Words Heard in Silence (87 page)

"You know, Rebecca, now that we have the guest population under control, do you think we could find a room here in the house for Richard?"

The blonde grinned. "Oh, I do not know, Charlie. Do you think it would be safe to let them be under the same roof? I am not sure we can chaperone them all the time."

Charlie grinned back. "Well, perhaps they would like as much chaperonage as you and I had."

"Hmm. This is true." She turned green eyes on Elizabeth. "What do you think? Can we trust you and Richard not to corrupt the moral fiber of Culpeper if we let him stay in the house?"

Elizabeth raised her eyebrow. "Considering what you two have done to the normal standards of propriety, I have no doubt that we will be able to conduct ourselves appropriately."

"Well, make sure that you at least live up to our standard," she teased, then rang the bell for Reg.

When the butler appeared, she gave him the instructions that a room should be prepared for Colonel Polk.

"So, do we need to organize a team to transport himself up to the house?"

"I think he could use a hand or two. Perhaps Jocko and Duncan could help him."

Charlie caught Reg in the hall, and instructed that Jocko, who was just finishing with unloading the wagon, be asked to step in for a moment.

After a few minutes, Jocko came into the room and bowed very deeply at the waist. "Oh yes, Your Majesty, what can your lowly serf be doing for ya now."

"Thank you, Sergeant Jackson. Your impression of a Russian is outstanding. How is Mrs. White? And so you know, I invited you in to help us congratulate Doctor Walker and to ask if you will perform a mission of mercy."

"Mrs. White is fine." He turned to Elizabeth. "I am not sure what I am congratulating you for, but well done, whatever is it. And who needs rescuing now?"

Charlie broke out in gales of laughter. "I am glad, and look forward to seeing her. Do you think she would join us for dinner? Doctor Walker is engaged to Colonel Polk. And Colonel Polk, with his twisted ankle, needs a hand in moving over to his new room here in the main house. Oh, and Jocko, will you join us for dinner as well?"

Jocko smiled when he realized he was being a complete ass. "Yes, sir, thank you, sir." He nodded to Rebecca. "Thank you, ma'am. I will take care of everything, General."

Charlie and Rebecca, carrying Em with them, excused themselves to go upstairs and freshen up. Jocko and Elizabeth set off to collect Richard and get him settled in the house. The evening promised to be amusing.

C
harlie carried Em upstairs and handed her over to Tess. He had a very tired, much happier little one in his arms than the household had evidently seen for the past week. As he emerged back into the hall, he took a deep breath, preparing himself for what he feared would be at best a bittersweet meeting. He patted his coat pocket to make sure that the papers were all there and knocked lightly on Constance’s door.

As he stepped into the room, he had to tightly discipline himself. In the week they had been gone, it was obvious that Constance’s condition had worsened. She was pale and languid; only her eyes remained truly vital. Her Bible was open at her side and the room was decidedly warm from the carefully tended fire in the hearth.

"Good afternoon, Miss Constance. I hope I am not disturbing you."

"Not at all General, please come in."

Charlie entered and walked to stand beside the window. It was cooler there. "So how have you been doing while we were gone? I hope that things have not been to great a strain on you, ma’am."

"I have been as can be expected, sir. Not much use to anyone except my little one here." She slowly rubbed her belly.

"You are doing the most miraculous thing that any human can do, ma’am. You are creating a new life. I believe that is of use to the whole world. And to bring new life into the world as it is now –– well, to me, that is an act of incredible courage." Charlie smiled at her, a tender smile. This woman was as valiant as any man in Charlie’s regiment. But trying to tell her that was useless. She was bringing a life into the world, something Charlie would never be able to do. Charlie was perfectly well aware of the price that Constance was willing to pay.

"Come here, General." She gave the edge of the bed a gentle pat.

Charlie sat rather gingerly on the very edge of Constance’s bed. For a moment, he fidgeted with his hands, not quite sure where to put them, then settled on folding them on one knee, using them to brace himself in a rather uncomfortable position.

Without a word said between them, but looking him directly in the eyes, Constance took Charlie's hand and placed it on her stomach. "Do you feel that?"

Charlie’s eyes widened, first from the mere fact of the touch, which was unheard of in his world. Women in the advanced stages of pregnancy were not even seen socially, let alone touched so intimately by a man other than her husband or physician. But then he felt what she meant him to, the movements of what felt like a very robust child, battering at his or her mother, eager to be out in the world. A look of pure wonder filled Charlie’s face. "Is that……?"

"That is life, General. The life of your son or daughter."

Tears filled Charlie’s eyes. He took Constance’s hand in his own and raised it reverently to his lips. "You give me a gift for which I can never even begin to express my gratitude. I pray daily for your survival, dear lady. Please know that should you survive this birth, you have a home and my protection for the rest of my life."

"That is a very kind offer, but all I ask is that my children have a home and a family to love and care for them."

Charlie laid his right hand on the Bible that was still lying on the covers beside Constance. "Ma’am, I swear on all that I hold holy and sacred, I will love them, care for them and raise them as I would children of my body. Em is already the daughter of my heart; this child," he reverently placed his hand on her belly, "I think, will be my firstborn son."

Constance could not help but smile. "Then I hope for you, it is a boy. A fine son and heir for you and Rebecca."

Charlie looked very serious. "And if it is a girl, can we name her Constance? For you must know, whether it is a boy or a girl, this child will be greatly loved."

"I would be honored, and yes I do know that. But tell me, General, if it is a boy, what will you name him?"

Charlie could see in her eyes she was teasing him. "I have always thought Charles to be a fine name. However, I suspect that Rebecca may have some thoughts on the subject."

"So it is. Tell me, General, what has brought you to my side?"

"You asked me to handle all of the appropriate legal issues so that adoption of these children would be very clear. I have done so. For Emily, all we need do is fill in her date and county of birth, have you sign it, and have it witnessed. For this little one," he gestured at her distended belly, "we will have to fill in the name, date of birth and county when the time comes."

Charlie laid the two documents at her side, then rose and retreated to the window. Looking out, he continued in a quiet, determined voice. "I want you to look over the papers before you sign them. There is a third document I want you to examine as well." He pulled the papers from his pocket. He had set up a trust fund in Constance’s name, which would automatically be split between the two children in the event of her death. "I wanted you to know that you, and they, would be taken care of financially, regardless of what may happen to me in the upcoming campaign."

"General, that really is too much. I am sure you will be fine. However, if something were to come to pass, I am certain Rebecca would still stand with the children."

"I know she would. But if you survive, you will not be dependent on her or anyone. And if you do not, you can rest assured that they have their own means, regardless of what may happened here. I just wanted to be –– complete and let you know how serious my commitment to them is."

"You are indeed a kind man. Thank you for your generosity."

Constance looked at the papers beside her and then at the fidgeting man at the window. "General, I have faith in your honor and the completeness of these documents. Will you go and find witnesses so that we can finish this now?"

Charlie nodded and stepped to the bell pull, summoning Tess. He asked her to fetch Dr. Walker and Sergeant Jackson. As they waited for those two old and trusted friends to join them, they sat together in silent companionship, all that needed to be said, had been. When Elizabeth and Jocko entered the room, Charlie quietly explained what he needed from them.

"We will be glad to help you, Charlie." Elizabeth sat on the bed and took Constance’s hand. "And you are sure? You trust Charlie and Rebecca to raise these children?"

Constance smiled, her face lighting so that for a moment, she looked almost healthy. "I cannot think of two people who deserve children more than the General and Rebecca. And besides, we could not pry Em away from the General if we had to. Now, let us get the legalities out of the way."

Charlie laid the papers out while Elizabeth helped Constance sit up in her bed and positioned a lapboard across her knees. The signing of the adoption papers went quickly. The final document, the trust fund, brought raised eyebrows from both Elizabeth and Jocko.

"Hmmm, Gen’l C. You are bound and determined to cover all bases. Would you consider adopting me?"

D
inner had been comfortable but slightly subdued after the signing of the adoption papers. Constance’s confinement and probable death hung like a cloud over what was otherwise a festive occasion. As the meal finished, Jocko and Mrs. White excused themselves. With a bit of teasing and smirking on the part of the other folks at the table, they made a laughing exit from the dining room. Courting couples were always fair game for teasing.

Charlie assisted Richard from the table and, limping heavily, into the back parlor. A small game table was set before the fireplace and the four of them sat down for an evening of cards and gossip. As Charlie shuffled, Elizabeth started quizzing Rebecca on what they had done and whom they had seen in Washington.

"Well, my friend, I do not think there was a fashionable home in Washington we did not call on. I even had the good fortune to take tea with Mrs. Lincoln."

"Tea with Mrs. Lincoln. I have heard many things of her. So tell me, what is she really like?"

"Oh, she was absolutely charming. I think, perhaps, she is very lonely. There is so much animosity toward Southerners in Washington nowadays, and she is still obviously one. I hear tell that many people do not understand how important it is to maintain appearances at the White House, as well, and do not appreciate what she has done to refurbish the place."

Charlie and Richard sat quietly, neatly arranging their cards and pretending to be part of the furniture.

"I have heard that she has mediums in and out of the White House regularly to try and contact her dead son. She seems to have a reputation as a rather strange bird."

"I think the loss of her son, coupled with all of the horror of this war, has left her with a great sadness and a longing for something she cannot articulate."

"Before I arrived here, I took dinner with a friend of mine who is an aide in the White House. He said there was rumor of a dream that President Lincoln has been having regularly for the last few months and it may also have something to do with her mood."

"Yes, she mentioned it and I think it weighs heavily on her heart. Mr. Lincoln does not expect to survive his tenure. I pray sincerely he does, for if he dies, the South haters will gain control and I fear the aftermath will be very hard."

Charlie and Richard continued their silence. Both were aware, far more so than Rebecca and Elizabeth, just how deeply the desire for revenge ran in some of the Northern politicians.

"I do believe," Rebecca patted Charlie's hand. "That my dear husband was a little stunned when we went shopping."

Charlie had the grace to hang his head a bit. "Well, uh, it was a bit, uh, extensive." He looked intently at his cards. "Will you open the bidding, dear?"

Rebecca sighed and for the first time looked at her cards. After a moment of arranging them she made her bid, then looked to Charlie. "Yes, dear."

For a few moments, the four of them concentrated on their cards. Charlie then commented, "You know, we did have dinner with Jay Cooke."

Richard’s eyes left Elizabeth for a moment. "The banker?"

"Yes. He and I discussed what the business world would be like down here after the war is over. I think Culpeper will be in need of a fair bit of support to recover, so we are beginning to explore the idea of opening a bank here when I get back."

Rebecca's eyes widened. "A bank? Charlie, you did not mention that. That is wonderful."

"Well, dear, we are still at the talking stage. Nothing specific has been set down yet and I did not want to get your hopes up."

"It certainly does not matter to me. We will be busy enough with the farm, but if the opportunity arises for you it would be tremendous."

"Oh, I do not think I will have the day to day running of it, if it comes about at all. I really do not have the skills for it. But several of our men were clerks and such before the war and perhaps one of them will be willing to move here and help us out."

Rebecca nodded and laid a card on the trick. She could tell Charlie was excited. "You would make a wonderful banker. Perhaps Elizabeth will come back and open a hospital. And Sergeant Jackson could come in and run the local tavern," she teased as she watched Richard try to decide which card to play.

Charlie and Richard both laughed. The idea of Jocko as a tavern keeper was most amusing. Richard, in particular, had a history of attempting to drink Jocko under the table –– and failing miserably. "My dear, if Jocko were the tavern keeper, he would likely drink all his profits and then some. I do believe that man has the original hollow leg." Richard thought for a moment. "On the other hand, if he ran out of rum, all he would need to do is tap into his own arm, for with all he has consumed over the years, I suspect he has it running in his veins instead of blood." Richard laid down his card and surrendered the trick to the ladies.