Page 44 of A Pawn for Malice
It was six-thirty, when she first arrived.She remembered Connor saying over dinner he planned on coming inthat morning around seven, and she didn’t want him finding them ina lover’s embrace. As much as she hated being the one to break thespell between them, she pulled away, with an honest excuse passingfrom her lips. She heard the breathlessness in her voice andblushed.
“Connor will be here soon.”
He kissed her softly one last time and drewaway, walking back to his chair, and sitting down.
She turned back to retrieve her coffee,opened two packets of cream, and stirred the contents, as she blewout a breath very slowly. The after effects of his kiss, left herslightly shaken and she wrapped both of her hands around her coffeecup, and took the seat in front of him.
“Now, about today,” she proceeded, making himchuckle lightly. She smiled at his reaction and continued. “I don’tknow, if you remember or not, I scheduled myself for the tour ofthe Capitol at noon. If that’s still okay?”
She could tell he was mulling that over inhis mind a little too long. She noticed his forehead furrowingslightly with concern and argued the point, before he did.
“I know what you’re thinking, Bryan, and youdon’t have to worry. There’s safety in numbers, and the Tour Officealready confirmed there will be 25 other people in attendance. I amreally, looking forward to it. It’ll be somewhat slow around heretoday and the tour is only an hour long. There’s a possibility itmay go over by thirty minutes, depending on how many questionseveryone has along the way.”
She didn’t say anything else. She wasconfident her argument was strong enough. It took him only a fewmore moments to reply.
“Enjoy yourself. I’ll have lunch orderedaround one-thirty for the three of us. You said the Today Showconfirmed my interview with Matt Lauer this Friday at 9 a.m.,correct?”
“Yes, that’s right. They sent me a list ofquestions for approval. I’ve already finished writing out yourresponses and we can go over them when I return.”
“That’s why I love ya. You know what I’mthinking, before I do.”
“Oh, not on all matters,” she jestedplayfully.
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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The Capitol served, as the seat of New York’sgovernment, since the 1880’s. Jessica knew the building wascompleted maybe a decade after that at a cost of aroundtwenty-million. That was the extent of her knowledge, however. Asmuch as she wanted to learn more, working for Bryan kept herterribly busy. What excited her most, was learning about the famous‘Million Dollar Staircase,’ she climbed nearly every day.
There were already fifteen people congregatedin the public tour section, awaiting the arrival of their appointedguide and the remaining group members. Jessica smiled at a couple,who she thought were in their early sixties. She noticed most ofthose milling about were seniors, all of whom took turns sayinghello.
In a matter of minutes, the remaining tenarrived together, all high school teenagers, along with theirchaperone. The tour guide made her entrance shortly thereafter,garbed in a well-tailored two-piece navy pant suit, complimented bya blue and red starred ascot tied about her neck. She was anadorable individual, dainty and petite of frame with a pleasantspeaking voice.
“Hello, everyone. My name is MelindaWentworth. On behalf of the State of New York, welcome to our StateCapitol. If you have any questions during our tour, please feelfree to speak up. I’ll do my very best to answer any you may have.Let’s begin, as we make our way toward our first stop.”
Everyone proceeded quietly behind in anorderly manner, their eyes already scanning the area aroundthem.
“The tremendous weight of these majesticgranite walls,” she pointed, “were originally constructed for thegrand tower left uncrowned that you see above us. Nearly a quarterof a century passed, until Gov. Alfred E. Smith began therestoration of the lower part of the tower to something like it wasoriginally designed. The second floor, you’ll see,” she directedtheir eyes, “was removed to create a rotunda forty-feet high andmade into this Flag Room we’re now entering.”
The room was tall, to say the least, and heldCivil War keepsakes encased in glass. It included a huge collectionof the State’s flags from the very beginning of statehood. Thearched ceiling overhead depicted murals of historic wars. The mostfocal piece in the center, was an embossed female figure of a womanmourning the dead.
“A New York artist named William DeLeftwichDodge,” the guide continued, as she slowly moved along, “wascommissioned to paint the art work you see here. He spent fiveyears putting twenty-four panels of canvas in his home studio,aided by his daughter Sara, while the erection of the domed ceilingwas finished. Finally, in 1928, it was ready and the murals wereattached.”
The group took a moment to check out theartifacts, and then moved on to the freight elevator, which tookthem to the second floor. Slowly, they made their way down the Hallof Governors. Upon its walls, hung huge oil paintings of New York’sformer governors, from beginning too present.
The Governor’s official ‘Red Room’ was nexton their stop. Everyone were awed by the rich fabrics and fixtures,and the highly polished woods that gleamed ageless in his chambers.For some reason, this room brought out their cell phones, as theyutilized their cameras to mark the moment.
Jessica noticed, that a newcomer joined theirgroup upon their exiting the Red Room. He seemed so out of placeand acted terribly nervous. It was like he didn’t want to be there,and she could tell his skinny frame was shaking. He was a mousysort of fellow and hung back from the rest of the spectators,almost as if, he intended not to follow along.
Jessica found herself repeatedly looking overher shoulder. When she did, she found him watching her, instead oftaking interest in the artifacts and historical references beingbrought to their attention.
They passed through thick double-glasseddoors, which she knew lead to the Senate Chambers. Melindacontinued her monolog, as everyone circled around her.
“H.H. Richardson was responsible for thisChamber’s design. This is where our legislative leaders in theSenate conduct their business, while in session. Mr. Richardsonbegan his work with limitations though, due to constructioncommitments made years before him. He had the same amount of space,as the Assembly Chambers to work with. But, he didn’t need it all,since the Senate numbered fewer in members. Back then, there were128 members of the Assembly and only 32 Senators. So, he createdthe East Lobby adjacent to us, and a West Lobby at the farther endof the room.”
Jessica agreed, it was a magnificent areawith its gothic arches and carpeting, that reflected the numerouscolors in the stained-glass windows. The solid brass chandeliers,wall sconces and lamps, Bryan had told her, while sitting in thechambers, were replicas of original gas fixtures from the past. Herattention was drawn to the golden oak ceiling overhead, with itsbeautiful craftsmanship, and wood panels. The walls were made ofstone in a variety of onyx, marble, and granite throughout.
Her chest puffed with pride. She had thehonor and privilege of entering this room many times.
