“I had hoped Trent would mention something about it in his letters,” Ceci continued, a hint of disappointment in her voice.
“What does he say?” Hecubah asked.
“Only that he loves and misses me.”
“Nothing else?”
“No,” Ceci blushed.
“Ah huh, so he’s still writing them kind of letters,” she divined. “That boy should have been an author. I’d like to see one of them on the front page of the newspaper. That’d sure as hell, start a war.”
“My point is,” Ceci pressed on, anxious to change the subject. “He’s a soldier, he must know something. Maybe he don’t want to give that kind of information to a southerner.”
Hecubah stared at her. “Girl, when you stood in line for beauty, didn’t you notice there was a queue for brains?”
“What’d you mean?” Ceci stiffened at the effrontery.
“I mean,” Hecubah continued pointedly. “Of course, he ain’t gonna tell you anything, because he knows it makes you crazy. Do you imagine he sees you as some kind of threat now? You is a young woman, barely twenty, head full of love and marriage. What you gonna do, attack Washington singlehanded?”
“I just wondered, is all,” Ceci blustered indignantly.
Hecubah shook her head. “Sometimes I’m tempted to drop you in ol’ Abe’s lap. That’d sure put an end to this nonsense. That man’d break his arm trying to resign.”
“I ain’t that bad,” Ceci protested.
“Like I told you before,” Hecubah reminded her. “That’s the trouble with opinion.”
***
“Ain’t you ready yet?” Hecubah called. “The buggy’s bin waiting half an hour. We got an appointment in town with Armenia Ewing and her daughters for the first fitting of your wedding dress. They may be the best seamstresses in Louisiana, but they sure do take their time. So, if you don’t want to walk down the aisle in your drawers, you’d best get a move on.”
“I’m coming, I’m coming,” Ceci dashed down the stairs, waving a newspaper. “Have you seen this?” she asked breathlessly, shoving it under Hecubah’s nose. “Texas seceded from the Union last week. That makes seven states now.”
Hecubah snatched the paper from her hand and threw it on the hall table. “If I hears one more word about secession outa you,” she glared. “I swear you aint gonna live long enough to get married.”
“Ain’t you worried?” Ceci frowned.
“What good would it do, if I was,” Hecubah told her. “Wouldn’t change nothing. Unless you imagine all them senators and congressmen are gonna get together and say. Oh my, Hecubah is worried, let’s put a stop to all this.”
“There’s no need to be sarcastic,” Ceci glowered.
Hecubah drew a deep breath. “Have you got your gloves?”
“Yes.” Ceci showed her.
“And your parasol?”
“It’s right here.”
“What about your hat?”
Ceci chewed her lip. “I left it upstairs.”
“Remembered the newspaper though, didn’t you?” Hecubah pointed out. “I’ve a good mind to make you wear that into town.”
***
Secession seemed to be the only topic on anyone’s mind, judging from what they saw and heard, as they drove down the main street. Every store window had a banner in it, proclaiming Louisiana’s independence from the Union.
“What’s that?” Ceci pointed, as they entered the town square.
A new flag flew from the mast outside the telegraph office. It had a red square in the top left-hand corner, with a yellow star in the centre of it, the rest was red white and blue horizontal stripes.
“Where’s our old Pelican flag?” she wondered.
“I don’t know,” Hecubah admitted, “but I bet Armenia does. She lives right here in town. She knows everything that’s going on.”
Hecubah was right. Armenia and her daughters were full of the news.
“It’s our new state flag,” she told them, through a mouth full of pins. “Since we declared our independence from the Union, it’s the only one we’re going to fly. Don’t fidget, honey.”
Ceci did her best to stand still. It was difficult perched on a foot stool, with yards of silk and lace wrapped around her. “Have all the states done that?” she asked.
“I reckon they have,” Elizabeth, Armenia’s eldest daughter, confirmed, holding up the hem of the dress so that her mother could pin it. “Just yesterday, representatives from all the seceded states met in Montgomery, Alabama and created the Confederate States of America.”
“The Confederate States of America,” Ceci repeated in amazement.
“That’s right,” Sara, Armenia’s second daughter, confirmed, as she busied herself with a sleeve. “Now we got our own government, even named Jefferson Davis to be President.”
“They said they would,” Ceci recalled what she’d overheard her father discussing. “I met him once. My daddy said he was a hero of the Mexican war.”
Armenia leaned back on her knees. Satisfied that the hem was straight, she took the last of the pins out of her mouth. “We’ll need a strong leader,” she told them. “Lincoln and Congress don’t recognise our right to leave the Union. There’ll be trouble over that, mark my words. Step down, honey. Let’s see how it hangs.”
Ceci stepped off the stool. Even only half finished, the dress looked magnificent.
“Turn around, honey,” Armenia directed. “That’s coming along just fine,” she seemed happy with her efforts so far. “You know,” she turned to Hecubah. “Since Victoria, the Queen of England, got married in white, all the girls want it now.”
“Ain’t it supposed to represent chastity?” Hecubah asked.
“I guess so,” Armenia shrugged, “virgin white.”
“In that case, perhaps you should sew some little blue flowers onto it,” Hecubah suggested, glancing at Ceci.
Ceci narrowed her eyes at her, itching to reply, knowing she had to hold her tongue in company.
Gasps of dismay came from the Ewing’s. “Now why on earth would you want us to do that?” Armenia asked in surprise. “It looks beautiful the way it is. Just like the girl who’s going to wear it,” she smiled at Ceci.
Ceci did her best to look innocent, despite her blushes.
“One more fitting, or two, Mama?” Elizabeth asked, helping Ceci out of the dress.
“Two, I think,” Armenia judged. “I believe Ceci is beginning to lose a little weight. There’s bound to be more adjustments.”
“You must be so excited,” Sara helped Ceci back into her own dress. “Have you set a date for the wedding yet?”
“April 30th,” Ceci told her. “I intend to invite you all. You will come, won’t you?”
Cries of elation echoed round the room.
“I love weddings,” Elizabeth sighed dreamily. “I like them better than dancing.”
***
“Did you hear that Elizabeth Ewing?” Hecubah remarked, as they drove back to the plantation. “I love weddings. I like them better than dancing.” She shook her head. “That girl should stick to dancing. The closest she’s ever gonna get to a wedding is yours. God almighty, I never seen a plainer pair of girls than Armenia Ewing’s daughters.”
“That’s cruel,” Ceci chided. “So was suggesting they sew blue flowers on my dress.”
“You heard them,” Hecubah reminded her. “White’s supposed to be for chastity. Don’t reckon Queen Victoria was chasing Albert round the garden before she got married.”
“You don’t know that,” Ceci pouted. “Besides, it’s the thought that counts. Don’t you ever get tired of making fun of me?”
“Not hardly,” Hecubah was happy to admit. “Let’s face it, when you’re married, I’ll have to thin
k of some other way to amuse myself.”
***
“All the invitations have been sent out,” Hecubah drew a line through another item on her list. “The dress is almost ready,” she paused, glancing at Ceci. “You sure you don’t want them blue flowers on it?”
“That wasn’t funny when you said it a month ago,” Ceci complained.
“Just checking,” Hecubah continued casually. “Your daddy’s spoken to the minister, and in a couple of weeks, we’ll begin to decorate the ballroom.” She set the list aside. “I guess I don’t have to give you the bride talk, do I?”
“The bride talk?” Ceci stared. “What’s that?”
“It’s what a mother would pass on to her daughter,” Hecubah explained. “About what’s expected of a new wife on her wedding night, and her duties to her husband. A lot of young girls get mighty nervous about it, as the time gets close, but I guess you done jumped that hurdle already.”
“Oh,” Ceci sighed. “You just had to say it, didn’t you?”
“Is there anything you wanna know?” Hecubah enquired soberly.
“Well,” Ceci began hesitantly. “How will I know, if I’m going to have a baby?”
“You planning to get off to an early start?” Hecubah wondered.
“I just want to know, is all,” Ceci persisted.
“You’ll miss your flow, and you’ll start getting sick in the morning. Then you’ll know,” Hecubah told her. “It’s not happening already, is it?”
“Of course, not,” Ceci cried indignantly. “You saw to that.” She calmed down. “But it will, one day,” she promised herself.
Hecubah reached out and stroked Ceci’s cheek. “To think,” she murmured, “that in a few weeks’ time, you’ll be Mrs Trent Sinclaire. Then you’ll be off to start your new life with him, in Boston. Lord, girl,” she sighed heavily, “I’m gonna miss you so much.”
“I thought I made you crazy,” Ceci reminded her.
“Not that crazy, child,” Hecubah admitted, on the verge of tears.
“There’s so much I want to say to you,” Ceci hugged her. “But I can’t find the words.”
“You don’t have to, honey,” Hecubah assured her. “I already know.”
“Are you sure you won’t reconsider?” Ceci asked. “About coming to live with us, I mean.”
“I done told you,” Hecubah sighed. “My place is here. Besides, you won’t want me under foot. You’ll be the lady of the house, with your own home to run, just like I showed you.”
“It’s him, ain’t it?” Ceci deduced. “The reason you’re staying. It’s him. Your gentleman. The mystery man. The one who gave you that dress for Christmas. I’m right. I know it. That’s only the second time I’ve ever seen you blush.”
“What if it is?” Hecubah shrugged dismissively.
“You going to tell me his name now?”
“No.”
“Can I try and guess then?”
“No.”
“I’ll find out one day. You know that, don’t you?”
“Maybe,” Hecubah agreed. “But it ain’t gonna be today.”
***
Evening was Ceci’s favourite time to be in the garden. The scents, the sounds and the soft colours had always enchanted her, even as a child. She stood on the edge of the veranda, gazing out across the acres of immaculate lawn. At the magnolias, lilac, and clumps of jasmine and honeysuckle, winding sinuously along paved walks which crossed the lawns, that stretched all the way down to the bayou. To the banks of the Atchafalaya. She’d wanted to be with Trent so much, she’d never considered what she’d be giving up.
Everything she’d hoped for was only weeks away. She knew she should be happy, but now she felt a twinge of panic, a hint of last minute nerves. This was her home. She’d spent her whole life here. Everything she knew was here. The garden, the plantation, her father, and Hecubah. Hecubah, mother, sister, friend, she was all of those. Ceci vaguely recalled a succession of nursemaids and nannies. Indifferent women, who had told her to eat up her dinner, or go to bed on time, paying her little more attention than that. Then Hecubah had come, and everything had changed. Whenever she acted unwisely, or behaved poorly, Hecubah was always there to set her straight. She wondered, desperately, how she would ever cope without her guidance and her humour.
Even as she thought it, she sensed a familiar presence in the garden. The night breeze blew towards her, caressing her cheek, like a soft hand. It reminded her of what the future held, assuring her that this would always be here, and that she would never forget it.
She thought of Trent, his arms around her, his gentle smile and those blue eyes. Suddenly, she felt strong and confident again. She stared into the twilight, but there was nothing to see, except the shifting shadows in the garden and the silhouettes of the cypress trees in the bayou. At last, she realised that Ol’ Magic wasn’t out there. He wasn’t in the garden, and he never had been. He came from within, and that she, like every other man and woman who had loved before her, had invoked him with their heart. No matter where she went with Trent, he would always be there. Nevertheless, she pressed her palm to her lips and blew a kiss into the empty air. “Thanks for everything,” she smiled.
***
“I declare, Ceci,” Armenia Ewing stared at the tape measure. “You’ve lost a full inch off your waist since the last fitting.” She looked at Hecubah. “Don’t you feed this child?”
“It’s wedding nerves, that’s all.” Hecubah told her.
“C’mon girls,” Armenia clapped her hands at her daughters. “We got some work to do.”
Ceci found herself perched on the foot stool again, as the three women toiled at the fabric of the wedding dress, unpicking and restitching with such vigour, she feared she’d end up with the dress sewn to her skin. “What’s been happening between the states?” she asked, if only to take her mind off the darting needles.
Armenia looked up in surprise, needle poised. “Don’t you read the papers, honey?”
“Hecubah keeps hiding them from me,” Ceci told her. “She says reading them only worries me.”
“Well, I can see the sense in that,” Armenia agreed, as she sewed a line of thread. “Not much to tell though.”
“Lincoln was inaugurated on Tuesday,” Sara reminded her, squinting as she threaded another needle.
“There’s more than that,” Elizabeth joined in, deftly snipping at a piece of lace. “The Confederacy has been seizing Union property on Confederate land. Now they’ve issued an ultimatum to Congress to evacuate all Union troops from Fort Sumter.”
“That’s nothing new,” Armenia grunted with concentration. “Ever since South Carolina seceded, they been itching to get their hands on Charleston Harbour.”
“What if they don’t want to go?” Ceci asked.
“Who, honey?” Armenia remarked distractedly.
“The Union troops,” Ceci elaborated. “What if they refuse to leave Fort Sumter. What happens then?”
As one, Armenia and her daughters stopped sewing, and just stared at each other. This time they had no answers. It was anyone’s guess…
Chapter Fourteen
“You still playing with that wedding dress?” Hecubah sighed, as she came in.
Ceci stood in front of the mirror, holding the dress against herself. “I can’t help it,” she admitted. “I can hardly believe, that in a few weeks, I’ll be wearing this, as I walk down the aisle on my daddy’s arm, with Trent waiting for me. I’m so excited, I could burst.”
“Your daddy would like to talk to you,” Hecubah revealed the reason for her being there.
“About the wedding?” Ceci wondered.
“Yes, child. It’s about the wedding.” For once, Hecubah didn’t seem to share her enthusiasm. “It’s important,” she urged, “let’s not keep hi
m waiting.”
Ceci followed her down to her father’s day room, still happily preoccupied with the coming events. “Morning Daddy,” she ran around his desk, put her hand on his shoulder and kissed him. “You wanted to see me?” Her smile faded. He seemed so serious and contemplative. “Is something wrong?” she asked nervously.
He patted her hand, returning a humourless smile. “Sit down, Cecile,” he gestured at the chairs in front of his desk.
She did as he asked. Hecubah sat next to her. Ceci began to sense an atmosphere in the room, cold and austere. It filled her with trepidation. “What’s happened?” she asked. “Is it Trent?” she began to panic.
“No, honey,” Hecubah was quick to reassure her. “Trent’s fine. Just listen to your daddy.”
For a moment, her father sat rubbing his chin, deep in thought, then he drew a deep breath. “A week ago, our troops attacked and captured Fort Sumter,” he began gravely. “Abraham Lincoln has responded by citing it as an act of insurrection. He has raised 75,000 volunteers to supress the rebellion.” He paused, shaking his head. “I never thought I’d see the day when an American President assembled an army to attack his own country.”
“Does that mean we’re at war?” Ceci began to tremble.
“Yes,” her father replied flatly, “I’m afraid it does.” He picked up a letter. “I received this from Colonel Sinclaire, today,” he continued. “Trent has been called to active service. He will not be able to return here for the foreseeable future.”
It was as if one of Armenia Ewing’s needles had been thrust through her heart. Ceci felt her whole body go numb. The information slid off her mind. She didn’t want to believe it. “No,” she began to sob, “It can’t be true. It’s a mistake. I’ve been getting letters from Trent every day. He didn’t say anything about this.”
“I told you before,” Hecubah reminded her. “He didn’t want to worry you. Now things have changed.”
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