell that wouldn’t bore you.
 
I’m not married, if that’s what you were
wonderin
’.”

“The thought never crossed my mind,” Maria smoothly lied.

“You seem to be very different today.”

“In what way?”

“Last night, you seemed to be so innocent and fearful.
 
Why did you act that way?”

“It must have been my reaction to that man on the levee.”

“But that character seemed to suit you so well.”

“As did yours.”

“Mine?
 
How so?”

“You seemed so mysterious . . . dangerous, threatening, almost.”

“It must have been the spirit of the masquerade.
 
Perhaps I was inspired by your sense of helplessness.”

“Well, I like you better the way you are now.”

“Beware, little butterfly,” the man replied, as he looked at Maria with a forbidding look in his eyes.
 
“You don’t know which character is truly mine.”

“Are you trying to frighten me again?” Maria asked, once again feeling that sense of intimidation set in.

“Let’s put it this way.
 
I’m sure you can trust me just as much as I can trust you.”

This answer did not satisfy Maria at all.
 
She would have pondered over the subject further, but Steve spoke again.

“Have you had your lunch?”

“No.”

“I know a nice, quiet restaurant where we can go.”

“A nice, noisy restaurant would do just as well,” Maria replied, once again feeling mistrustful of the man.

“Wouldn’t you like to go someplace that tourists don’t know about?”

“I am a tourist, and I’d like to do tourist-type things, if it’s all the same to you.”

“That doesn’t bother me.
 
There’s a world-famous restaurant a few blocks away.”

“Excuse me, Steve,” Maria interrupted.
 
“I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, but I can’t go to any expensive restaurants with you.”

“Why not?”

“For one thing, I’m on a limited budget.”

“I intended to pay for your meal.”

“That’s the second reason I can’t go with you.
 
I don’t know you that well, and to be blunt, I don’t want to put myself in the position of having to owe you any large debts of gratitude.”

Steve was silent for a moment, and then he replied, “Would that compromise your ethics or do you find me unattractive?”

“The first,” Maria replied in a small voice.

“I can live with that,” Steve coolly returned.
 
“I find it
refreshin
’.”

“As long as I didn’t damage your ego.”

“That would be veritably impossible.
 
Did you happen to notice that large building we passed a little while ago, the Brewery?”

“Not really.”

Steve stopped walking, and Maria unlinked her arm from his.

“Well, they have one floor devoted to inexpensive international cuisine, served cafeteria-style.
 
Would that suit your standards of propriety?”

“Only if I can pay my own way.”

“You’ve already abused me enough.
 
I’ll pay and say no more on the subject.”

Turning back in the direction from which they had come, Steve pulled Maria’s arm back through his again before they walked on.

“Are you always this domineering?” she felt compelled to ask, but in a light tone.

“No.
 
I’m usually far worse.”

“Are all
New Orleans
men like this?”

“I don’t know all of the men in this town.”

“In a way, you’ve come to personify
New Orleans
for me.”

“That would be unfair to the others.”

“Would you happen to know . . .” Maria stopped herself just before she reached the boundary of indiscretion.

“Yes?
 
You were
sayin
’?”

“Never mind.
 
Some things are better left unsaid.”

“Now, you’re the one who’s being mysterious.”

“A woman should have some mystery about her.”

“Exactly how much mystery do you think it takes to keep a man interested?”

“That would involve a complicated answer.”

“I have plenty of time.”

They discussed the relative merits of mystery until they arrived at their destination.
 
After Maria ordered some specialties of
New Orleans
cuisine with advice from Steve, he ordered his own meal, and they sat down at a table by the window that overlooked the river.
 
Maria could not help glancing frequently at the waterborne traffic.

“The
Mississippi
seems to fascinate you,” Steve commented between mouthfuls.

“This whole town does.
 
I’ve always dreamed of being here.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know.
 
Maybe it’s the history involved.
 
Being in the French Quarter is almost like being in a foreign country.
 
It’s all so romantic.”

“Is romance important to you?”

“I never thought about it that way, but I suppose it is.”

“Let me ask you this, Maria.
 
If you could describe your perfect romantic scenario, what would it be?”

“I’d have to think about that.”

“Don’t take too long.”

“All right.
 
I’ve got it.
 
This may sound crazy to you, but I like those old desert stories where the sheik carries the maiden off to his tent.”

“That tells me a lot about you.”

“Then, I’ve said too much.
 
I had hoped to be amusing, not revealing.”

“Weren’t you being serious?”

“I don’t know what to say any more, Steve’.”

“Just be truthful.”

“I have a feeling that could get me into trouble . . . with you.”

“You’re already in deeper trouble than you know, my girl.”

“What do you mean by that?” Maria asked, suddenly feeling that the banter had become somewhat less playful.

“You might be
toyin
’ with the emotions of a dangerous man.”

“Are you talking about yourself?”

“Is there another man in your life?”

“If you’re asking me if I have a boyfriend right now, the answer is no, and that includes you.
 
You’ve asked me a lot of questions, but you haven’t told me much about yourself at all.”

“What would you like to know?”

“It’s hard to decide where to begin.
 
For all I know, you’re as much of a tourist here as I am.”

“I’m not a tourist, Maria.”

“Do you live here or are you here on vacation?”

“I live here.”

“How old are you?”

“Now, you’re getting direct.
 
I’m thirty-two.
 
What else do you want to know?”

“After asking me that question in that tone of voice, I’m afraid to ask you anything else.”

“Then, I’ll ask you somethin’.
 
Are you afraid of me?”

“In a way, I am.”

“So, why are you
sittin
’ here,
havin
’ lunch with me?
 
You could have shaken me off at any time this afternoon.
 
For that matter, you didn’t even have to show up for our date.
 
Why did you come?”

“Would you believe me if I told you I had nothing better to do?”

“Try again.”

“All right.
 
You intrigue me.”

“Please explain that.”

“I’ve never met anyone like you before.
 
I meant it when I said you frighten me, but there’s something about you.
 
Maybe it’s just the circumstances under which we met; I’m not sure.
 
I’ve led a rather sheltered life, and I find you exciting.”