Invitation To The Summer Solstice Cotillion
At Black Woods Castle
We cordially request the honor of your presence at the Black Woods Castle Cotillion Picnic And Ball on The Third Saturday of June 1865. Gathering will be at 5:00 o’clock in the afternoon in the newly restored Indigo Gardens, for viewing or participation in the Highland Games Foot Races at 5:30 p.m. above Black Woods Castle Pond, followed by a dinner at 6:00 p.m. and dancing at 7:00 p.m. in Glass Prisms Hall, to the music of the Highland Magic Musicians, Miss Aggie Hoover’s mandolin & the Community Church Choir. This fundraiser requests that you please bring a flower from your lovely garden to help with the restoration of the Black Woods Castle Indigo Gardens Nature and Wildlife Preserve.
Signed:
Dr. John & Miss Lily Davis, Staff & Friends
Miss Rachael Hathaway and her sister
Miss Phoebe Hathaway, visiting guest
Emery Davis & Amber Worthington
Lieutenant Monty Graham, M.D.
Pastor Albert & Emma, Quinny, & Minnie Hoover
Melodious mandolin music greeted excited guests and calmed their hosts and hostesses the evening of the gala. John, Rachael, Monty, Phoebe, Pastor Albert, Emma, and the three children – Lily, Quinny, and Minnie greeted those arriving. The happy children, dressed in their best, presented each guest with a flower to wear in their buttonhole, lapel, or on their wrist, tied with a satin ribbon. Everyone was very punctual. Soon the group was mingling, sipping ice tea or lemonade, and traversing along the garden paths, admiring the flowerbeds.
“They’ll be arriving as soon as the dust and noise settles after the races, in Cousin Emery’s coach,” John Davis III told the guests, when asked about his grandparents’ arrival. Suddenly, bagpipes piped everyone to gather for the first race near Pansy Heaven. A dozen or so participants lined up and a few brave souls blew kisses to their loves. Monty was one of them. But Rachael and Phoebe, standing close together, arms around each other’s waists, were not sure just which one of them he was throwing kisses to, and it didn’t matter, because at this point, everyone was light-hearted. The race began with a shout of “Go!” from John, who wouldn’t be included due to his leg pain. An afternoon breeze stirred pastel petals from flowers, sweeping and swirling them high into the sky in colorful celebration circles.
“Look at them go!” Phoebe called, and the two sisters did a little jump of excitement together several times. Rachael glanced at John. He seemed sullen, perhaps because his injury kept him from joining the others and giving them his competition. The children danced while holding hands, since they could not see over the adults to watch the race progress. It was over shortly with a three way tie.
Monty Graham grinned and waved, since he was one of the winners. The three men left in the competition threw an arm around each other, still congenial, as they prepared their nerves for a second round of competition. It was then that a few of the ladies decided to give them a short rest. They lined up.
“We want to race next. Give the guys a rest before we declare a winner!” Emma announced, slightly shocking her husband, the pastor, and some of the guests, yet delighting all of the women.
So, a dozen limber, laughing ladies lined up on the mark. Rachael and Phoebe looked at each other. Nothing was said, but a common thought entered their minds. Giggling, they rushed over to join Emma, a beckoning Aggie, and the rest of the laughing group. Those women racers delighted the other onlookers by their bravery and humor.
“Are you ready, now?” Pastor Hoover asked, followed by, “Ready, set, go!”
It started out comical, of course, with everyone laughing and giggling. But then racers and onlookers both turned more serious. The children even wanted lifted to see the outcome. Who would win this unplanned sprint, everyone wondered? Skirts danced and fluttered along Pansy Heaven Path, looking almost like blossoms themselves, before it ended in a tie. Phoebe and Emma, laughing and hugging at the end of the trail, were the winners. Finally, after a good time was had by all, and the last two races were run, Phoebe and Monty were declared the winners ~ women’s and men’s. They happily hugged.
A wreath of flowers and fern fronds was placed around the neck of each winner, one by Minnie and one by Lily. Then, the giggling youngsters ran to join Quinny, who had his fingers in a nearby bird bath. Songbirds chirped cheerfully from Black Woods, which formed a crescent bordering the property. The bagpipes gave way to the mandolin player once again, giving the pipers a break just as John’s grandparents, the homeowners, arrived on the arms of Amber and Emery. Everyone cheered. Pastor Hoover stepped forth to explain about the home and garden restorations which had taken place. “It is with great pleasure that we present your new home and grounds.” The delighted couple quickly agreed to return and take up residence here once again, with their family and friends always in close proximity.
“It was the perfect surprise for a perfectly lovely couple,” Amber Worthington declared.
At once, there was a pause in the conversation as newcomers arrived. It was the chief and his wife. He held out a delicious smelling, cooked salmon to Rachael, while thanking her and John for feeding his son and nephews, before he turned to go, which caused John to ask, “Who are they?”
“Wait, please. This is my friend, Chief Morning Star,” Rachael quickly explained, as she rearranged items on the veranda table to make room for the delicious new dish. He then introduced his wife, Morning Dove.
“Join us, please,” Rachael offered, looking to John for approval. It came quickly. John Davis moved forward to bow and shake their hands. As Rachael was explaining to a gathering group around them about the chief and his people trading beaded necklaces for her stationery, she lifted her own intricate necklace the chief had given to her. Gathered guests and Phoebe were delighted with her explanation about the beautiful piece of American Indian finery.
Phoebe lifted hers, a recent gift from Rachael. “Is mine also made by their people?”
“Yes, his people made these for us. They are quite beautiful and delicate. I love mine.”
“I’d like one. I will trade red apples from my tree for it,” Aggie offered, with a huge smile.
The chief nodded his approval at her kind suggestion of exchange.
“I want one, too. I have nuts I can trade,” called Emma, from the other side of the table.
“I’ll have peaches I’d love to trade for one or two,” added a choir member; another had cherries.
“I’d like one for my mother and one for each of my grandmothers,” John informed Chief Morning Star, by joining the discussion. “We have eggs and milk at my place we could trade.” The chief accepted.
Others proclaimed their wishes for the intricate jewelry and announced what they were willing to trade for it. So, the chief happily agreed to come in a few days to Magnolia Gardens with the goods. His wife and others would help. For now, the cheerful, cotillion celebration continued with the prepared feast.
Later, after the pair enjoyed dinner with everyone, goodbyes were said to the chief and his wife, since they wished to return home before dark. Rachael, Crane, Miss Mariah, Charles Earl, Phoebe, Monty, Emma, and Aggie cleared tables, bringing remaining food into the senior Davis’ kitchen for their first days at home. It was agreed that John and Emery, the Davis grandsons, and their friends, Rachael and Amber, would stay for several days to help John and Hattie Davis re-enter life at their home, Black Woods Castle.
“We shall also help you inspect Indigo Gardens when you feel up to it, with its new paths, flowers, bird feeders, nesting houses, and birdbaths. Every one of us is eagerly looking forward to this special time together,” Miss Worthington declared. “Guests have brought flowers to plant, also. We’ll help with that.”
“Rachael, come here, please,” John whispered, when the excitement had died down and the dance music began. It was a slow one and Pastor Hoover asked that the hosts and hos
tesses of the fundraiser begin by opening the ball’s first dance, to be followed by a Virginia reel, the Highland fling, a polka, and a Highland Reel. “Dance with me this slow one, please. I have something to show you, since you did come back from Bower Farm with me for this cotillion.”
“Was there ever any doubt in your mind that I would return?” she asked, following him to a darker corner, away from the center of the room, and attention, although she was more than ready to sit a bit.
“Yes, there was,” he answered quietly. “Will you dance with me?”
She glanced around the room to see Monty asking Phoebe, Cousin Emery was asking Amber, Pastor Albert was escorting Emma, and John’s parents and grandparents were entering the large living room turned dance floor together. Giving him a grin, she answered, “I don’t believe I have much choice. Look.”
He watched other couples begin to sway across the room, while onlookers clapped and cheered. Some guests began to join them. “Come here, you,” he whispered, as he gently swept her into his arms for a sweet hug. “We’ve hardly had any time together. Oh, please remind me to tell Monty about our fossil.”
“I will. Wait!” she then called quietly. Removing the beaded necklace, she placed it into the handbag upon her arm. From that pocketbook she retrieved the locket John had given her as an engagement gift and asked him to help her put it on before dancing. Gazing at him, he seemed thrilled.
Now he whispered, “Wait!” From his vest pocket, he took a small photograph of himself to include in her locket. Pressing his tiny likeness into the piece of jewelry, he then placed the necklace around her neck.
“Thank you,” she whispered close to his soft cheek, and she could not resist kissing it - twice.
“You look lovely in your wedding dress. Of course, no one knows about it, except for Monty.”
“What?” she gasped, and abruptly stopped dancing. “What about Monty?” He had spoiled the moment.
“I told him we plan to replace the red lace with white lace on your wedding dress, using your sewing machine, and that you were wearing it to the ball.”
“And just what did the lieutenant say?”
“I can’t remember. Come on, Rachael. You’re making a scene. Besides, it will be a completely different dress on our wedding day with the white lace on it.”
“Well, I believe you’re the one making a scene, sir.” She knew that the formal reference, instead of his name, would probably not be well-received. Yet, after all, he had talked about her with Monty, and Monty hadn’t even informed her.
“Oh, yes, I did make a scene once or twice, once right in my own bedroom one night on my knees as I proposed to you, Miss Hathaway, didn’t I, and the other in your bedroom? But we won’t tell anybody about that, either,” he said with a grin. “Those times shall remain our secrets, two of them.”
“Well, it was all good and proper, though. Oh, you haven’t told Monty Graham about that night you told everyone, including my sister, that I’d gone to bed for the evening, and then we appeared later?”
“Rachael, some things are private. We can’t argue about that special night, or our feelings for one another, my love.”
She took his hand and tried to begin dancing.
He wouldn’t budge. So, she gazed into his eyes and studied his lips, while licking hers, nervously. “If you don’t feel well, John, we could go to our rooms, since we are staying here tonight.”
“No.”
“I can help you, or Monty or Emery can, if you are ill or too tired.”
“Rachael, if my proposals in my room and yours were not enough to convey my love, I’ll repeat them, right here and now.”
“What?”
Astonishingly, he got down on his knees with a grimace. Taking her hand in his, he asked, “Miss Rachael Hathaway, will you marry me? I love you and my grandmother has given me her ruby ring to give to you, as my betrothal pledge.”
She was thrilled, speechless for a moment. “When did you speak with your grandmother about us?” she wanted to know, yet in a quiet manner, for Rachael now realized he had spoken to his friends and family about her. He was serious.
“When Cousin Emery and I went over to arrange for them to attend this dinner and arrive in his carriage, I took Grandmother aside and presented her lost ring to her, which you had found. She said she’d been without it for well over a year now and hadn’t missed it. She’d also heard of our love for each other, so she wanted me to give it to you as an engagement gift. Rachael, you look so beautiful tonight in that dress. Please accept this ring.”
“How would she hear of our love, John? I’d like more of an explanation.”
But by now the music had stopped. Family and guests were suddenly more interested in what John and Rachael Hathaway were doing than dancing, since the ever helpful Pastor Hoover had laughingly called for, “Quiet, please.” Choir director and mandolin player, Aggie, their well-admired town clown, rushed closer, so she could also hear Rachael’s answer. Others cheered and whistled. Of course, Rachael was mortified, with all eyes upon them.
“She heard it from Cousin Emery,” John whispered, delighted with Rachael’s presence here before him. Promptly, he repeated his proposal a little louder, trying to get her to say ‘Yes.’
Silence swept across the room with a warm summer breeze, which swayed the curtains briefly, and here he was before her, still holding her left hand in his right one. Once again he held up the ring Grandmother Hattie had given him, her engagement ring, an exquisite gift for Rachael. John at once wished to place it upon her finger. “Please say that your answer is ‘yes’ and remove your glove.”
Rachael glanced around the room searching for Phoebe, hoping desperately that her sister would give her a sign. Indeed, she did. With the biggest smile ever, Phoebe vigorously shook her head ‘Yes.’
This did not go unnoticed by the dashingly handsome Lieutenant Monty Graham. Suddenly, right then and there, he also made a decision. Leading Miss Phoebe Hathaway to the large rug before the fireplace, he knelt upon it before her, taking her breath away, as he took her hand in his. There was Rachael’s answer for certain. Next, Emery Davis, not to be outdone by his dear cousin or the lieutenant, also knelt there before Miss Amber Worthington, taking her hands in his.
Cheers erupted after each proposal. Meanwhile, the guest of honor, John’s grandfather, John Davis Senior, knelt on the rug at the veranda door before his wife of many years and took her hands. Cheers sounded again at his sweet gesture and John’s father did the same with his wife. Grandfather Lightfoot happily called, “Thanks, John!” and took the same pose as his grandson on the entry rug. Now that the room was abuzz with good humor, to everyone’s surprise, many of the other men knelt before their own loves on one of the rugs, causing much cheering and whistling. Even little Quinny Hoover, with his sister Minnie at his side, knelt before sweet Lily Davis, causing a resounding “Ohhh, look!” from the joyous crowd, which was by now having the grandest time of their lives.
It was then Crane led Dr. Buddy Callahan into that parlor. Guests turned to see the latest arrival.
“I’m sorry I’m late. I guess I missed something,” he chuckled, and the guests at the cotillion roared with laughter. “Here is my red rose for Indigo Gardens and a red strawberry pie,” he offered with a proud smile and a grin, as he glanced around the room, wondering.
“Strawberry pie!” squealed Aggie, who did not have an escort for this evening. Immediately, she placed a hand over her errant mouth, as if trying to stifle the outburst of enthusiasm for that culinary delight. “Sorry, it’s my favorite!” she gleefully added, and applause and whistles sounded across the room.
Rachael now knew her answer. “Yes, John, you may give me the ring at Thanksgiving, for I shall marry you,” she whispered, with a warm, adoring smile gracing her lips, which he had kissed so many times. Cheers and whistles filled the room from those who heard Racha
el’s ‘Yes.’ In celebration, she removed her white gloves and tossed them high into the air toward the ceiling. John caught one. Cousin Emery caught the other one and brought it to her. Next, she leaned toward her beau and held out her left hand. Carefully, he slipped the ring onto the third finger of her hand. It fit perfectly.
All at once, she could not let an opportunity to help a friend escape her. “Wait here a moment, please,” she told John. Noting the puzzled look upon his face, she explained in a whisper, “I need to help a friend.”
He let go of her hand and to everyone’s surprise, she stepped toward the nearby Aggie, their lively comic. Locking arms with her, Rachael thanked her as they walked across the room, “for your genuine interest in my romance and for watching so closely John’s latest proposal, plus, my acceptance speech.” The nanny and the musician swept happily across that ballroom to stop directly in front of the arriving doctor, friend, and neighbor.
“Miss Aggie, it gives me great pleasure this evening to introduce to you, our fine friend, Dr. Buddy Callahan. Buddy, this is Aggie, our beautiful friend and talented mandolin player,” Rachael explained in introduction.
The gentleman took the lady’s outstretched, gloved hand and shook it gently. “It is a great pleasure to meet you, Miss Mandolin Aggie.”
“Oh, get him, a comic!” she laughed.
“May I add to your dance card for this evening, please, and offer you a piece of my pie. I am indeed fortunate to have made your favorite, it seems, and to have made your acquaintance, as well, tonight.”
“You want my dance card?” she laughed. “I don’t have one. I’m more like kitchen help tonight, sir, and music director, it would seem. But I’ll take your pie. In fact, I’ll direct you to the kitchen. Let us go survey those baked goods in there. Perhaps then we can return to the dance floor unnoticed, after the music begins again and the laughter dies down.”
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