Under the Tulip Poplar

by Diane Ashley

  A heavy hand slapped the gold braiding on his shoulder. He turned to face a short man with a gray fringe of hair and mustache to match.

  “I’m Colonel James Lewis, Captain. And I’m pleased to finally get to say thank you for the mighty fine thing you did.”

  Asher shook the man’s hand and introduced himself, noting the colonel’s navy blue uniform with wide lapels and an impressive number of colorful medals. He wondered if Colonel Lewis was a seasoned soldier or a politician who had only recently donned his uniform. Either way, it had taken all of them to route the British.

  A slight movement brought his attention back to the pretty girl standing to the right of the colonel. “It is my hope that you will formally introduce me to the lovely lady, sir.”

  “Of course it is.” The colonel puffed out his chest. “All the young men want to meet my daughter.”

  Asher was again reminded of the chicken yard, this time of the strutting pride of a rooster.

  “Captain Landon, I would like you to meet my daughter, Alexandra Lewis.” He drew her forward. “Alexandra, Captain Asher Landon.”

  Asher bowed and reached for her hand, holding it gently as he kissed the air some two inches above her elbow-length glove.

  “Captain Landon, thank you so much for saving me that day. I have told Mama and Papa that I would surely have perished if not for your gallantry.”

  Asher straightened and patted her hand. “You exaggerate, Miss Lewis. I did nothing more than any other gentleman would do when in the same circumstances.”

  “I beg to differ.” Colonel Lewis reached into the breast pocket of his coat and withdrew a square of white. “Here is my card. Come see me at the general’s headquarters in a few days. I believe I may have use for a young man whose heart is in the right place.”

  “Thank you, sir. It will be my pleasure.”

  “Yes, good. But for now, you young people enjoy yourselves.” He shooed his daughter in Asher’s general direction.

  Asher held his hand out to her. “If you would be so kind. . .”

  Alexandra put her hand in his, and he thought it trembled slightly.

  He smiled to alleviate her discomfort. It was easy to understand why such a young miss should feel a little overwhelmed. “It is good to see you recovered from your. . .” He hesitated, searching for the right word.

  “Stupidity.” Alexandra’s gaze dropped toward the slender skirt of her gown.

  Asher stood opposite her on the dance floor, wondering how to alleviate her embarrassment without condoning her behavior that afternoon. Of course, it wasn’t his place to chastise Alexandra, but he thought how he would like for his younger sister, Mary, to be treated in a similar situation. Or Rebekah. But what foolishness. Even though Rebekah and Alexandra were probably about the same age, his Rebekah would never be so imprudent as to wander city streets alone. What would she say to Alexandra? She would be gracious and kind, of course.

  “I was going to say ‘adventure.’ ” He was rewarded when her sparkling gaze swept upward to meet his. It felt good to know he was responsible for the tentative smile that curved her lips. Rebekah would be proud of him for easing Alexandra’s discomfort. He bowed to her curtsy as required by the French contra dance and concentrated on presenting a polished appearance on the dance floor.

  The gossamer material of Alexandra’s rose gown swept his legs as they turned in unison. He placed a hand on her waist and stepped forward, then took two steps back. They faced each other again. “I cannot believe how many people have come tonight.”

  “Yes, and they are still arriving.”

  Asher followed the direction of her gaze. A press of people stood at the top of the staircase. He wondered if the ballroom would be able to hold all of them.

  ❧

  Candles lit every corner of the ballroom, their light reflected on the mirrored walls. Rebekah’s eyes drank in the sight of the graceful dancers. The twirling dresses of the ladies looked like a multihued rose garden swaying in a gentle wind. Even the men on the dance floor were colorful. Some wore evening dress—long coats and starched white shirts—but many were in uniforms from the different battalions who had come together to fight under General Jackson’s leadership. Some of the uniforms were green, some blue, and she even saw one man in a white uniform. It was nearly more than she could comprehend as she descended the grand staircase with Aunt Dolly.

  The musicians ended their song as she reached the bottom of the staircase, and she saw Asher standing tall and handsome in his uniform. Her Asher. The man who loved her. How blessed she was to hold his affection. Happiness, pride, excitement, and anticipation all burst open inside her like fireworks in the nighttime sky.

  Rebekah moved toward him as if drawn by an unseen hand. It might not be seemly, but she wanted to feel his embrace. She looked for the same feelings to be mirrored in his expression, but instead she saw confusion on his handsome face.

  “Asher?” She stopped a few feet short of him, suddenly uncertain of herself, of him, of reality. Instead of rushing toward her in excitement and wonder, he was still standing in the same place.

  And who was the woman standing right next to him? She was everything Rebekah was not—tall, poised, and exotically beautiful. She looked very womanly and very certain of herself. Her hair sparkled like polished mahogany in the glow of the candles. Her pink ball gown was cut low across her chest, showing far too much skin to be considered respectable back home in Nashville.

  Rebekah could not believe how she had fretted over the fit of her own gown. It was about as revealing as a flour sack when compared to the straight skirts of the other woman’s gown. Why the dress was so short, she imagined that the other woman’s ankles could be seen if she dared to dance. Did Asher now find that sort of woman attractive?

  Her gaze searched his face. Was he even the same person she’d fallen in love with? He looked so different. His face was tanned from exposure to the Southern sun, and his shoulders looked twice as wide as they’d been the last time she saw him. That day at the farm might as well have been more than a decade ago rather than a little over a year.

  Rebekah drew a deep breath. “Excuse me. I. . .I thought you were s–someone I knew.” She turned on her heel and pushed her way through the crowd. She refused to let him see how he’d torn her heart in two.

  “Rebekah! Rebekah, come back.”

  She heard his voice, but she could not turn back. After all of her dreams and expectations, she wanted nothing more than to leave. She wanted to leave this house, this town, this foreign world, and travel back to a place and time where everything had been right.

  Her blurry vision led her into the wide hallway. To her left, incoming guests crowded the entryway, so Rebekah turned right. She had only gotten a dozen paces away from the ballroom when a hand clamped itself onto her shoulder.

  “Rebekah.” It was Asher’s voice. He spun her around and pulled her shoulders against him.

  Rebekah felt like the rag doll she’d played with as a child—floppy with no backbone. Hot tears burned her eyes and trickled down her cheeks. She could feel one of his hands patting her on the back, while the other smoothed the material at her shoulder. After a few minutes the tears slowed, then ceased entirely. The crushing disappointment was still there, but it had turned into a block of winter ice and frozen around her heart. “How could you?”

  “How could I what?” His voice was the same as she remembered, but the man in front of her seemed more a stranger than her dearest betrothed.

  Of course they weren’t really betrothed. They had an understanding between them, but Asher had never approached her pa. Maybe now she knew why.

  “We are as good as promised. How could you betray me with that. . .that woman?”

  The face which had once been more familiar to her than her own lost its frown. One corner of his mouth turned up in the crooked smile that she remembered so well. “Don’t be silly, Rebekah. She’s just a girl I met and shared a dance with.”

  �
��Just a girl. . .” Rebekah could hear the tremble in her voice. She took a deep breath to steady it. “You were so focused on her that you didn’t recognize me. She is obviously more—”

  “Oh Rebekah, you’re exaggerating the whole thing. It’s a simple misunderstanding. I helped her a couple of weeks ago, and she told her pa, who insisted that we dance. Of course I recognized you, but it was such a shock to see you here that it took me a moment to react.”

  He seemed earnest. Rebekah searched his eyes for some clue, some hint of deception. This was not how she had imagined their reunion at all, but suddenly her heart began to thump wildly. It was a giddy feeling, being so close to him after all this time. And he might have changed, but he was still the same where it counted, wasn’t he? He did still love her—she could see it in his face.

  Asher reached into his coat pocket and produced a handkerchief that he used to gently dab at her cheeks. “All better now?”

  Rebekah nodded. She stood still and let him minister to her. It felt so wonderful, just the way she had known it would. Everything was going to be okay. They were together now, and she would not allow anything to come between them again.

  “Asher? Asher, what’s wrong? Why did you leave the ball—”

  Rebekah sprang away from her beloved as if he had suddenly sprouted porcupine quills. Asher turned to face the woman, shielding Rebekah as she composed herself.

  “Alexandra, I didn’t mean to worry you. It’s just that I saw someone I had not expected to see. Please allow me to introduce someone very special to me. In fact, she is the woman who holds my heart. . .Miss Rebekah Taylor.”

  Rebekah stepped to one side and looked at the woman who had started the whole thing. Now that she saw her up close, she realized that the woman was even more beautiful than she had first thought. Although Asher’s words should have reassured her, she couldn’t help wondering what he could see in her if a woman like this was pursuing him.

  “Rebekah”—Asher’s voice wrapped around her like a blanket—“I want you to meet the daughter of one of our officers, Miss Alexandra Lewis.”

  “Hello, Miss Taylor.” The woman’s voice had a curious twist. Wonderful. Even her sultry voice hinted at hidden secrets.

  “Miss Lewis.” Rebekah nodded her head in acknowledgment of the introduction.

  “I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you around here, Miss Taylor.”

  Asher cleared his throat. “Rebekah, I’ve never been more shocked than when I realized you were in New Orleans. When did you arrive? How did you get here? Who is chaperoning you?”

  Rebekah felt like the two of them were attacking her. Her head was still trying to sort out the facts while her heart had been wrung out like laundry. “I. . .we. . .Aunt Dolly. . .I mean Dolly and Rachel. . .yesterday. We got here yesterday. We came down by boat because General Jackson sent for his wife and son.”

  She intercepted a glance between Asher and the other woman. What did it mean? She put a hand to her head. “I’m afraid I’m overwrought. Perhaps—”

  “Rebekah,” another voice interrupted her, “where have you gotten off to, child? Your parents would skin me alive if I didn’t keep an eye on you and your young. . .” Dolly’s voice trailed off as she took in the three of them.

  Rebekah handed Asher’s handkerchief back to him and lifted her skirt slightly. “I’m coming, Dolly.” She turned to go, but Asher held his arm out. She had to either ignore him or accept his escort. And if she didn’t accept his arm, would he offer it to her?

  Rebekah’s hand virtually flew to his arm, and she allowed Asher to lead her into the ballroom, while she was left to follow behind.

  Six

  Dolly sat at the window seat, her fingers tracing the dog-eared edges of the magazine in her lap. “It’s so difficult to keep up with the latest fashions since The Lady’s Miscellany stopped publication.”

  “I know, but perhaps they will resume printing their magazine now that the war is over.” Rebekah didn’t think her aunt’s complaint had anything to do with clothing styles. “How are you feeling?”

  Dolly smiled, but it was a weak gesture. “I must be getting too old for all this gadding about.”

  “I’m glad we turned down the invitation to breakfast. It gives us time to rest.” Rebekah folded a blouse and placed it on top of the skirt. The past weeks had been filled with activities. Fancy breakfasts drifting into fancier luncheons. Afternoon soirees on the banks of the Mississippi. Then quick naps to keep up their strength and off again to attend a ceremonial ball or formal dinner party.

  It was no wonder her aunt looked so worn out. They both needed to get back to Nashville where life made more sense. The Jackson family had left several days ago, but Aunt Dolly’s cough had been so bad that they had decided to remain an extra week in the hopes that the weather would be more salutary during their journey.

  “Rest? You’re working harder than most maids I’ve hired.”

  “I don’t mind, Dolly. Not if it means we’ll be able to leave soon.”

  Paper crinkled as Dolly flipped the pages in her magazine. “I know our accommodations are not the best, but are you so miserable here?”

  “Not miserable. . .but I do miss home. And I have to admit I wouldn’t care if I never saw another lady’s fan again.” Rebekah rolled her eyes, pleased when her aunt laughed. In their months together, they had forged a friendship she treasured. Sometimes she had to remind herself that Dolly was her ma’s sister—she seemed closer to Rebekah’s age than her ma’s.

  “I know what you mean.” Dolly’s voice interrupted her musings. “It is amazing, though, how much use we get from them.” She fanned her fingers in front of her mouth and fluttered her eyelids as if flirting with an imaginary beau.

  Rebekah giggled at her aunt’s posturing. “That’s precisely my point.”

  “Are you sure your displeasure is with all the ladies we’ve met?” Her aunt sent a pointed gaze her direction. “Or is there one particular miss who has gained your ire?”

  Rebekah could feel the blush heating her cheeks. Was it so obvious? She could have happily pulled out every dark hair on Miss Alexandra Lewis’s head for spending so much time trying to capture Asher’s attention. Rebekah had tried and tried to bury her resentment, but it was beyond her ability to do so. “It’s just that I hardly ever get to see Asher. And those Lewises seem to be at every party we attend.”

  “They are very well received,” her aunt agreed. “You must know that Captain Landon only has eyes for you, no matter how much that young lady throws herself at him.”

  Rebekah shook her head. “Asher says he only spends time with her family because her pa is close to the general and has promised to help him attain a promotion.”

  “I see nothing wrong with that. He is obviously looking out for the future, a future that he wishes to share with you.”

  “If that is the real reason, then it seems he would also spend time with us. After all, Rachel is the general’s wife. Winning her admiration would probably advance him faster than the efforts of some pretentious local planter.”

  Dolly tsked her disapproval. “You are not very charitable toward Colonel Lewis. He and his wife are well connected by all accounts. I understand that their families own land up and down the river.”

  Heat filled her cheeks again. “You are right, but I cannot help thinking that Asher is ashamed of Rachel Jackson. You know how all these people whisper about her and make us all uncomfortable with their barbed words. If Asher were not influenced by people like the Lewises, perhaps he could have led the way to showing all of them Rachel’s true worth. And then she might have convinced the general to wait an extra week so we could all travel home together.”

  Silence fell in the room. When her aunt failed to comment, Rebekah returned to her work. “Are you sure you feel all right?”

  Dolly’s eyes regained their focus. “Perhaps it is because he does not want to use a woman’s influence to further his career.”

  Rebekah’s brows
drew together in a frown. “Do you think so?”

  Dolly nodded. “I am sure of it. And besides, you need to remember that all of your worries will soon be groundless. Since the general arranged to send us home with a whole host of strong soldiers, including your Asher, Miss Lewis will soon be nothing but an unpleasant memory.”

  The knot in Rebekah’s stomach seemed to diminish at her aunt’s assurances. Once they were headed back north, Asher would forget all about Alexandra Lewis and her connections. Then things would get back to normal. Finally she and Asher could continue planning their future together.

  A knock drew the ladies’ attention.

  Dolly got up and went to the door. “Yes.”

  The words of their visitor were inaudible, but Rebekah heard her aunt’s response. “I see. Tell our guest we’ll be down in a few moments.”

  When her aunt shut the door and turned around, Rebekah sighed. She didn’t know if she could continue being polite to the local gentry. They were too different from the folks at home. “I can finish the packing while you go downstairs.”

  “Nonsense. You’ll want to see this visitor.” Dolly seemed more animated, her eyes twinkling as if she knew a wondrous secret.

  Rebekah’s heart leaped upward. “Asher?”

  Her aunt nodded, and Rebekah instantly reached to check that her hair was not mussed. She smoothed her calico skirt, wishing she’d worn something prettier and not quite so practical this morning.

  “You look fine, dear.” Dolly’s voice calmed her nerves.

  Rebekah stopped fussing with her appearance as an idea occurred to her. “Do you think it would be okay to give him his gift now?”

  Dolly nodded. “I think this is the perfect time to do so!”

  Rebekah smiled, retrieved the package, and followed Dolly to the parlor downstairs. Asher had finally come to see her! She pushed back her discontent; she was determined to enjoy his visit.