The Underground Railroad Brides Collection: 9 Couples Navigate the Road to Freedom Before the Civil War
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Dahlia nodded as she took the plate and began drying it with a towel. “They are bad men from down south who chase after runaway slaves.”
“That’s right.” Edith lifted another clean plate from the soapy water. “Have your parents told you to beware of them?”
Dahlia nodded again as she took the wet plate from Edith. “Pa told me to stay clear of anybody I don’t know who talks with a Southern accent.”
“Then I’m surprised your ma allowed you to ride here in Mr. Beaumont’s carriage.”
She grinned up at Edith. “Oh, I know Ma and Pa don’t mean Mr. Beaumont, ’cause he’s nice and I know him. Bedsides, if he wanted to snatch me and take me down south, I reckon he’d have done it already.” She shrugged as she ran the towel over the plate. “All I asked Ma was if I could come and stay the night here with you.”
Dahlia’s mother doubtless thought Edwin would be driving them. Fear at the little girl’s innocent naïveté leaped in Edith’s chest and honed a sharper edge to her tone. “You must not be so trusting, Dahlia. There are rumors of slave catchers around Madison. Mrs. Hale told me that the leader is a tall man with brown hair that comes over his ears, a crescent-shaped scar on his cheek, and answers to a given name something like Jeb or Jude.”
Dahlia’s eyes grew large. “That sounds like the man that came to visit Mr. Beaumont when I was at your Madison house last week. Mr. Beaumont called him Jube, and I think the man said he was Mr. Beaumont’s brother.”
For a long moment Edith stood mute as fear gripped her. Her insides writhed, threatening to reject her supper onto the kitchen floor right in front of Dahlia.
“What’s the matter, Miss Edith? You look like you’re gettin’ sick.” Dahlia’s little forehead puckered with worry lines.
Through sheer will, Edith managed to breathe again and keep her supper down. She folded her arms across her chest to stop herself from shaking. Anger flooded through her, washing out her shock and fear; anger at Edwin for bringing Wade into their lives, anger at Wade for his duplicity, but mostly anger at herself for allowing Wade to beguile her with his Southern charms and wriggle his way into her affections. At the memory of her impulsive agreement to let him squire her at the Christmas party, her stomach churned again.
She fixed Dahlia with her sternest look. “You must stay away from Mr. Beaumont. Do you understand me?”
A pained look crumpled Dahlia’s face as tears filled her eyes. “But Mr. Beaumont is my friend.”
“No, he is not!” The words came out harsher than Edith intended, and her heart twisted with remorse when Dahlia began to cry.
Edith sighed as she knelt and pulled Dahlia into her embrace. “I’m sorry I spoke so harshly, but you must understand how dangerous it is for you to be anywhere near slave catchers.” She wiped the wetness from Dahlia’s cheeks. “Until we can determine whether or not Mr. Beaumont is in any way connected to slave catchers, you must not go near him or our old house in Madison.” She cradled the girl’s face in her hands. “Promise me you will stay away from that house and Mr. Beaumont.”
Dahlia nodded. “I promise,” she murmured.
“Good girl.” Edith forced a smile and stood again on shaky legs.
Dahlia gave Edith a quizzical look. “But if Mr. Beaumont is so bad, why did you say you’d go to the Christmas party with him?”
Edith stood speechless, having thought Dahlia was asleep during her conversation with Wade in the carriage. As she grappled for an answer, a soft rapping sounded at the front door.
Edith stepped into the front sitting room to see Father open the door to reveal Dahlia’s father, Mose.
“Pa.” Dahlia stepped from behind Edith, and disappointment dragged down her voice. “Ma said I could stay the night here and you’d come for me in the morning.”
Mose put a hand on his daughter’s head, but no hint of a smile touched his lips. “I’m not here for you, child. I’ll be back after you in the mornin’, just like Ma said.” He looked at Father. “The first passengers have arrived.”
Father nodded. “I’ll show you to the place.”
Edith’s mind raced, trying to comprehend what was happening. She looked from Mose to Father. “What do you mean, ‘passengers’?”
Father turned a grave face to Edith. “It is for this reason we have moved here, Daughter.”
Chapter 7
Edith’s hands shook as she reached behind her neck and tried to tie the black velvet ribbon attached to Mother’s best cameo pendant. The prospect of attempting to appear serene and unaffected by Wade’s presence tonight felt daunting. Since the evening three weeks ago when she’d learned that their Lancaster home was a stop on the Underground Railroad, she hadn’t drawn an easy breath. In the past twenty-one days she and Father had provided sanctuary for two more groups of runaways, concealing them by day in a hidden compartment behind a false wall in the apple cellar. Father explained that with the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act, the governing board of the Eleutherian Institute had decided that someone needed to occupy their little cottage in order to utilize it as a stop on the Underground Railroad. While it hurt that Father hadn’t told her the real reason he’d taken the teaching job at the institute when they moved to Lancaster last fall, she understood the need for secrecy. Also, by keeping her ignorant of their greater mission, he’d allowed her to remain unburdened by the knowledge in the event that she was questioned.
When Edith shared what Dahlia had told her about Wade’s brother, Father decided that they could no longer risk Wade’s weekly visits. Instead Father now traveled to Madison to review the company books. Unsure how she could face Wade again, let alone allow him to touch her, Edith’s first impulse had been to renege on her promise to let him squire her for the Christmas party this evening. Father had disagreed, saying that after curtailing Wade’s visits, any further changes might pique Wade’s and his brother’s suspicions, putting Edith, Father, and any runaways hiding on their premises in danger. Father also suggested that Edith use the occasion of the party to engage Wade in conversation and learn of his involvement, if any, in slave hunting.
Edith gazed into the dresser mirror and heaved a tremulous sigh. Her heart stung with a painful twinge of disappointment, and she pressed her hand against the bodice of her bottle-green watered silk frock. As she now faced her image in the looking glass, she must face the truth. She had wanted to believe that Wade had no interest in dragging people back into bondage and so she’d allowed herself to care for him.
Hot tears sprang into her eyes and slipped down her face. She brushed them from her too-rosy cheeks with trembling fingers. The evening’s excitement could explain her flushed face but not her unsteady voice or hands.
Happy chatter of arriving guests wafted up from the music room below, sending new waves of dread washing through her.
Dear Lord, You must help me do this. Please help me do this!
Two quick raps on her bedroom door sent a jolt of panic through her.
“Edith, are you ready? Guests are arriving and Edwin can’t deal with them all. We’ll need to divide and conquer.” Impatience lent an edge to Sophie’s voice. “Edwin says I take forever to get ready, but even I have been prepared to greet guests for the past half hour.”
Somehow Edith stood and crossed the room on wobbly legs to open the door to her sister-in-law. “I just need to tie this ribbon better. I would hate to lose Mother’s cameo.” Her conscience chafed against the lie. While she felt relatively confident in the knot she’d tied, the delay would gain her a few extra minutes to bolster her courage before heading downstairs.
Smiling, Sophie gave a happy gasp and clasped her hands together as she looked Edith up and down. “Oh, I knew you’d look wonderful in that color of green.” The compliment held a hint of self-congratulation.
Edith gave her sister-in-law a fond smile. “Your judgment in choosing frock colors remains impeccable, Sophie. And you look absolutely gorgeous in that red silk dress.” She let a teasing tone creep into her voice
. “My brother had better stay close to his wife tonight. I expect all the gentlemen’s eyes will be on you this evening, and I wouldn’t want Edwin to feel forced to defend your honor.”
“Oh don’t be silly. I’m an old married lady and a mother at that.” Sophie batted the air with her hand in a dismissive gesture, but the sparkle in her blue eyes told Edith that she lapped up the compliment like a cat with a bowl of cream. She cocked her head at Edith, and her tone turned teasing. “Speaking of admiring gentlemen, a certain Southern gentleman is among the early arrivals, and he inquired after you specifically.”
Edith’s pulse quickened to the pace of a crazed metronome. “I—I can’t go down yet.”
Sophie huffed. “But you look perfect.”
“My neck ribbon still needs retying.” She must buy one more moment to calm her nerves before facing Wade.
Sophie huffed again. “Oh, fiddle-dee-dee! Turn around.”
Edith did as Sophie asked and heard her sister-in-law grunt as she sensed the shorter woman go up on her tiptoes to reach Edith’s neck.
In a quick moment, Sophie untied and retied the ribbon, then gave her work a final pat. “There, your mother’s cameo is secure. We must hurry down. Our guests await.”
Edith had no choice but to follow her sister-in-law down the curved staircase that ended in a wide hallway opposite the music room, which already hummed with the cheerful sounds of the milling guests.
As she descended she focused on each step so as not to trip on her hem and send both herself and Sophie tumbling down the stairs. So her heart shot to her throat when, safely on the landing, she looked up into Wade’s smiling face.
The intense look in his eyes took Edith’s breath away. His gaze never budged from her face as he took her hand and pressed it to his lips, sending delicious tingles up her arm. “Forgive my rudeness for staring, Miss Applegate, but you are the most ravishing creature I have ever had the pleasure of clapping eyes on.” A sad, almost pained smile touched his lips. “I have missed you, Edith.”
Her heart reciprocated the sentiment, but the compliment stuck in her throat. In truth, she’d never seen Wade look handsomer than he did this evening in his black frock coat; white, high-collared shirt; and blue silk necktie that exactly matched his eyes. Desperate for a diversion, she looked in search of Sophie, but her sister-in-law had joined the other guests in the music room. Praying for guidance and poise, she tucked her arm around his proffered one and willed her lips into a smile. “How very kind of you, Mr. Beaumont. Shall we join the others?”
As they stepped into the music room, Rosaleen Hale, seated at the piano, began playing the “Jenny Lind Polka.”
Wade stepped back and gave Edith a deep bow. “Will you honor me with this dance, Miss Applegate?”
“Of course,” Edith murmured and found herself swept among the other dancers. For once she silently thanked the Lord for giving her a sister-in-law who loved parties. Her feet flawlessly executed the dance steps she knew by heart, and the polka’s quick tempo precluded her from having to make conversation.
When the dance ended and everyone applauded Rosaleen’s playing, Wade gave a low whistle. “Whew, that was exhilarating.” He offered Edith his arm. “May I get you some refreshment? Eggnog or perhaps some sweet cider?”
“Thank you.” She repeated the sentiment in a silent prayer of thanks to the Lord, welcoming any respite from Wade’s nearness that kept her heart in contortions. “Perhaps some cider.” She searched the room for Edwin, Sophie, Father, or anyone she knew who seemed unengaged in conversation.
Wade turned as if to go for the refreshment then turned back to her again. “Edith, are you angry with me?” The pained look she’d seen in his eyes earlier returned. “If I did or said something to offend you when I took you home in my carriage some weeks ago, I am grievously sorry for it.”
Only that you would drag other children of God into unspeakable bondage. Praying that the uncharitable thought didn’t show on her face, she quirked a smile that her lips refused to sustain. “I assure you that you did nothing that day to offend me, Mr. Beaumont.”
An odd look crossed his face before his smile returned. “Then I am most relieved.” Giving her a stiff bow, he headed off toward the refreshment table.
Edith crossed the room to the piano where Rosaleen Hale sat flipping through pages of music. It struck her that the frugal minister’s wife wore the same rose-colored silk dress she’d worn five years ago at another of Sophie’s parties when her husband had proposed marriage.
Rosaleen settled the music sheets on the piano and smiled at Edith. “Good evening, Edith. It looks like Sophie has managed another successful party.”
“It does seem to be her gift,” Edith said with a little laugh.
Rosaleen grinned. “You look to be having a good time, but I must say I’m wondering if it was the polka or your handsome companion that has you blushing.”
Edith pressed her hands to her warm cheeks, and her smile dissolved. Glancing around, she lowered her voice to a conspiratorial tone. “I would not have agreed to let Mr. Beaumont squire me for the evening if I’d known earlier that—” She glanced over at the refreshment table to assure herself that Wade was still engaged in conversation with Edwin. “I believe the slave hunter you warned me about is his brother.”
Rosaleen nodded. “And I believe you are right.” She took Edith’s hand and an understanding look gentled her expression. “Edith, just because Wade’s brother’s heart is turned a certain way doesn’t mean that Wade’s heart is turned the same. Jacob has spoken to Wade on more than one occasion, and he believes that Wade is cut from different cloth.” She smiled. “Ezekiel 18:20 says, ‘The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.’ Don’t judge Wade for his brother’s actions.”
The anguish grinding inside Edith crept into her voice. “I’m not judging him for his brother’s actions, Rosaleen. I just wish I could be sure he’s not involved in the same wickedness.”
“Then ask him,” Rosaleen whispered as she glanced past Edith’s shoulder. “He’s coming this way now.”
Edith’s heart sprang to her throat, and she turned to see Wade walking toward them with two steaming cups of mulled cider.
Wade handed Edith a cup and acknowledged Rosaleen with a shallow bow. “Mrs. Hale, may I commend you on your wonderful piano playing? I’ve never heard a polka done better on the pianoforte.”
Edith gave her friend a fond smile. “Rosaleen could have played for audiences in New York City, but she decided to marry a minister here instead.”
Wade laughed and Edith wished she didn’t like the sound so much. He pressed his hand against his heart. “Ah, fame and fortune forsaken for love. Then it must be true love indeed, ma’am.”
“True indeed.” Rosaleen glanced across the room where her husband, Jacob, stood talking with another gentleman. She shifted her gaze back to Wade. “Should I play a waltz, do you think?”
Wade looked at Edith. “Yes, please. But don’t begin until Miss Applegate has finished her cup of cider.”
Rosaleen shuffled through her sheet music. “I have a rather new Christmas tune, ‘O Holy Night.’”
Edith managed to get a few sips of the cider past her tightening throat as Wade and Rosaleen discussed other waltz options.
At length Wade set his cup and saucer on one of Sophie’s little marble-topped parlor tables and, with Edith’s murmured permission, put hers with it and took her hand. “May I have this waltz, Miss Applegate?”
Wishing she could think of a reason to say no, Edith looked at Rosaleen for help. Finding none, she nodded and found herself in Wade’s arms in the middle of the room as Rosaleen began playing the waltz.
After two bars of the dance Edith relaxed in his arms as they twirled among the other dancers.
Wade smiled. “You dance divinely. I must confess I’m surprised.”
“Why?”
“Your reluctance to partner me in t
he dance made me wonder about your proficiency. Or is it that you don’t care to dance with me?”
“Are you a slave hunter, Wade?” That she’d blurted the question chasing around in her mind surprised Edith.
A stunned look replaced his smile, and for the first time, he missed a step in the dance. He recovered the momentary stumble. “Ah yes, you would have heard about my brother, Jube. And no, I’m not a slave hunter.” A flash of anger crossed his blue eyes, but whether at having to defend himself from the charge or being found out, Edith couldn’t say.
“And why should I believe you when your brother and his band of slave hunters appeared in Madison only after you arrived here?” Edith executed a twirl then glared up at him. “I’m not as gullible as Edwin, which I would need to be to believe that you have not kept in correspondence with your…family.”
The dance ended and Wade and Edith joined in the applause for Rosaleen’s playing.
Wade took Edith’s hand. “Come, we need to talk.” He led her to an unoccupied settee. When they’d been seated, he rested his arms on his upper thighs and clasped his hands together. “In truth, I’ve had no contact with my brother or father for over three years now.” He shifted his gaze from his hands to her face. His throat moved with a swallow, and a look of pain filled his eyes. “From childhood, I found the institution of slavery sickening. Pa began taking Jube and me on hunts for runaways when we were just boys.”
The distant look in his eyes seemed to gaze beyond the festive atmosphere of the party swirling around them. “Parents and their kids all screaming as Pa and the other catchers tore them away from each other and sold them down the river, never to see one another again. And then there were the beatings…”
He shook his head as if to dislodge the picture in his mind. “I believe our country’s founding fathers ascertain in the Declaration of Independence that all men are equal, and that should apply to all people, regardless of skin color.” His eyes turned watery. “My mother felt the same way, but Pa wouldn’t hear a word of it.” His brow furrowed in a scowl. “I believe it’s what put Ma in an early grave.”