“How long did you know Savannah before you married her?”
Dante laughed. “About the same amount of time you and Victoria have known each other.”
“Your marriage has worked out well.”
“Yes, but even when two people love each other, it takes a lot of work. Do you remember the conversation we had the day you came to me for advice about your feelings for Victoria?”
“Yes.”
“Then you understand why we’re all concerned. You’re a good person, Marcus, and you’ve been coming to church. But as far as I know, you haven’t accepted Christ as your Savior.”
“No, I haven’t.”
Sorrow flickered in Dante’s eyes. “Then I fear for your marriage. The Bible is very clear about the responsibilities of a husband. If you haven’t turned your heart over to Jesus, there’s no way you can fulfill the role that God has for husbands.”
Marcus’s face warmed, and he fisted his hands at his sides. “I love Victoria, and I’ll always take care of her. You don’t have to worry about me.”
Dante shook his head. “But I do. I know how difficult marriage can be even when you love a woman with all your heart. Just remember that I’m always willing to help you in any way I can. And so is Daniel.”
Marcus gave a snort of disgust. “Yeah, he cornered me and told me the same thing before you arrived.”
“Then I suppose there’s nothing else we can say to you today except that we’ll be praying for you and Victoria and wish you the best.” Dante smiled and stuck out his hand. “Don’t look so glum. This isn’t a funeral. It’s a wedding. This should be the happiest day of your life.”
Even though Dante’s words and those of Daniel earlier troubled him, Marcus knew this was the happiest day of his life. A beautiful woman who said she loved him waited inside the house. It seemed like a dream come true. Soon Victoria would be his wife. She would be a part of Pembrook, and he wouldn’t be alone anymore. Almost as if his father stood next to him and whispered in his ear, the thought that Victoria might hate life on Pembrook and want to leave like his mother did flashed into his mind.
Before he could banish the idea from his head, Daniel stepped through the door that led from the house onto the veranda. He stopped beside Marcus and smiled. “Victoria is ready, Marcus. Shall we take our places?”
Marcus gulped and nodded his approval.
With a smile, Daniel clasped his Bible next to his chest and walked to the spot they’d chosen for the ceremony. Savannah and Tave sat in the chairs next to Victoria’s mother as the men approached.
When Daniel stopped and faced the house, Dante moved to stand beside Marcus. Taking a big breath, Marcus turned, clasped his hands in front of him, and stared at the door of the house. It opened, and Victoria’s uncle stepped onto the veranda before Victoria emerged. She smiled at her uncle and slipped her arm into the crook of his.
Her uncle whispered something in her ear and bent down to kiss her on the cheek. Victoria murmured something before she directed her gaze at Marcus. Her eyes sparkled, and he thought his heart would burst at how beautiful she looked. It had nothing to do with the dress she was wearing or the small bouquet she carried. Instead, it was the connection he felt as her gaze traveled over his face. For the first time in his life, he felt as if someone was looking at him through eyes filled with love.
So that was how love felt. He’d never known, and now he saw it on the face of the woman who wanted to share the rest of her life with him. A chill passed over him, and he straightened.
A woman will break your heart. His father had said that to him many years ago. It couldn’t be true of Victoria, though. He loved her and wanted to make her happy.
He shook the thought from his mind and watched as she walked toward him. When she and her uncle reached him, he turned to face Daniel, who opened his Bible and began to read. Marcus couldn’t concentrate on the words for wanting to glance at Victoria, but she kept her attention on Daniel.
“ ‘Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.’ ”
Daniel’s words startled Marcus, and he turned his head to look at the preacher. He frowned. The command sounded as if it was very important, but he didn’t understand. Was the Bible talking about the buildings where people met to worship? He’d have to ask Dante to explain this to him later.
For the remainder of the ceremony, Marcus felt as if he was in a daze. He knew he mumbled words promising to love, honor, and keep only to Victoria as long as he lived, and he heard her speak the same vows. He also knew when he slipped the ring he’d ridden to Selma to purchase on her finger, but he remembered little else.
“I now pronounce you man and wife,” Daniel said.
Marcus stared down at Victoria’s hand that he grasped and then raised his eyes to her face. She was smiling, and he thought he detected a hint of tears in the corners of her eyes. He stared at her a moment, not knowing what to do.
Dante leaned forward and whispered in his ear. “Why don’t you kiss your bride, Marcus?”
He hesitated a moment, not willing to break the spell that could hardly make him believe this gorgeous woman had just married him. Then he leaned forward, grazed her cheek with his lips, and whispered in her ear. “I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone before, Victoria. I can’t tell you how happy you’ve made me today.”
She smiled as he straightened and touched his cheek with her fingers. “I love you, too, Marcus. I’m honored to be your wife.”
Daniel stuck out his hand to Marcus. “Congratulations. I hope you’ll be very happy.”
Marcus shook hands and turned to Victoria’s mother, who’d stepped up behind them. She kissed Victoria on the cheek and smiled at him. “I pray you’ll have a happy life together.”
“As do I,” Savannah said and reached out to grasp Victoria’s hand.
Tave put her hands on Victoria’s shoulders and stared into her eyes. “Remember to put God first in your marriage, and He’ll take care of you and Marcus.”
Marcus put his arm around Victoria’s shoulders and drew her close to him. He looked at the people who’d come to witness their wedding, and his heart swelled with gratitude. Not only did he have a wife; he also was beginning to have friends.
He cleared his throat. “I want to thank all of you for coming to our wedding today.” He glanced from Victoria’s mother and uncle to the two couples. “I hope that not only Victoria’s family but our friends as well will know that our home will always be open to you. Now if you’ll come into the house, I believe Sally has baked a cake and has some cider made from apples grown in our orchard.”
Victoria looped her arm through his as they walked toward the house. With his free hand, he reached over and covered hers, which rested on his arm. He’d never felt such a protective feeling in his life. He was determined to make her like her new life at Pembrook.
Eight
Victoria stretched her arms above her head and wiggled her toes in an effort to wake up. She turned her head to stare at the pillow next to her. The indention where Marcus’s head had rested was the only indication that he had slept there. The sun streamed through the big bedroom windows, and she wondered what time it was. From somewhere in the house a clock chimed, and she counted the sounds.
Her eyes grew wide, and she bolted upright in bed. Eight o’clock. She’d never slept that late in her life. Marcus would think he’d married a lazy woman.
She sprang from the bed, ran to the washstand where a pitcher and bowl sat, and poured some of the water for her morning bath in the delicate china basin. She hurried through her morning preparations and ran to the walnut armoire where her mother had hung her dresses yesterday. Pulling out a simple day dress, she slipped it over her head and hurried out of the room.
As she strode down the upstairs hallway toward the staircase, she studied each of the bedrooms she passed. Marcus had pointed out three last night and told her that her family was welcome to stay anytime. The memo
ry of how attentive he’d been to her feelings the night before drifted into her mind, and she smiled. He wanted her to be happy at Pembrook, and she knew she would be.
She reached the staircase and started to step down, but a closed door directly across the hall caught her attention. She hadn’t noticed it the night before, and Marcus hadn’t mentioned the room. She wondered what was behind the door.
The smell of baking bread reached her nostrils, and her stomach growled. She’d hardly touched her food last night, and she was hungry. Undecided which to do, she glanced from the door to the direction of the tempting smells.
Curiosity won. She backed away from the stairs, walked to the closed door, and grasped the doorknob. It didn’t open, and she pushed harder. Locked. That was the only explanation. Victoria backed away from the door and frowned. Why would Marcus have one of the rooms locked?
The aroma of frying bacon mingled with the baking bread drifted up the staircase, and her stomach growled. Victoria shrugged. She would ask Marcus later.
She dashed down the stairs, hurried to the kitchen, and pushed the door open. “Good morning,” she called out as she entered.
Sally Moses whirled around from her position at the dry sink by the wall and gasped. A bowl she’d been in the process of washing slipped from her fingers and crashed to the floor. Sally’s wild stare darted from Victoria’s face to the pieces of shattered glass at her feet. She shrank against the dry sink and uttered a moan.
“I sorry, Miz Raines. I doan know what make me be so clumsy this morning.”
Victoria stopped in amazement at the fear she saw in the woman’s face. Did she think Victoria would berate her for breaking a bowl? Victoria smiled and stepped closer. “Don’t apologize. It wasn’t your fault. I shouldn’t have startled you.” She glanced around the kitchen. “It’s just a bowl. Where’s the broom? I’ll help you clean it up.”
Sally grabbed the bottom of her apron and dried her dripping hands on the fabric. “No’m. I clean it up. You go on in the dinin’ room and sets down. I take care of this here bowl after I serves you breakfas’.”
Victoria glanced over her shoulder and frowned. “Sit in the dining room? I don’t want to sit in there and eat all alone. What time did Marcus leave?”
“Mistuh Mahcus, he leave early ev’ry mo’nin’. He tole me to fix you somethin’ to eat when you woke up.”
Victoria rubbed her stomach. “I am hungry, but I’m not going in that dining room. I’ll sit right here at the kitchen table. That way we can talk while I eat. I want to get to know you better.”
Sally bit down on her lip and shook her head. “I doan think Mistuh Mahcus want his wife to be eatin’ in no kitchen. Not when you got that big table to set at.”
Victoria laughed. “Exactly. It’s a big table, and I’m not going to sit in there alone. Now tell me where you keep the plates, and I’ll get one out for myself.”
A slow smile curled Sally’s lip, and she pointed to a cupboard. “They’s in there. I’ll pour you a cup of coffee whilst you gittin’ a plate. Then I’ll git you some biscuits and gravy and some bacon.”
Twenty minutes later, Victoria pushed her chair away from the table and wiped her mouth on the napkin Sally had handed her. “That was delicious, Sally. I’ve never tasted biscuits that good. Who taught you to cook?”
A shy smile pulled at Sally’s mouth. “My granny be the best cook at Pembrook. She learned me ev’rythin’ I know when I was a little girl.”
“Did your mother like to cook, too?”
Sally’s body stiffened, and she reached for Victoria’s dirty dishes. “I doan ’member my mama. Mastuh Raines sold my mama off when I was little.”
Victoria frowned. “Sold her. . .” The truth dawned on her. Sally and her mother had been slaves. Victoria raised her hand to cover her gaping mouth. After a moment, she spoke. “Oh, Sally. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to cause you pain by making you remember the past.”
“I reckon I doan never forget it, Miz Raines. It be with me all the time.”
“I expect it is. It must have been very hard for you to grow up without a mother, but you’re fortunate you had a grandmother. What about your family now?”
“Well, my grandmamma died ’fore the war. When we was freed, me and my husband lived out to the Crossroads for a while. Then when Mistuh Raines start wantin’ tenant farmers, we come back to Pembrook. Our son, he born here. Been here evah since.”
Victoria smiled. “You have a son? What’s his name?”
“James. He a good boy.”
“I’m sure he is.” Victoria watched Sally carry the dirty dishes to the dry sink and set them in a pan of water. “What can I help you do this morning?”
Sally tilted her head to the side and turned around slowly to face Victoria. A look of unbelief covered her face. “He’p me?”
“Yes. Now that I’m living here, I want to keep busy. How about if I help you with the noon meal? I can cook, although I know I’m not as good at it as you are. And I can wash dishes.”
Sally’s mouth dropped open wider, and she stared at Victoria. “Miz Raines, you cain’t be a-workin’ in no kitchen like hired he’p. You the mistress of this here house. Mistuh Mahcus won’t like it for you to be doin’ such as that.”
Victoria laughed. “Don’t be ridiculous, Sally. I worked in the kitchen of a boardinghouse in Mobile. I tell you what I’ll do. I’ll run back upstairs and make the bed; then I’ll come back down here. You find me an apron while I’m gone, and I’ll help you with the morning chores.”
Sally shook her head. “Miz Raines, I doan think Mistuh Mahcus gonna want you a-workin’ with me.”
“Oh, he’ll be glad I found something to occupy my time. I have to find something to do. I can’t sit in a chair all day long.” She started out of the kitchen but stopped at the door and turned back to Sally. “I meant to ask you about a locked room upstairs. What’s in there?”
Sally lips quivered. “That’s Mistuh Raines’s room.”
Victoria frowned. “Marcus’s room?”
“No’m. His father’s.”
“Why is it locked?”
“Mistuh Mahcus locked it after his pappy died. He doan let nobody in there ’cept me ev’ry once in a while to clean.”
Victoria nodded. “I see. Well, I’ll be back in a minute.”
She hurried through the house and up the staircase to the second floor. When she reached the closed door to her father-in-law’s bedroom, she felt an urge to try the door just in case Sally had been wrong.
She grasped the doorknob in her hand and turned it, but the door wouldn’t open. Victoria backed away from the door and stared at it. Why would Marcus keep the door locked and forbid anybody to enter? She would have to ask him about that.
❧
Marcus could hardly wait for noon. He’d wanted to stay home with Victoria this morning, but he knew he couldn’t. The work on a plantation as large as his didn’t wait for any man, and he had obligations.
As he’d ridden across Pembrook land all morning, checking on the fields of the various tenants, he pulled out his watch from time to time to see how much longer it would be before he could go back to the big house.
Victoria had been sleeping when he left, and he couldn’t bring himself to wake her up. He sat beside the bed for a while staring at her and wondering how he became so lucky to get a wife as beautiful as she.
Ever since she’d agreed to marry him, he’d dreamed of how she would look as the mistress of the big house. Now he imagined her sitting in the parlor at Pembrook, maybe some kind of needlework in her hands as she waited for her husband to come from the fields. She would set her work aside, rise from her chair, and glide across the floor to welcome him home.
The thought made him yearn to see her. He pulled the watch from his pocket again. It wasn’t yet noon, but that didn’t matter. He wanted to see his bride. He turned his horse toward home.
When he arrived at the big house, he tossed the reins of his horse to one of
the young boys who worked in the stable and hurried toward the house. His excitement grew as he stepped to the front door, pushed it open, and strode to the parlor.
At the entrance to the room he stopped and stared. Victoria was nowhere in sight. Laughter rang from the back of the house, and he frowned. Turning toward the sound, he moved to the closed door of the kitchen and paused. Victoria’s laughter came from inside.
He pushed the door open and stood in amazement at the sight before him. Sally stirred a bubbling pot on the stove, and Victoria, the sleeves of her dress rolled up, was up to her elbows in soapsuds as she washed dishes at the dry sink.
Victoria glanced over her shoulder, and her face lit up when she saw him. “Marcus,” she cried out, “you’re home earlier than we expected.”
“I. . .I wanted to see if you were all right.”
She dried her hands on her apron and hurried across the room toward him. He glanced past her at Sally, who had turned to stare at him. She lowered her gaze, faced the stove, and directed her attention back to the cooking food.
Victoria stopped in front of him, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed his cheek. “I’m so glad you’re home. Why didn’t you wake me up before you left this morning?”
Marcus’s heart plummeted at the sight of her. She looked nothing like the vision he’d had all morning. Tendrils of hair had escaped the bun at the back of her neck, and she brushed them out of her eyes. Spots of flour dotted her face, and the apron she wore sported a stain that looked like grease. He pulled his gaze away from her disheveled appearance and stared into her dark eyes. “I wanted you to sleep on your first morning here.”
She arched an eyebrow and smiled. “From now on, you wake me up. I want to see my husband in the mornings. It’s so sweet of you to be concerned for me on my first day here, but you needn’t worry. Sally has taken care of me just fine. In fact, she has a wonderful meal cooked for us.”
He glanced at the dishpan. “And you’re washing dishes?”
Blues Along the River Page 8
