Chapter 10
BELDA CAME UPON THE SCENE FOR EDDIE LIKE a miracle. Every man has some dream-girl concept deep in his heart, but he never actually has any real hope of getting her. He may find someone who approximates his ideal, and he rationalizes her into being the girl.
Belda Kassnar seemed to be the dream girl come alive for Eddie. She had far more intelligence and artistic inclination than Marion ever hoped to possess. She had a body that gave promise of all the delights Eddie had had as a boy with Elizabeth, way back in his law-school days. But she wasn't as outrageously sensual in appearance as Elizabeth, any more than she was somberly interested in arty matters, as was Marion; she seemed a marvelous balance of elements. What a perfect wife for a young lawyer moving toward the top, Eddie felt.
She had no unpleasant background, either. Most of the women he had been meeting in the past few years were involved in legal matters of one sort or another, usually of a marital nature. Eddie had no qualms about spending a night or so with one of these refugees from marital bliss, but in general he had become wary of them. It wasn't, certainly, deserved by all of them, but enough were unbalanced (at least temporarily) so that he always suspected that there was something wrong with them that they couldn't keep their marriages together.
He met Belda through her father, who had once been a U.S. senator from the state. Eddie had connected himself with a political party because he felt that his future might get a boost from politics. Belda's father was still called Senator Kassnar for honorary reasons, and he was a big power in state affairs, and he had a voice in the doings of the national party, also. He came from a wealthy family and he was now head of the family's real-estate holdings in the city. For all his money and position, he was a very democratic soul, having seen good men rise to greatness through the political processes of this nation. So he treated Eddie with as much respect and cordiality as he did any other worker for the party, on whatever level.
By this time in his life, Eddie had acquired an earning ability and experience enough to give him an ease and assurance in any society. For purposes of making an impression on Belda, this was the very moment. She was bowled over by him, because she was used to men of far more substance and to men of great power. But it was the combination-the physical good-looks of the man, the mental agility. the fluency of his speech, his in-touch knowledge of things outside his field, which counted to her, such as the theater, music, books, art. Yet he was never glib or pompous.
It wasn't that Belda was looking for a man. No, indeed. Far from it. It was the other way around. All sorts of men were looking for Belda. Why not? The looks, the class, even the money, although most of the men who dared hope that Belda Kassnar would give them a second look had enough cash to match-and-mate her, should they be so fortunate.
So she didn't set out thinking of Eddie as anything but an interesting man who wanted to do something in politics. Interesting? She soon revised that to fascinating.
She knew, of course, that he was married, but since she did not at this time have any notion of knowing him any better than as a fellow party-worker, it didn't concern her in the least.
As Eddie got more deeply into politics and his name kept arising for possible candicacy for this or that office, he and Belda met more and more often. Although he was experienced in the courtroom, he was a novice at politics; Belda had been brought up on the game and she took it upon herself to advise him. She saw in him a potential for rising high in political life-he had a charm that she sensed could be communicated to the electorate; here was a candidate who could be sold to the people and who might be worthy of the trust they gave him.
Belda had seen much of politics through her father's career, both in their state and in the nation's capitol, when he had served in the United States Senate. She knew every little dirty trick in political life, every means of graft and corruption that she had seen used. But she had also viewed some outstanding statesmen and unselfish patriots who had served their government and people in their elected offices. She believed in the system; it had it faults, but it was the best the human political brain had come up with, she felt. Although she was only a girl really, she had a mature mind" and a dedicated one. Lf she could bring the best candidates forward for the people to choose, she would think she also had served. And in Eddie, she saw great potential.
They had met often, but rarely got to really talk. One June afternoon, the Kassnars had a party at their country place. The guests were invited to bring their swimming clothes and their golf clubs, to spend a few hours relaxing before the big barbecue that evening.
Eddie had never learned to play golf. Drink In hand, he wandered from the patio out toward the pool. Belda was stretched out on a flowered couch by the umbrellaed tables at the end of the swimming pool. It was as if she were holding court, with so many men hovering about, coming and going, being annoyed at all the competition. He just stood there looking at her. What a lovely creature. The teeth looking white as she laughed, her face in shadow under the wide-brimmed straw hat; the long, beautifully shaped, tanned legs; the curvaceous body in the bathing suit which allowed her to be appreciated, but not ogled, it being of modest cut. All her clothes were like that-leaving no doubt how nicely feminine she was, but not being in the least immodest, allowing no chance that she could be criticized as vulgarly female. Political life had taught her to always have herself ready for critical inspection, but leaving herself open for no attack on the grounds of indiscreet taste.
He just stood looking at her, and she must have sensed this admiring look from afar. She finally turned in his direction, and squinted in the sunlight to see who it was. When she saw it was Eddie, she motioned for him to come to her. He did so, and as some of the other men moved away a little, he could get quite close to her.
He jested, "The bathing beauty who doesn't go near the water."
She pretended to shiver. "Have you felt the water? It's freezing! June is nice and sunshiney, but it's still too cold to swim."
Some other people came up then, and for a while, he could just stand there like an outsider, viewing these courtiers coming to pay homage to the princess.
When they had left, she swung her gorgeous legs off the couch, and leaned forward toward him; in the process, she exposed quite a bit of her fresh young bosom, even in the modest, one-piece suit. "I'm going to go change. Would you like to see the horses? The stables in ten minutes." She got up and padded off into the house.
Eddie-wandered off toward the stables at a leisurely pace. His nonchalance was entirely on the outside. Inside, he was quivering with excitement. Oh, he didn't think she was making an assignation or anything like that-he wasn't that egotistical and she wasn't that foolish-but no matter what her purpose, she was showing him some special' attention. Belda was getting into his blood.
Belda appeared in a lovely, simple frock. They went into the stables together, having the entire place to themselves, since all the help had been summoned to the main house to do various jobs in connection with the party.
"Do you ride?" she asked.
Ordinarily, Eddie would have given some answer such as, Only women. He liked suggestive conversation with women, feeling it got them in the mood. But this was a female of a different caliber than he was used to. So he just laughed and said no. That was also a new Eddie. If he hadn't said something spicy, he'd have lied, in the old days. If she had said that to him a few years back, he'd have said, sure, and scooted his butt out of there and for the next week he'd have taken riding lessons somewhere, and then come back the next Saturday and gone on the trail with her, even if his behind had been bounced to a pulp from practice. But he was now more natural, more himself-the nice self that maybe was hidden deep down.
"Maybe I can teach you someday," she said, "I'd certainly like that."
She turned to him, full-faced and serious, but not somber. "I had to talk to you, Eddie. Your name has been mentioned-are you ready as a candidate for representative."
"Representative? You mean state representative?"
"No. United States representative."
"My God," Eddie said, taken aback.
"Indeed!" she said, smiling a bit at his reaction. "And my first words of wisdom are that you never swear in front of any voters like that."
"You are kidding about this, aren't you?"
"No. You're probably aware of some of the hang-up about a candidate for that job. We're up against the old guy the opposition is putting up. We need the party, that is-someone young and fresh. We think the voters will be buying the youth look this season. Why I wanted to tell you, Eddie, Is ... well, first I think you're a good candidate from all I know, and I like you." Before he could stammer any thanks, she went on, "So I'm telling you In advance, right now, that the powers-that-be are watching you and will be until the convention next month. You know, when these wheels approach a young man with an unexpected honor like this-or burden-he's liable to say something about, 'Aw, shucks, I'm not worthy', or, 'I don't think I can do it', or some such thing, and that's unnerving to the selecting committee, because they don't know the young man and they may think he knows best. Then the nomination goes to some party hack and either we lose, which is good for the people but bad for the party, or we win, which Is bad for the people, but...." She stopped and gave her enchanting smile. "You get the idea."
He wanted to say so much to her, but she had turned. Over her shoulder she said, "Forewarned is forearmed, Eddie. Now I've got to stop neglecting alL of Daddy's other guests."
"Belda..," he said.
She stopped. "Yes?"
He was going to say thanks, but knew it was corny and unnecessary. "I wish I could ride."
They smiled a quick, uneasy smile of understanding. She wasn't going to say anything, and she had turned again to go out the door. Then she stopped. "Friday night. Could you pick me up about, eight at the...." Belda had to think of a neutral spot, "at the back entrance to the public library?"
"Of course."
Her face away from him, she licked her dry lips, her features drawn and serious. He thought she might be going to retract what she had just proposed, or laugh it away as a joke. But she swiftly went out of the stable door, leaving Eddie equally as apprehensive about what they were getting into, but absolutely joyful with anticipation also.