Doves Migration

by Linda Daly

  You pathetic bastard, always wanting what you cannot have. For an instant, Lavinia felt sorry for Rebecca Sterling, and a cold chill ran up her spine as the haunting voice of Rebecca Sterling mocked her. Serves you right, Lavinia! Doubting her own sanity, she scolded herself, Stop this at once or you will end up in a sanitarium.

  As the carriage pulled up to the couple’s home, Lavinia waited for James to assist her. However, when he stepped out of the coach and called to the hired driver to assist his wife instead, sheepishly Lavinia stepped out of the coach on her own.

  “That won’t be necessary. I can make it on my own.”

  Upon entering her home, Lavinia hastily dismissed the butler and followed her husband up the stairs to their private suite. Anger had replaced her earlier fear and humiliation and she glared at him staring out the window, his back to her. Slamming the door as she entered their room, she asked vehemently, “Just so I understand the new rules that you and Alfred have apparently set for me, what precisely am I to expect in return for my obedience?”

  Hearing no response, she continued. “Shall I now be required to fill your glass with the drink like some peasant servant and then watch you pass out? Or, perhaps you would prefer me to soak myself in mud, reduced to painting a picture in your mind so you can perform as a man? Although, I would be hard pressed to consider that pathetic attempt last evening as an act of a virile man!”

  Turning on his heels to face her, James spouted, “There is not enough mud in all of New York to disguise who I’m actually bedding. Has it occurred to you Lavinia, that my sudden lack of enthusiasm in having you is that I’m not the least bit aroused by you any longer?”

  Hearing his derogatory comment, Lavinia immediately lunged forward with her hand in the air to strike him, which James grasped firmly before she made contact.

  “Considering the fact that I’ve not had a drink all evening—all day for that matter—and my reflexes are no longer hampered, it hardly seems worth the bother now, does it Lavinia?”

  Gasping, realizing those were nearly the exact words she had used after pushing James from her last night, she asked suspiciously, “What is that supposed to mean?” There was no need for James to make eye contact—she felt his eyes bore a hole that penetrated her soul.

  “When you try to seduce your next victim, you delusional little bitch, perhaps it would be wise to make sure he’s actually passed out before insulting him.” Although James wasn’t certain what she had actually said, only remembering bits and pieces of last evening’s events, he acted as if he had total recall.

  “I don’t know what you’re speaking of!” She spat indignantly. “And you call me delusional? I think not! Your brain must be pickled from all the brandy you’ve consumed over the years. Now let me go! You’re hurting me,” she squealed, trying to free herself from his grip.

  Realizing what force he was using to refrain her, he released her arm and said, “Oh you haven’t begun to experience pain. Be forewarned, you will! The exact hurt you have inflicted on me and others over the years. And don’t think for a minute that I’ve forgotten what you said about Rebecca last evening. As God as my witness, you will rue the day you ever said something so vile.”

  Rather than apologize for her earlier remarks, undaunted by his comment, Lavinia stated coolly, “You know James, I always knew you had a dark side to your character, but never had I dreamt you were capable of being so naive. Do you honestly believe for one moment that your precious little tart will ever leave Benjamin for the likes of you? Take it from someone who knows first hand, Benjamin may be weak, but what he lacks in character, he well makes up for in other areas. I can assure you that little alley cat you desire, is well taken care of by her well endowed husband!”

  Seeing the hurt in James’s eyes, Lavinia quickly added. “Come to think on it, no wonder Felicity always has that annoying smile pasted on her lips.”

  James raised his hand this time to strike her. Without backing away from him, Lavinia stood defiantly and calmly said, “Go ahead, James, hit me! And I’ll be forced to let your precious Felicity know what kind of bastard you really are. Even if you try to lock me up, eventually I’ll get word to her and don’t you think for one instant I wouldn’t.”

  Seeing him back down, Lavinia realized she had regained the upper hand for the time being, with James having no way of receiving coaching from Alfred. Taking advantage of his weakness, and his obvious jealousy over Benjamin, she said, “Rather than threaten one another further and cause each other such unnecessary pain, why don’t we make a deal?”

  “A deal?” he asked. “And what would you have to offer, Lavinia? Need I remind you we are no longer in England and more specific, you are no longer the heir to the Squire’s fortune? What possibly could you have to offer me here in New York, being only the wife of a successful business man who has already proven that his wife is unstable at best?”

  As hurtful as his words were to hear, Lavinia knew her husband’s strengths and weaknesses. James needed to feel vindicated for her hurting him as she had last evening, but more importantly, he needed to prove he was superior to Benjamin, of whom he was insanely jealous. Suddenly his desire for Felicity became clear to her. By having what Benjamin desired most, it satisfied James’s need to prove his superiority. Not only to the man he despised, but also to Lavinia.

  She understood such an obsession, having once had the same desire in proving herself superior over Rebecca, and exactly why she no longer had any interest in James now. With Rebecca dead, James was no longer a token that proved her superiority. The only thing Lavinia currently desired from her husband was his money.

  Forgoing her previous plan to be the poor helpless victim, another scheme began to form in her mind—one that would enable her the freedom to come and go as she pleased until she had worked on Rupert and Annabelle. That plan was to win James back by arousing his jealousy and insecurities through his manly desires.

  Hastily recalling those from the party and canceling Alfred, Tad and Michael, not wanting Vivian as an enemy, she set her sight on the only available man in their set.

  “Well for starters, Alfred is not the only man in New York who is prominent. Have you forgotten that Lucas Brown is a friend of the new president? Which makes him not only a powerful man to have on your side in Washington, but rather influential here in New York as well, I would imagine. And since it’s obvious you want to prove your manhood by having the only thing Benjamin has, and that’s his wife, what better way for you to get closer to your little tart than to have her husband away? Now what would it be worth to you if I persuaded Lucas that Benjamin should go to Washington? I mean wouldn’t the most powerful man in all the nation help his old friend?”

  “By God Lavinia, you are mad! Not only are you insinuating that you would assist me to have an affair with your ex-husband’s wife, but you’re offering to help by openly admitting that you would compromise your principles for a price. Have you no shame?”

  By his reaction, Lavinia knew he didn’t suspect her motivation and she continued cautiously trying not to appear too obvious.

  “Shame? Oh please James, let’s stop all this foolishness. You know neither of us has an ounce of shame or virtues when something comes between us and what we desire. Hasn’t that always been what attracted us to one another in the first place? Unfortunately, it would appear you no longer desire me, so what would you have me do? Passively watch you have all the fun, while I’m miserable? I think not!”

  “Not that I agree with you, but for the sake of argument, from all accounts Lucas Brown doesn’t even like you. So pray tell, why would he listen to you?”

  “Lucas is a man, is he not? And by all accounts a lonely one at that.” Giving him her most alluring smile, Lavinia raised her eyebrow and began to unfasten her bodice buttons by taking great pains to be provocative while wetting her lips to paint a picture of Lucas in James mind.

  “Although you may no longer find me sexually appetizing, I’m sure someone as lo
nely as Lucas would find my charms inviting. Even exhilarating, I’d hazard to venture. So I ask you James, do you honestly think I couldn’t find a way to get his attention?” she said smugly.

  “Jesus, Lavinia, are you suggesting you would allow that old man favors, in exchange for a romp in the sack?” Sensing his jealousy peak, she looked at him helplessly.

  “I didn’t say I would allow him the pleasure of my company, James. Although come to think on it, having a man desire me again and shower me with attention might be enjoyable. And considering he probably hasn’t been with a real woman for years, I’m sure Lucas Brown would be very attentive to my every need. There must be something behind that saying, ‘There’s no fool like an old fool’.”

  Waiting for the right moment, she allowed her dress to fall to the floor. Pausing long enough for his eyes to trace her petite frame, she seductively began loosening the cords that held her corset, paying special attention to caress the cleavage of her breasts as they became loosened from their restraint. Inching her hand inside her corset, exposing more of her pert breast to him, she seductively whispered, “Except for perhaps a man who would fantasize over someone as boring as Felicity to me.”

  Realizing that his manhood was enlarging, she continued to disrobe, sultrily gliding her hands over her midriff, and she gazed into his eyes wontedly. Seeing his desire for her increase she added. “You do recall how good we were together, don’t you James?”

  Shaking his head, he whispered huskily, “This changes nothing between us, Lavinia. On occasion, I may still find you erotically appealing. However, living with you has proven to be pure hell. I cannot bear the way it’s been between us and I refuse to live my life like this any longer.”

  “I agree wholeheartedly with you, darling. It’s been hell for me too! Watching you lust after that woman when all I ever wanted was you. Why I gave up my reputation, my standing in society, even my inheritance to be with you … Not just to have your name …” She paused to discard her camisole to her feet, revealing her bare breasts to him completely before continuing. “… But all of you, James, including your love and devotion.” Slipping out of her pantaloons with only her stockings on, she looked over at him, pleadingly. “Without your love James, I react badly and do such foolish things. Oh please, James, why can’t you love me like you once did?”

  Unable to resist her charms any longer, he reached for her and huskily pulled her naked body next to him. “Heaven help me, but I do love you, only you …” His words garbled between his ravenous kisses to her mouth while groping at her breasts.

  As his mouth trailed down her neck to her nipples, feeling his urgency heighten, she moaned, “Darling, take me to our bed so I can truly please you.”

  As James swooped her into his arms, Lavinia smiled victoriously, knowing she still had more power over him than Alfred did. Lying on their bed, Lavinia began caressing her inner thighs to entice him further and watched as he quickly undressed. Once his trousers were removed, James immediately, thrust his manhood deep inside her. While James satisfied his desires, Lavinia moaned periodically as if she were enjoying their oneness. Certain that he wanted Felicity now, since he never denied it, she callously planned her next move to destroy him, before he had a chance to destroy her.

  ~

  At the Honeycutt mansion, as the minutes passed into hours, Sarah kept silent vigil in the couple’s bedchamber. Intuitively she knew that Michael was still pacing the library floor waiting for Tad, just as he had every night that week. Like her husband, she too paced the floor, praying Michael would be able to come to terms with what had happened in the past so that all of their futures could be brighter.

  Knowing the torment Michael was putting himself through, blaming himself for his son’s radical behavior, Sarah desperately wanted to help ease his burden but knew this was something he had to work through on his own. Fighting his inner demon was not his only concern and she wondered how long Michael would be able to refrain from speaking his mind, watching his only child stagger in well past 4:00 a.m., reeking of alcohol, night after night.

  To keep herself busy, Sarah decided to catch up on correspondence with her friends back home, hoping to find some comfort in them since there was none to offer her or the man she loved.

  Within moments of opening her first letter from the Mason’s, her heart sank. Fairfax was besieged with such unthinkable changes in such a short time since the war had ended. The small ravaged town was now filled with Carpetbaggers from the north, strangers not accustomed to the southern way of life and furthermore, not interested in any of the traditions. These men were there for one purpose and that was to make sure that the traitors, whom they clearly despised, adhered to the new laws of the Union. Holding positions as judges and federal marshals, accountable for several towns in their jurisdiction, they were responsible to make changes immediately.

  All across the south, these men came into towns carrying carpetbags and stayed only long enough to determine new law and order, then moving on, leaving a path of uncertainty behind. Many newly appointed lawmen were hand-picked by these strangers to the communities. Their choice of who should hold positions of importance was based primarily on if they had ever pledged their allegiance to the rebel cause. Many were mere overseers or sharecroppers, now able to tell their past employers what to do.

  Even more shocking was that some of these newly-appointed lawmen were Negro men, educated from the north. Panic and hate flooded the hearts of the southern townsmen, no longer free to govern themselves since it was feared they may rise up again and rebel against the new laws.

  Lee’s troops were engaged in a new battle. However, this one was fought on no battlefield, using no weapons that could be seen. This attack was aimed at the very core of these prideful men and what they had fought so hard for to begin with. Men and women alike, who had suffered immensely from the war, were now in an invisible bondage, forced to adhere to the new laws as hate filled their hearts.

  Irma wrote of a new General Store that had opened up on Main Street filled with much needed household goods, staples and farming tools, along with new fabrics from up north. However, the prices of the goods were high. Many of the white families having no income, their fields barren, and no seeds to plant or no money or any valuables left to barter with, went without—leaving them with hate in their hearts as they watched others able to buy the things they so desperately needed. Many of whom were former slaves, who seemed to have more than the white families did. They were the ones being hired at the new establishments in Fairfax and in Centerville alike. Everyday, news came of white families leaving their properties to travel west, leaving everything behind to start fresh with only what they could carry.

  Oh dear, how awful, she thought, rubbing her eyes that were strained from the dim light of the room. Finding her place again, she read on and was shocked to find that Jessie now worked at the new General Store in town. Apparently, his salary was twice what Michael had been sending him and he had been seen around town with Clarisa, Gweneth and Noah’s former slave. Clarisa and Jessie were now living at the old Green’s homestead since the day following Lincoln’s assassination. The new Mayor gave Jessie ownership of the property now that the federal government owned this unclaimed property. Stunned, Sarah shook her head unable to comprehend such changes in such a short span of time.

  Why didn’t Jessie just ask us for more money? We would have gladly given it to him! What is poor Mammy doing with out him? Quickly she read that Jessie and Clarisa were expecting a child some time in the fall. Jessie and Clarisa, going to be parents? Oh poor Mammy must be heartsick, worried about her boy and his newfound freedom along with trying to take care of Doves Landing too.

  Painfully aware that the boy she helped raise was never one to hold his tongue being so willful, Sarah feared trouble would certainly find him, if he wasn’t already looking for it on his own. Closing her eyes, feeling hopeless, she said a prayer for her beloved former slaves and friends back home. Maybe I should retur
n … she thought, then as if answering her own question she said to herself. No! My husband needs me. I cannot leave him now. Please dear God help those I love back in Fairfax.

  Staring into the flickering light of the lamp, holding back the tears stinging at her eyes, Sarah knew that if Michael saw she had been crying, he would only worry more than he already was. For Michael’s sake I must be strong … she pledged.

  Redirecting her attention back to her letter, she discovered the remainder of the news was primarily about the girls at the school, and how every day or so another showed up at their doorstep—some from as far south as North Carolina—claiming they had nowhere else to go. There were now twenty-eight young girls at the school. Reading about the girls, Sarah whispered to herself, “Whew, Glenbrook sure isn’t quiet anymore.”

  The rest of the letter explained daily life at the school. And how fortunate they were that Lucas continued to send what money he could, making good on his promise to do so through the harvest when the fields should produce enough food for all of them to sustain the winter. Oh I hope you are right, dear friend, she thought while folding the letter neatly to show Michael later.

  Straining to hear and recognizing the familiar sounds of the rocking chair from the sitting room in the lower level of the home, Sarah leaned back in her chair, suddenly feeling very tired. Not giving into her heavy eyes, she thought, I wonder what time it is …

  Looking about the second-story bedchamber, she couldn’t help but notice how ominous the room looked. Shadows danced across the walls from the flames that flickered off the kerosene lamp. Feeling slightly uneasy and not willing to give into the temptation of having a good cry, she opened the next letter she held in her hand. Seeing the smudged edges of the folded paper in front of her brought a smile to her drawn face. This could only come from Verus Wiley. Peeling away the wax seal, she eagerly began reading his letter.