Tender Betrayal

by Rosanne Bittner

  A maid brought in a silver tray with a pot of tea and cups, as well as a small bottle of brandy and a shot glass. Edmund dismissed her as Lee leaned forward to pour himself a brandy. He gulped it down, then poured another. “It isn’t that I didn’t appreciate any of it, Dad. I’m just not cut out for that life. Carl and David are, and that’s fine; but I wanted something of my own, and I’m damn good at what I do.”

  The man smiled knowingly. “Oh, I’m well aware of that. You think I tried to stop you, don’t you? You think I deliberately tried to destroy you.”

  Lee frowned, amazed the man would admit such a thing. He had no idea how to react. He swallowed the second shot of whiskey, then set the glass down. “What else could I think when you didn’t ask me to represent the family businesses, and when none of your close associates would deal with me? Why did you do it?”

  Edmund leaned back, adjusting the blanket on his lap. “Someday, when you have sons of your own, you’ll understand that fathers love their children so much that they will even risk losing their affection to do what they know is best for them. Pour me some of that tea, will you?”

  Lee obliged. “Trying to hurt my business was best for me? I don’t call that love.”

  “Well, son, let me put it this way. When a Jeffreys man sets out to do something, he gives it all he’s got. Nothing halfway. I decided that if what you wanted was to be a lawyer and make your own name and fortune without my help, then, by God, you’d earn it. I wasn’t going to have people saying that my son got where he is because his father handed him his clients. I figured I’d test you, see just how damn bad you really wanted your own practice. You would either be a great success or fold and come crawling to me and ask to be brought into Jeffreys Enterprises. All this time you probably thought I wanted you to fold and come crawling; but what I wanted was to see you succeed in spite of anything I did to try to stop you; and you did. I’m proud of you, son. I celebrated inwardly when you stole that railroad deal right out from under Cy Jordan’s nose. That was brilliant!”

  Lee set the pot down on the tray. Was there something wrong with his hearing? He rose and walked to the fireplace. “Why in God’s name have you waited until now to tell me all of this?”

  “Because it took a long time for you to get where you are. Now I can honestly say my son is a successful attorney, and he did it all on his own. Why do you think I never asked you to represent Jeffreys Enterprises so I could get rid of that bastard Cy Jordan? You’re ten times smarter than that man.” Edmund chuckled. “Jordan fumed about that railroad thing for a long time.” He breathed a sigh of satisfaction. “Lee, no father wants his son to suffer or not to succeed. You’ve done it right, and in grand style!”

  Lee watched the flames, overcome with emotion, amazed at this revelation. He remembered Bennett James once saying that fathers often risked alienating their sons by choosing what they think is best for them over what everyone else expects them to do. “My God, Dad, I wish you would have told me all this sooner. You’ve had me practically hating you all these years.” He ran a hand through his hair and turned to face the man. “I purposely made it a point not to be at Maple Shadows when you and Carl and David were because I didn’t want any arguments in front of Mother, and because I could hardly stand being around you when I knew you had tried to practically ruin me before I even got off the ground.”

  “Your mother understood more than you think she did, Lee. She didn’t always fully agree with what I was doing, but she went along with it because she trusted that a father knows best when it comes to his sons. Fact is, I meant to have a talk with you about it that summer, but then you went to Maple Shadows sooner than I could, and by the time I got there, you were gone, and your mother…” Edmund’s voice choked up. “At any rate, grief kept me from talking about much of anything for a while, and then I got wrapped up in the senatorial race, and I heard you’d gone to Louisiana. One thing led to another, and we never got the chance to talk. I was thrilled when I got the telegram that said you were coming to see me, and I decided that if you were planning to march off to war, I’d better get some things said that needed saying.” The man frowned and looked up at his son. “Why the trip to Louisiana, Lee? Did you go to see that Brennan girl?”

  Lee returned to his chair and leaned forward to take one of his father’s cigars from the table between them. “Yes.”

  Edmund watched him carefully. His son’s eyes said more than they wished to, just as Anna’s used to do. Lee was capable of loving deeply, like his mother. “Did you love her?”

  Lee rolled the cigar in his fingers for a moment. He couldn’t ever remember having such an intimate conversation with his father. “I fell in love with her that summer she was at Maple Shadows. For obvious reasons it never could have worked, but I couldn’t resist going down there for one more try. She was already married to someone else.”

  “I’m sorry, Lee. She was a beautiful girl, but southern born and bred. I’m sure you were right that it would never have worked. With the North and South practically at war…I don’t think this is going to be anything of short duration. I think it’s going to be a bloodbath.”

  Lee lit the cigar and drew on it before meeting his father’s eyes. “Bennett James said the same thing.”

  Edmund kept his gaze fixed on his son’s face. “Those southerners are a stubborn lot, Lee. You must know that. Seceding from the Union takes guts and resolve. We shouldn’t take it lightly. Those rebels are in this for the long haul, count on it. If I were younger, I’d volunteer myself. I’ve lost the Senate race, son, but there is plenty left I can do with my money and power to help the cause.” He paused. “I’m proud of you for volunteering. God knows the rotten excuse of an army we have right now can use a man like you. The minute Lincoln called for volunteers, I knew you’d decide to go. Maybe it will be good for you, a way to keep you completely occupied and keep your mind off losing that girl.” He sipped his tea and watched his son for a moment. “What about the law firm? You could be gone for a year or two, Lee.”

  “James and Stillwell can keep things going. If I’m gone too long, I’ve told them they can take over completely. I’ll just have to start all over again when I’m back. I can do it.”

  “I’m sure you can. I just pray you’ll make it out of this alive and come home in one piece.”

  Lee frowned. “You really think it will be that bad?”

  “There’s nothing uglier than a civil war, son. Nothing. As an officer who will have to make decisions, you remember one thing. For the most part you’ll be going into rebel territory to do the fighting. You’ll be on their home ground, unfamiliar territory to you, but they’ll know it like the backs of their hands. On top of that, they’re used to the climate. The government may think this is going to be an easy victory, but we’ve already had our first defeat. I don’t think folks in the North are taking this as seriously as the South, but they’ll wake up soon enough.”

  “A blockade on the ocean side and along the Mississippi should shut them down quick enough. When they can’t ship out their damned cotton and sugar cane, they’ll be begging to get back into the Union.”

  Edmund leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “It’s like I said, Lee. These rebels are damned stubborn and resilient. We need to show our power, totally discourage them as fast as possible. This Confederate victory at Fort Sumter has only made them more confident and determined. Don’t fool yourself into thinking it will end quickly.”

  The man leaned even closer, and Lee thought he detected tears in his father’s eyes. “You understand something, Lee. If you join up, you’re going to see fighting. You’re going to kill men, and they’ll be trying to kill you. Don’t make the mistake of thinking this won’t get nasty. I won’t rest easy until both you and David are back home safe and sound.”

  “David? He’s joining, too?”

  “Yes. Carl would like to, but he’s got his children to think about, and I need at least one of my sons to stay here and help me, espec
ially with the way I’ve been feeling lately. I don’t have the old energy anymore. Ever since your mother died…I don’t know.” He gazed around the high-ceilinged room. “I’m left with this big, useless house. I’m thinking of selling it. If I can unload it, I’ll donate the money to the Union cause. I’ll do everything I can on this end.

  “We should have more business than ever,” he went on. “Carl is working on a deal with the government to make army tents using our canvas factory, and we ought to be able to get a contract to make boots for the soldiers. God knows there will also be more of a demand for iron. Railroads, iron ships, weapons to be made. At the same time, I’m losing employees. We’ve practically had to shut down temporarily because so many men quit to join up. They are flooding away from the factories by the thousands all over the North. President Lincoln has had no trouble getting volunteers. I hear Washington is swarming with regiments from every northern state. The newspapers say the capital is one huge military camp. Troops are stuffed into government buildings, warehouses, stables; tents cover every open piece of land. It must be quite a sight.”

  He looked resigned. “This raising of an army leaves me in a bind. I’ll have to hire more women and children, more immigrants. It’s one big mess, and I’m afraid poor Carl will be left to handle it all if I don’t start feeling better, which means he’ll end up just like me—spending all his hours on the job and neglecting his family when his boys are small and need him most.”

  Lee felt deep remorse at having misjudged his father all these years. “How sick are you, Dad? Carter said you’d been feeling a little better the last couple of days.”

  “Oh, it comes and goes. I get pains in my right side that won’t let up, then get sick to my stomach, then they’re gone again. I expect it’s just something I picked up in the city. I’m just glad you decided to come and see me before you go off to Washington. Will you be staying the night?”

  Lee saw a plea in his father’s eyes he had never seen before. It reminded him of the way his mother had looked at him that summer before he left Maple Shadows, but he hoped it couldn’t be for the same reason. Edmund Jeffreys had always seemed so invincible. “I had already planned on staying over. I’m too damn cold to even think about going back out there. Besides, I don’t think there’s another ferry leaving until close to noon tomorrow.”

  “Is everything in order? Do you need me to do anything for you after you’re gone?”

  “No. I’ve rented out my town house, and James and Stillwell will handle office matters.” Lee felt a dull ache in his chest, suddenly realizing that he had let pride and his temper cloud his image of his father. Finally he felt he could really talk to the man, and all he had was one night. It didn’t seem right marching off to join the army now when his father was so changed. “Dad, I—”

  “President Lincoln needs men like you, Lee. The Union needs you. These are dire times, and I’m just glad your mother didn’t live to see what’s happening.” The man reached across and took Lee’s hand. “You do the Jeffreys name proud, Lee. I wouldn’t be surprised to see you come home a general, your chest covered with medals.”

  Lee smiled, feeling a little embarrassed at the words. “I’ll do my best.”

  “You always have, Lee. I’m sorry for the misunderstandings over the years, son. I’m perfectly aware that I can be somewhat of a bastard at times. My own father was hard-nosed and demanding, and I guess I’m a lot like him; but I’ve let work rob me of a lot of good years when I could have been enjoying my family. I have a feeling that when the day comes you marry and settle, you won’t be that way.”

  Audra. How was he ever going to find anyone to equal her? “I don’t think that day is coming any too soon, Dad.”

  “Excuse me, sir,” came Carter’s voice at the door to the parlor. The man stood there holding a newspaper. “I have today’s paper, sir, and I thought perhaps you would want to see it right away.”

  Edmund released Lee’s hand. “What’s so important, Carter?”

  The man came inside the room, looking embarrassed at having to interrupt what looked like an intimate conversation between father and son. “Alarming headlines, sir.” The man handed the newspaper to Edmund, and he opened it to scan it a moment.

  “Damn,” the man muttered. “More bloodshed already. It says here that a mob of secessionists stoned Union troops in Baltimore. Four of the men were killed.” He sighed deeply. “Maryland has remained loyal to the Union, yet Union troops there get stoned to death!” He looked over at Lee. “It’s getting ugly, son, just as I said it would.”

  “Excuse me, sir, but another article says that Mr. Robert E. Lee has resigned his army commission and has joined the Confederacy,” Carter added.

  Edmund sighed. “Which means the South is definitely building its army.” He handed the paper to Lee. “I wish we had more time, Lee, but apparently you can’t get to Washington any too soon. I’ll wire Governor Morgan and have him contact the President himself to see that you get a decent commission.”

  Lee took the newspaper and scanned the articles. Audra, Joey and Brennan Manor seemed so far away. Surely, if this came to all-out war, it would be a long time before the fighting reached that far south. Maybe it never would. Northern Virginia was the battleground for now. Confederate troops were already positioned only two miles from Washington, with even stronger forces backing them at a place called Manassas Junction near a stream called Bull Run.

  His father was right. He couldn’t get to Washington any too soon. He was just glad he’d come home first. This time Bennett’s advice had been right on target. Feeling closer to his father had removed a great weight from his shoulders, but he still had nightmares about Audra lying in Richard Potter’s bed. That was a burden he would carry for the rest of his life.

  18

  Lieutenant Colonel Lee Jeffreys could see already that this war was going to last longer and be bloodier than even his father and Bennett James had predicted. The July heat was miserable, as were the thickly wooded hills of northern Virginia. It had been impossible to take troops and cannon through the thick undergrowth and dense forests, let alone over creeks with soft bottoms that bogged down heavy supply wagons. They had been forced to stick to regular roadways on their march to capture the Confederate stronghold at Bull Run, and most of those roads were nothing more than dirt tracks that allowed only one or two men to move through at a time. With several regiments totaling upwards of thirty-five thousand men headed for the area, the rough terrain and small footpaths made the going maddeningly slow, so slow that counting on an element of surprise to their attack was out of the question. That had become obvious when their first attack on Bull Run at Blackburn’s Ford had brought humiliating defeat.

  All troops were camped at Centreville, the little village where they had first gathered and to which they had been forced to retreat. Lee’s Twelfth New York Regiment and the thousands of other men there were waiting for further orders from General Irvin McDowell, who Lee felt was totally inept and whom few of the men even liked. Lee nursed his own burned hands, full of anger as he recalled all that had happened. Too many of the troops were still too green and had been too confident. They had taken their sweet time strolling toward their battleground, choking on dust and groaning about the heat and humidity, which was almost unbearable. It had been difficult keeping the enlisted men in order, as many would break rank to stop for a drink of water or to chase some farmer’s chickens. He’d even heard that a regiment under Brigadier General Samuel Heintzelman, which had marched in from another direction, had taken hours to file one at a time across a narrow bridge over a creek that was only knee-deep! Heintzelman was an honored veteran of the Mexican War and had fought in Indian campaigns, yet even he seemed to be unconcerned about the impending battle and how important it might be to strike quickly.

  This was no organized army. As hard as he and other West Pointers had worked to train the troops, most of these men had not been taking the war seriously. That first day they headed into
northern Virginia they had marched only six miles. The Confederates had had plenty of time to become aware of their approach, and when they reached Fairfax Courthouse on July 17, the rebels had already vacated the premises, so hastily that they had left behind camp fires, some with food still cooking. It was reported that Confederates had also had time to flee Heintzelman’s column to the south, and that the rebels had burned the Orange and Alexandria Railroad bridge. If Heintzelman had not gotten lost in the jumbled terrain, he might have come upon the rebels before they had a chance to escape. For a while General McDowell was not even sure where Heintzelman’s troops were located.

  The Federals would try again, probably tomorrow, but Lee was convinced that if the battle was lost, it would be due to poor planning and misjudgment in the highest ranks.

  McDowell had finally found Heintzelman that first day, but the maze of wooded hills and confusing footpaths had forced the general to rethink his strategy and move into Centreville, rather than take Sudley Springs first. Not long after that the real fighting had begun, when Lee was called in to back up Brigadier General Daniel Tyler, who had decided to charge across Bull Run at a crossing called Blackburn’s Ford. Without McDowell’s permission, Tyler had opened fire on the confederates with two twenty-pounders, and the Confederates were backing away. At first it appeared that that first skirmish would bring victory to the Federals, but hundreds of Confederates had taken cover along the tree-lined south bank of Bull Run. When the Federals came into the open past the stream, Confederates opened fire in a barrage of bullets that screamed and whistled and buzzed in every direction. Federal cannon exploded, rebels were yelling, and Federals were screaming their own war cries in return. Lee had never heard so much noise in his life. He had shot at several rebels, hitting many, never knew which were just wounded and which he had killed. It was a strange and terrible feeling to kill men, and he knew now that it was something he would have to get used to.