by Kitty Margo
Placing her hand in the bend of his elbow, he grinned that devilish grin. “We will join the others for the noon meal and then you and I have some catching up to do.” He laughed boisterously at her blazing face, once again correctly interpreting her thoughts. “I am pleased to note that our ruminations travel along the same path.”
She knew she should be embarrassed and rebuke him, but she was too happy to do so, and laughter bubbled forth as they joined the others, arm in arm.
The long tables set up under the shade of fragrant magnolia trees were filled with a veritable feast. But, as was usually the case, with Joshua near, Lynna’s appetite deserted her. After filling their plates, they took seats under the shade where they were soon joined by Judith, Patricia, and Malinda.
“Joshua Jordan, shame on you for attempting to keep Lynna all to yourself,” Malinda teased. “I have not had a chance to speak two words to her since she arrived.”
“Then you two go ahead and critique the costume of every other female in the county while I return to the tables for a second helping.”
“I will have you know I do not gossip!” Malinda insisted.
“Then please, excuse my grievous error in judgment.” Joshua laughed. “Could I get you anything else, Lynna?” he asked, before glancing to find her plate untouched and recalling their earlier conversation concerning her apparent lack of appetite when they were together. “Judith, does your niece always peck at her food like a sparrow?”
“Oh no, Lynna usually has a robust appetite,” she said, going along with his playful ribbing. “A blackberry cobbler does not stand a chance against her.”
Lynna’s blush was most becoming under his steady gaze. While he exchanged pleasantries with a group of men at a nearby table and she could no longer see him, she tore into her food with gusto, cleaning her plate in record time. After the meal, she chatted with the ladies while the men discussed their politics, plantations, and the foolhardy notion of freeing slaves in the South.
Lynna did not have a chance to talk to Joshua alone before she and the other young ladies were dispatched to their rooms to rest before the Ball. But she was not the least bit tired and much too excited to sleep, so she sat on the edge of the bed, twiddling her thumbs and wondering about Suzanne’s uncommon absence from the morning festivities. It was very unlike her to miss being the focus of a social function. When Lynna had questioned Mary earlier, she had been told Suzanne had a stomach malady and had decided to spend the day in bed, so as to be well rested for the Ball later that night.
Deciding she should try to rest, Lynna removed her shoes and was about to slip out of her dress when the door creaked open, admitting a young slave girl she had never seen. The girl hurriedly handed her a slip of paper and then left as quickly as she had come. The note read: Meet me out back as soon as the others are asleep. Her entire body turned to a mass of quivering flesh. She would never do that! It was most improper! What if they were caught? It would be scandalous! No, it was out of the question! Where were her shoes?
Thankfully, she had no trouble slipping unnoticed out of the house. She went through the backyard, but did not see him. Where could he be? Then, another thought struck her? Maybe the note had not been from Joshua after all. Could Malcolm be at the barbecue? She had been foolish to come out here alone. The note could have been from anybody, even the kidnappers!
“I knew you would come.” Joshua stepped out from behind the branches of a weeping willow, flashing a smile that left her greatly relieved, yet never failed to turn her knees to jelly.
“You knew no such thing,” she admonished with a grin.
Taking her hand, he led her through a path in the woods to a bubbling, moss-edged stream, where he stopped and turned her to face him. Drawing her into his arms, Lynna drank in the smell and sight of him as his lips lowered to hers. His kisses were so tender, so sweet, as he kissed her lower lip and eyelids before his mouth closed over hers. His breath was warm on her ear and smelled of tobacco as he whispered, “I have dreamed of this moment for so long, Lynna. I do not want us to ever be separated again. I have been bereft without you.” He held her face and looked with deep longing into her eyes. “Lynna, darling, will you —”
“There they are!” Bethany Breanne shrieked. “We found you.” A chorus of whoops arose from the group of children surrounding them with purple stained mouths.
“I see you have been sucking sugar tits,” Joshua said, reluctantly releasing Lynna. “Aw…sweet memories.”
“A sugar tit is a handful of blackberries bundled in small clean, white linen, sprinkled with sugar and tied at the end. You bite it and suck until all the juice has been either swallowed, or dribbled down onto your clothes, and nothing remains but a violet cloth filled with seeds,” a girl of about 10 volunteered, thinking the beautiful woman with the accent wasn’t from these parts.
“Do you want one? We found a patch of ripe blackberries this morning,” Bethany Breanne asked, furiously scratching her stomach.
“And briars,” one of the little boys grumbled, amid serious scratching of his groin.
A glance at the other children proved they were clawing at their skin as well.
“I fear you youngsters have a host of chiggers,” Joshua sympathized, remembering well the intense itching caused by the tiny redbugs. “We should get you all back to the house for hot baths. That will kill the larvae feeding on your tender flesh for now, but I fear you will be beset by a terrible itch for a few days.”
Joshua grinned at Lynna and asked, “Did you ever partake of the delectable sweetness to be found in a sugar tit?”
“Quite often.” She giggled, then shivered, remembering the bugs favored choice of residence were armpits and straddles and the acute itch that ensued when they moved in. “Aunt Judith would pick the redbugs out with her sewing needle.”
“As would my mother. But alas, I fear our secret is out,” he whispered, pretending to be alarmed.
“Do not worry,” Bethany Breanne announced, very maturely for her four years. “We will not tell. Then she reached up her pudgy little arms to be lifted to Joshua’s shoulders, as was her usual mode of transportation in his presence.
“I fear not, my darling,” he hastened to inform her with a gentle smile. “Only after a hot bath and a change of clothes will you be allowed back on your favorite perch.” Instead, he took her hand and led her toward the house with Lynna, the other furiously scratching children following close behind.
He laughed when Bethany Breanne gestured for him to bend over and whispered in his ear. “Uncle Joshua, what is it that we are not supposed to tell?”
“Lynna wake up, sleepyhead. It is time to get dressed for the Ball.”
Rubbing her eyes, Lynna slowly became aware of her aunt standing over her and grinning from ear to ear. “I simply cannot keep this secret a second longer. I have being dying to give this to you. Here, open it.”
Sitting up sleepily, Lynna opened the box her aunt had placed on the bed and suddenly came fully awake. “Oh, Aunt Judith!” A sob escaped as she lifted ruffle after ruffle of soft silky material and held it before her. It was the most exquisite ball gown her eyes had ever beheld. “It is….it is….I have no words to describe it,” she marveled, fingering the expensive silk. “But, where did you get the fabric and when did you find time to make it? You were so busy with Suzanne’s.” Tears of love and immense gratitude glistened in her eyes.
Judith had promised Joshua she would not tell Lynna that he had purchased the material for the gown when he and Silas had ridden into town, along with a bolt of green silk for herself, and slipped it to their cottage undetected. Now she had to admit that Lynna’s gown was her best work to date, far surpassing any of Suzanne’s. “I stitched it in between Suzanne’s gowns, when you weren’t looking. The gown has love sewn in every stitch, my darling.”
“Oh, Aunt Judith, you are simply too wonderful for words and I love you so much!” Lynna wept, hugging her fiercely. The gown was creamy yellow silk, off t
he shoulder, with row upon row of the ruffles sewn into the full, flowing skirt. Yellow satin formed a bow around the tiny waist. “Thank you, Aunt Judith. You will never know how much this means to me.”
Chapter Fifteen
Many sighs were heard as Lynna descended the curving stairs, looking the part of a regal queen arriving at her court. Joshua did not need to look, for he knew only Lynna could draw such a chorus of murmured responses. Sauntering toward the stairs, he glanced up and stopped dead in his tracks, once again mesmerized by her dazzling beauty. When he purchased the material, he had imagined her slim figure sheathed in the yellow silk, but his imagination had failed to do her justice. She was breathtaking.
He was afraid if he moved or even took a breath, the vision moving toward him would disappear. Jealousy surged through him when he observed the eyes of every other man in the room gazing at her with undisguised lust. The powerful emotion urged him forward to take her arm possessively, letting them know to keep their distance. She was his. “I always know when you enter a room, and as always, you are ravishing.”
“Thank you, sir.” She beamed, returning his smile. “You cut quite a dashing figure yourself.”
“Would you care to dance, my love?”
“Only with you.”
Leading her onto the floor, they danced a lively reel, then he took her into his arms during the next slower tune and breathed in the lavender fragrance of her hair. The heat radiating from his body warmed her so that she wished desperately to be alone with him; to leave her sumptuous gown discarded on the floor and once again feel nothing save his arms encircling her.
“You make every female envious and leave men awestruck by your beauty.” He was gazing into her sultry azure eyes, glazed with her longing for him when he said, “Let’s step outside, Lynna. There is something I would ask you.” He took her elbow and steered her toward the open side doors, but as he turned, he noticed Daniel bounding towards them.
“Joshua, my father would like a word with you, in private.” Daniel said this in an uncommonly crisp tone, catching them before they could make their exit.
“Can it wait, Daniel? I have been attempting to have a word with this fair lady all day, however we seem to be constantly interrupted.”
“No, Joshua, I’m sorry. It cannot wait. My father insists.” Daniel’s words were solemn, however his eyes danced with excitement.
“Very well. Lynna, please excuse me.” As he walked away, Joshua turned to give her a sly wink and promise. “I shall return as quickly as possible. Keep a dance open for me.”
Lynna watched at Joshua followed Samuel into the parlor and the door swiftly closed behind him.
Malinda came rushing to her side. “Come, Lynna, while the men are cloistered in the parlor, let us try the mint julep.”
Feeling adventurous, Lynna followed Malinda to the punch bowl and accepted a cup of the mint beverage, which was, surprisingly, quite tasty. While they were sipping the sweet concoction, Malinda pointed out the man of her dreams, and judging from his puppy dog eyes, he held no slight infatuation for her as well. They covered their mouths with dainty, hand painted fans and giggled about the thrilling exhilaration of new love. Unable to control her racing thoughts a moment longer, Lynna whispered behind her fan, “Malinda, I am almost positive your brother is about to ask me to become his wife.”
Malinda gasped, nodded her head once, and opened her mouth to speak, but then thought better of it and grabbed Lynna’s hand instead. She knew! Malinda already knew Joshua was going to propose. Was his entire family aware of it as well? They moved to stand on the balcony with Mary, Judith, and Patricia. Malinda stood at an angle to keep the object of her affections always within sight and was in deep concentration, wondering how long it would take him to work up the courage to ask her to dance.
“What is taking the men so long in there?” Lynna wished for Joshua to hurry with his discussion of politics, secession, war, or whatever the men were discussing at the moment, so she could twirl around the dance floor on his arm.
“Where did they run off to?” Patricia asked.
“And where on earth is Suzanne?” Mary posed the question. “Has my darling daughter even came downstairs yet, or is she still primping?”
“I hope she is feeling better,” Patricia said sympathetically.
“There she is.” Malinda frowned, noticing the smug smile on Suzanne’s face and not liking it one whit.
Suzanne exited the parlor in the extremely low cut, pink satin ball gown, with diamonds dripping from her ears, neck, and both wrists and with a triumphant smile on her face. Joshua followed close behind with a look of stark rage marring his handsome features. He sent Lynna a forlorn look as Suzanne clutched his arm possessively and followed eagerly behind her father. Samuel and Daniel followed, Samuel pushing Jeremiah’s chair.
What could this mean? Why was Suzanne so jubilant she was almost floating across the room?
Once Suzanne and the men had made it through the throng to the bandstand, Silas immediately made his way to the band and motioned for them to stop playing. Silas climbed the two steps to the stage and cleared his throat. “Ladies and gentleman, I am glad you could be here tonight to share in our joy. I have an announcement to make,” he said, drawing everyone’s rapt attention and speaking loud enough for those in the back of the room to hear. “Tonight, I would like to announce the engagement and approaching marriage of my daughter Suzanne Nicolette Fletcher to Captain Joshua Jordan.”
Loud whoops and whistles arose from the crowd to deafening applause as the band struck up a merry tune. Although, some of the guests looked toward Lynna with a puzzled frown, since she was the one who had been on Joshua’s arm for most of the day. Applause and shouts of congratulations echoed from well-wishers. “You finally fell in love didn’t you, Joshua? It’s about time you settled down and raised a family! After all these years, a little lady finally came along that was impossible to resist! I knew someone would eventually tame the rogue!”
Malinda was immediately by Lynna’s side and Lynna heard her softly whisper, “Oh my God, Joshua! What have you done?”
But this could not really be happening! There must be some mistake! But there wasn’t. She knew this when she stared into Suzanne’s gloating face. Aunt Judith rushed to take Lynna in her arms as Malinda went to her mother’s side. She saw a stunned Patricia lean against her furious daughter for support. Lynna lifted her skirts and raced up the stairs, praying with each step for the ground to open up and swallow her.
When Joshua could extricate himself from the crowd and Suzanne’s clutches without making a scene, he silently crept up the stairs. His hands trembled as he opened the door to Lynna’s room and found her wrapped in her aunt’s arms, weeping pitifully. It was a sound that tore at his heart and made him hate his new fiancé with a renewed vengeance. He yearned to hold Lynna and console her, assure her that it was all a horrible misunderstanding. But he could not, for it was not a misunderstanding. It was a mistake of his own doing, and one he would be forced to pay penance for the remainder of his insufferable life. He had caused her so much pain. She had known nothing but abuse and suffering from the hands of men, such as himself, since the day she left France. “Lynna?”
She did not realize he had entered the room, so overcome by her feelings of pain and betrayal. When she glanced up, she quickly buried her head in her aunt’s shoulder, unable to look him in the eyes and let him see how profound her hurt was. He must never know the agony that his and Suzanne’s treachery had caused her. She would hate him until the day she died for leading her to believe he loved her and wanted to marry her, when he had only been toying with her affections, while scheming and making wedding plans with Suzanne behind her back. She had never felt or looked more like such a consummate fool, nor had she ever hated anyone as she hated Joshua at that moment. “Please, Joshua. I wish to be left alone.”
“Judith, would you mind if I have a private word with Lynna? Please? There are some things I must… e
xplain.”
“Can you not leave her alone, Captain Jordan, as she requested? Have you not caused her enough pain already?” Judith felt the urge to strip the expensive silk from Lynna’s back and throw it in his handsome face.
“Please, Judith? I beg of you. I must try to explain all that has transpired tonight to Lynna. I owe her that much.”
Conceding, Judith left the room, but not before giving him a look that told him what she, being a lady, could not.
Joshua didn’t know where to begin. Everything had changed in a split second. Everything, except his feelings for Lynna. They were stronger than ever. Had his father not been in the parlor, expecting his son to accept his responsibility and do what was right, he might have refused the demands of Silas and his sons entirely. But he could never embarrass his father, a man who had raised his son to be honorable in all matters, even if it hurt. But he needed to hold Lynna in his arms one last time before he lost her forever. Moving toward her, he attempted to do just that, but she pulled away from his touch as though it had scalded her.
“Do not dare touch me!”
“Please, listen to me, Lynna. Do not for one second believe I have any desire to marry Suzanne. I am being forced into it against my will!”
“Forced by your greed! You chose Suzanne over me because I live in a small cottage behind her huge plantation house, and my aunt and I work for our wages. Have you perhaps forgotten who my father is, Joshua?”
Her words were like a slap in the face, making him understand some of what she must be feeling. His hands bit into her shoulders. “Is that what you think? That I chose to marry Suzanne for her money? Why, you little fool! I am not seeking her money. You should know I have more than enough of own. And yes, I recall who your father is. If it was money I was after, don’t you think I would have jumped at the chance when you asked to me to marry you while onboard my ship?”