by Judith Pella
“That makes sense,” James said.
“It makes sense, but we had no other recourse. The passage is barely wide enough to accommodate both the canal and railroad. And you know full well it has sparked more than one altercation between the canal workers and those of the B&O.”
“Yes, I have heard.”
“But there was no other logical place to build, and when the agreements were finally ironed out and the B&O allowed to build along the Potomac and beside the canal, the arrangement said that we were to build a high board fence along the entire passage between Point of Rocks and Harper’s Ferry.”
“I suppose the expense would be a hardship—”
“The expense was only a minor consideration,” Latrobe interjected. “To close the passageway off in that manner would make the railroad into a great ditch, and the snow and soil would wash into it from the surrounding hillsides. The tracks would never survive, and the trains would forever be halted and unable to proceed forward without some repair or adjustment being made.”
“I hadn’t imagined.”
“Well, it is resolved now. The canal officials agreed to a compromise. We will only be required to build a few miles of post and rail fencing where the banks are particularly steep. These are areas where a sudden appearance of a locomotive might well turn disastrous for both parties. We’re paying the canal two thousand seven hundred dollars to put the thing into place, and now everyone is happy. It was an answer to prayer.”
“Truly?” James couldn’t believe that he’d asked the question aloud.
Latrobe smiled. “Truly. I firmly believe God is in every detail of the B&O’s development.”
“I suppose that is quite possible,” James answered honestly. “There have been numerous obstacles that have slowed down the progress, but always it seems some minor detail is overlooked. Then when found, the problems seem to work themselves out in one form or another.”
“Exactly. I believe in divine intervention, my dear James. God’s hand is upon the B&O as surely as is ours. Many folks might doubt His interest in mankind’s meager attempts to tame the land, but not I. I know He is with us, and I know He will see it through.”
James wished he could believe as enthusiastically as Ben. He wished that sometime in his life God might have revealed himself to be a guiding force. Now, with so many problems in his life, problems of his own making, James wasn’t sure God would even care to deal with him.
I’ve made a real mess of things, he thought. Without a doubt, I’ve strayed from the master plan.
6
First Kiss
The grand ballroom of Gadsby’s Hotel was full to overflowing with swirling, colorful dancers. Overhead, crystal chandeliers lighted the room, and beneath the many pairs of slippered and booted feet the polished wood floors gleamed with mirrorlike reflections. The annual Christmas charity ball was held on behalf of the hospital, and from the look of it, Carolina guessed it to be a tremendous success. For years, her mother had been on the committee with Edith Baldwin in the planning of this grand occasion. It was the party that began the Washington Christmas social season, and it always set the tone for the months to come.
Carolina wished that her mother could have been a part of this year’s celebration. It might have done her some good to busy herself with something other than tending Penny and mourning over the loss of Mary.
“Are you having a good time?” Hampton asked her and pulled her closer to keep in step with the waltz they were dancing.
Carolina found to her surprise that she truly was having fun. “Yes. This is a very pleasant party.”
Hampton smiled, breaking the stern expression he’d worn for most of the evening. Carolina hadn’t made it easy on him at all. From the moment he had first helped to hand her into the carriage, she’d shared hardly more than a noncommittal nod to his conversation. In fact, she’d conversed more with her slave Miriam, who acted as chaperone, than with Hampton.
“You truly are the most beautiful woman here,” he commented against her ear. “That gown is positively stunning.”
“Thank you,” she replied in what she hoped was a pleasant tone. Carolina was rather fond of the gown herself. It was a fashionable creation of ivory satin and burgundy trim. The neckline was modestly high, to her relief, and the sleeves were puffed from shoulder to wrist.
“Did you purchase it here in the city?”
The strains of the music seemed to linger on the air even as the dance came to an end. Carolina quickly stepped away from Hampton, although he refused to release her gloved hand.
She glanced up and, meeting his serious blue eyes, found him quite intent on maintaining contact with her. “You were going to tell me about your lovely dress,” he said, leading her away from the dance floor to one of the refreshment rooms.
“The seamstresses at Oakbridge made the dress,” she answered and tried again to pull away without making a scene.
“Stop it!” he demanded suddenly, tightening his grip. “You’ve put me off all evening, even though I know your father told you to be nice to me.”
Carolina’s head snapped up. “How would you know that unless you were eavesdropping, sir?”
“I make it my business to stay informed. If that means I have to eavesdrop on occasion, then so be it. I think if you will just follow your father’s advice and relax, you’ll enjoy this evening.”
“I am only here,” she said with a nervous glance to see who else might be listening, “because it pleased my father for me to accompany you.” Pausing, she considered her circumstance for a moment, then added, “Mr. Cabot, I still fail to see why you pursue me when I’ve made it clear that we are incompatible.”
He paused at a table laden with food and smiled. “Would you care for refreshments?”
Just then Carolina spied Edith and Leland Baldwin. James’ parents! She couldn’t bear the thought of facing them just now. No doubt there would be many questions about her family, maybe even comments on Carolina’s appearance at the party while still in a state of mourning. And even if Edith deemed not to bring those things up, no doubt there would be conversation about James. Her heart ached within her. She longed to know where James had taken himself off to and how he was faring. She wanted more than anything to hear news of him, but she couldn’t bear the idea of facing Edith Baldwin. “Please, I need some air,” she whispered, not considering how alluring her plea might sound.
“I believe there’s a summer porch available for just such purposes,” Hampton said, taking a quick glance around the room. “Although it surprises me that you should suggest such a thing.”
Carolina felt her cheeks grow hot. “Oh, it has nothing to do with you. Stay here and eat for all I care. I’ll find Miriam.” She finally succeeded at pushing away from him and had started to make her way through the crowded room when he caught up to her.
“Come with me,” he said and easily maneuvered her through the throng of people.
Carolina’s mind raced with excuses for why Hampton should take her home, but none of them seemed feasible or believable. The idea of having to stand in her Christmas finery and make small talk with James’ parents was something Carolina had little desire for. She probably shouldn’t even be in public, since it had scarcely been three months since her sister’s death. And not only was she here, but dressed in ivory instead of black! Her father had reasoned that she was young and deserved to break rules in order to have fun. Even more so, he’d never agreed with decking the house and its occupants in black to honor the memory of those who’d died. Were it not for her mother, Carolina reasoned, they’d probably never wear black at all.
“Here we are,” Hampton said in a low, seductive voice. “And I see that we’re very nearly alone.”
Carolina glanced around the summer porch. There were huge potted trees and greenery, along with wicker settees and lounging couches. Carolina could see that the porch had been enclosed for winter, but it was still chilly, and the cold air rushed against her heated cheeks
in a welcomed wave.
Hampton led her to a small settee, and Carolina gratefully took a seat. She knew Hampton would press her for conversation, but that was better than having to deal with Edith Baldwin. What would she say to the mother of the man who’d broken not only Virginia’s heart, but her own heart as well?
Hampton pushed out the long tails of his black frock coat and took a seat in a wicker chair opposite the settee. His tall, solid frame seemed too big for such a chair, but the wicker held and Hampton smiled lazily.
Carolina felt rather like the fly caught in the spider’s web. She tried to rationalize how she might convince Hampton to forget his romantic intentions, but when she looked at him, she thought of James. How wonderful the evening might have been if James Baldwin sat beside her instead of Hampton Cabot.
“I like it when you look at me like that,” Hampton said.
Carolina, feeling horribly embarrassed by the suggestion that such a look was for Hampton, shook her head. “Hampton, you must put such thoughts from your mind.”
His broad smile caused her to glance around. “What is it?” she asked hesitantly.
“You called me Hampton. No more Mr. Cabot for me. If I’d known that such an intimate setting would bloom the shy bud into a flower, I would have sought out such a place weeks ago.”
“Mr. Cabot—”
“Don’t,” he said firmly. “Don’t take on a pretense with me. I know you’re attracted to me, and I know that your father approves. I don’t want to play your society belle games—”
“How dare you!” It was Carolina’s turn to interrupt. “I’ve not given you any reason to believe me less than sincere in my regard for you. I very adamantly do not wish to be courted by you, Mr. Cabot. I cannot state it much clearer than that. I agreed to accompany you here tonight because my father desired it. He has had so very little pleasure in his life of late that even such a sacrifice as this seemed worthwhile.”
Hampton’s laugh made Carolina’s skin crawl.
“Your sacrifice, as you put it, seems not to have done you much harm,” Hampton insisted. “I think you are simply protesting out of ignorance.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Ignorance.” He stated the word with emphasis and leaned forward with a knowing look in his eye. “You are ignorant of the joys of love and the pleasures of romance and married life. You’ve no doubt heard all of those matronly horror stories whispered behind closed doors—”
“Stop it this minute!” Carolina exclaimed, jumping to her feet. “I will not hear such talk. My father should throttle you for such inexcusable behavior! I’m going to find Miriam and go home.”
She moved past him, but Hampton lurched to his feet also and pulled her, struggling, into his arms. “You may protest all you like, but I see something in your expression that tells me what your lips will not admit.”
“You see nothing that is real or intended for you, Mr. Cabot.” She put her hands against the rock-hard wall of his chest and tried to force some space between them.
“If you don’t want to make a scene, I’d suggest you settle down. I’m hardly going to force myself upon you in the middle of Gadsby’s Christmas party.”
Carolina calmed a little at this. Her father and mother would be mortified to find her in this compromising position. Maybe it was better not to struggle and attract attention to her predicament. She took a breath and tried to relax.
“That’s better,” he said, bending her slightly backward to accommodate his towering frame. Carolina had little choice but to look directly into his eyes. “You’ve had your head too long in your books,” Hampton continued. “Men and women have much better things with which to occupy themselves, and I intend to show you one of them right now.” Then before she could so much as utter a single word of protest, he crushed her lips with his own.
At first Carolina was desperately appalled and angry, but the longer the kiss lasted the more she had to make herself maintain her anger. Hampton’s kiss was not all that terrible. She didn’t actually respond by kissing him back, but neither did she fight. And when Hampton pulled away, she simply stared at him with an expression that surely must have registered the confusion she felt inside.
“Wasn’t as bad as you thought it would be, now was it?” Hampton asked, dropping his hold on her.
For Carolina it was the first time a man had kissed her lips, and much to her surprise, it truly wasn’t as bad as she’d presumed it would be. Hampton Cabot was quite accomplished in the art of kissing, or so she decided for herself. Having nothing else on which to base her assumption, Carolina nevertheless found her mind overflowing with thoughts and emotions.
“Well, say something. Surely I’ve not managed to tame that sharp tongue with one simple kiss.” Hampton stared at her oddly, as though trying to decide what to do next.
Carolina’s pounding heart seemed to slow a bit as her breathing came in less ragged gasps. Was Hampton right? Had she simply focused too long on her studies and missed out on the magic of coming of age? She thought of her girl friends and their giggled conversations of stolen kisses and moonlight walks. Always before, Carolina had found these things boring at best, but now she wasn’t so sure. Perhaps her viewpoint had been totally wrong.
“Carolina?” Hampton’s face seemed more apologetic now. “Are you ill?”
She managed to shake her head. How could she explain any of this to Hampton? To admit that she actually found his kiss tolerable would only encourage him to do it again, and that, she decided, would be absolutely intolerable. Struggling to clear the webs of doubt from her mind, Carolina reminded herself of the importance of remaining true to her dream. Her independent nature worked its way back to the surface of her mind, although now it was slightly tempered with questioning thoughts. Perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad to marry and raise a family. It was, after all, something she’d always figured on doing. And if she was fortunate enough to find a man who believed in her dream of participating in the development of the railroad, then she would truly have it all.
James.
She wasn’t at all surprised that his name came to her now. He believed in her dream. Again, when she glanced upward to Hampton, it was James’ face she thought of. “James,” she whispered faintly.
“What?” Hampton asked, leaning down. “What did you say?”
Carolina shook her head. “Nothing. I . . . I’d like to go home now. Please.” To her surprise, Hampton’s expression showed sudden sympathy.
“I’ll find our chaperone and call for the carriage,” he said, sounding genuinely concerned with her reaction. “Wait here and I’ll return in a moment.”
Carolina nodded and watched him walk away. Several other couples moved about the porch. Some secluded themselves behind trees for moments of pleasurable interlude. Carolina was fascinated by this. For all appearances, should anyone have seen her with Hampton, they would have presumed them to be very much in love.
But of course, she reminded herself, that was quite impossible. Hampton might kiss very well, but he wasn’t James, and he didn’t know her heart. With a heavy sigh, Carolina was surprised to find herself very close to tears.
7
Laying the Trap
“But surely you see the benefit of rail service,” Joseph Adams stated firmly, eyeing Hampton from across a coffee table in the Oakbridge drawing room.
Hampton lifted a cup of coffee to his lips and shook his head. “Too risky. The economy is in grave danger of falling apart. Should just the right elements come together, we will be in for a tremendous financial depression.”
“But how can this be?” Joseph asked, motioning to a slave to refill his own cup. “The country has actually been out of debt and running with a surplus.”
Hampton smiled tolerantly. “Joseph, you pay me well to keep you advised on such things, and that is what I am trying to do even now. The railroad is an interesting investment to say the least. I see the potential and the probability that this venture will develop into s
omething of mass proportions, but I also see more. The railroad has an extremely slow record of turning a dividend back into the hands of the investor. You might well give over hundreds of thousands of dollars and never see a single cent of return for years.”
“That’s true,” Joseph replied, stirring cream into his coffee. “However, I feel confident that whether I reap the benefits or not, my children and grandchildren will one day be greatly benefited by my risk.”
Hampton could only think of the large amounts of capital being wasted. He was desperate to convince Joseph that heavy investments in the railroad were foolish, but none of his arguments seemed to register even moderate interest or concern in his employer’s mind.
“I suppose my real worry comes in the fact that so many other elements come into play in the financial world. You have built for yourself a strong empire. Besides Oakbridge Plantation, you have vast holdings of land in the West, with a great many interested parties who would very much like to help you develop your property. I’ve been approached by four very respectable Englishmen who are intrigued by the idea of building factories on your Chicago properties.”
“Factories? What kind of factories?”
Hampton shrugged. “They’ve not given me the details of their interest, as I was uncertain that you would want to sell. Chicago has doubled in size in the last couple of years, and there are many rumors to suggest that great improvements and extensions to the National Road will be funded and built to connect the eastern cities to that booming town.”
“I see,” Joseph said, considering Hampton’s words. “The railroad would no doubt be of benefit to such a project as well.”
Hampton frowned. The railroad was once again his nemesis to battle. “I’m certain the railroad will one day be a consideration, but the average citizen cannot afford such luxury. What they can afford is to use their own wagons, horses, and oxen to move them where they desire to go. If the National Road is extended and built to include a number of adjoining roadways, the people of America will not only find travel more available, but also more affordable.”