by Jane Peart
Every once in awhile her eyes sought Graham, but he seemed always to be either occupied in conversation or dancing. She saw him only once with Clarice, but even then she felt a cold fury. It sickened her that she should feel so hideous an emotion.
She had spent the rest of the evening dancing alternately with Jamison, Marshall, Logan, and Jamison’s host, Peyton Langley, who seemed quite intrigued with her. She had flirted and laughed at the silly jokes, the compliments, and banter. She had played the games and, as Becky pointed out, had not missed a single dance.
The flame of the night lamp on the mantelpiece flickered, making strange shadows on the wall. A log in the fireplace cracked and fell, sputtering in a burst of sparks. Eventually both lamp and fire went out, leaving the room in a darkness as deep as that she felt in her heart. Sleep still did not come, and Avril lay staring into the blackness until finally she slipped into troubled dreams.
New Year’s Day dawned gray and rainy. After breakfasting with Aunt Laura, during which Avril had to listen again to Becky waxing lyrical over the decorations, the food, the gay company at the party, they said their good-byes and set out for the long ride back to Montclair.
Riding along the cobbled streets of Williamsburg, then onto the winter-rutted country roads, Avril was noticeably silent. Graham cast several puzzled glances in her direction and valiantly carried the conversation with Becky as best he could. Avril’s friend, still miffed by her hostess’s attitude the night before, ignored her. Avril, feeling guilty, pleaded a possible cold coming on and huddled in her corner of the carriage all the way home.
The rain that had begun as a light drizzle in Williamsburg persisted throughout the ride, and when they reached Montclair at last, Avril was glad for the privacy of her own room, where she need not pretend a spriteliness she did not feel.
Cheered by the promise of another party at Cameron Hall the next afternoon, Becky went to put her hair up in rags, so as to look her prettiest for Marshall when she saw him again.
The next morning continued bleak and rainy when they breakfasted and prepared for the ride to Cameron Hall. It was a bone-chilling rain, and even with warm lap robes over their knees in the carriage, the girls were shivering from the cold. Almost as cold was the strained politeness between them.
But when they reached the Cameron plantation home, the atmosphere was so jolly and festive that they were soon caught up in the fun, forgetting their earlier estrangement. And by the time they were on their way back to Montclair, the coolness between them had been resolved, and though neither of them ever mentioned the incident that had precipitated their tiff, the two were soon back on their old amiable footing.
Friends should be friends forever, thought Avril with remorse, regretting her childish petulance, like my father and Graham. And she wondered what her fate might have been had they not signed that boyhood pact so long ago.
chapter
16
AVRIL STARED at the questions on her examination paper, then raised her head and looked out the window where the early spring day beckoned invitingly.
It was hard to concentrate when so many exciting things were happening. The most thrilling for Avril was the fact that Graham was coming to New Hope for her graduation. It would be his first visit here, and Avril was looking forward to his coming for more than one reason. She did want to show him around the campus, but more importantly, she wanted her friends to meet her handsome guardian!
Avril forced her attention from her daydreams. In order to graduate with honors, as Graham would expect, it was imperative that she do well on her final examinations.
She glanced over the questions. Graduates were examined on all the subjects they had studied. Under the heading of History, Avril read the first one: “How long has the United States been independent of Great Britain?” then wrote, “On the fourth of July, it will be thirty-seven years.” History, both world history and American history, was one of Graham’s avid interests, so Avril had taken pains to learn as much as possible in order to converse intelligently about great events of the past, especially those taking place in Virginia where his ancestors had been among the early settlers.
Avril completed this portion of the test with ease and went on to geography, which she found a little more difficult. She pondered the correct definition of “isthmus,” frowned and chewed on her pen over the instruction to “name the boundary between New Hampshire and Vermont,” then quickly scribbled in the name of “the most important city on the banks of the Danube.”
Arithmetic had never been a strong point and Avril squirmed, using her fingers and puckering her brow as she tried to “calculate the interest for 6 months on 475 dollars at 6 pr. ct.”
Avril paused, remembering how Graham had called her into his plantation office one day when he was going over the ledgers. He had pointed out the column indicating the income from the crops and the sale of some of the calves and tobacco, then the column itemizing expenditures, and had explained how one must wisely balance both so as not to operate at a loss. He had been very patient, very precise, but Avril had fidgeted, gazing longingly out the window toward the stable, where she knew Fancy would be waiting for a ride.
Then Graham had taken her by the chin and lifted it so his eyes, very clear and dark, were on a level with hers. “Listen to me, Avril. Someday you will be a very wealthy woman, so you must begin now to understand the importance of handling money wisely. There are unscrupulous people about, who, unless you are alert and knowledgeable, might manipulate, defraud, or otherwise cheat you. A great fortune is a great responsibility. It is your duty to guard it well.”
That was perhaps the first time Avril had been made truly aware of what she had known for some time—that when she became twenty-one she would be very rich. She had simply never considered the notion that she herself would be responsible for managing her inheritance.
Even that day, when Graham had tried to impress upon her the future task that would be hers, it did not seem real. Twenty-one seemed such a distant age and so remote from this moment. But this summer she would be a graduate of this institution—if she kept her mind on her studies a bit longer! After that, what then? She continued to muse, twiddling a russet strand of hair between two fingers.
“Is something wrong, Avril?” The voice of Dame Whitley, who was monitoring the examination, caused Avril to start and look up. She shook her head.
“Then you best get on with your work,” the teacher cautioned, pointing to the wall clock. “I will soon be collecting the papers.”
Avril ducked her head and set to work again. There was plenty of time to think about her fortune, to plan for the future. There wasn’t much time to finish her examination!
The last section was comprised of questions on religion. “How is faith accomplished?” Immediately Avril wrote down the words to a verse of Scripture from the book of Romans: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” and added the reference “(tenth chapter, seventeenth verse).” She thought a moment longer. Though the answer seemed simple, Avril had not found the living of the Christian life to be an easy matter. Acquiring a strong, sustaining faith involved struggle, she had learned. Even after that ecstatic first coming to the Lord, believing the gospel to be the truth, the reality she had been searching for, Avril knew she had not yet overcome certain unbecoming characteristics of her nature—and she thought of her resentment of Clarice Fontayne with a sinking heart.
She had often wished Mr. Lowe, the evangelist, would come to the Academy to preach again. Now that she had studied the Bible and memorized many of the Psalms, there were questions she wished to ask him. Do God’s promises stand the test? Are prayers really answered?
The headmistress told her once when she had asked about him that Mr. Lowe went “wherever the Lord leads,” and she could not tell Avril when that path would bring him next to New Hope.
Avril wished she could feel again that joy, that exhilaration she had experienced the day she had responded to the
altar call. She wondered what she would do about church attendance this summer at Montclair. It was too far to go in to Williamsburg every Sunday, though she always attended with Aunt Laura when she was there for a visit or shopping, sitting in the pew with an engraved brass plaque bearing the name “Barnwell” and opposite the one marked “Montrose.”
Perhaps if she asked him, Graham would go with her. He also attended services when they were in Williamsburg, but never mentioned it otherwise. He seemed thoughtful during the sermons, but Avril did not know whether he was moved by them or ever gave them a second thought.
There the services were nothing like the fiery exhortations given by Mr. Lowe, urging the hearers to repentance, often accompanied by tears of remorse. Instead, the sermons were short, usually cheerful, the singing pleasant but certainly not spirited.
Avril sighed and turned to the last few questions. She had just completed the last of them when Dame Whitley tapped the warning bell and began gathering the examination papers.
Within a few days the results of all tests were posted and Avril and Becky found their names on the list of students to be graduated.
The following week was a whirl of preparations for the big day. Becky’s family was coming en masse, and as the girls got ready for the occasion there was much excitement.
“You know, Avril, Jamie arranged to take his examinations early in order to be here. Mostly to see you, I expect!” she teased.
Since Christmas Avril had regularly received letters from Jamison Buchanan, Esq., postmarked Williamsburg, where he was in his third year at William & Mary.
Avril pretended shock. “Not at all! He told me he had to see with his own eyes the miracle of your passing your examinations and actually being graduated from this institution of higher learning!”
“Oh, you!” exclaimed Becky, aiming a patchwork pillow unerringly at her roommate. This initiated a furious exchange of pillows, petticoats, and stocking balls and ended in leaving both girls breathless, laughing, and collapsing on their beds.
When she could speak again, Becky sat up, her round, flushed face serious, and said plaintively, “Oh, Avril! I shall miss you so! What in the world will I ever do without you? You’ve been like the sister I never had and always longed for! I shall be desolate!”
Then her eyes widened as if with sudden inspiration. “Oh, Avril, why don’t you marry Jamie? I know he adores you! Then you could come and live at Woodlawn and we’d truly be sisters!”
Avril regarded Becky’s eager face, tempted to tell this dear friend the truth about the legal union between herself and Graham that precluded the thought of a marriage for several years. But only the two lawyers, Judge and Mrs. Cameron, and Avril and Graham knew of that secret ceremony that had taken place in the drawing room at Montclair. Six witnesses to a well-kept secret that had given Graham trusteeship of her inheritance as his wife. A vast inheritance she had come to understand.
She knew Graham had made several trips to Natchez over the years, telling her only that he must see to her property. Often he had seemed worried before he left, but upon his return he would tell Avril that matters had improved or had been corrected. Sometimes she had the feeling that some danger threatened. But most of the time she soon forgot about any problems. Graham was in charge, after all, and he would manage. He always had, hadn’t he?
If Avril were about to waver and confide in Becky, she was interrupted by a knock at the door, and one of the younger girls entered to deliver a package for her.
It was the first of many graduation gifts, and Becky was as excited as Avril when she opened it. It was a sterling silver toilette set—mirror, brush, and comb, with sculptured intertwined roses on the backs and the initials A.D.
Inside was a card from Graham, giving the date of his arrival in New Hope. But Avril did not know how to interpret the last bit of news: “I’ll be bringing along a surprise.” chapter 17
chapter
17
“I WONDER what Graham’s surprise can be?” Avril was to ask Becky many times in the days that followed.
Of course she did not really expect an answer, but her anticipation mounted as the date of his coming neared. Once they had received the results of their final examinations and knew they would graduate, the girls were free to spend their time in preparation for the many events of graduation week.
For the graduating students many of the Academy’s rules were bent and they were given permission to shop in New Hope in the afternoons while the younger girls were still in class.
Graham’s letter had suggested that, on the evening of his arrival, she should join him for dinner at the Inn, where he would be staying. All the graduates had similar plans to meet with family and friends, as long as they were back at the Academy by nine. The Buchanans would be arriving, too, and both girls talked endlessly of what they would wear for that momentous event.
After months of wearing the required uniforms, the idea of dressing in a pretty frock was appealing. Avril especially wanted to look stylish and mature when Graham saw her, for more depended on this reunion than she cared to admit, even to herself.
She had tried on her chosen outfit for Becky in a kind of dress rehearsal and had been pronounced “perfect.” But as she dressed that evening, she examined her reflection in the mirror critically, trying to see herself as Graham would see her.
Her dress was of pale yellow, ribbed fabric, fashioned with a pelerine-effect bodice, and long, puffed sleeves, tied at the wrists with lilac satin bows.
On impulse she had purchased a wide-brimmed leghorn hat of canary-colored straw, trimmed with silk pansies and lilac streamers. Finally she confessed to Becky that she had “gone completely mad” with the addition of lilac kid gloves and soft yellow moroccan leather shoes.
Her heart was thumping wildly as she entered the front parlor of New Hope Inn. Halting on the threshold, Avril looked for Graham. Then she saw him coming toward her, and she felt faint.
How elegant he is, she thought breathlessly. How distinguished! The well-fitting dark broadcloth jacket, blue cravat, striped waistcoat, buff trrousers were enhanced by his erect carriage. There were a few silver strands threaded through the dark, wavy hair, some new lines around the deep-set eyes. But the classic, aristocratic features in the lean face, tanned from his days outdoors, were the same. Graham was still the most intriguingly handsome man she had ever known.
As he came toward her, his expression aglow with pleasure, Avril’s throat went suddenly dry. She felt warmth rise into her cheeks and she stood quite still, unable to move. Graham held out both his hands and numbly she placed her small, gloved ones into them.
His eyes swept over her, taking in every detail, and she held her breath unconsciously waiting for his comment.
“If you aren’t a picture!” he said, gazing at her.
So aware of his nearness and her own reawakened feelings for him, Avril felt her composure slipping away, and to her horror, instead of accepting his compliment with gracious coolness, she stammered childishly, “Do you really like it? It isn’t too much—too gaudy, perhaps?”
She could have bitten her tongue the minute the words were out of her mouth. He must think her iane!
But Graham merely chuckled and slipped her arm through his, patting her hand reassuringly. “Not at all! You look utterly charming. Now, come, as a special treat I’ve arranged for us to take our supper in a private dining room.”
A private dining room! Avril’s feet barely touched the floor as they walked arm in arm through the lobby and up the stairs.
A waiter, standing at a closed door at the top of the stairway, smiled and bowed as they reached the landing, then opened the door with a flourish.
Graham stepped back to allow Avril to precede him. Just as she started through, she heard a chorus of voices. “Surprise! Surprise!”
Three familiar laughing faces came into view—Auntie May, Logan, and Marshall Cameron! Her initial confusion was quickly followed by dismay. It took all her power to
disguise her disappointment and feign an enthusiastic happy response when her heart was breaking inside.
“You didn’t think we would let you graduate with only one person to applaud and cheer as you received your honors, did you?” asked Auntie May. “So when I suggested we come along, Graham thought it a grand idea.”
For weeks Avril had dreamed of her reunion with Graham, looked forward to spending precious time alone with him. Now it was slipping out of her grasp. Her surprise was so genuine that the other emotions she was struggling to hide went unnoticed in the laughter and animated conversation going on around her.
They all seemed so pleased with themselves for bringing off such a feat that Avril had trouble holding back tears of frustration. Logan and Marshall were in high form and the table talk was spritely, full of teasing jokes and lively witticisms. In a way, Avril was relieved that she did not have to force any of her own, since all that was required of her was to smile and nod in response.
Even when dinner was over, there was no chance to see Graham alone on the short walk back to the Academy, as Logan and Marshall Cameron, hoping for a glimpse of Rebecca Buchanan, had asked to accompany them.
Upon entering the visitors’ parlor, they found Becky returning with her family from their evening together. At once Jamison was at Avril’s side, open adoration on his face.
Graham was introduced to the Buchanans, while Marshall and Logan lost no time in renewing their acquaintance with Becky. With still a half-hour remaining until curfew, the Buchanans immediately engaged Graham in a discussion of education for young ladies, to Avril’s added irritation. Becky, looking particularly fetching in her new blue dress and bonnet, at once caught the combined attentions of the Cameron brothers, thus leaving Jamison without competition for Avril.