Art, part two. Ch. 12
Art gets an invite to the Manor House.
Suzanne tried to call again several times, but it's been quiet now for awhile so maybe she's given up.
I heard the front door slam and a moment later Lisa and Heidi came barging into the room. Lisa's face is all red. She's either pissed off or crying; probably both. "Damn it to hell, it's none of their business."
Heidi said, "You don't have a choice. John Berger is only following your father's orders. He needs this Barrington location for his business; that's just a simple fact."
I kept looking from one to the other waiting for an explanation. Heidi finally noticed me, "Lisa's parents are having a dinner party tonight and you and Lisa are to be there. Lord Barrington made the request direct to John with explicit instructions that you must be there even if Lisa refuses to go. Don't ask me what's up, I have no idea."
"What about you, Heidi?"
"The day I get an invite to the home of Lord and Lady Barrington will be a cold day in hell. It's already cost John some goodwill with the Barrington's to keep me working here."
Lisa seemed to have gained some control, "Alright, you're right, we really don't have a choice. Arthur, I'm sorry there was no way to avoid this. All of father's employees report the comings and goings here on the estate and my parents want to know all about you. It would be beneath father to quiz John on a business deal so he's using this so mother and he can find out for themselves. Come on, I'll pick out some suitable clothes for you. We don't have a lot of time."
The manor house is quite impressive. Lisa's cottage is modern, but I'd guess the manor house goes back a century or two. As we were walking in it was a little overwhelming for someone like me. I couldn't imagine growing up in a house like this. Lisa introduced me to her parents, "Mother and Father, I'd like you to meet Arthur Jones. He's the gentleman from America who's working with our group in the laboratory."
I stuck out my hand and said, "I'm glad to meet you Lord Barrington." The old coot looked at me like I was something he'd stepped on and smelled, but he shook my hand and mumbled something.
Lady Barrington was entirely different; she took my hand warmly and said, "Arthur, thank you for coming on such short notice. I hope you weren't inconvenienced in anyway. Do you mind if I call you Arthur?"
"Not at all, Lady Barrington."
"Oh pooh, please call me Mary. Lisa take you father to the bar so he can take off his great 'stone face' and relax a bit. Arthur, you come with me. I want you to tell me about yourself."
Mary Barrington was still an attractive woman even carrying more weight than she should on her frame. She guided me to a small couch somewhat off from the group and signaled to a maid serving the group. "Arthur, would you like something to drink?" When I asked for brandy over cracked ice, the maid looked at me like I'd uttered a foul word. Ice and brandy is so uncivilized over here. Mary never batted an eye and said, "Agnes, I'll have the same." I believe Lisa's mother is going out of her way to make me feel comfortable. We chatted about America until Agnes brought our drinks. I had barely taken a swallow when Mary said, "Arthur, are you in love with my daughter? If you aren't, why are you sleeping with her?"
Where did that come from? It's a good thing I had time to swallow or Lady Barrington might have been sprayed with brandy. "Lady Barrington, er Mary; no, I'm not in love with your daughter and whether or not I'm sleeping with Lisa is none of your business."
I could almost see her expression relax a bit. "Thank you for your honesty and I believe we now can speak openly. My husband and I are well aware of Lisa's proclivity towards females and her relationship with Dr. Wagner so your presence in her bed would only indicate one thing. I'm her mother and I know she's been fearful of having intercourse with a male for a long time. Your physical size then would make you a more acceptable partner. If that is your only role, I hope you were successful. If on the other hand you were looking for a more formal role in Lisa's life, my husband and I would strongly object. We don't expect our daughter to change, so it is our plan to find a suitable manageable male from a titled family to act as our daughter's consort and lend his family's name to ours."
I had to laugh, "The poor bastard. Heidi will eat him alive and make his life miserable. You and Lord Barrington have my word that there's no way I would interfere with your plans. My goal is to wrap up things here and return to the States as soon as possible."
"Arthur, I don't know anything about your background, but I suspect it's closer to mine. I was born a 'cockney' in London's East End. I was lucky and made it to the London stage, where I learned to drop my accent and behave like a lady. Someday maybe you can tell me all that went on between you and the two women."
"I can see you on the stage and it's easy to see where Lisa got her good looks. Maybe I can tell you all about my trip here someday."
She took one of my hands in both of hers and said, "Arthur, you're full of BS about me and the stage, but it was good to hear you say it, and I accept your word on Lisa. Come, there's somebody I want you to meet, a fellow American."
We started across the room toward a woman, who had just left a small group. I'd noticed her before; in fact she'd be hard to miss. She was one of those women that nobody can pin an age on. With her short silver grey hair and great boobs, along with the rest of her well shaped body, she's in a class by herself. She's probably over fifty, and I'd venture she spends a fair amount of time working out, probably with a trainer. She reminds me of someone I should know, but I'm drawing a blank. She's watching Mary and I cross the floor like she's waiting for us. When we walk up Mary says, "Jamie, here's someone I want you to meet." Then it hits me, she looks a great deal like Jamie Lee Curtis. She has full lips and a wide eyed expression that say's, 'I'm approachable, but look out'!
"Arthur Jones, I'd like you to meet my long time friend, Jamie Lewis. She and I knew each other way back when. Oh, never mind when. The two of you have one thing in common already; you're the only Americans here. Why don't the two of you introduce yourselves, I need to get back to my other guests."
"Ms. Lewis, did anyone ever tell you that you look like........., of course they have, except I do believe you're even more beautiful."
"Art, can the snow job, you're talking to a gal who's heard it all. So tell me, how did you end up among all these English bluebloods?"
"It's a long story, but I'm here primarily as a guest of Lisa Barrington."
"No offense, Art, but are you gay?"
"No offense taken, but last time I checked I only swung one way. Why the question though?"
"I'll tell you in just a minute. I watched you and Mary walk across the room and of course the difference in height is striking. You have to be the shortest man in the room and yet when you walk you appear to be unaware of that fact. Instead of picking your path carefully you walk naturally as if you accidentally bump into somebody, you'll both suffer equally. Alright, let me explain. I'm an agent for people in the entertainment field. Mary always invites me to these soirées because she knows I'm always looking for people who stand out for one reason or another and might have what's called a 'stage presence'. You my short friend, have a presence."
"Ah, let's see. The lady wants to know if I'm super sensitive to my height by calling me 'short' after asking me if I'm gay. Is this some sort of test?"
"No, of course not. They're announcing dinner, how about escorting me?" I offered her my arm and we joined the parade into a large banquet hall. There were servers helping people find their seats and wonder of wonder, Jamie and I were sitting next to each other at the far end of one side of the U-shaped table. We were as far away from our host as we could get while still being in the same dining hall.
"Jamie, I know that somehow I've offended the Lord of the Manor, but what did you do to get exiled with me?"
"Nothing I think except Mary's husband never has welcomed her old friends very warmly." We chatted during dinner pretty much between ourselves. She told me about her business and gave me her card to look her up if I was interested in pursuing an acting career. She told me she uses her company Gulfstream airplane to come over because she can usually justify it by transporting clients back and forth. She also informed me there were a half dozen that came over with her, but she was heading back by herself in the morning.
We were waiting for dessert when I felt Jamie's hand on my leg. She said, "I just had to check and see if you were built as solid as you looked, and you are." She ran her hand along the inside of my thigh and said, "I was just thinking, you could fly back with me tonight. We'd be the only passengers, but I'm certain we could find something to talk about and there are sleeping accommodations on the plane if we get tired."
