During the voyage to New Orleans, Lily had been unfailingly warm and loving toward Captain Henrick, introducing him as her father to their guests and spending her afternoons visiting him in the pilothouse. They had delayed their voyage one day when they stopped at the island that held quince trees. Jensen cooked the fruit, and they enjoyed a quince pudding that put to shame the one they’d enjoyed at the restaurant.
Lily seemed happier, as if letting go of her resentment had healed her in some way. He wondered if the resentment he felt toward his father was weighing him down. But how could a person let go of resentment when he’d been wronged?
“I’ve arranged for a carriage to take you and Tamar and your sisters to the Thorntons’ home.” His fingers itched to touch the strand of hair that blew across her face. “I will also hire some guards to remain on the ship.”
She looked troubled. “Do you think we will be targeted again?”
“Not really, but I don’t want to take any chances.” He still hadn’t mentioned the note he’d found in her room because he didn’t want to add to her concerns. But he was determined to find the culprit who had engineered the attack. When he found him, the man would wish he had left them alone.
“You look so solemn. I’m beginning to be worried. Are you hiding something from me?”
“I don’t want to have any trouble.” She was too perceptive. To distract her attention, he changed the subject. “How is Camellia doing?”
Her brows drew together in a frown. “I’m not sure. She is still so stiff with Papa. I wish she could let go of her anger. I worry that she is still upset with me, too.”
“I don’t think so, Lily. I imagine she’s preoccupied with that finishing school you promised her.”
“It worked as a bribe, but I’m beginning to have second thoughts. Camellia sometimes seems to be hiding behind a mask.” Lily pushed the strand behind her ear, but it escaped and blew back across her face. “What if the school we choose reinforces that tendency? She is at the very cusp of adulthood. What if I make the wrong choice, and she is ruined for life?”
Blake smiled. “I’m sure Mrs. Thornton and her daughter can help you avoid making a mistake.”
“Thank you for knowing exactly the right thing to say.” She tucked the errant strand back once more. Once more it blew free.
“Turn around.”
She looked up at him, a question in her gaze.
“Trust me, Lily.”
“I do.” She turned to face the dock. Blake stepped behind her and pulled one of her hair clips out. He used his hand to smooth back her hair, especially the strands that had broken free. Then he refastened the hair clip and stepped back to the rail.
She shot him a glance. “I don’t want to know how you learned to do that.”
Laughter rumbled through him. “I have a younger sister.”
“Really?” She looked up at him. “I didn’t realize that.”
Silence fell between them, a companionable silence. His thoughts wandered back to the burglary. “I wonder where Captain Steenberg is working.”
“Do you think he attacked the boat?”
Why had he spoken out loud? “I don’t know, but he did threaten me when I told him to leave.”
She turned at his admission. “I didn’t know that.”
“I didn’t want to tell you because I knew he was recommended by your friend Monsieur Champney.”
Her sheepish look brought a smile to his face. “I’m so sorry. But believe me. Jean Luc Champney is not exactly my friend. I have discovered we do not see eye to eye.”
His smile deepened. He looked away from her. Was the sun brighter than it had been moments ago?
She leaned against the rail, her arm very close to his. “How long before the carriage will be here?”
Contentment bathed Blake in warmth. He wanted to linger next to Lily. “It will wait until you and the others are ready, but I have a question.”
“As long as it has nothing to do with finishing schools.” Her gaze teased him.
“Okay, I’ll ask the other question.” He took a deep breath. “I was thinking you and your sisters might enjoy an evening at the theater.”
Another sideways glance. “Are you offering to escort us?”
“If I was, would you accept?” He held his breath, his heart pounding so hard he thought she might be able to hear it.
“Why certainly, sir. How could I resist such a sweet offer?” Her smile made his heart triple its speed.
“Why, Miss Anderson”—he fought to keep his voice light—“I do believe you have a bit of the debutante in you. Are you sure you haven’t spent time in a finishing school yourself?”
Her giggle was music to his ears. She had been too serious of late.
As though she had read his mind, Lily sobered. “I need to ask you for something, too.”
Now what? He braced himself for bad news. “Go ahead.”
“I want you to consider contacting your family.”
He should have known. “You don’t know what you’re asking.”
She turned to face him. Her chocolate-brown eyes pleaded for him to listen. “Yes, I do. When you told me I should tell my family the truth, you were right. But before I could face them, I had to go to God and ask for His help in forgiving my father.”
He felt her hand on his arm. He wanted to shake it off. He wanted to tell her to get in the carriage and leave him alone. To preserve their friendship, he folded his mouth into a straight line and said nothing.
“You were there when I needed you, Blake. I’ll never be able to repay you for supporting me during a very difficult time. I want to offer you similar support.” She squeezed his arm once before releasing it. “I’m sorry if I’ve upset you.”
He shook his head. Maybe one day he would be able to talk about this subject. But that day was not now. He watched as she walked away from him. Then he turned back to the dock. He didn’t know if that day would ever arrive.
Lily looked in the mirror atop her dressing table and caught sight of Tamar’s pursed lips. “Do I look that bad?”
Tamar shook her head. “I like your gray dress better. This is a special evening. You know you should dress up.”
A knock on the door stopped Lily’s protest. “Come in.”
Mrs. Thornton opened the door, a broad smile wreathing her face.
It had been so good to see her friend again. Lily enjoyed the pampering she received at the Thorntons’ home, but she valued even more the relationship she and Mrs. Thornton shared. Why couldn’t Aunt Dahlia be a little more like her?
“Oh no, dear, you must wear the dress you bought on Canal Street. It will complement the little gift I brought for you to wear.” She opened her hand to reveal a pair of exquisite pearl-gray hair combs.
Lily could feel her mouth drop open. “They’re beautiful, but I cannot accept such an expensive gift.”
Mrs. Thornton frowned. “I bought these last year on a whim. But I’ve never found anything to wear them with. You must accept them. It would make me very happy.”
Tamar took the combs and set them on the dressing table. “They will be perfect with your dress, Miss Lily. You can at least wear them tonight.”
“I suppose so.” Lily didn’t want to hurt Mrs. Thornton’s feelings.
The casement clock on the mantel began to chime the hour. “I will leave you to change your dress.” She whisked her skirt back through the doorway and disappeared.
Tamar picked up Camellia’s hairbrush and used it to part Lily’s hair.
“You and Mrs. Thornton are making too much of this outing. It’s nothing more than the kindness of my business partner in wanting to entertain my sisters and me.”
“And why not?” Tamar brushed her hair until it shone and then began twisting it up. “You have a handsome escort for a fancy night out. Who knows what magic could happen?”A shadowy emotion darkened Tamar’s eyes. Was she envious?
A thrill of anticipation zipped through Lily at the thought
of the surprise in store for her maid later this evening. She didn’t know exactly what Jensen planned, but when he had asked for her permission to take Tamar out for the evening, she had given it gladly. Tamar deserved a better life, one that offered all the freedoms Lily and her sisters enjoyed.
In order to keep Jensen’s plans secret, she adopted a casual attitude. “It’s nothing special. I’ve half a mind to tell you to remove the combs and put away the gray dress.”
Tamar’s expression was so serene Lily wondered if she’d imagined the emotion she’d seen earlier. “You can tell yourself that falsehood if you want to, but I’ve seen Mr. Blake make you blush. And his gaze turns to you when he thinks no one else is looking. He’s your beau, all right, or he would be if you’d give him a little encouragement.”
A telltale blush rose toward Lily’s cheeks. Why did she have to be so transparent? She grabbed her fan from the dressing table and swept it back and forth to cool her face.
Tamar sent a knowing look then helped Lily with the gray dress and nodded. “You look very nice.”
Lily turned to the mirror and was surprised by her image. Her hair was pinned by the gray combs above her ears and cascaded in soft waves around her head, giving her a much softer look. Her dress, with its wide skirt and fancy stitched design, accentuated her small waist and looked most fashionable. Lily felt like a fraud. She was no beauty.
Confused by her thoughts, she decided to focus on Tamar. Now that her maid had an opportunity to escape the yoke of slavery, she wanted to make certain nothing stood in her way. She pointed her fan at the maid. “This situation cannot continue.”
“What do you mean? Have I done something wrong?”
“Of course not. You’ve done nothing but care for Camellia, Jasmine, and me as if we were your own children.”
A smile chased away the worried look on Tamar’s face. “I couldn’t love you any more than my own children.”
“I know, Tamar. That’s why I’m going to make certain you gain your freedom. The last time I suggested this, I thought you may have reacted so badly because Mr. Moreau was there.”
Tamar stepped back, her head shaking. “That’s not it at all, Miss Lily. I don’t want him or anyone else to spend good money for me. Besides, if I was freed, I wouldn’t be able to care for you or your sisters.”
Deciding to dispense with the easier issue, she smiled. “Maybe not, but you’d be able to marry Jensen and have children of your own.”
Tears shone in Tamar’s dark-brown eyes. “I don’t need to marry that man.”
“So, it’s fine for Blake to court me, but you don’t deserve to be with the man you love?”
Silence filled the room as they looked at each other. Finally Tamar’s gaze fell to the floor. “Sometimes I just want everything to go back to the way it used to be. Back to the way I felt before I ever met Jensen. But then, when I’m near him—” She twisted her hands in her apron. “He makes me want to have a different future.”
“That’s wonderful.” Lily hugged Tamar, her heart practically bursting with happiness.
At first the older woman resisted, but then she returned Lily’s embrace.
“Don’t you see? You’re in love with Jensen. I knew it! And the two of you are going to have a chance for happiness. You’re going to have children of your own you can love as wonderfully as you’ve loved us for all these years.”
Tamar shooed Lily out of the room. “Get on downstairs before Mr. Blake comes looking for you.”
“I will, but only if you promise to give Jensen a chance.” Lily waited for Tamar’s nod before she skipped down the staircase. She found her sisters and their escorts in the front parlor. Jasmine was talking nonstop to Mr. and Mrs. Thornton about the evening ahead. Camellia sat on the sofa, her arms crossed and a pout on her face. One look at the disinterested expression on Jonah Thornton’s face told Lily why. Camellia was not used to being ignored. Lily struggled to keep a straight face.
Blake leaned against the fireplace mantel, his tall black hat dangling from one hand. She had never seen him looking so elegant. The brass buttons of his striped waistcoat gleamed in the candlelight. His black boots had been polished to a mirror finish. Suddenly Lily was glad she’d worn her gray dress, especially when she saw the light of appreciation in Blake’s eyes.
“The carriage is ready.” Blake bowed and walked toward her.
Lily wanted to say something witty, but nothing came to mind. “You look very nice this evening.”
His lips curled in a tender smile. “Thank you. So do you. You’ve done something different to your hair, haven’t you?”
He had noticed. Lily touched a hand to one of the combs. “Mrs. Thornton loaned these to me for the evening.”
Blake nodded. “Are you ready to depart?”
She smiled and placed her hand on his proffered arm. Not sure whether she was walking or floating, she passed through the doorway and into the foyer.
Tamar had been right. This was going to be a very special evening.
Chapter Fourty-six
Freedom. The word had been an idea without substance to Tamar. At best it was a scary word, yet she found herself increasingly drawn to it.
She picked up Jasmine’s pinafore and smoothed it with a gentle touch. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a family of her own? But what would the Anderson sisters do without someone to watch over them?
Shaking her head, Tamar folded the pinafore and put it in Jasmine’s trunk. She checked the room one last time to make sure everything had been put away before going down the narrow staircase used by the slaves.
The housekeeper met her at the back door. “You have a visitor.”
Her heart leaped. “Is it Mr. Moreau?”
The older woman winked and nodded. “He’s dressed up awful pretty, too. I’d say he’s got courting on his mind.”
Tamar ducked her head. If Jensen was dressed up, she didn’t want to be wearing her apron. She grabbed at the strings holding it to her waist and wrestled with them.
“Let me help you.” The housekeeper turned her around and untied the strings. “I’ll put this in your room. You go on out to the kitchen and meet your young man.”
Putting a hand on her hammering heart, Tamar walked through the garden and stepped into the bright, warm kitchen where most of the servants gathered in the evenings. Tonight was no exception. Two maids, the butler, and the cook were sitting around a large table. But the only person Tamar saw was standing next to the hearth.
He stepped forward, his brown eyes shining with love. “I’ve got plans for the evening.”
She cocked her head to one side. “You do?”
“Yes.”
Tamar raised her hand toward his hair. “I think your head may still be broken.”
Jensen captured her hand and placed it on his arm like she was a real lady. “I’m good as new. You didn’t have nothing else planned, did you?”
She couldn’t stop the giggle that slipped out. “What kind of plans could I have?”
“Good.” Pulling her out of the kitchen, away from the prying eyes and ears of the Thorntons’ staff, he escorted her to the outer entrance.
Her eyes stretched wide when she realized a hired cab awaited them. “Wait. I can’t leave. I don’t have permission.”
“Yes, you do. I talked with Miss Lily earlier. She said you could.”
She was free. For the evening at least.
Tamar let Jensen hand her into the cab. He climbed in and sat beside her, his closeness threatening her breath. “I can’t believe you did this. Lily didn’t say a word about it.”
“I asked her not to so’s I could surprise you.” He put his hat on his lap. “Are you surprised?”
Another giggle filled the air. “Of course. But are you sure?”
“I never been surer, Tamar.” His gaze caressed her. “I love you.”
“Don’t say those things.” She turned away and watched the passing scenery.
“I have to. Else my heart wo
uld explode. There’s lots I want to say to you, Tamar. But the most important is that I love you enough to buy your freedom.”
That brought her head back around. “You don’t have to do that. Lily promised to make sure I’m given my freedom.”
He rubbed his knuckle against her jaw. “I love you with all my heart. As soon as you’re free, I want to marry you.”
“Don’t say that. There are so many reasons we can’t get married.” Tamar tried to pull back, but he trapped her chin with long fingers.
“We belong together.”
“I’m too old and too dark.”
“I’ll leave off my hat. The sun should help me look both older and darker.” His grin was infectious.
Tamar found herself smiling at him. “I can’t marry a man who’s not a Christian.”
“I have given my heart to Him.” He waggled his brows at her. “I don’t always do what I should. I just need a good woman to help keep me in line.”
Infected by his jolly attitude, she summoned a fierce frown. “Well, if you want to be married to me, you’ll have to change some. I’ll not have anyone say I married a heathen.”
He laughed out loud. Raising his other hand, he cupped her face. “I love you.” He pressed a soft kiss on her lips.
Tamar felt like she was floating on a cloud. So this is what the Bible meant about a man and a woman becoming one. She could almost feel the joining of their souls.
The cab stopped, and Jensen let her go. “Are you ready?” He helped her out of the carriage and paid the driver.
They walked hand in hand down Gravier Street until they came to the St. Charles Theater. Her mouth dropped open at the size of the building. It could probably hold most of the citizens of New Orleans. Jensen led her past the line of carriages at the front entrance, walking toward the east side of the building. Part of her wished they could go inside, but Tamar knew that was impossible for a slave.
Refusing to let her thoughts spoil the evening, she looked toward the open doorway. The performance must have already started. She could hear someone singing. Dozens of people crowded around the door, jostling against each other to get a better position. They must have a view of the stage.
Lily (Song of the River) Page 30
