The Tormented Goddess (2 page)

             
“Frederic, look behind me…”  He instructed his brother “…don’t you see that lovely lady beside the tea table.”

             
“I see” replied
Frederic calmly with a smile.

             
“Well could you get her name for me?”

             
After a long pause he replied “You’re not being a wimp are you, remember last time with Elisa what happened, she’ll never speak to you again, that was wicked! If you want my advice little brother she’s not of your caliber, more my kind really. If you insist I’ll get her name this instant, see you soon!”

“Fredrick” called Edward to stop him, but when his brother sought out his prey he never looked back.
Finishing the content of his Champagne flute he made his way past the clustered freshman’s directly towards the tea table.
Bowing courteously he introduced himself gazing directly into her eyes, Venus reciprocated doing the same.

             
“You must be George’s sister with your exotic name!” Assumed Frederick
hoping he could start a
conversation.

“You must be mistaking me for someone else; I am let’s say a student here.” replied Venus.

             
“You’re quite a comedian, for a woman.”

             
“Indeed I am, but I afraid to disappoint you Mr. Charleston for I am actually a student here in the faculty of humanities, a domain you seem to lack
of
.”

             
Venus smiled and left with her cup of tea to sit beneath the shade of an empowering oak. Frederick still shocked from her provoking charisma, couldn’t make up his mind. One thing she was incredibly beautiful, but disliking women of her character made him decided that she was maybe after all not his sort.

             
Edward
spying the scene from under the table
jumped out
to exclaim with glee that “She must be in my humanities department, than I will most certainly meet her again tomorrow morning when Professor Williams opens his course. What a lovely year!”

             
“Come back to earth little brother” stated Frederick “She is an educated woman, even if you two make the loveliest couple, which I doubt you will, especially with her, Father would not approve. What kind of scandal would that bring to the family?”

             
“Father and his honour
…
” Edward mumbled “
…
though I’m rather sure that that will never be as catastrophic as you, if we jump to conclusion.”
A light drizzle invaded the blue sky, as the afternoon drained away.

             
The Following morning, Edward believingly determined to arrive first for class appeared in the room to find professor Williams and Venus having breakfast together discussing the controversies of the American north and south. At Edwards arrival, Williams began the introductions “Edward, I would like you to meet Miss Venus, Miss this is Edward of Charleston my finest and most intelligent student. You’ll have to excuse me, I must prepare for my lecture.

             
After the professor left to retrieve his notes for the lesson, Venus said to Edward “Mr. Charleston I believe to have already met your older brother Frederic.”

             
Edward unease
answered “About that Miss Venus, please forgive his
attitude;
it
was most certainly quite disrespectful.”

             
“Never mind that, it is true that there are not many women of my genre Mr. Charleston that is a fact.”

             
“Please call me Edward each time you say Mr. Charleston it resembles that you are speaking to my father, besides I am not that old yet!”

             
“Very well then...” The class begun, the professor open up his course with Plato’s judgement, that man only pain
s
others when they must. A queer introduction,
but throughout the opening act Edwards was on another world as his heart pulsated while the sun gracefully shone on the delicate curls of Venus’s hair. When the lecture ended Edward walked with Venus and opened the door for her, and wished her good bye. When he arrived home, he ran to the kitchen and grabbed a red apple to bite into it. The sweet tasting elixir deriving from his fruit made him smile, at that moment his mother peered from the corner and testified that
her boy was bewitched
.

             
The night arrived as fast as it left the following day the professor assigned groups of two to perform a research analysis on a chosen event. Since Edward and Venus were already acquainted the professor saw fit that they should form a coalition for this particular assignment. Their task was to make a report on the French revolution as well as
presenting to the public their formal report.
Walking away from the university towards her hotel Edward followed hurriedly behind Venus in hope of catching up with her. “Miss Venus!”
he exclaimed.

             
“Edward, are you alright?” She asked.

             
“Yes” Trying to catch his breath
he continued “would like a lemonade? So we can discuss further clarifications for our assignment?” Venus agreed.

             
“Why didn’t you ask me earlier saving you the need to run?”

             
“The idea only manifested once you left.”

             
They made their way towards a tea house, sitting near the window with an elusive decoration composed of bright yellow and white roses.
Venus began the conversation with
“Thank you for the invitation.” She sipped the sweet acidic nectar from her glass and continued to speak saying “For the assignment I would suggest to start with a
n
intensive research on campus, next week
I am arranging to go see the palace of Versailles. I know a good historian who would certainly be delighted to educate us further on the subject, if you would accompany me of course. Edward perplexed of the sudden proposal could not figure what to say.

             
“Certainly, I would be delighted to accept your offer. I will confirm it to you as soon as I…” Edward hid at the speed of light under the table.

             
“Edward what are you doing?”
Venus asked, puzzled by his childish behavior.

             
“It’s my mother
…
”
he replied in a worried tone. He looked back up, “…and my sister.”

             
“So?”

             
“She’ll think I’m with a girl.”

             
“Oh, aren’t I a female?”

             
“No, I mean yes, I mean… Ah, she’s here!”

             
Edwards mother approached him vividly basically screaming with excitement “Little Eddie, how was day darling? Oh please introduce me to this fine young lady!”

             
Turning red with humiliation he hurriedly attested “Mother, this is Miss Venus, now we should get going it is beginning to get quite chilly, don’t you think so mama?”

             
“I think you’re being awfully rude, darling it’s September, come closer, let me see if you do not have a fever.”

             
Edward embarrassed exclaimed “Mother.”

             
She replied with “
V
ery well
, then young lady would you join us for dinner, I would absolutely adore to get further acquainted with you, please accept.” Venus nodded in a charming fashion. “Well you cannot miss it three streets down the right, number 28, at seven o’clock. Now Eddie we may go home.” The woman walked head high with her daughter following behind. Edward smiled and bowed his head following the two women. 

             
Back home Elian, Edward’s mother rushed to her husband’s library as unpinning her hat stating “I bet Eddie will be first.” Her husband curious of the provenance of his wife’s excitement asked her;

             
“What are you talking about my dear?”

             
“I found Edward at the nearby teahouse with a girl, a lovely one to. I always thought Frederic would be first but no it my third one.”

             
“Don’t make false assumptions, I know my boy very well. If your nonsense is proved true I am certain he found a descent one, not like the Women Frederic tried to get approved. Now my dear will you let me savour more peace till dinner please.”

             
Elian left the library to do her daily afternoon habits, as for Edward he was in the drawing room with his siblings.
Pickering him with questions his youngest sibling Juliet started the interrogation period.

             
“Is she pretty?”

 
             
He replied with the same warmth his little flower “Indeed she is, but not as beautiful as you of course.”

             
With a smile his older brother added “She might be the most attractive creature roaming the earth, but my dear brother you are forgetting one thing, she is a scholar!”

             
Outraged Victoria pronounced “A scholar, what kind of prestigious school accepts girls, she must be one of these horrible suffragettes, father won’t approve.”

             
Edward defended his cause
by saying “Victoria you saw her today, the way she gleamed beyond all others, yes she is astonishingly beautiful, but most importantly she is remarkably intelligent. My point is all you need to be aware is that she has no apparent knowledge of my admiration towards her. We are not partners for a trifling assignment, thus both valuing the importance of our report I ask thee to be reasonable tonight, for my sake.” 

             
Victoria found his little monologue pathetic and continued her ranting on the importance of the feminine sex at home. “Edward besides bending to your command, I must insist that it is of the highest importance for a woman to respect the limits of her gender, anyhow keeping my lustful charm is a full time employment.” 

             
“Victoria, how can a headless girl be attractive, just look at you, already an old maid!” Furious of Edward’s mockery she aimlessly attempted to hit him.

             
Dinner promptly arrived as it did daily, all sat at a solid dark oak table their guest Venus observed the over worked facial expressions of Edward’s father. Sweetly according to proper protocol she gave her thanks and tried to resume the conversation. “Mrs. Charleston, thank you so much for inviting me.”

             
“Oh dear, I thank you for coming, I am not going to let a lovely girl you slip away from my sons fingers, you know we mothers must shape our children by every means, even when it comes to conjugal matters.” replied Elian.

             
Edward wishing to change the conversation clarified his connection with Venus. “Mother I believe you have misunderstood our situation.”

             
“Edward please I know a boy in love when I see one.”

             
“Please I beg you to stop repeating that, I and Miss Venus are classmates if that’s how it is phrased.”

             
“To add to that Mrs. Charleston…” Venus said trying to calm down the obvious choked attitude of Elian she notified them of her prospect trip.
“…as a matter a fact I would greatly appreciate it if your son could accompany me to Paris the upcoming week.”

             
“Pardon me but on what occasion?” interrupted Edward’s father.

             
“
Well for this seasons
assignment we must formulate a thesis within the next two months on the French revolution. Since London is so close to Paris it would be a pity not to ensure the utmost validity of our research which will enhance the outcome of this particular task
, I’m surprised he hasn’t already mentioned to you its importance
.”
clarified Venus.

             
“Of course he has,” Edward’s father answered in a lying fashion “Edward would you please come with me to help me find my vintage cognac in the cavern to celebrate the event, pardon us.”

             
The Father got up slowly due to his generous proportions and made his way towards the library with his youngest son following him.
The second he stood up all the eyes of the room immediately went to staring at their plates. The room became awfully quite since the only noises heard where those of forks scratching knifes. In the library his father sat at his desk, Edward closed the door behind him hoping that it cover up any possible scolding from his father.