The Abolitionist’s Secret

by Becky Lower

  “As do I. I’ll talk to David later tonight and see what plans we can come up with.”

  “As much as it pains me to say this, you must give full consideration to not accepting his proposal, even though you love him. After all, there are still three months left in the season. Perhaps you can find someone else to marry?”

  “No, Mother. There is no one else. Jasmine thinks I’ve ruined my chances by making my feelings for David known so early on. But he’s the right one for me, and I don’t want to ever look at anyone else. Besides, if I refuse him, I can’t very well tell all of New York society it was because I help slaves on the Underground Railroad. So, my season would limp to a finish with me sitting on the sidelines, where I suppose I belong.”

  Charlotte raised Heather’s hands to her lips and kissed them. “I’m so sorry, baby.”

  “Yes, me too.” Heather’s eyes sparkled with resolve. “We’ll figure something out. I’ll need some time with David alone before dinner.”

  “Of course, my dear. I’ll prepare the parlor for you.”

  • • •

  Filled with both apprehension and excitement, Heather ushered David into the house from the front porch. He was so handsome in his fine uniform, it took her breath away. He grabbed her hands and brushed a gentle kiss on her lips as they stood quietly in the parlor. For the sake of propriety, she had to keep the door open to the hallway, but they at least had a little privacy.

  “Your father was surprised when I went to him today to ask for your hand, but he willingly gave his consent to me, even though he thought our courtship was abrupt. I can’t wait to announce it to everyone at dinner. Shall I make it official and get to one knee now?”

  Heather giggled at his suggestion. And her heart stopped for a second when he actually did bend down to one knee.

  “I don’t have a ring until I get to Savannah, but my grandmother wanted me to use her ring when I found the right woman. And there is no woman more right for me than you, my love. Will you accept my proposal now, and the ring when I return from Savannah?”

  “Yes, of course, I will, David. You’re all I’ve ever wanted.” Heather’s body responded to his words and his touch. She pulled him up from his knees and placed her brow against his shoulder as she luxuriated in the fact that this man was in love with her. He had been able to see her even with Jasmine in the same room. David loved the fact that she was quiet, yet impassioned. And she loved the fact that with him, she sensed she was protected and safe, but strong in her own right at the same time. She envisioned their future rolling out ahead of them, and couldn’t wait to take their first steps together. She gazed up into his eyes.

  “I don’t want to wait until the season is over before we get married. I couldn’t care less about a fancy dress and a lavish ceremony. But, before I let Mother get all involved with helping to plan our wedding, I think we need to figure out what our next steps will be once we do marry. Are we to go to your father’s plantation? Will you re-enlist with the Army? Should we perhaps head further west, maybe to San Francisco? We have so many choices to make.”

  “And all the time in the world to make them,” David replied as he pulled her into an embrace and softly kissed her lips once again. With a great deal of regret, she placed a hand on his chest, and broke from the kiss.

  “Don’t be clouding my head with your delightful kisses. We must decide on what we are doing before my father will walk me down the aisle. He may be a quiet man, and he may have given his consent to our union, but he also wants his daughters to be taken care of before he lets go completely, and if we don’t even have a plan, he’s not going to let me out from under his roof.” She hoped her logic would be enough to steer him in the direction of a life away from the south.

  David sighed. “You are correct. But when I’m near you, all I can think about is how delightful our wedding night will be.”

  Heather blushed at his words. She, too, had been thinking about their wedding night and the lovemaking David would show her. If his kisses were any indication of what emotions he could draw forth from her on their wedding night, she could hardly wait. She shook her head to clear her carnal thoughts and attempted to steer the conversation back to their main focus.

  “We do need to figure out where we’re going. Let’s sit and discuss our options. Nothing needs to be permanent, but we must start somewhere.” She looked over at him, coyly. “If we can come up with a plan that will make Papa happy, I’ll reward you with another kiss.”

  David and Heather took a seat side by side on the divan, holding hands as they began to map their future.

  “Mother thinks what you should do first is to head to Savannah and tell your parents and Blanche Beaufort about me. It might make their acceptance of me easier than having me suddenly thrust into their midst.”

  David shook his head in agreement. “Yes, your mother does make sense. Regardless of where we end up, I want you to get to know my mother and father, and I want their relationship with you to start off on the right foot. I want you to be as accepted by my parents as I am with yours.”

  Heather lifted her eyes to him. “Tell me about the plantation, first, since you will at some point have to live there, and take it over from your father.”

  “I’m not so sure I want to continue the plantation. It was always meant for my brother, Jacob to take over after Father’s death. He loved the land so much. The plantation was like a religion to him. I’ve never felt that kind of reverence for the land. It was always just dirt to me, and I couldn’t wait to sign up with the Army and find a different life for myself.”

  “It is such a shame that he died so tragically.” Heather sighed. “But, surely you must now take your rightful place and continue to run the plantation, despite the fact that you will never love it like Jacob did. After all, it is your family’s legacy.”

  “That’s what everyone is counting on. But, I’ve had the good fortune of seeing parts of the country beyond the plantation. St. Louis is raw and wild, and it excites the senses just to be there. It’s bawdy and colorful, and vibrant with life. Ginger must have told you some of that life.”

  “Yes, her letters have been filled with her love of the ranch that Joseph and his father own. She and Joseph have begun to build their own house now. Are you thinking you want to settle in St. Louis? My brother Basil’s there, too, and it would be nice to be so close to some of my family.”

  David rolled Heather’s hand between his own as they continued to contemplate their ideal scenario. “I don’t think I want to spend four more years in the military, but I don’t want the plantation, either. Perhaps we could strike out on our own, maybe head to San Francisco, or someplace.”

  “Papa has talked about San Francisco, and setting up a branch of the bank there. We could talk to him about that, and about you becoming the bank’s manager, if you’d like. Are you good with numbers?”

  “Good enough.” David stood and began to pace the room. “Here’s what I think we should do. Why don’t we begin our married life in St. Louis? I could work alongside Basil at the bank for a year or so, and learn the business. Then, we could either head to San Francisco to open the new bank, or stay in St. Louis and run that bank while Basil moves west. What do you think?”

  Heather jumped up from the divan, her excitement mounting. “I think it’s a wonderful plan. Oh-h-h, I’m going to move to St. Louis!”

  She took David’s hand, and pulled him close. He leaned down for her promised kiss. Heather wrapped her arms around him as visions of their life on the frontier began to take shape in her mind.

  “Let’s go tell the family what we’re going to do.” She began to tug David out of the parlor and into the dining room. “I want all of them to share in our excitement now that we have a concrete plan in place.”

  Never had she been more wrong.

  Chapter 15

  David shifted his gaze from one Fitzpatrick family member to the next. Even without Jasmine in attendance at the table, there were a lot o
f Heather’s siblings gathered around the table. He only hoped he could remember all their names. It helped that the entire family was named for a spice or herb. That narrowed his choices considerably.

  The one named Rosemary, at least he thought that’s what her name was, lifted her face to meet his gaze. She had beautiful gray eyes that tilted up on the outer edges, giving her a slightly oriental look. Once he got past the shape of the orbs themselves, David sensed the great intelligence in them.

  Rosemary spoke. “So you and Heather will be moving to St. Louis, joining Ginger and Basil?”

  “Yes, Rosemary, did I get your name right? We are becoming frontiersmen, too, just like your sister and brother.”

  “I think it’s wonderful, but only if you promise to send me detailed accounts of the characters you meet. I mean, the people you meet. Ginger has sent us long letters filled with descriptions about her brothers-in-law, who are part Indian, and I’ve turned them into characters for my westerns that I’m writing.”

  David smiled at her youthful enthusiasm. “Have you written many westerns?”

  “Only three so far, but my publisher wants more, so I need many more characters and situations and events. You must send me details.”

  “You have a publisher?” David asked in surprise, as he took another look at the young girl in front of him.

  Charlotte gazed over with pride at her young daughter. “Rosemary is our talented writer. She went out on her own and found a publisher for her first book. Of course, the publisher doesn’t know he’s dealing with a young girl. He thinks F. P. Elliott is a man.”

  “You are F. P. Elliott? A couple of the men on the base where I was stationed outside of St. Louis were reading one of your books. Unbelievable.”

  As Rosemary preened, Charlotte attempted to bring the conversation back to the more important topic that was floating around the table. The lieutenant and Heather had just announced their engagement.

  “So, Lieutenant, you are going to marry my daughter and take her away to St. Louis. What of your plantation in Georgia?”

  David’s glance skittered over Heather’s face, and then landed on Mrs. Fitzpatrick’s. “My father can continue to run the plantation for a while longer. It was never meant to be mine anyway. My older brother Jacob was being groomed to take over from my father. He loved the land and the plantation life. It was never for me. That’s why I joined the Army.”

  “But, as I understand it, Jacob suffered a tragic death a year or so ago, is that not correct?”

  “Yes, ma’am, it is. And, I suppose when my father eventually passes on, I’ll take over the helm. But Heather and I want to strike out on our own first, and spend some time out west.”

  Charlotte’s hands sliced through the air in excitement. “So, will we have a wedding here by the end of the season? Will your parents come up from Savannah for the ceremony? Tell us your plans. This is so wonderful. You know, I missed out on planning an elaborate wedding for Ginger, since she got married so quickly. She and I only had a few days to pull together a ceremony, which was lovely but rustic. But, Heather, you and I will have so much fun orchestrating this one!”

  Charlotte turned her gaze to David, and her eyes warmed. “You know, Lieutenant, when I met you last fall, I thought you were a fine young man, and would be perfect for one of my girls. You’ll be a delightful addition to the family.”

  David reached over and took Heather’s hand in his. “We’d like to marry soon, certainly within another couple of months. I can send word to the Army that I’m not going to re-enlist, but I must visit my home in person and see my mother and father. I haven’t been back since Jacob’s funeral, and I need to visit with them, so I must return home for a short period of time. I want to tell them in person of our engagement, and give Mother time to get used to the idea.”

  Heather smiled over at him before she turned her gaze to her parents. “I agree you do need to return home to see them. And to break our news gently to Blanche Beaufort.”

  Charlotte gazed over at the happy couple. “Blanche Beaufort? The woman from the neighboring plantation?”

  Heather replied, “And David’s supposed betrothed. It has always been assumed she would marry into the family, and when Jacob died, David was her next choice. She will be devastated, since she’s waited for years to marry Jacob and now, David.”

  George Fitzpatrick gazed at the group from his place at the head of the table. He looked fondly at Heather, and then shifted his attention to her young man. “David, I watched you take command during the railroad disaster last year, and I know the strength of character and courage that you possess. So, I have no fears about handing over my daughter to you. But you must accept the fact that despite where you and Heather decide to locate to begin your married life, you will someday have to deal with the plantation, and your rightful place at its helm. My daughter is extremely anti-slavery, as is our entire family. I never want to have her placed in harm’s way.”

  David straightened in his chair as he listened to George’s words. “Wherever we go, especially in the south, she will have the protection of my name. My family has lived in Georgia since the beginning of civilized time, and we are well known. She needn’t have any fears. If we do end up settling in Savannah, she can teach the slaves on our plantation to read and write. Heather has helped to convince me that the day is soon coming when the slaves all over the south will be set free, and I want every last one of our slaves to be able to fend for themselves in this vast country.”

  As David finished his speech, their meal was interrupted by the Fitzpatrick butler, who came into the room with a note on a tray.

  “Forgive the interruption, Mr. Fitzpatrick, but this telegram just arrived for the Lieutenant, and it is marked ‘Urgent.’ It was brought over here from the hotel where he’s staying, since they knew of his location this evening.”

  George took the note from his butler and handed it to David, who opened it quickly. He scanned the note, and then raised his eyes to Heather.

  “It’s about my father. He’s taken ill, and Mother fears he won’t last the week. Mother’s always been a bit of a dramatist, so I’m sure it’s nothing. But, I need to leave for Savannah in the morning.”

  “Oh, David, I’m so sorry for the news. I did so want to meet him.”

  “And I want you to. Can you come with me?”

  Heather looked to her mother for advice. Charlotte held her wine glass in her hand as she thought. Then, she turned to Heather.

  “It would be scandalous for you to journey with David unaccompanied, and because of Jasmine’s injury, I can’t possibly go with you. I suppose you can take Colleen as your chaperone and go with David tomorrow. But you must come right back here after you meet his father and mother. I will need your help with the wedding preparations. Besides, it would not be seemly if you were to stay on the plantation beyond a few days since you’re not yet married.”

  Heather could barely contain her excitement. This day was one she would always remember. She was engaged, which she thought would never happen, and she was leaving in the morning for parts unknown with her beloved. She couldn’t wait to share the news with Jasmine, who was eating alone upstairs in her bed. For the very first time in their lives, they would be apart. Heather hoped she could soak in a bit of Jasmine’s sass. She knew she was going to need it when she met David’s mother and Blanche, the now-spurned woman.

  Chapter 16

  Savannah, Georgia, Late April 1856

  Heather and Colleen stared in fascination out the window of the fast-moving train, which was carrying them into the southern states of America. David was by their side, his hand in Heather’s, offering a reassuring presence in the face of this unknown. Heather turned from the view to smile at him.

  “My stomach is quite tied up in knots, I’m so excited. I’ve never been this far from New York before. You’ve described your home to me, but I now want to know about the town of Savannah. Is it much like New York?”

  “No, not
hardly,” David replied. “Savannah has a much slower, more refined, pace than New York. The city was founded more than a hundred years ago by James Oglethorpe, and is very logically laid out around center squares that house a church or a market. There are huge oak trees in the town that are dripping with Spanish moss. We have no tall buildings like you find in New York. However, there is a well-known playhouse, the Savannah Theater, for entertainment, and a huge new park in the center of town that was recently built. Although its size doesn’t begin to compare with your Central Park.”

  “Oh, may we go to the theater one night? What kind of performances do they put on?”

  “Much the same as you have in New York. The theater mounts plays and musicals. It is the utmost in southern elegance, having been designed by William Jay. I can’t wait for you to see it, and compare the theater to those in New York. Fanny Davenport played there not too long ago. We’ll definitely have to plan a night out at the theater.” He leaned over to kiss the back of Heather’s hand before he continued.

  “Most of the plantation owners have townhouses as well. These are usually brick structures, built in the Federalist style, or Neo-Gothic and English Regency. All of Savannah cares very much about architecture, so you’ll find copious amounts of wrought-iron trim, or cut wood dripping from the roofs of the homes. There are columns on most structures providing great symmetry. And of course, great landscaping with azaleas everywhere. We’ve tried very hard to make Savannah one of the most beautiful cities in the country.”

  David glanced out the window. “We’re close to the town right now. Just a couple more minutes and we’ll be there.”

  As they dismounted the train, a tall dark man came up to David.

  “James, how nice to see you,” David said as he looked at the man. “I’d like you to meet my fiancée, Miss Heather Fitzpatrick, and her chaperone, Miss Colleen.”

  James tipped his hat to the ladies. “Miss Fitzpatrick, Miss Colleen, nice to meet you.” He returned his gaze to David. “Shore am glad you’re home, Master David. Your father is doing poorly. He will be mighty glad to see the likes of you.”