by Kitty Margo
“Nonsense, son,” Silas was saying. “Their beauty encompasses the entire South.”
“What about me?” Beth's musical laughter chimed from the top of the stairs. “I distinctly heard you say the four loveliest ladies, Daniel Fletcher.” As she descended the stairs she counted off the ladies of the house on her fingers. As she neared Silas, he shammed for her ears only. “You Beth are by far my most lovely daughter-in-law.”
“Well, thank you kindly, sir,” she said and blushed prettily.
Their laughter flowed like water through a stream as the ladies draped lacy shawls over their shoulders and the gentlemen helped them into the waiting carriage.
“But I am your only daughter-in-law!” Beth shrieked, just realizing the jest. This brought a renewed burst of laughter from the cheerful group.
Lynna twiddled her thumbs nervously in a corner of the carriage until twenty minutes later, when Beth announced, “This is where our land ends and Jordan land begins.”
The boundary was evidenced by a low white fence bordering the road on both sides and winding through the woods that soon gave way to snowy fields of King Cotton. Beyond the fields could be seen a wide avenue of live oaks festooned with Spanish moss. The view through the trees was breathtaking. Both sides of the road contained small ponds bordered by towering cypress and gaily-colored flowers. An enchanting bridge with lattice work sides rose over the water, and at the end of each bridge, nestled in the shade, sat a charming gazebo with the same wood carvings as the bridge.
Lynna sat in stunned silence, impressed by the pure and simple elegance surrounding her. Then Sea Grove with its huge white pillars loomed proudly before her. The house was magnificent. The upper balcony spanned the entire length of the house so that each room opened onto it, as was the case with the balcony below. She had expected a smaller scale. Instead, here was a plantation to rival Magnolia House.
Her scrutiny of the house was halted abruptly when she observed the chiseled features of the man casually leaning against one of the columns on the verandah. He was unspeakably handsome in his fawn cut-away tailcoat over a crisp white linen shirt and form-fitting breeches. He stood next to a man in a chair with wheels, with a blanket draped across his lap. As the carriage drew up to the verandah, on closer examination, Lynna found the man in the chair to be a slightly more mature version of Joshua, with the same gleaming emerald eyes and soft teasing smile.
“Good evening,” Joshua called, bounding down the steps to greet them. “I’m glad you could come on such short notice. Meet my parents, Jeremiah and Patricia, and my baby sister, Malinda.”
“Oh, Joshua,” his sister groaned. “I am hardly a baby.”
The family trait was strong in Malinda as well. Curly black hair framed an oval face blessed with creamy magnolia skin, while a light powdering of freckles across her nose gave her a charming, childlike appearance.
“Welcome to Sea Grove,” Jeremiah said after the introductions had been made. “Please, come inside.”
As Joshua moved to push his father's chair into the house, Lynna took the opportunity to take a closer look at his parents. If not for a few wrinkles and grey hair, Jeremiah could have easily been mistaken for Joshua's brother. His mother, Patricia, was a graceful woman with snowy white hair braided and pinned atop her head and the same creamy smooth complexion as her daughter. “We are so glad you could join us this evening.” She smiled, taking the ladies’ wraps and handing them to the downstairs maid. “Malinda, show our guests to the parlor, please.”
Hooking her arm through Lynna's, Malinda chatted amicably with her as though they had been confidants all their lives. Theirs was an immediate friendship. Malinda had no desire to become friends with the uppity Suzanne, who was a complete opposite from herself. “Lynna, Joshua has told me so much about you over the years. I do hope we can find time to get better acquainted before you return to Georgia.”
“I would be delighted.” Joshua had been conversing with his sister about her? For years! “However, I am afraid you have Suzanne and I confused. She has known your brother for some time, whereas… I only met him a few days ago. I am certain it was her and not me that your brother spoke of.”
“Perhaps it was,” Malinda whispered with a sly wink, infuriating Suzanne, who was straining to eavesdrop and hear their every word. Fortunately, she missed the important ones.
Malinda opened the massive double doors with a beautiful fanlight spanning the entire width. Entering the spacious foyer, Lynna stopped motionless in her tracks. On both sides of the hallway stood twin staircases with finely carved mahogany banisters and handrails inlaid with brass. What she found most amazing was that the two staircases were joined at the top by a bridge. In the center of the house, the floor to the second story ceiling was open, airy and cool.
“The house is beautiful!”
“What?” Malinda questioned. “Oh, the house. Thank you.” It was obvious she was clearly accustomed to this reaction from first time visitors.
The parlor was no less attractive. The walls were light blue with dark blue trim. Two rosewood sofas upholstered in regal blue faced each other in front of a marble fireplace. On the mantle stood miniature statues carved from ivory, jade, bone and crystal. Displayed prominently over the mantel was a gilt and wood bull's eye mirror, and hanging on either side of it was a beautifully done oil portrait of Joshua’s mother with her children.
Taking a seat in one of the overstuffed wingchairs, Lynna was once again caught completely off guard by Joshua's bold behavior as he moved behind her and rested his hand possessively on the back of her chair. She glanced anxiously toward Daniel, but if he took offense he concealed it well. Not so with Suzanne. Her rigid body was planted against the wall as her steely eyes never once left Joshua’s hand.
While the men discussed the price of cotton and politics, the ladies chatted about the weather and fashion (Suzanne's favorite topic, but she chose to remain curiously silent). It would have been a pleasant conversation had Joshua's hand not rested so near. Lynna was noticeably ill at ease with his close proximity and went as rigid as Suzanne when his hand, hidden from the others, drifted down to finger a golden curl and lightly caress her back.
She blushed crimson as she leaned forward and brushed invisible lint from her skirt. Oh, how she longed to turn and land a resounding slap to his arrogant face, but she did not move or dare lean back and be pawed by his roving hand again.
By the same token, Joshua's hand itched, almost ached, to travel down further to the swells of her creamy, fully rounded bosom displayed so enticingly from his vantage point. Again, he had been on the verge of throwing caution to the wind when the part he coveted was unceremoniously snatched from view.
Lynna wondered how this man's slightest touch could scorch her skin, when Daniel’s most ardent kisses failed to stir a quickening inside her? She could find no answer to this burning question and was more than relieved when the maid announced that dinner was served. As she stood, she turned to present him with a withering glare.
Chuckling to himself, Joshua ignored her temper and went to push his father's chair into the dining room.
Coming to the conclusion that the fates were definitely against her, Lynna found herself seated next to the insolent rogue. But why blame the fates? After all, this was Joshua's home and she should have known he would have a hand in the seating arrangements.
The dining room was the same shade of light blue trimmed in dark blue. A table and twelve chairs carved from dark, rich cherry held the center of the room, set with blue and white china and deep blue crystal, surrounding a centerpiece of ruby red roses. On one side stood a Hepplewhite sideboard displaying the family silver, and in the corner stood a handsome cabinet containing rare china and more intricately carved statuettes, similar to the ones in his cabin.
Everyone seemed to be enjoying the sumptuous meal and lively banter, but with Joshua so near, Lynna's appetite once again deserted her. While the others were involved in witty repartee among themselv
es, Joshua bent to whisper near her ear. “Is there something amiss with your food, my sweet? Or could there perchance be something about me that ruins your appetite? I fear if you and I were together for any great length of time you would simply waste away,” he purred as his gaze fell to her sensuous mouth. “And what a terrible loss that would be.”
Lynna could feel the heat radiating from her cheeks. In barely more than a whisper, she grated, “Sir, you should learn to conduct yourself in a more gentlemanly fashion. I fear I am unaccustomed to your brash remarks.”
“Lynna, my pet, there is little about me that you are unaccustomed to.” He grinned wickedly, passing her a napkin-covered basket of steaming buttermilk biscuits.
With a sharp intake of breath and a definite tilt of her dainty chin she took a biscuit and buttered a chunk, then put it on her plate, unsure if her queasy stomach could handle food at the moment. Taking a sip from her wine glass, she almost choked when Joshua's thigh brushed intimately against hers.
“Here, allow me.” Innocently he patted — a pat that was more like a caress — her back. “Did your wine perhaps go down the wrong way, my dear?”
She longed to slap the smirk from his smug face. How dare he make such brazen advances toward her, treat her like nothing more than a common trollop? Would this night ever end? She bestowed upon him an icy glare that would have put any other man in his place, but not so Joshua. He had the temerity to grin and wink slyly at her blazing face. The entire length of her body trembled with rage as she turned to him and whispered, “I will not sit still for your manhandling a second longer! If you so much as consider touching me again, you will feel the blade of this butter knife beneath your skin!”
It was a harmless threat and she knew it, but she hoped it would be enough to scare him. She held the butter knife in her hand for added conviction. But the knife fell from her hand with a clatter as he threw back his head and laughed uproariously before continuing, undaunted, with his meal.
Beside her, Malinda giggled. “Pay him no mind, Lynna. He has forever been a tease, especially when a woman intrigues him.”
At that moment, Suzanne, who was again listening to their conversation, hated Lynna enough to have scratched out her eyes with great pleasure. Joshua had never once teased her!
With the meal finally at an end, they took their coffee and brandy into the parlor. But Suzanne could not suffer through watching Joshua lust after Lynna for another second. With exaggerated weakness, she mewled, “Father, I fear I have developed a simply monstrous headache and I must ask that we return home early.”
Silas expressed his immediate concern for his daughter’s welfare, speaking to Patricia. “It has been a most enjoyable evening and we regret having to retire early, but under the circumstances I pray you will understand.”
“Of course, we do,” Patricia assured him. Then, turning to Suzanne, she added, “I only hope you feel better soon, darling.”
'Thank you, I am sure I will after some rest.” Or when Lynna has returned to Georgia and I can return without her!
“If you are ever in Georgia, stop by Magnolia House for a visit,” Silas was saying to Jeremiah and Patricia. “You are always welcome.”
“That is very kind of you and we just might take you up on your offer,” Jeremiah replied. “However, our son does the bulk of traveling in the family.”
Turning to Joshua, Silas repeated the invitation. “You are more than welcome to visit, anytime.”
“Thank you, sir. I feel certain I can find time for a visit soon.” As his smiling eyes strayed toward Lynna, he, and everyone else in the room, knew the visit would be in the not too distant future.
Outside in the dark night, Joshua assisted the ladies into their carriage. With his hands on Lynna's waist, he could not resist the impulse to allow his hands to linger.
Lynna's body turned to a mass of quivering flesh and her heart threatened to leave her chest, but he must never know how much his touch affected her.
“What was that?” Mary questioned as a loud slapping sound rang out in the still night air.
“Darn mosquitoes!” Joshua chortled as he rubbed his stinging jaw. To be so petite, the little lady packed a wallop. “They are out for blood tonight.” It was too dark to see, but Joshua could imagine Lynna's enchanting face beaming triumphantly in the still night. And he was absolutely correct, as Lynna leaned back in her seat, feeling entirely vindicated.
Returning to Cedar Hill, they were greeted by a messenger from Magnolia House. Jopree had taken ill and Silas needed to return home. They packed their bags that night to be ready to leave with the first light of dawn. Suzanne and Lynna were the only ones pleased that the visit had been cut short.
Chapter Twelve
Back home, Judith and Lynna's lives returned to their normal routine. With Suzanne in residence, that meant sewing from dawn until dusk, grabbing a quick bite in between fittings, and falling into bed, exhausted, late into the night. Suzanne was demanding four new dresses and a pink satin ball gown before returning to Cedar Hill for Beth and Samuel’s annual Harvest Ball. Lynna would dearly love to stitch a new gown for the Ball herself, but when would she find time, even if they could afford the material?
One especially hot morning in late August, a wilted Suzanne appeared at the door with beads of perspiration dotting her brow. “Good morning, Judith. Is the pink satin almost complete?” She was rapidly fanning her flushed face against the intense summer heat and humidity.
“Almost, dear, you can try it on for the final fitting this afternoon.”
“Oh.”
They both glanced askance at Suzanne, whose tone lacked the usual exuberance when discussing new apparel. And what could have prompted her to venture out of the house in the steamy heat of mid-afternoon? Typically, she would be in a cushioned rocker on the verandah, sipping lemonade as her ever-present slave child vigorously fanned her.
“This heat is simply unbearable, Lynna. Let’s go down to the river for a swim to cool off.”
Suzanne hadn’t been overly friendly since their return home. In fact, they rarely ever saw each other anymore. Could it be she was trying to make amends for her outrageous behavior in Charleston? Lynna decided to give her the benefit of doubt. “It does sound tempting, but I really should help Aunt Judith if we are to finish your dresses and gown in time for the Ball.”
“Nonsense,” Judith piped in, “you have been laboring over this gown since sun up, practically around-the-clock.”
“No more than you, Aunt Judith. I am surprised you have not ruined your eyes, trying to sew by candlelight.”
“Could the two of you please have this debate later?” Who cares how hard, or how late into the night either of you have to sew? Just get them finished before the ball!
“Then let us compromise and both take a respite,” Judith decided. “I will go visit with Mary for a spell, and you two go for a swim.” She hoped the two girls could put aside their differences and at least be civil.
“Agreed.”
“Thank goodness, that is settled,” Suzanne whined, rolling her eyes. “I thought we might need the services of a negotiator to settle whether or not you could take a dip in the river.”
“Suzanne, must you ever exaggerate?” Lynna took off running and laughed over her shoulder, “I’ll race you!” She didn’t even bother to turn around, she knew without looking that Suzanne would not quicken her pace one iota. The girl rarely exerted herself, outside of the bedroom.
The water was refreshing and cool, lifting Lynna’s spirits and bringing back memories of the summer she had first arrived at Magnolia House. She, Suzanne, Daniel, and Samuel had spent practically every afternoon during the long, lazy days of summer at the river. The boys had taught her to swim the width of the river with ease, dig worms and catch a mess of crappie for supper, while Suzanne watched primly from the shade of a tree and complained of the dreadful heat. It all seemed like such a long time ago. She closed her eyes and floated for the longest time before asking
, “Do you ever wish you were a child again, Suzanne?”
“Heavens no, I would not alter any part of my life.” Suzanne was watching her closely as a harmless turtle popped his head out of the water a few feet away. “Do you?”
“Sometimes. Life was so uncomplicated then, so simple.” Lynna had a sudden pained flashback of the day after their return from Charleston. A melancholy Daniel had come to her house that evening, after her aunt had retired for the night and Lynna was sitting on the porch swing.
“You are not going to marry me, are you?” he questioned softly, startling her.
“Daniel, I did not hear you come up... I don’t know what to say.”
“Just tell me the truth, Lynna. Please, do not feel you must lie to spare my feelings. I have to know, so I can go forward with my life with, or without you.”
His anguish had brought scalding tears to her eyes and she decided then that there would be no more lies. Daniel deserved better. She would tell him the truth, perhaps then he could find someone worthy of his love. “I cannot accept your proposal, Daniel.” The words were ripped from her heart and she despised herself for saying them. “It was never my intention to hurt you. I do love you. I have loved you as…a brother since the day I came here and I always will.” She lowered her head miserably. “Please, do not hate me.”
“I could never hate you, Lynna. I have no doubt I will love you until the day I die. If you ever change your mind… I will be waiting with open arms.” She watched him walk away, but not before carelessly brushing away a betraying tear.
