The Fragrance of Her Name (26 page)

“
Beyond finding your lost auntie…what do you plan to do? Will you seek higher education? Teaching perhaps? Become an actress? I mean…. it’s obvious you can dance well. I’ve seen you myself. That one in the cellar last night beat the one today, though.”

Lauryn sneered playfully at him. “I guess I don’t have any ambitions,” she answered.

“
None?” he asked.

“
Not unless you think…and most people don’t…that being a good wife and mother is considered ambition.”

“
I think that’s very ambitious. What harder job is there?” Lauryn wasn’t quite sure of his sincerity. Rather than continue the discussion about herself, she turned the tables.

“
And you?” she asked. “What grand ambitions lurk in your mind and heart, Brant Masterson?”

He smiled, not at all bested. He answered anyway. “I like growing apples. Cattle, too. Like my Dad. Only…not in Vermont. I want to be west. Before I left for the war, I purchased an apple orchard and farm in north New Mexico.”

“
You bought land in New Mexico? That’s forever away!” Lauryn was very disturbed. Vermont was far. But New Mexico! It seemed so much further. “It’s so…so west!”

Brant chuckled. “It’s marvelous out there. The way the land stretches out to the mountains. The mountains themselves are magnificent! At sunset they’re sort of….sort of watermelon colored and…and purple. You’ve never seen anything like it. And the sky…perfectly blue.”

“
So, you want to raise apples and grow cattle in New Mexico?” Lauryn asked.

Smiling, Brant corrected, “Raise cattle and grow apples, actually.”

Lauryn smiled, realizing her mistake. “It sounds so…so secluded,” she said.

Brant nodded. “Maybe. But it sounds fresh, challenging and different to me.”

“
An escape,” Lauryn muttered. He was looking for an escape. His life had been forever tremulous. Not sweet and happy like Lauryn’s had been. It was obvious that Brant wanted to find Laura and then leave it all behind him. She tried to understand it. She’d been happy at Connemara. She had always felt that nothing would be worth leaving it. Nothing except maybe….

“
Don’t you want it?” he asked. “You act so…so content to be here, lingering with ghosts. Don’t you want something completely different?” Lauryn shrugged as Brant finished his lemonade.

“
I…I’ve never really considered on it too much, I suppose.” Her answer, though she knew he might find it shallow, was honest. “To leave Connemara…my family. But…then again…I suppose people
do
do that. It seems to me it would take a great deal of bravery.”

“
Maybe,” he mused. “But it sounds great to me.” He paused for a moment lost in his own thoughts before he continued. “I almost had Dad sell the place for me…before I got home and they weren’t certain I’d see again. But…I’m glad I hung onto it.”

“
It’s good to hear that you have plans you’re lookin’ forward to…that make you happy, Brant.” Lauryn was beginning to feel somewhat depressed. Where was her ambition? Where were her dreams? She knew what and where they were…sitting across from her smiling handsomely as he thought on his own beautiful dreams of the west.

She’d always assumed she’d grow up, find her Mr. Perfectly Imperfect, all would go well and they’d fall in love, smooth as syrup, and live happily ever after. It had never once occurred to her that maybe Mr. Perfectly Imperfect wouldn’t be that easy to catch hold of after she found him. It had never occurred to her that maybe he wouldn’t find her to be his own Mrs. Perfect.

“
Lauryn! There you are!” Penny exclaimed fairly bursting through the kitchen door, causing both Lauryn and Brant to jump. She was followed closely by her older brother Jeffrey. “We saw your Mama down in town. She said she thought you two would be here.”

Lauryn was irritated that her time alone with Brant should be cut short by yet another set of intruders. But she smiled, for she did adore Penny.

“
Well, hello again Miss Penny,” Brant said standing and bowing slightly.

“
Oh, my stars! If you aren’t all the prettier now, Mr. Masterson!” Penny exclaimed.

“
And the angelic voice I heard so many weeks ago seems, indeed, to be owned by an angel.” Brant flattered her in return. Lauryn swallowed the hot taste of jealousy that burned in her mouth.

“
Hello,” Jeffrey greeted offering his hand to Brant. “I’m Jeffrey McGovern. Penny’s brother.”

Brant accepted Jeffrey’s hand, shaking it firmly. “Nice to meet you.”

“
Hey there, Lauryn,” Jeffrey greeted.

“
Hello, Jeffrey,” Lauryn answered, smiling. Lauryn had always liked Jeffrey. He’d been her first crush other than the Captain. But somehow, Jeffrey was never anything close to Mr. Perfectly Imperfect. She received her very first real kiss from him when she was thirteen. It had been quite disappointing. They each confessed to a feeling of having kissed a sibling or a cousin and enjoyed a friendly laugh. They remained friends and often attended the same social events. Jeffrey was very similar in feature to Penny, only a masculine version. He was a handsome man in his own right, with dark green eyes and blonde hair a shade or two darker than his sister’s.

“
We’ve come to invite you to our house for a party next Saturday! Won’t you stay over and attend, Mr. Masterson?” Penny begged. “I’ve invited your auntie and uncle. I met them in town just this mornin’ and they said they’d love to.”

“
A party at the McGovern house is worth comin’ all the way from Vermont just to attend, Brant. You won’t want to miss it.” Lauryn knew she was simply desperate to keep Brant in Franklin longer. Penny’s parties were no more special than others, but maybe it would entice him into staying at least nearly two weeks.

“
Well, if Aunt Felicity said we were going…I guess we are,” Brant said.

Penny squealed and clapped her hands. “Fabulous! Come on, Lauryn.” she ordered, taking Lauryn’s hand and leading her out of the kitchen. “I need to borrow your mama’s round, white linen tablecloths.” Looking back to Jeffrey and Brant she ordered, “You two gentlemen go on ahead and talk politics for a minute. All right?”

“
As if you’re givin’ us a choice, Bossy Betty,” Jeffrey scolded.

“
That sister of yours is quite the little bullet,” Brant noted as he offered Jeffrey a seat.

Jeffrey shook his head and chuckled. “Oh, yeah. And you get them two together and…”

“
It’s like two magpies on a fence?” Brant finished.

Jeffrey chuckled and nodded in agreement.

“
So, you’re related to the man who’s buried here at Connemara?”

“
Yeah,” Brant confirmed. “He was my Aunt Felicity’s brother. You met her today.”

“
I did.” Jeffrey studied Brant for a moment. Brant felt it was with disapproval. Unexpectedly, Jeffrey announced, “I was sweet on Lauryn for years and years and years.”

“
Really?” Brant stammered. He wondered if this southern gentleman’s next move would be to slap him across the face with a glove and challenge him to a duel.

“
Yep. She and I…well, I don’t think I ever quite measured up to her ideal,” Jeffrey admitted.

“
Yeah. I’ve heard about that.” Brant waited for Jeffrey’s response.

“
How about you?” he asked. “Do you think you might be him?”

Brant was only slightly stunned with the man’s forthrightness. He didn’t really think his own relationship with Lauryn, or lack thereof, was any of Jeffrey’s business. Still, he must be friendly. No matter what the family history was, he was just a guest at Connemara.

“
I’m pretty sure that I’m as far from being what that girl wants as any man,” he muttered.

“
Don’t misunderstand me, sir,” Jeffrey said. “I’m not jealous…not anymore. I just know…I just don’t want her to be…”

“
Hurt,” Brant finished.

“
Yeah. She’s been a good friend for a long time. Penny and I both love her like a sister.”

“
Don’t you worry. I’m not the heart breaking type,” Brant chuckled, feeling relieved that Jeffrey’s concern was purely fraternal.

“
So,” Jeffrey sighed, seeming satisfied that Brant wasn’t a malicious, lustful rounder. “Where did you fight in Europe?”



“
He is a walkin’ dream, Lauryn!” Penny exclaimed in a whisper once the two girls reached the linen closet. “How are you keepin’ your hands off him?”

“
Penny!” Lauryn scolded. “He’s here to help me find…”

“
So, what? That doesn’t mean you can’t have him after.”

Lauryn shook her head. “I can’t…I can’t even dream those things, Pen. I’ve told you that.”

“
But he came back! You didn’t think he would and he did. Darlin’ if you don’t want him…then for Pete’s sake, give him to me!”

Lauryn smiled. “I’m keepin’ my head clear. I’ll find Laura for him and he’ll go home and…and…”

“
I thought you were findin’ Laura for the Captain?”

Lauryn looked to Penny whose eyes twinkled with understanding. “I am. But for Brant, too. Now…which tablecloths did you say you wanted?”

After retrieving the tablecloths and placing them safely on the gazebo bench, Penny and Lauryn linked arms and began to stroll about the grounds of Connemara. Jeffrey and Brant were still talking in the kitchen. Although Lauryn was still a bit irritated that their time together had been interrupted, she was more than happy for some light conversation with Penny.

“
He
is Adonis! That’s all there is to it,” Penny sighed.

“
He is, isn’t he?” Lauryn giggled.

“
You’ve got to win him, Lauryn,” Penny demanded. “By whatever means possible. Seduce him at every turn!”

“
Penny McGovern! You’re shameless!” Lauryn scolded.

“
Of course! How else do you expect to get him? And he likes you, I can tell.”

“
He’s occupyin’ a great deal of my thinkin’, that’s for certain.” Lauryn sighed in frustration. If only she had Penny’s confidence where men were concerned.

“
Well, I’m hopin’ that all that time we spent learnin’ on Henry will finally pay off,” Penny confessed as they stopped directly in front of Henry, their special statue friend.

“
How many real men have you kissed since Henry?” Lauryn asked with a mischievous smile.

“
Not many,” Penny giggled. “I’m havin’ a hard time findin’ any man who can give ol’ Henry any competition.” The girls giggled, delighted with their memories of practicing their kissing skills with Henry.

It had worked out so well when they were girls. Henry was the perfect height for them both. His arms were positioned just right, enabling either girl to be held in his embrace if they squiggled into it just right.

Lauryn, delighted by the memory, squeezed her way into Henry’s granite embrace. Penny laughed and clapped her hands. “A few more curves to work around since you last kissed our Henry, is it Lauryn?”

Dramatically, Lauryn placed her hands on Henry’s shoulders and gazed up adoringly into his slate colored eyes.

“
Oh, Henry! The times we’ve shared,” she cooed. Slowly she let her hands travel the breadth of his shoulders locking her arms around his neck. “Kiss me you wicked, wicked man! It’s been far too long. Don’t you long for the petal softness of my lips?” Penny giggled as Lauryn continued. “What? You’ve missed me? I couldn’t have returned from New Orleans soon enough had it been the moment after I left? You fool! Kiss me! Kiss me!” Then, quite dramatically, Lauryn raised herself on tiptoe and kissed Henry lingeringly on the mouth—kissed him until Penny’s giggling ceased abruptly.

Turning to look at her friend, Lauryn tried to will herself to expire on the spot. Standing next to Penny, an amused expression on his face, strong arms folded across his chest, stood none other than the very man of her dreams.

Penny bit her lip trying to stifle her amusement. Lauryn, crimson with the hot blush of humiliation, slid from Henry’s embrace and smoothed her dress.

“
So,” Brant chuckled. “This is why Henry is so special to you.”

There was nothing to be said. Caught in the act of kissing a statue was not to be dealt with by any other manner than humiliated silence.

“
Thank you for the tablecloths, Lauryn. Um…Bye,” Penny mumbled, turning and almost running from the scene of the crime.

“
When we were girls we used to…” Lauryn stammered.

Brant, still smiling, walked forward, stopping directly in front of her. Dropping his voice and bending to her ear, he said, “When you think you’re ready for a real lover…you know where to find me, sugar.” Then, with a wink, he turned and walked away, leaving Lauryn’s mouth agape and her heart hammering.

Chapter Ten

Brant had gone with his aunt and uncle to the old confederate cemetery just outside of town. Lauryn found herself pacing her room, waiting for him to return.

“
You’ll wear a hole in the floor, girl,” the Captain chuckled.

Lauryn looked up to see him sitting on her bed, leaning back on one elbow and smiling at her in amusement.

“
We’re not gettin’ anywhere!” she exclaimed. “He’s been here a whole day and, so far, all we’ve discovered is that Laura and Nana used to play tea party in the old, smelly root cellar!”