She bounced him and walked him back and forth across the nursery floor until finally, Cat hurried in, disheveled, her dress torn at the collar. “I’m sorry, Miss Maddy.”
Madeline observed the slightly swollen lip and the purple bruise on her right cheek, and her heart nearly stopped. Henry had become a monster. She handed over the baby and slipped her arm about Cat’s shoulders. “It’s all right. He’s hungry, but not starving to death.”
With a nod, Cat moved to her cot.
The baby’s cries stopped the instant he was put to his mother’s breast. Madeline smiled as he suckled and cooed, euphoric in Cat’s arms. “He’s a dear, isn’t he?”
A light glimmered in Cat’s eyes. “He’s perfect. I never thought I’d. . .” She broke off her sentence, but kept her loving gaze on baby Henry’s face.
“Oh, Cat. I’m so sorry you’ve had to give him up to me, though I love him dearly.”
“It’s all right. He’s better off being raised as a white boy.”
“I’ll make sure he knows who his real mother is.”
A frown creased Cat’s brow. “He mustn’t know. Not until after he’s received his proper inheritance.” She took Madeline’s hand. “Please, Miss Maddy. Promise me we will never speak of this again. Henry is your son. Yours and the master’s. He’s a white boy and will grow to be a white man.”
“It’s so unfair.”
“But Henry Jr. will be luckier than most boys. He’ll be loved by two mothers. Please. It’s how I want it to be.”
As Madeline returned her steady gaze, a bond formed between them. A bond that went beyond mother and daughter, mistress and slave. They were two women united in motherhood of one small boy and the commitment to make him greater than either could have accomplished alone.
1948
Andy closed the journal and gave a short laugh. So Miss Penbrook had a partly colored little brother. Did she know what her mother’s diaries revealed? He stood and stretched his back. What would it do to the pride of Oak Junction to learn that their most prominent citizen had a Negro brother raised as a white man? He could just imagine the outcry. But that wasn’t his affair. He was more than ready to get his story and get out of Georgia.
The Purdues had invited him to eat dinner with them again. And since water still stood in the streets from the two-day onslaught of rain, he accepted rather than ruining another pair of shoes.
He glanced at the clock and noted it was too early for dinner. Only four o’clock. Mrs. Purdue had instructed him to be downstairs and ready to eat at 6:30 sharp. He groaned as his stomach rumbled. After staying up all night, he’d skipped breakfast in lieu of sleep and hadn’t awakened until after lunch. That meant he hadn’t eaten in almost twenty-four hours, and he was famished.
Just as he was trying to decide whether or not to brave the ankle-deep water outside and grab a licorice stick from the grocery store across the street, he heard a tap on the door.
Standing, he opened the door.
He gulped when he found Ella smiling back at him, a pile of linens in her arms. “Hey, Yankee boy. Miz Purdue says I should see if you want your room straightened and your sheets changed.”
“Uh, I’m not sure.” He glanced at the journals and notebooks spread out on the bed.
“Come on, now. How about letting me do my job?”
“I guess so.” He opened the door wider and drew a sharp breath as she brushed by him, filling his senses with the sweet fragrance of her perfume. Ella glided to the bed, hips swaying. “You really are a writer, aren’t you?” She grinned up at him. “To tell you the truth, I thought you were just trying to impress me. Now I’m not sure whether to be disappointed or not.”
Gathering his wits about him, Andy couldn’t help returning the infectious, toothy grin. “Here,” he said, stepping toward the bed. “Let me get those things off of there so you can work.”
Ella grabbed one of the open notebooks he’d been using to take notes from the journals. She whistled as she glanced at the writings. “Penbrook? Don’t tell me you’re writing about rich, white Miz Penbrook?”
“That’s exactly what I’m doing.” Andy couldn’t hold back a stupid grin. It had been awhile since a woman had regarded him with this sort of admiration. It fit his ego’s need pretty well at the moment.
“Whoo-ee, how’d you manage that?”
Taking the notebook, he shook his head. “Who knows? I guess the old lady took a liking to me.”
“Well, if you ask me, you’ve been working too much. Don’t you know you have to take some time off every now and then?”
“Now you sound like my wife.” He carried an armload of books to a small table next to the window. He sat in the single chair as though guarding the journals.
A short, throaty laugh escaped Ella’s lips. “Well, now, no one has ever compared me to a wife before. But in this case, your woman is right.” She pulled the covers off the bed and tossed them to the floor. Andy averted his gaze as she crawled across the bare mattress and pulled the sheets free. “Tell me, Andy,” she said, “when was the last time you went out on the town and had yourself a good time?”
Andy glanced up and, to his relief, she stood facing him, brows raised as she awaited his answer.
Andy allowed himself to be drawn into what he knew to be a trap. “Too long.”
A light glimmered in Ella’s eyes and a slow smile stretched her mouth. “How about letting me take you to the best swing club this side of Atlanta?”
Andy hesitated. It could be innocent enough. It wasn’t like she was suggesting a date or a night in a motel. Still. . .
He sat, a refusal poised on his lips. Then he saw her press her lips together as she watched him, and suddenly, he didn’t want to disappoint her. “I’ll consider it.”
She smiled and gathered up the dirty linens. “That’s better than a no. You can decide and let me know at supper. Unless. . .” She turned at the doorway. “Unless you’d like to grab a bite to eat before we go to Georgie’s club?”
His empty stomach urged him to say yes. But that sounded a little too much like a date for comfort. Andy tilted his head and flashed her the sort of grin he knew women liked. “I already told Mrs. Purdue I’d be here for supper.”
Disappointment clouded her features, but she rallied quickly and returned his smile. “Another time, maybe?”
“Maybe.” Hopefully, he’d be able to finish his research and get home within a couple of days. “I’ll let you know.”
Ella gave him a knowing glance that said she realized he was trying to find a way to escape her charms. With a satisfied smile, she stepped out and closed the door behind her.
Andy shook his head and decided to grab an early bath. Twenty minutes later he emerged, feeling more relaxed, more refreshed, and slightly more human. As he walked down the hall back to his room, he pulled his watch from his pocket. 5:30. Lexie should be home from her cleaning job at the Bells’s. Deciding to go ahead and call brought a smile to his lips.
“Too bad that smile’s not for me, Yankee boy.” Ella came out of one of the rooms carrying an armful of dirty linens, stopping Andy dead in his tracks.
He stiffened, guilt washing over him at the very thought of calling Lexie when he was contemplating having a night on the town with this woman. He had to settle that right now.
“Ella, I’m going to have to pass on the club. I think I’d better finish what I came to do and get back home to my wife.”
She opened her mouth, but before she could protest, Andy smiled. “I hope you understand.”
“Shoot, of course I do. But that don’t mean I’m not disappointed.” She shrugged. “Well, you still have a couple of hours. If you change your mind, just let me know. I won’t call Leroy until I’m sure you won’t decide to come along after all.” Giving him no opportunity to reply, she brushed past him and moved down the hall.
Andy had to smile at her efforts as he sauntered back to his room to drop off his dirty clothes. Still, Ella would have to accept
his refusal. She was too much of a temptation and he couldn’t risk taking her up on what she had to offer.
The house seemed unusually quiet when he stepped down the stairs. Mouthwatering smells drifted from the kitchen, making his stomach growl loud enough for him to hear.
Pushing aside thoughts of his hunger, he dialed the operator, mentally calculating how much it was going to cost him to call long distance every day. All thoughts of money spent fled when the connection went through and he heard Lexie’s voice.
“Hi, it’s me.”
“Andy?” she sounded breathless and surprised.
“Did I catch you at a bad time? You fixing supper or something?”
“I just walked in the door a few minutes ago. June and Petey and the girls are here for dinner.”
“Hey, Robert.” Andy heard a child’s voice on the other end of the line. “It’s my turn for a piggyback ride!”
“Robert?” Anger seized him, and his stomach clenched, squeezing the breath from him. “Robert Kline?”
“Andy, don’t overreact.”
Her calm voice heated his blood. “You think I’m overreacting?”
“Robert just came over to--”
“I know exactly what that guy came over to do. I don’t know what he said he came over for. But I think you and I both know what he wants.”
“Oh, Andy, really. . .” But her tone said it all. She knew she was playing with fire by not telling that guy to shove off.
Jealousy lit a fire inside Andy. “Are you keeping him sniffing around for insurance, just in case I don’t come through for you?” Here he’d been keeping himself away from other women for her. For a year. And she had the gall to let that rat come around? Lord, he felt like a fool.
“You’re acting like a child.” She lowered her voice. “I can’t discuss this right now. Mama’s kitchen is in chaos and she needs my help with supper.”
“Is Robert staying?”
“Yes. The least I could do was invite him for supper after he carried my groceries home for me.”
The image of Robert sitting at his place at his mother-in-law’s supper table while Lexie poured him coffee and brought him dessert nearly overwhelmed Andy, forming a knot in his gut the size of a baseball.
“If you can’t respect my wishes about that idiot, we have nothing more to discuss,” he said, the tension in his throat reducing his words to barely more than a whisper.
“What did you say? I couldn’t hear you?”
“I said good-bye, Lexie.”
He hung up the phone, stunned that Lexie would blatantly disregard his wishes about Robert. Any man who would weasel his way into another man’s life when he was off trying to provide a decent living wasn’t worth his salt as far as Andy was concerned. The fact that Lexie couldn’t see through him escaped Andy’s realm of understanding. For crying out loud, the guy was giving his nieces piggyback rides? How transparent did he need to be for her to see him for what he truly was?
Without heading back upstairs, Andy made his way to the kitchen. Mrs. Purdue scurried about, giving orders to her two oldest daughters, whom Andy remembered from the day before. Ella turned toward him, a serving dish in her hands. She remained silent, but smiled her slow smile. Andy’s blood warmed.
“Oh, Mr. Carmichael,” said a breathless Mrs. Purdue. “Supper isn’t quite ready yet.”
“Anything I can do to help?”
“How sweet. But no, thank you. We have it under control. Go ahead and sit and have some coffee while we finish up. Ella, pour Mr. Carmichael a cup, will you?”
“My pleasure, Miz Purdue.”
Andy sat, trying not to watch the sway of Ella’s hips as she sashayed to the cabinet, took down a cup, and filled it with steaming coffee.
She kept her eyes fixed on his as she walked the short distance from the counter to the table. He knew he should feel guilty, wanted to turn away and pretend she didn’t exist, but the image of Robert and Lexie flashed through his mind like a motion picture. He allowed Ella’s hand to brush his as she set the cup down, then he looked up at her and smiled.
*****
A sense of foreboding washed over Lexie as she hung up the phone. A foolish woman tears her house apart with her own hands.
Her temper flared at the recalled words. Mama always took Andy’s side. In eleven years of marriage, he had been away chasing assignments more than he had been home--practically. And when he wasn’t chasing assignments, he was chasing other women. What about a man neglecting his wife, huh? What about a husband tearing down his house with his own hands? Besides, no one had the kind of fairy-tale romance Mama and Pop had.
“Everything okay, Lexie-girl?” The deep voice came so close behind her, Lexie could feel Robert’s hot breath against her neck.
She cleared her throat and stepped away quickly. “Everything’s fine. Andy misses me real bad.” With forced cheerfulness, she moved to the counter to unload her groceries. “I swear, he’ll be so glad when he makes editor and doesn’t have to travel anymore.”
He gave her a lazy smile. “Can’t say I’ll be too happy when that day comes.”
Alone in the hallway, Lexie felt the forbidden pleasure of attraction for a man who was not her husband. His closeness sent fingers of excitement blazing a trail up her spine. She shook off the feeling and stepped back. “Listen, Robert, I don’t mean to be rude, but I think I’m going to have to ask you to leave without supper. Andy wasn’t too happy about your being here.”
“Sure thing, Lexie-girl.”
Lexie stepped around the counter and preceded him down the hall. When they reached the door, he donned his hat. “Call me if you need me for anything while your husband is off doing what he loves most.”
Lexie stiffened and reached for the door. He caught her wrist and pulled her toward him. “If you were my woman, there’s no way I’d leave your bed for even one night.”
Warmth radiated from him and Lexie trembled at his nearness. “Robert, please. . .don’t.”
He towered above her slight frame, and when he leaned closer, Lexie felt as though she were being engulfed in a wave of warmth. The feeling both excited and terrified her. She tried to summon the image of Andy’s face, but everything was a blur except Robert, who stood close enough that if he moved an inch, his lips would be on hers. How long had it been since she’d felt wanted? Desired as a woman? How long since she’d felt the press of soft, thick lips against hers? Lips that trailed to her neck and ignited the sort of passion that led them to the bedroom?
“Lexie?” Mama’s voice preceded her presence in the front hallway. Robert stepped back.
With a relieved sigh, Lexie shrugged and grinned up at Robert. His amused expression warmed her. . .and worried her. If he had been upset by the interruption, she could have despised him, but his good-humored acceptance made him all the more appealing.
“Good-bye, Robert.” She opened the door, then moved aside while he stepped across the threshold.
“Good-bye, Lexie-girl.” He tossed her that award-winning smile. “Your husband has every reason to be worried, because I mean to have you for myself.”
Before Lexie could respond, he tipped his hat, shoved his hands inside the pockets of his pleated slacks, and exited the house, whistling to himself.
Christmas Eve, 1861
Thomas is here at last. My joy in seeing him is marred by my present circumstances, but I cannot help but glory in his presence. Of course, I will have no opportunity to be alone with Thomas during his family’s week-long stay, but I hope to catch a glimpse of him from time to time.
Camilla is determined to have Thomas for herself, but I believe it is only to spite me. I pretend I don’t care. . .but I do. She will never love him the way I do. There isn’t enough love in her heart to warm a flea, let alone a man like Thomas. I hope and, yes, even pray that Thomas will not be fooled by her ruse. I wish for him to fall in love with a woman who truly loves him the way I do. But I cannot say these things to my beloved. When he sees me
again, he will be ashamed at what I’ve become. But he is not alone, for I nearly die of shame daily.
Chapter Five
A haze of smoke hovered over the table in the club, providing just the right atmosphere for Andy’s foul mood. He swallowed down his third shot of whiskey. This time the amber liquid didn’t burn quite so much. Either that or he was becoming numb. He preferred the latter. He wanted to become so numb he couldn’t hear the sound of Lexie’s voice screaming in his mind.
It’s your fault, Andy. You left me alone when I needed you. You drove me into the arms of another man.
Robert’s image gave him a taunting smile just before he buried his face in the tender curve of Lexie’s neck. Andy growled and drained another shot.
“Honey, you’re going to have to stop thinking so much.”
He blinked at the sound of Ella’s voice. He’d forgotten she was even there. With a lazy smile she kept her eyes focused on his and leaned forward to light her cigarette from the candle on the table. His gaze flickered to her revealing neckline and then settled on her lips. They puckered slightly as a trail of smoke escaped and curled seductively into the air. She put the cigarette in the ashtray and smiled.
“Come on,” she said softly, her smoldering eyes inviting. “Let’s dance.” She stood as though taking no for an answer was completely out of the question.
Andy allowed her to pull him up. Blood rushed to his head and he made a quick grab for the table to steady himself.
“Easy there, Yankee boy.”
She took his hand and led him toward the dance floor. The band played while the singer crooned Embraceable You in a poor imitation of Nat King Cole. Andy stumbled on the slight step-up to the dance floor and collided with a hard body.
The Color Of The Soul (The Penbrook Diaries) Page 7