A Hope Beyond (11 page)
“Now you must tell me about Oakbridge. York says so very little about it, and even when I do get him to speak on it, he talks in acreages and crop profits.”
Carolina laughed. “I’ve no doubt that is true. York is far happier with his politics. But as for Oakbridge . . .” She paused, looking thoughtful. “Oakbridge is a world unto itself. We’re not far from Falls Church, and really not so very far from Washington City. Oakbridge sits alongside Dominion Creek, and because the creek is particularly broad where our road passes over, Grandfather Adams built a bridge of oak on which to cross.”
“Thus Oakbridge,” Lucy said with a knowing nod.
“Yes.” Carolina continued, drawing from a mental picture of her home. “The house is of the Greek style with six white pillars and three floors of rooms. It makes a beautiful contrast in the spring and summer with its bold whiteness against the green hills and flowering gardens.”
“I can just see it,” Lucy said with genuine delight.
“Of course now,” Carolina added rather sadly, “everything is rather brown and dingy. I can’t profess a love for winter. It’s then that I feel very isolated. Almost as though Oakbridge has slipped off the face of the earth.”
Just then, York returned with refreshments for both of them, and Carolina put her thoughts aside. It was easy to talk to Lucy, and she could see now how expertly Lucy had drawn out all manner of information without once making Carolina uncomfortable.
Seeing her brother whisper into Lucy’s ear, Carolina decided to bow out gracefully and give them time together. Just then Lucy made a surprising request. “I wonder, would it be acceptable for Carolina to spend the holidays here in Washington?”
York and Carolina both exchanged a look of surprise. York stroked his chin a moment. “Given the sorrow of our home, I believe it would do her good. She’s lost too much weight and could stand with some fattening up. I know the food in your home well enough to know it has that effect on folk.” He patted his midsection, but both women could see there wasn’t an ounce of fat to be had on him.
“Would you like to stay on here in the city?” Lucy asked Carolina. “We have several spare rooms, and I would happily put you up in one of them. That would give us both a chance to get to know each other better and to further our new friendship.” Lucy’s eyes twinkled as she added, “Besides, you definitely won’t feel as though you’ve dropped off the face of the earth while in Washington City.”
Carolina was touched by Lucy’s offer and couldn’t imagine anything she wanted more than this. It would be wonderful to break away from the plantation and all its sorrow. Not to mention that Virginia was still snubbing her quite seriously, and Georgia’s tirades were beginning to weary Carolina considerably.
“I’d be very honored, Miss—Lucy,” Carolina said.
“It’s settled then,” Lucy replied, linking her free arm with York’s.
“With you in charge, how could it be otherwise?” York commented, a light of love clearly visible in his expression.
Lucy looked up at him, and Carolina felt a tightening in her chest at the radiant look on Lucy’s face. This must be true love, Carolina thought, and while she was happy for her brother, her own heart seemed to ache with an emptiness she couldn’t ignore.
Virginia yanked at the hopelessly knotted thread of her embroidery. She was angry, hurt, and betrayed. Betrayed by the very family who should even now be considering her needs uppermost. After all, she reasoned, she was the one who’d had to give up her wedding to James Baldwin. Of course, her father had suggested she keep the details of their broken engagement a secret. James had given her a letter of dismissal; at least that’s what Virginia called it. The letter spoke of honor and how deserving she was of true love, love that James felt he could never give her. And why not?
James’ answers had been vague at best and otherwise nonexistent. His heart and interests lay elsewhere, he had penned. What malarkey! In order to save face, Virginia had little choice but to announce to the world that
she
had broken the engagement. She was heralded as the young woman who sacrificed her own happiness to care for her grief-stricken mother. Unfortunately, that attention was short-lived, and now no one even bothered to call upon her and see how she was faring. And it was all because James Baldwin had deserted her. Oh, but how she longed to smear his name and reputation with the blackness that enshrouded her heart. But of course that was impossible without impugning her own reputation as well.
Still, James’ betrayal was nothing compared to her own family’s. The attention she had hoped to receive for her “sacrifice” was swallowed up in Penny’s needs and their mother’s wavering sanity. And to make matters worse, York had taken Carolina to Washington City for a party at the White House, and no one had even bothered to ask her if she’d like to go. Joseph had explained that the invitation was a personal one, not merely inviting any family member York might choose, but that the President had specifically requested Carolina.
Glancing up, Virginia watched as her mother faithfully tucked the covers around Penny and felt her forehead. Penny, now weakened further by a chest cold that wouldn’t seem to pass, said nothing. Margaret, however, chattered on and on, mostly about nonsensical matters.
“When you are well we shall have to see to it that you practice the piano. No young woman should fall behind in her musical skills. I think, too, that Maryland, although she is quite young, should probably be encouraged to begin her piano studies as well.”
Virginia frowned. It was difficult to speak with her mother on anything of real substance. She had so few moments of clarity, and when her mind did allow her to think sanely, Margaret Adams was deeply depressed and grief stricken over the death of her precious four-year-old.
“Mother?” Virginia called out.
Margaret turned and raised a brow. “You mustn’t raise your voice, Virginia. You’ll wake Mary.”
Virginia grimaced and threw down her handwork. “Mother, we have to talk. There are matters going on of which I feel you should be aware.”
“What things are you talking about?” Margaret came to the end of Penny’s bed and gave Virginia her attention.
For once, Virginia felt that perhaps her mother’s senses had returned. Her dark brown eyes seemed alert and clear, and her face was no longer pinched in worry but seemed openly curious.
“Carolina is courting Hampton Cabot. I fear they are quite serious and, well, that will lead to them wanting to marry.” Virginia tried not to sound as indignant as she felt. It was bad enough that Carolina’s incessant nagging had caused James to renew his interest in the railroad, but now she was actually closing in on a husband— the one thing that seemed to elude Virginia Adams.
“Marriage is a biblical institution,” Margaret said rather piously.
“Yes, but, Mother, you have always insisted on the family tradition of the eldest daughter marrying first. I have not yet married, and therefore we cannot allow Carolina to marry. We should probably even put an end to the serious nature of her courtship with Mr. Cabot.”
Margaret seemed to consider this for a moment. “I don’t suppose Mr. Cabot understands much about the fever.”
“What?” Virginia was thoroughly confused.
“The fever. Yellow-jack,” her mother said thoughtfully. “Mr. Cabot might well be bringing the fever into this house, and I simply cannot have it. Mary is too young and Penny too fragile. We must speak with Mr. Adams about this and see to it that Mr. Cabot is not allowed to bring any animals onto the premises.”
“Animals? Mother, whatever are you talking about? Mr. Cabot doesn’t have the fever, not that it would matter.”
“How dare you talk back to me?” Margaret’s eyes widened in anger. “You are being disrespectful, and I insist that you go to your father at once and confess your sins.” She pointed Virginia in the way of the door, and seeing there was nothing to be gained in continuing the conversation, Virginia left the room.
All she could think about was a drink. A nice glass of sherry would do wonders to soothe her shattered nerves. At one time, her mother had been a great source of help, but now Virginia knew she was on her own. There were very few people in the household, even among the slaves, whom she could call friend or confidant.
Entering the main drawing room, Virginia quickly went to the liquor cabinet and poured herself a generous portion of sherry. She gulped it down, fearful that someone might catch her, and had just replaced the glass and bottle when her father came unannounced into the room.
“Virginia, I didn’t expect to find you here.”
“Yes, well, Mother dismissed me. She thought I was being sassy and told me to confess my sins to you.”
Joseph smiled sympathetically and came to embrace his daughter. Virginia allowed the hug but didn’t encourage it to last lest her father detect the alcohol lingering on her breath. Instead, finding her father tenderhearted toward her pain, Virginia feigned tears and took a seat on the sofa.
“I’m so distraught,” she said, hiding her face behind the dainty lace edges of her handkerchief. “Mother is so difficult to talk to, and I fear that should Penny pass on, she will lose her mind completely.”
“I know, Virginia.” Joseph sat down beside her and tried to offer comfort. “Your mother’s one fault might be that she loved her children more than anything else in the world. More so even than her own sanity. I’ve tried to help her, but my prayers seem the only hope for her recovery. The doctor suggests a half-dozen remedies and, of course, bed rest, but Margaret will have no part of it. She desires only to stay beside her children, and because of this, her mind and body have been greatly weakened.”
Virginia said nothing but held the handkerchief to her lips so her father wouldn’t smell the liquor on her breath. She wondered silently if there might be a way to manipulate him to do her will.
“I’m glad York took Carolina to Washington,” Joseph finally said, sounding completely spent by the conversation regarding his wife’s mental health.
“Yes, perhaps that was good for Carolina, but what of Mother?”
“Your mother scarcely remembers that any of us are here, outside of Penny and”—he paused as his face contorted with the painful memory—“Mary. Poor woman cannot imagine that her baby is truly gone.”
“Mother was asking for Carolina just this morning,” Virginia lied. “I think she knows very well that Carolina is gone.”
Joseph shrugged. “It’s of little matter. She’ll return after Christmas and then perhaps—”
“What do you mean, after Christmas?” Virginia interrupted. “Isn’t Carolina coming home today?”
“No, a messenger arrived just an hour ago. York sent word that Carolina has been invited to be the guest of Congressman Alexander and his daughter, Lucille. It seems Lucille has captured the heart of your big brother. But that aside, she and Carolina have struck up a friendship, and she has requested that Carolina spend the holidays with them in Washington.”
“But that will never do!” Virginia exclaimed, jumping to her feet. The sherry made her head swim momentarily, but she quickly recovered and continued with indignation. “Have you no consideration for Mother? Christmas with her family is exactly what she needs to help mend her mind. I had great plans for surprising you with a perfect Christmas dinner.” Again she lied, and this time desperation was in her voice. “I’ve already laid plans for two corn-fattened geese to be prepared for our dinner. Why, Naomi is already cooking up a variety of side dishes and desserts. You can’t let Carolina’s selfishness ruin my surprise for Mother.”
Joseph looked at Virginia in complete amazement. “I had no idea. With the sorrow and mourning this house has been given over to, I presumed the holiday would pass without much to bid it welcome.”
“But don’t you see, Father,” Virginia said, this time lowering her voice to a more childlike timbre, “Mother needs us to rally around her. Otherwise, there will be no Christmas joy for her. With Mary dead and Penny so very ill, to allow Carolina and York to spend the holidays away from home would be unduly cruel.”
“I honestly hadn’t considered it as such, but I see where you may well be right,” Joseph replied thoughtfully.
“I feel confident that I am.” An angelic smile was plastered to Virginia’s lips. “I prayed about it, Papa.”
Joseph smiled and got to his feet. “I suppose, then, I should get a post off to York and Carolina. I’ll have someone take it out in the morning. We shall bid your brother and sister return home for the holidays, and together we shall join forces to rally your mother’s spirits.”
Virginia watched him go and felt as though a single thread of victory had been woven into the otherwise blackened tapestry of her life. Another sherry to celebrate seemed in order, and going to the cabinet, she smiled. Then lifting her drink to the air she proposed her own toast.
“To breaking hearts everywhere. May Carolina’s soon join the numbers.”
Carolina found herself excited at the prospect of attending a play with York and Lucy. They were to see James Hackett perform
Rip
Van Winkle
, and on this, her second night in Washington, Carolina had already caught a fever of excitement in city life. But as she put the finishing touches on her hair, Carolina couldn’t keep from wondering what was happening at home.
Oakbridge was such an important part of her, and yet Carolina knew she would gladly leave home to tramp around the world should the opportunity ever offer itself to her. She was connected to Oakbridge, the land and her family, but she also knew her father’s wanderlust. A wanderlust that had caused him grief and sorrow because he’d never seen it fulfilled.
Carolina caught her reflection in the dresser mirror and was startled for a moment by her expression. Her brows were knitted together, her forehead furrowed in worry, and her brown eyes seemed to search out images that did not exist.
She thought of her mother, a woman of stern but loving nature. Carolina longed for her mother’s grief to pass and for things to slip back to their old ways. She thought, too, of her father’s suffering.