Words Heard In Silence / Xena Uber

by T. Novan

  "I understand, but you should not deny how important you have become to her, dear. She adores you. And since we are both leaving, I think we both need to tell her. Anyway, you know what she will say."

  "No, what will she say?"

  "Why?" Charlie rolled his eyes. That had become Em’s favorite word in the past few weeks.

  --*--

  It was that quiet period after dinner, when Em had grown accustomed to spending time with Charlie and Rebecca. They would read her stories, draw pictures, play cat in the cradle or blocks and prepare her for bed. Tonight they were going to talk, something they often did. Charlie took her on his lap, with Rebecca sitting beside them.

  "Well, my imp, how was your day?"

  "Good." She settled down in the crook of his arm, getting quite comfortable.

  "What did you learn today?"

  She looked at him with large blue eyes and simply stuck her thumb in her mouth, while curling tighter into his arms.

  "Oh, is my little ‘‘why’ bird tired?"

  "Yes, Papa."

  "Well, little one, you will have plenty of time to rest up. Mamma Becca and I have to go to Washington tomorrow, so Uncle Richard and Aunt Elizabeth will be looking after you, as well as your momma and Tess. We will be gone for seven days. Can you be a big girl while we are gone?"

  She looked to Rebecca and then back to her Papa. "No."

  "Will you at least be a good girl while we are gone?"

  "Papa not go." Her brows came together as she sat up in his lap and tears started forming in her eyes. "Pwease."

  Charlie looked at Rebecca. He definitely needed her assistance.

  "Emily," Rebecca's voice was firm, yet soft as only a mother could be. "Your Papa and I are going to take a trip, but we will be back. You know that when Papa takes a trip, he comes home soon. Remember the last time he took a trip."

  "Yes." She thought for a minute. "Brought Web home."

  "Yes, Papa brought you Reb. Now you know it is all right for Papa to take a trip because he will come home. So we are going to take a trip together so Mama 'Becca can meet some of Papa's friends. But we will be back and you must be good for Uncle Richard and Aunt Elizabeth."

  "Em miss Papa and Mama Becca." She sat and pouted. "Pwease no go."

  "And we will miss Em, but we are going. And you will be a big, good girl and make us proud of you."

  "Yes, Mama Becca."

  Charlie carried a very dejected, quiet little girl up to bed that night. When he kissed her good night, she held tight. "Pwomise come back?"

  "I promise Em. We will be back in a few days."

  Chapter 28

  Monday, January 30, 1865

  It was a gray, foggy morning as Rebecca and Charlie boarded the train for Washington but to Rebecca, it was the most glorious spring day, with the sun shining and the azaleas in bloom. She was on her honeymoon with Charlie. They would have an entire week together, with no demands of duty. General Grant had extended a favor, and had sent his personal railcar down with the Saturday supply train to serve as the first site of their honeymoon.

  Charlie ruefully regarded the luggage rack at the back of the car. One week and we have a trunk, two cases and three hatboxes. Oh –– and my satchel. I suppose that traveling light is not in her plans for our future. He heaved a big sigh and decided that a simple hack would not be sufficient to convey them from the train station; he would need to hire a carriage.

  Rebecca was so excited she could hardly contain herself. "Oh, Charlie, look. There are little holders for the teacups so they will not spill, and a spirit lamp to heat water. Oh, these chairs are so comfortable. General Grant is so sweet to lend us his car. He must think very highly of you to give us such a lovely gift."

  Charlie knew there was no stopping her. He used a phrase he somehow suspected was going to be a major part of his vocabulary from now on. "Yes, dear."

  Rebecca found the passing landscape to be fascinating. The train passed through towns and fields that had seen thousands of soldiers move through them. But it also traveled through towns and past plantations that had played key roles in previous conflicts. It mirrored part of the path that Dolly Madison had taken when she escaped from the British in the War of 1812, saving some of the greatest treasures of the new country. Charlie found he enjoyed pointing out these sites to Rebecca, and they shared an interest in history. When they arrived in Washington late in the afternoon, they were both relaxed and very happy.

  Charlie hailed a carriage at the station, and with the porter’s help, loaded their luggage for the short trip to the Willard. Simpkins again met them, having anticipated their arrival. Charlie had been coming to the Willard since he was first promoted to Captain; Simpkins viewed him as one of the Willard’s best customers; always quiet, generous and undemanding. He had set aside his best suite for the General and his new wife.

  He escorted the couple upstairs to the lovely suite in the corner. There was a sitting room that looked out toward 15th street and the gardens at the foot of the newly constructed Treasury building. The adjoining bedroom was spacious with a huge four-posted bed, a fine fireplace with a marble mantle and lovely green and ivory furnishings. Rebecca was charmed.

  "Oh Charlie, it is beautiful. I feel very out of place."

  "Rebecca, it is exactly what you deserve. A beautiful setting for a beautiful woman."

  "You are going to spoil me, Charlie."

  "That is exactly what I would like to do, darling."

  A knock on the door disturbed them. Charlie opened it, and a smiling servant wheeled in a cart set with a lovely teapot, fresh flowers, little cakes, and an assortment of cookies. "Compliments of the house, sir. Congratulations to both of you. Your dinner will be ready and served in the garden room downstairs at eight. There is hot water in the reservoir in the bathing room, if you want to get cleaned up." The maid bobbed a curtsey and backed out of the room. Just as she was about to leave, she added, "Oh, and ma’am, if you need help dressing or with your hair, just ring and I will be happy to assist you."

  Rebecca could only smile as Charlie closed the door. "Oh yes, I am going to get spoiled, General Redmond."

  "Yes, ma’am. If I have anything to say about it, you certainly are."

  They had just managed to wash their faces and hands, and settle down for a nice late afternoon tea when there was another knock on the door.

  "Come." Charlie’s response was muffled by the piece of lemon pie he had just stuffed in his mouth.

  "Sorry to disturb you, sir, but there are a number of notes for you and Mrs. Redmond." The maid set a small silver tray heaped with small envelopes on the table between Charlie and Rebecca and excused herself with, "If you have any responses, there is paper in the writing table and you have only to ring for a messenger."

  Rebecca looked at the pile of envelopes. "What is this, dear?"

  "I would assume they are invitations from various folks in town. Shall we?"

  "That much is obvious, but I did not realize that we would attract so much attention. I thought it was just going to be a quiet week with the two of us."

  "It is your choice, my love. I do have tickets for a play at Ford’s for us on Thursday. Mr. Junius Booth is doing ‘‘King Lear’. And I suspect that Mrs. Grant will want you to join her for tea. As for the rest, I am as surprised as you."

  She looked at the pile in total amazement. "What about Mrs. Armstrong? Will we be calling on her?"

  "I made no arrangements, as, to be honest, I was not sure how you felt about meeting her."

  "You know I want to meet her, Charlie. Very much so. Do you not want us to meet for some reason?"

  Charlie had the grace to look abashed. "Well, there is the issue of you meeting with a well known courtesan. I was not sure if you really wanted to or were just being polite."

  Rebecca chuckled and took Charlie's hand. "Think about it, my love. What exactly about our relationship is normal? There is no reason on the face of the Earth that I should not want to meet Mrs. Armst
rong. Considering our situation, I would think that we should disregard what most people consider the social norm."

  Charlie laughed. "I knew there was a reason why I love you so much, darling." He kissed her hands, and then continued, "Shall I invite her to join us for a private luncheon? Or would you prefer to do the inviting? I think she might appreciate the invitation coming from you."

  "I would be very happy to invite her."

  "Then let us go through the rest of these invitations and plan our week." He smiled and started opening envelopes. A number of them were rather normal invitations from various social butterflies, an unavoidable part of the atmosphere of Washington. But a few were certainly worth responding to, and a smaller number were politically mandatory.

  The invitations from General Meigs and General and Mrs. Grant were graciously accepted, as was Rebecca’s invitation to tea from Mrs. Lincoln. They considered and agreed that politically, they could not refuse the invitations from Mr. and Mrs. Seward, nor could they turn down General McClellan. Perhaps the most fascinating invitation was from Mr. Jay Cooke, the Philadelphia financier. This still left them time to attend the play and a concert by the Marine Corps band, and to do some touring and shopping. Charlie and Rebecca quickly wrote their acceptances and politely declined the other invitations.

  "With that piece of business out of the way, would you like a bath before we have dinner? Even though the General’s car was very nice, I, for one, am lightly coated with ash from the train."

  "I think that would be wonderful and I would very much like a nap as well."

  "Well, darling, there is a huge bathtub and hot water waiting for you."

  "So there is. Now should I call for the maid or would you prefer to help me out of my traveling clothes?"

  Charlie slid his arms around her waist and kissed her shoulder. "You should know by now that I adore serving as your lady’s maid. Would you like me to wash your back as well?"

  She lifted a brow at him. "Hmmm... maybe, darling. Would you consider washing my front, too?" She looked past Charlie into the bathing room. "Do you think the tub can hold us both?"

  Charlie looked at the tub, then at Rebecca, then back at the tub and down at himself, as if considering a serious engineering problem. "I do believe it will hold both of us, if we are willing to be extremely friendly."

  "I do not believe that is an issue with us." She grabbed Charlie's cravat. "Come, husband."

  Grinning, Charlie joined her in the bedroom, where he disrobed his wife with all of the finesse of a skilled maid, ran the bath, and much more hastily shed his uniform. Charlie slid into the huge, claw-footed tub behind Rebecca and drew her back to rest comfortably in her arms. The hot water, the smell of Rebecca’s hair –– all of it was more than Charlie had ever thought she would have.

  "Do you know, Mrs. Redmond, that I love you? I love everything about you. And I love it that you love me? All of me?"

  Rebecca ran her hands up and down Charlie's outer thighs. "All of you, every inch of you."

  The Willard staff extended themselves to provide Charlie and Rebecca with a lovely dinner. The Garden room was quiet and discreet. Each table was in its own quiet alcove, screened by plants and trellises from the other guests. A fine meal, with a good brandy afterwards, and the two retired to their room to explore the advantages of the bed.

  --*--

  Tuesday, January 31, 1865

  They slept in, a luxury Charlie rarely indulged in, then rose and strolled about the gardens and streets of the neighborhood. Rebecca was particularly enthralled with the construction that had begun on the planned monument to President Washington. The great obelisk was not yet completed, and the war effort had suspended work indefinitely, but it was still clear it would tower over all other buildings in the capital city.

  Charlie had reserved a small carriage for them from the Willard’s livery stable, so they were able to tour about comfortably, looking at the various sites in the city. As they rode down the dirt track toward Georgetown to General Meigs’ home, Rebecca marveled over how much progress had been made in just seventy years at turning Washington into a real city.

  "I am surprised that you do not want to return here, Charlie. It seems to me that someone with your record and standing in the service would have many opportunities here in Washington after the war."

  "I am sure I would have many opportunities. Do you think you would prefer to live here, dear? I had not thought of it, but if you wish?"

  "Charlie, I want what is best for you. I love the farm, and I think we would have the best horse-breeding program in the state. But we must do what is best for you."

  "My dear, we must do what is best for us –– and for our children. If living here in Washington appeals to you, I am willing to discuss it. But I am tired of the politics and the infighting. I would be perfectly happy on the farm."

  "Then let us agree to this. We will keep the farm and remain there, but if opportunities should arise for you here, then we will discuss it again."

  "That seems perfectly reasonable to me, dear. And there is always the opportunity to bring the advantages to Culpeper. There are so many things that we need to rebuild the infrastructure of the town –– a bank, more rail traffic."

  "This is true. We will take things as they come. One day at a time."

  "For now, love, we have arrived." Charlie pulled the buggy to in front of a rather standard townhouse. Georgetown was the last port on the Potomac River before it became too rocky for large boats to navigate it, a vital and bustling town for the past hundred and fifty years. Charlie helped Rebecca to the street, handing the reins to a post boy who had been waiting for them.

  They walked to the front door, where once again, the young captain who served as Meigs’ aide met them and escorted them to a lovely formal parlor overlooking the garden at the back of the house. Mrs. Meigs apologized for not rising to greet them, as her rheumatism was plaguing her in the chill, damp weather. The General abducted Charlie to discuss a business matter for a few minutes.

  "I declare, it is always damp here. In the winter, chill and damp; in the summer, hot and humid, but always damp. Be thankful, Mrs. Redmond, that you live in the foothills, where you are not plagued as we are in the city."

  Rebecca smiled politely. "Of course Mrs. Meigs. Perhaps after the war you and General Meigs would be our guest at Redmond Stables."

  "That would be lovely. I have heard that the country around Culpeper is beautiful. Tell me, can you see the mountains from your home?"

  "Oh yes, very clearly. Our land is actually backed up against the mountains."

  "That must be lovely. We have had to move about so often, being in the military, that I have had no real hope of establishing a family home like that. Why, I believe this house in Georgetown is the closest to a home we have ever had."

  "I can only imagine. As a matter of fact, General Redmond and I were just discussing if we should consider moving to Washington. But since he is leaving the Army after the war, we have decided to remain in Culpeper for the time being."

  "I do envy you, my dear. So, General Redmond is leaving the Army. I do indeed envy you. I believe that General Meigs will be in the service until the day he dies."

  "Yes, General Redmond has decided to retire. He will be at his twenty-year mark and he has decided to take his leave. We are going to start a horse breeding program."

  "Oh, how lovely. But do you really think that the folks in Culpeper will accept having a Yankee general in their midst?"

  Rebecca chuckled. "They are split in their opinions. But I am sure that in time, General Redmond will overcome his detractors."

  "Well, I do wish you good luck. Here in Washington, we have the reverse situation. Staunch supporters of the Union who are Southerners often receive less than charitable treatment. Why, even Mrs. Lincoln has had to suffer at the hands of the more radical Northerners."

  "I am sure. These times have been very difficult on everyone. I do hope it is over soon."

 
"Well, I cannot say for sure, but many of the conversations I have heard suggest that the Confederacy cannot stand for much longer. I know that I for one have paid a terrible price for this war. But there are so many who want to somehow punish the Southern states for their personal pain that I cannot help but fear that we have not seen the last of this."

  "I must admit that I have a very personal interest in seeing this end soon. I wish for my husband to come home, so we can begin our life together. It may seem selfish, but I cannot help it."

  "For your sake, my dear, I hope that General Redmond can return to you. So many women have lost their husbands, their fathers, their sons." Mrs. Meigs could not help the tears that came to her eyes; her son had been killed just a few months earlier.

  --*--

  Riding back to the hotel than afternoon, Rebecca could not help but brood over the possibility of losing Charlie in the war. She clung to his arm tightly, but would not tell him why she was so distressed. Finally, in their room preparing for a quiet dinner beside the fire, he forced the issue.

  "Rebecca, darling. You and I have been married for less than three days, yet you are acting like someone in mourning. Have you found that the idea of being married to me is not what you want?"

  "Of course not. I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you. I just know that our time together is getting short, and I cannot help but feel helpless that there is nothing I can do but watch you ride away. And from what I have heard, the last days of this war are going to be horrid. I am worried for you."

  "Do not worry too much, darling. I have managed to come through some of the worst of two wars with only minor injuries. I cannot believe my luck will change now." He lifted her hand and tenderly kissed her palm. "For luck, darling. On a different topic, dear, are you ready to meet Lizzie tomorrow?"

  "Yes. I am actually looking forward to it. I hope that we will become friends."

  Charlie just smiled, a somewhat forced smile, and served Rebecca some sliced beef. Oh my God, what will happen to me when those two get together?