Chapter 4: First Date—Liam

Disciplinary Matters

LIAM HAD EVERY INTENTION of waiting exactly thirty minutes and calling Meredith. His parents had a different idea.

“Liam, please come to the library. Your mother and I wish to speak to you.” Liam looked pleadingly at his grandmother but she just shrugged her shoulders and left him to his fate. He followed his parents into the library.

“Whatever came over you, Liam? It was unconscionably rude to challenge Mr. Ferguson at a dinner party filled with friends who had come to celebrate the achievement of your majority.” Lydia accepted a glass of scotch from Thomas as she scowled at her son.

“Were those my friends, Mother?”

“This is not a debate,” his father snapped. “Keep your Socratic questions for your conversations with your grandmother. She is the only one amused by them. I happen to be in negotiations with Fergie that could be worth millions.”

“I’m sorry, Father. Do we need money?” Thomas merely scowled at his son. Liam conceded defeat. His parents had long since learned how to handle his attempts to turn the conversation from his own culpability. It was time to throw in the towel. “I’m truly sorry, Father. Mr. Ferguson was being an ass in throwing around unsupported opinions and theories that were disproved decades ago. He was, in fact, directly insulting one of my close friends. Remy Fortier came to this country to get an education and seek the opportunities our nation is reputed to offer all. I could no more sit by and let my friend be insulted than you could help being offended by my treatment of your friend.”

“Remy Fortier does not fit the profile Fergie was describing,” Lydia interrupted. “He’s a good and talented boy and scarcely even has an accent. And he is a virtuoso on the violin.”

“In other words, because he is white?”

“We are not racists! I employ people of all races in my companies and treat them all equally. Their advancement is based on merit and merit alone.”

“Is that why all your senior management are white males? Are white males now a new class of their own because they show the best ability to manage others?”

“That is enough of this. I told you when we came in here this is not a debate. Your behavior was inappropriate. You will not speak to friends and associates who have come to honor you in that way again.”

Liam had reached his limit. “Father, I am sixteen years old today. Perhaps the next time there is a party to honor me, it might be with my friends and associates.”

“Go to bed.” Lydia tossed down the rest of her drink before continuing. “We’ll discuss this with your grandmother. She egged you on. She can decide the appropriate punishment. If we do that, you will automatically believe we are being unfair.”

Liam felt an instant relief. He went quickly to his room and reached for the phone while he fished Meredith’s card out of his pocket. He did not pick up the phone. It was past ten o’clock. He could not call Meredith.

Liam left his room early in the morning and ran a hard 10k. He didn’t pay attention to his time. He didn’t run that race at school. What difference did it make how fast he ran it? He was running to work off his built-up frustration. His mind was filled with thoughts of Meredith and it just didn’t seem right to masturbate to thoughts of her. Leonard had no difficulty keeping up.

When he returned to his room for breakfast, Erich informed him that he’d been summoned to luncheon with his grandmother. ‘Summoned.’ That was the word Erich used as if it were a legal hearing. He supposed his parents had already disturbed her and she would not be pleased. Perhaps it would be better to wait and call Meredith after his disciplinary hearing. After all, he might be grounded and prevented from seeing her. He could even be sent back to Elenchus and denied the rest of his summer vacation.

“I have arranged for you to begin a new course of study.” Liam hung his head in front of his grandmother’s severe demeanor. So, it was the worst. He’d be sent back to Elenchus. “It will supplement your current studies, not replace them. You will devote as much time to it as possible without affecting your current courses and activities. Riding and running are also good for you, so I expect you to continue to do the things you enjoy.” Liam breathed a sigh of relief. He had no horse at Elenchus. He would need to stay here. “One of your tasks will be to create adequate time for your new course without neglecting your current studies.”

“Yes, Grandmother. If I may ask, what is my new course of study?”

Regina smirked at him. “Tact.”

“Was I so terrible?” Liam wanted to defend himself but by the time he’d gathered an argument, she was chuckling aloud.

“I have discussed the matter with Mr. Ferguson and he did not feel insulted by your questioning. He felt, however, the discussion could monopolize the table conversation and chose rather to withdraw. That is tact. He would like to debate the topic with you at a future time in a more appropriate setting. I warn you, Elenchus is not the only school that teaches the Socratic method. You can learn a great deal from him.”

“I’m relieved. I did not intend to insult him. Do I have an instructor for my new course?”

“I have asked Meredith Sauvage to take on the task as your instructor. You will find she is quite skilled at this. Much tempered from the days when she used her fists. Listen and learn from her. She will come here for your first lesson Saturday afternoon. You should call her and make suitable arrangements.” Liam blushed and couldn’t keep a smile off his face. His grandmother was clearly amused at his discomfiture. “Well?”

“Thank you, Grandmother. With your permission, I will go and make arrangements at once.”

“Do so. And Liam, I am proud of you.”

Phone Calls and Advice

“It’s not as if I was sitting by the phone waiting for your call last night. Don’t think I have nothing better to do than that. Lonnie’s friend Susan noted that I’d chipped a nail. I needed to remove the polish and repaint it. I’m not in the least bit desperate.”

“I am so sorry, Miss Sauvage. I fear I am the desperate one. I was unavoidably detained by my parents who felt I needed to be lectured about my dinner behavior. When I returned to my room it was past ten. I beg your forgiveness for not having called.”

“Hmm. I guess parents trump girlfriends. I forgive you.”

“Are you my girlfriend, Meredith? Please help me here. My last interaction with a girl near my own age was when you bloodied my nose.”

“The girl has become a woman now, Liam. I believe that is one of the topics we should discuss this weekend. That is, if your purpose in calling is to ask me out.”

“It is.” Liam paused to consider what Meredith said. It sounded like she hadn’t spoken to his grandmother about lessons in tact this morning. Had this all been planned before? “We discussed the possibility of meeting this Saturday afternoon. The weather has been fine lately, so I thought we might do something out of doors. Do you ride?”

“Horseback? I have had lessons.”

“I thought if I might persuade you to drop by here at three o’clock. We would have ample time to go to the stables and have a pleasant ride before dinner. If you will forgive the presumption, I felt that much of the purpose of this first date would be to talk and get to know each other better. I assure you, I will make no untoward advances, but I certainly understand if you would prefer to meet on more neutral ground. It’s just that wherever I go, someone would follow. My father insists on security when I leave the grounds. At least if we stay here, the only one who will accompany us is Leonard.”

“That was very well done, Liam. I would be delighted to make this our first official date. We can scarcely count being thrown together at your party.”

“I really like talking to you, Meredith. I look forward to seeing you Saturday.”

“It’s only Monday. We could schedule another phone date. If you don’t get unavoidably detained again.” Liam was sure he heard her giggling.

“Would tomorrow be too soon?”

It was a near thing. Thomas and Lydia were making a trip to Bangkok later in the week and suggested Liam might want to visit some of the old temples in Thailand.

“However, I don’t think it is a good idea for you to encounter Fergie until you’ve had some of the lessons in tact your grandmother has assigned. I think it is better that you stay home this time. This is not a punishment, it is merely the cost of your behavior. I hope it will motivate you to apply yourself diligently to the topic.”

Liam hung his head before his father and attempted to hide his glee. Inside he was celebrating. “Yes, Father. I will apply myself diligently so I may join you on future journeys.”

“Take a walk with me, son.” Liam almost missed the command because his father spoke so softly. He was led out of the house and away from the presence of his mother, who was obviously still displeased.

They walked in silence to a trail Liam was fond of and when they were out of sight from the house, Thomas put his hand on Liam’s shoulder. Not around them. The family was not that demonstrative of their affection. He led Liam off the path when they had walked a bit and came to a clearing with a fallen log where they could sit. Liam was surprised to find his father knew of the place. He often came here to sit quietly and think. Leonard padded along behind them accompanied by Tegan, his father’s Rhodesian Ridgeback guard dog. The two dogs got along famously and after circling the log seat a couple of times, settled down facing opposite directions.

“What class am I, Liam?”

“A ... uh ... You are a merchant?”

“You needn’t be ashamed to say it. I worked hard to become a merchant.”

“You did? But you were born royal!”

“You assume class is hereditary. That is not so. Nor is the class based on wealth or occupation. When America revolted and broke from Britain, the first thing they did was get rid of the aristocracy. All men are created equal. But then classes arose that were based entirely on wealth. Upper class, middle class, and lower class. Truthfully, none of them were particularly classy. But very few people considered themselves to be upper class or lower class. The wealthy and the poor both considered themselves middle class. The structure itself was flawed since definitions of poverty and wealth are constantly changing. But hereditary classes are just as difficult. Artists breed like rabbits. If everyone born to the artist class became an artist, we would live in a world of black velvet paintings and screeching violins. The class structure in America is based on the individual’s character. That doesn’t save us from incompetent artists or musicians or even servants. It matches the class with the soul of the individual. That’s what your schooling has always been about. Yes, I worked hard to become a merchant. It is who I am.”

“Did you consider it a lower class of sorts, Father? I am still rather new at the idea of having classes at all. Grandmother only told me on my birthday. I thought America was a classless society.”

“There are many people in the world, especially those who live in old civilizations, who also consider America to have no class.” Thomas laughed at his own joke. “The classes aren’t arranged on a hierarchical scale. I own and manage a company. I have over a thousand people who report through lines of management to me. Does that make me a ruler? Royal? No. At heart I sell goods and services. I am a merchant. Last night, you came dangerously close to becoming a politico. You campaigned. Royalty leads. Influences. That is why your grandmother has provided you with a servant who will instruct you.”

“Erich?”

“Erich is one kind of servant. Tell me, what does he really do?”

“When I am here at Buxton House, he wakes me in the mornings, gives me schedules, brings me breakfast, and lays out my clothes.”

“You don’t choose your own clothes?”

“I do at school. But, of course, I have to wear a school uniform so it doesn’t make a difference. Otherwise, Erich looks at my schedule and chooses appropriate clothes for me to wear.”

“But if he decides what you wear, what you eat, and where you should run, doesn’t he rule over you?”

“You mean he’s royal?”

“You are still confusing royal with ruler. No. He is a servant. A servant’s role is to clear everything from his employer’s way that might prevent him from accomplishing significant things and making sure you have the material and information necessary to make good decisions. He advises you. As you said, you could choose your own clothes but how much of your mindshare do you want occupied with clothing? When you go to a restaurant, you could have cooked your own meal and brought it to your table. We sometimes do that in our own home. But in a restaurant, we let servers take care of us so we can focus on our guest and enjoying the meal.”

“I see. So, it is like my dabbling with drawing and painting. It doesn’t make me an artist. It is simply a pleasant diversion.”

“Exactly. That is why, as a royal, you must learn tact. Most of that is simply being polite. Otherwise you look like a politico, like your friend Lonnie. There is nothing wrong with that if you decide it is what you like to do more than anything.”

“Thank you, Father. I’m beginning to understand.”

“What is the class of Meredith Sauvage?”

“Um ... I don’t know.”

“Then let me help you. She will teach you and guide you—tact, among other things.”

“Is there a teaching class?”

“Again, you confuse occupation with class. Teachers may come from any class. At Elenchus, you have teachers who are artists, intelligentsia, politico, trade, merchant, and even religious. But by far the most common teachers are servants. And Meredith is a true servant.”

“I would never treat Miss Sauvage as a servant. It’s unthinkable.” Liam was surprised to find he was offended at the thought.

“We should never treat anyone as a servant in the way you have implied. We treat everyone with kindness and respect. That was the problem with the aristocracy of bygone eras. They considered themselves better than others. Royalty is not a class above servant, it is a class different than servant. As a merchant, for example, I would be lost without Jack Lenova.”

“Your corporate counsel. I heard him talking to Lonnie at dinner. Isn’t he, as a lawyer, politico?”

Thomas shook his head sadly. “Liam, you must get vocation and class separated. I agree that the majority of lawyers fall in the class of politico. Jack is a servant who needed a law degree to become the most effective servant he could be. He is my closest adviser. He tells me if I’m erring. He suggests proper courses of action and makes sure that obstacles are cleared that might prevent me from taking them. I guide my business. Jack guides me.” Liam sat silently absorbing what his father had said. Erich often suggested courses of action, even if it was as simple as suggesting a specific route Liam should run in order to make his appointments on time.

“So, you are saying that Meredith will become an adviser. Her task is to teach me tact.” Liam cringed slightly. He had already convinced himself Meredith was his girlfriend.

“I believe tact is only one of the many things she will teach you. Hang on tight, son. Let her guide you.”

The conversation with his father disturbed Liam. How had he been in school for ten years and not have heard about the class structure? Oh, he had heard people referred to as artists or politicians or servants. He thought they were referring to the occupation. No teacher or professor had ever mentioned class structure in America’s supposedly classless society. Is that why he’d been sent to the protected environs of Elenchus Schole? He wondered if Meredith knew about it and what her reaction to his father’s declaration that she was a servant would be. His father had mentioned there being a dozen or so different classes and even more subclasses. Liam could name five that had come up in conversation—royal, merchant, servant, artist, and politico. He determined to see if he could puzzle out the others before he asked anyone.

Before they left for the airport, Liam made nice with his mother. It was funny to him that they held the trip over his head as something he could not join them for because of his bad behavior. No one had ever mentioned the trip in the first place and he was certain Erich had packed no bag for him. He suspected his parents never intended to take him on this journey but were simply using it as a thing he might have done if he had not argued with Mr. Ferguson.

After his parents had gone, Erich brought Liam a message that his grandmother would like to have dinner with him if he didn’t have plans. What earthly plans could I have? He would wait until after dinner to call Meredith again. He liked to listen to his grandmother before his calls as she often had an insight he could benefit from. It would be his third call to Meredith this week and it was all he could do not to call her more often.

Walking to his grandmother’s suite, Liam began to consider things he had always thought of as common. Buxton House was huge. His grandmother had a suite of rooms where she lived privately and could have her own guests without disturbing the household. Liam didn’t know what she needed an office for, but she had her own bedroom, bath, dining room, sitting room, and office. His parents also had a suite of their own, similarly furnished. One wing of the house was only for staff and their families. When possible, the Cynings employed married couples as being more stable than other household staff.

Liam himself had a bedroom and bath. When he thought about it, though, he realized he also had a study and a dressing room. He’d converted the old playroom into a study when he started at Elenchus and it gradually lost all his childhood things as he added an easel and art supplies, a media center, and even a craft table. Like most boys he knew, he’d gone through his phase of dinosaurs, model airplanes, and model ships. The crafts had changed over the years. He’d collected rocks, created beaded ornaments, constructed a crystal radio, and even built an architectural model of what he thought would be his perfect house. When he’d drawn out a plan, his grandmother encouraged him to construct it and see if it really looked like he thought it would. It was a learning experience in space allocation.

The more he thought about it, the more he realized he could probably have more space in his own ‘suite’. No one would object to his taking over another one or two of the empty rooms near his.

Getting to Know You

Grandmother asked Liam what he was doing to get to know Meredith better. It set him back a step. His calls so far had been focused on telling Meredith about himself. He must be as big a bore as Mr. Ferguson! He castigated himself and vowed to do more to get to know Meredith before their official date.

“Meredith, where do you go to school?”

“I attend the Green Hill Women’s College where I have studied for eight years,” she said. “The women’s college starts as a middle school and goes through a baccalaureate degree if one stays there long enough. I fancy it is not much different than Elenchus for boys. And by the way, that was a great question. Would you like to know what I study?”

“Yes, please. I have no experience with schools other than Elenchus and the public school where we first met.”

“My major focus is now Social Studies,”

Liam was puzzled. “Is that like Sociology?”

Meredith laughed at his comparison. “Not really. Sociology is a science, sometimes considered a part of Social Studies, that deals with the development, structure, and functioning of human society. Social studies is a broader and less scientific study of social interaction and the various roles people play in society. It includes history, government, economics, civics, sociology, geography, and anthropology. Green Hill is the only school in the state that has a program in it. Years ago, it was called women’s studies but it was expanded to the broader topic since everything at Green Hill is a woman’s study of some sort.”

“I like your laugh.” Liam had heard what she said but was intent on seeing if he could make her laugh again.

“I am thankful that you do. I find many things funny that others don’t. I was afraid I might laugh and offend you and mess things up and you’d hate me.”

“Why ever would you think that, Meredith? Am I such a stick in the mud?”

“Oh, no. I think not so much. But we’re very different people. In some ways we live in different worlds.”

“How so?” Liam was learning a great deal about Meredith in this conversation and he hadn’t yet resorted to the list of questions his grandmother had given him.

“You are an only child raised by merchants in a royal household. I am the youngest of five—all brothers—raised by artists.”

“Was that difficult?”

“I wouldn’t call it difficult, exactly. It was certainly interesting. Much to their disappointment, I simply do not have the temperament of an artist. I like things just a little more dependable. I never knew when the mood would strike them. They called it inspiration. I thought of it as mood swings.”

“They became depressed?”

“No. Not usually. For example, I might be all dressed and ready to go to an event with them, or even out shopping, and suddenly they’d disappear. It might be two hours later that we left or we might not leave at all.”

“Where did they go?” Liam didn’t even know what kind of art her parents practiced. But he was trying not to associate a specific job with the class.

“Oh, to the studio, the garden, the kitchen, the bedroom. Their passion sort of leaks all over everything.” She laughed again and Liam found his heart beating faster. With that sudden surge of hormones came his own moment of doubt.

“Meredith ... are you ... I’m sorry this is ... I need to know...”

“This once, I give you permission to blurt out your question and promise not to be offended no matter what.”

“You aren’t being coerced into being nice to me, are you? I mean, no one told you that you needed to go on a date with me or ... or...” His rushed question stuttered to an end as he struggled for a way to say what he wanted.

“Or paid me?” she asked softly.

“I don’t want to imply that you are the kind of woman who could be paid to be with me.” Even though she was on the other end of a phone conversation, Liam could feel his face heating with a blush. “I just hate the idea of people doing things against their will because my family is ... influential.”

“You are a sensitive person, Liam, so I am going to be perfectly honest with you. No one could pay me enough to be with you in any way.”

“Uh ... Thanks?”

Meredith broke out laughing again and Liam felt for an instant that he’d been played.

“If I wasn’t attracted to you, I would not have bothered with you at the party in the first place. In fact, I would never have hit you eight years ago. I don’t know if this attraction can span a few weeks or many years. And neither can you know that. But I am coming to ride horses with you this Saturday because I can’t think of anything I would rather do. I’m happy to have the opportunity to spend time with you.”

Liam was used to spending time alone. It didn’t bother him in the least to eat his meals in the dining alcove next to the kitchen. He had a standing invitation to eat with his grandmother any time but didn’t do it every night. He did, however, go to her suite Friday night when Erich told him he was expected.

“Tell me, Liam, are you enjoying your conversations with Miss Sauvage?” Liam disciplined himself not to bolt down a bite of the delicious poached salmon before he answered his grandmother’s question.

“I find it very pleasurable to converse with her, Grandmother. And thank you for the suggestion the other evening about asking about her life. I’ve learned a great deal about her. And it wasn’t difficult once we got started. I love to hear her laugh and am very much looking forward to our ride tomorrow. I like her.” He was allowed two bites after his answer.

“And what are you having cook prepare for your dinner tomorrow?”

“What?”

“You didn’t plan to just send her home after you ride, did you?”

“No. Of course not. I just hadn’t thought to talk to cook about it. He always seems to know when we have guests. Is it too late, Grandmother?”

She touched a bell by her side and a server came through the door almost immediately. “Ricardo, could you locate Erich and ask him to join us, please?”

“Certainly, Mrs. Cyning.” It took three minutes before Erich knocked on the door and entered.

“Hello, Erich.” The smile she greeted him with was wide and genuine.

“Regina, it is always a pleasure to attend you.” Liam was taken aback. Erich had called his grandmother by her first name.

“Are you aware of Liam’s plans for a date with Miss Sauvage tomorrow?”

“Yes, ma’am. I spoke to Ray in the stables, Liam. He suggested the mare with the blaze and white socks for Miss Sauvage. The horse is gentle but lively enough to maintain pace with your gelding.”

“Thank you, Erich. I didn’t think about talking to him in advance about which horse she should ride. You saved me a world of embarrassment.” Liam berated himself about his stupidity. Having a servant had its downside. He’d never learned to take care of these things himself.

“You have been busy with the important task of getting to know Miss Sauvage. You will find that much more important than the menial tasks I perform.”

“And dinner, Erich?” Regina addressed the valet but once again, he addressed his response to Liam.

“Yes, ma’am. Cook suggested the poached salmon but then discovered you would be eating it this evening with your grandmother, Liam. As an alternative, he is preparing game hens with wild rice stuffing.”

Liam fidgeted about the hens. They were delicious but... “I’m a little uncomfortable about game hens when I have a guest. They can be ... difficult to eat.”

“Delightfully messy,” Grandmother laughed. “That’s the point, Liam. Cook is suggesting something fun to eat. You should consider serving it without flatware. There is nothing quite like tearing the bird apart with your fingers while gazing into your ... friend’s eyes.”

“Really? Would it be okay for me to check that out with Meredith before we make the decision?” It had a sexy kind of appeal. Liam imagined licking the juices off Meredith’s fingers and shifted uncomfortably.

“That would be very considerate. You shouldn’t plan too many surprises all at once.”

Erich excused himself and Liam realized he’d just had another lesson. He was thankful this one had been taught by his grandmother and Erich rather than by Meredith. Like choosing his clothes in the morning, preparing for the date was something he could do for himself but if he didn’t, Erich was there to step into the breach. Liam was determined to discover what was being done on his behalf by others and to decide if he should be doing them himself. It was tricky business.

Still, he enjoyed the call to Meredith after dinner and discovered they were both laughing by the time they said goodnight.

Riding Toward Happiness

“Thank you for warning me about dinner, Liam.” The couple walked toward the stables where Ray already had their horses saddled and waiting for them. “I almost had a manicure but between riding and a messy dinner, it would have been a waste.”

Liam touched her arm, stopping her before they reached Ray. “Meredith, may I see your hands?” She held them out, uncertainly. Liam carefully removed one riding glove. Her fingers and nails were perfect. He bent over them and kissed her fingertips. “Please, never feel you need to do something special to please me. Another manicure could not have improved these hands.” He gave her glove to her and she caught her breath as he released her hand.

Liam took the mare from Ray and led her toward the mounting block for Meredith. She stopped him when the horse was between them and the stableman.

“I believe you have lied to me, Mr. Cyning.” Without waiting for a response, she vaulted lightly into the saddle. She waited while Liam adjusted the stirrups and held the irons for her feet.

Rather than risk the embarrassment of falling on his ass in front of her, Liam took the gelding from Ray and led him to the mounting block. He stretched his leg over the saddle and nudged the horse toward Meredith.

“I’m ... Meredith ... Miss Sauvage, I assure you I have not knowingly lied to you. If I have erred in some way, please enlighten me.”

“You professed to have no experience with women. Yet you just kissed my fingertips in a most genteel manner and offered me the prettiest compliment I have ever heard. If you have no experience with women, how, pray tell, did you just succeed in making my heart flutter?”