Glimmers of Change (16 page)

Carrie held her breath as they turned onto her father’s street. She smiled when she saw the three-story brick home come into view. It held so many memories for her, but she didn’t miss living there. Though the plantation would always be what she considered home, she was thrilled for the chance to visit. She jumped out of the carriage before it had even come to a complete stop. “Father! Abby!” She raced for the porch and, laughing, fell into her father’s arms. “I’ve missed you so much!”

Thomas laughed and held her back. “I missed you too, daughter, but it’s only been six weeks since we left the plantation. You clearly are ready for some city excitement.”

Carrie grinned up at him and then spun away to pull Abby into a hug. “You have no idea,” she murmured, exchanging a glance with her stepmother. “I’m going to leave you to talk man stuff with Robert after he puts the carriage away. Abby and I have more important things to discuss.”

“Dances are more important than politics?” Thomas teased.

“In more ways than we could possibly go into right now,” Abby assured him as she led Carrie into the house.

Carrie did a twirl when she entered the foyer, enjoying the sparkles dancing on the floor from the chandelier crystals catching the sun.

“Getting some practice in, Miss Carrie?”

Carrie laughed as May poked her head out of the kitchen. “I feel like I haven’t danced in ages, May. I can hardly wait!” She ran forward to give her father’s housekeeper a warm hug. “It’s so good to see you again.” Suddenly she lifted her nose and sniffed. “Is that…?”

“You think I would let you come without fixing you some of my molasses cookies?” May asked, her face wreathed with a smile when she stepped back.

Carrie eyed the door to the kitchen, suddenly realizing how famished she was after the long ride. Right on the heels of realizing how hungry she was came the cold stiffness from hours in the wagon.

May waved her hand. “Go on in there, Miss Carrie. Just leave Robert some,” she scolded.

“Maybe one or two,” Carrie said merrily.

“Miles is taking you up a hot bath,” May informed her. “I thought you would be ready for it after that long, cold ride.”

“Bless you!” Carrie said fervently. Then she turned to Abby. “Were you…?”

“Able to get you a new dress?” Abby cocked her eyebrow. “Did you doubt me for even a minute?”

“No,” Carrie said quickly, “it’s just been so long since I had a new dress.” She shook her head. “It probably sounds silly.”

“Not at all,” Abby assured her. “You wouldn’t spend the money during the war, and then there was nothing to be had. You haven’t needed one on the plantation, but a dance is the perfect occasion for a new dress. Thalhimers had a new shipment come in last week.”

Carrie sighed. “Thank you for understanding,” she murmured. She looked around expectantly. “Do I get to see it?” she finally asked after a long silence.

“You want to
see
it?” Abby teased.

Just then Miles walked down the sweeping staircase that led to the next floor. “You got a hot bath all ready, Miss Carrie. I be doing Robert’s next.”

“Thank you, Miles,” Carrie exclaimed as she gave him a hug. “It’s good to see you.”

“You too, Miss Carrie,” he said quietly, only his dark eyes expressing his pleasure. He exchanged a look with Abby. “I put what you wanted me to on the hook on Miss Carrie’s door,” he added.

“My dress!” Carrie gasped, laughing as she ran up the stairs. “The next time you see me I will not be a rumpled, frozen piece of humanity.”

Carrie sighed with delight as she settled back into the deep clawfoot tub in her room. She closed her eyes and allowed the warm water to envelop her, enjoying the sound of the wind whistling through the magnolia tree stationed outside the window. Now that she was warm, she didn’t care how cold it was outside. It simply made her feel cozy and safe.

She allowed her thoughts to travel back to her and Robert’s conversation. How right he had been. Releasing the guilt had lifted such a heavy burden from her heart. In two months she would be a medical student, but she would
still
be the wife of the most wonderful man she knew. Happiness soared through her heart as she let the bath completely rejuvenate her. She smiled when she heard a groan come from the next room. “It feels wonderful, doesn’t it?” she called.

The next groan was louder. “The only thing that would make it more perfect would be for you to share it,” Robert called.

“As soon as you make us wealthy from the horses, we’ll buy a fabulously big tub,” Carrie replied, a broad smile on her face.

“You might make us wealthy first,” Robert reminded her, “
Doctor
Borden.”

Carrie laughed. “Not likely. Women doctors are considered an oddity, not a source of secure income.”

“You’re going to be famous one day,” Robert predicted. “Whether it’s because you’re rich or just odd, I really don’t care. It will be enough to tell everyone you’re my wife. And now, if you don’t mind, I need to close my eyes and thaw out my body.”

“My feelings exactly,” Carrie agreed, closing her eyes. They flew open suddenly. “There’s just one more thing, Mr. Borden.”

“Hmm…”

“I hope my father bought you a dashing suit for tonight, because you’re going to have a difficult time looking as good as I will.”

Carrie heard the smile in his voice when Robert responded. “You like the dress Abby picked out.”

“It’s splendid!” Carrie cried. “Now, quit talking. You have to be rested so you can keep up with me tonight,” she taunted. “You don’t want anyone to accuse you of being an old man at just twenty-six.”

“We’ll see who can keep up with whom, Mrs. Borden,” Robert replied smugly. “Now, just because you are far more childish than me does not give you justification to disturb my bath any longer.

Carrie laughed with delight, closed her eyes, and forgot everything else but the luxury of her bath.

Dressed warmly against the chill of the house, pervasive in spite of the fires roaring in every fireplace, Carrie followed her nose toward the kitchen. She could tell Annie had just brought out another tray of molasses cookies. She stopped short when she heard a familiar laugh, and then rushed forward. “Matthew! What are you doing here? I thought you weren’t arriving until tomorrow.”

Matthew smiled as he embraced her. “I was able to leave Washington, DC a day early,” he explained.

Carrie eyed him. “You were eager to leave?” Matthew just nodded, but there was more in his eyes. “Why?” she asked bluntly. “I’ve learned you don’t say most of what you know. I have no desire to be protected from the truth.” She thought about what he had told them on New Year’s Day. “Wasn’t there to be a vote this month on renewing the Freedmen’s Bureau bill?”

Matthew nodded and reached for a cookie.

Carrie stepped forward to block his hand. “Those are
my
cookies, Matthew Justin.”

Matthew looked to May for sympathy, but she merely chuckled and shrugged her shoulders. “So you’re holding them ransom?”

Carrie shrugged too. “A little information is not much to ask for in return for some of these cookies.” She picked one up and bit into it, closing her eyes with delight. She shot May a brilliant smile. “Wonderful!”

“Not fair,” Matthew whined.

Carrie reached for another cookie. “It’s also not fair to hide what is happening in our country,” she retorted. She waved a cookie under his nose. “It will take so little to get one,” she taunted.

Matthew eyed the cookie longingly, laughed, and then stepped back to sit down at the table. “I was going to wait until dinner tonight so I only have to tell it once.”

Carrie tilted her head. “Your choice. The cookies will still be wonderful after dinner.” She picked up the plate and winked at May. “I’ll keep these safe,” she promised.

Matthew shook his head. “You’re a hard woman, Carrie Borden.”

“Just one used to getting her way,” came another voice from the doorway. Robert stepped forward to clap Matthew on the shoulder. “I’m glad you got here in time for the dance, my friend.”

Thomas and Abby appeared in the door then, just returning from a trip into town. More greetings were exchanged. Abby finally looked at Carrie’s hand. “Are you taking those cookies somewhere?” she asked with amusement.

“That depends,” Carrie replied, merely smiling when Abby raised an eyebrow.

“She’s holding them hostage,” Matthew replied. “She won’t let anyone have one until I tell her the news from Washington.”

“Not true,” Carrie said demurely, holding the plate out to her father and Abby. “Everyone in the room is welcome to these delicious cookies — with the exception of you, of course.”

Abby laughed with delight. “Women do know how to get their way.” She reached forward and bit into a cookie. “You really should just talk, Matthew.”

Matthew chuckled and held up his hands in surrender. “I was going to. I’m glad everyone is here so that I don’t have to repeat myself at dinner tonight.”

Carrie, relieved to see some of the somberness leave Matthew’s face, smiled and handed him a cookie. She knew how heavy a burden he was carrying. If a silly game could reduce some of the stress, it was more than worth it. “There will be more as you reveal what happened,” she murmured, pleased when his eyes lit with genuine amusement.

Matthew sighed with contentment when he took his first bite, but when he opened his eyes the trouble was back. “The new Freedmen’s Bureau bill passed both the House and the Senate.”

“Isn’t that good news?” Carrie asked.

“It would be if President Johnson hadn’t vetoed it,” he replied heavily.

“On what basis?” Abby asked sharply. “I heard from friends that even the Republicans were assuming Johnson would sign the bill.”

“
Everyone
was,” Matthew agreed. “The veto came as a complete surprise. Seward, his own secretary of state, had written a conciliatory speech that criticized the bill’s particulars but acknowledged a federal responsibility for the freedmen. Seward hoped to take the edge off the veto.”

“He didn’t use the speech,” Robert guessed.

Matthew shook his head. “President Johnson’s message repudiated the Bureau entirely. He said it was unwarranted by the Constitution and unaffordable given the condition of our fiscal affairs.” His voice tightened. “He pointed out that Congress had never felt called upon to provide economic relief, establish schools, or purchase land for
our own people
, as he put it. He then went on to say that offering further aid to the freedmen would only injure their character and prospects by implying they didn’t have to work for a living.”