Camellia

by Diane T. Ashley

  “It’s going to be a fancy ball,” Jane answered. “We’ll get to dress up in our fanciest ball gowns.”

  Camellia tilted her head and raised her voice a few notes in imitation of their headmistress. “ ‘It will give you girls the opportunity to practice the skills I’ve been teaching you this term.’ ”

  Jane giggled at her imitation, and Camellia decided Jasmine’s penchant for playacting must have rubbed off on her. Her friend’s laughter rewarded her silliness.

  Her eyes must be getting accustomed to the gloom, because she could make out Thad’s features as he leaned toward them. “I’m certain you already have an escort, Camellia.”

  “No, she doesn’t.”

  Camellia hoped he couldn’t see her blush. Why had her friend been so quick to answer? If Thad thought someone else was interested in escorting her, it would sharpen his desire to win her affections. Or so Aunt Dahlia had always said. She stifled a sigh and tried for a nonchalant tone. “I’m not sure if any of us will have escorts since it’s to be held at the school.”

  His hand covered hers, stilling her nervous movements. Jane might have seen the gesture, but she was looking toward the window.

  Camellia’s fingers fluttered under his large, warm touch. Exhilaration sent the butterflies moving about her stomach again. Now what? Should she pull her hand away or allow it to remain under his?

  “My military duties will keep me occupied tomorrow, but may I call on you Saturday?” His low voice swept her away on a heady tide of success, making her almost forget her roommate was in the carriage with them.

  “We can’t.” Jane’s voice intruded in their moment like a dash of icy water.

  Camellia jerked her hand away and buried it under the folds of her cloak. Her mind was still spinning. She wanted to say something, but her mouth didn’t want to cooperate.

  “We’re going to the Thorntons’ town house for the weekend, remember?”

  The Thorntons’ home. Of course. Jonah Thornton and his family. But how would she explain to Thad the relationship between her and the Thorntons? Camellia chewed on her lower lip as she considered how to turn the situation to her advantage. Aunt Dahlia’s words came back to her as the carriage slowed and pulled up under the porte cochere.

  Thad slid across the seat and reached for the door.

  Taking a deep breath for courage, Camellia leaned forward and put her cold hand on his. “Wait. Perhaps you can come for dinner at the Thorntons’ home Saturday evening.”

  He shot her an odd look. “But I don’t know the Thorntons. I would not dare show up on their doorstep uninvited.”

  “But I know they would love to meet you. Mr. Thornton is an avid supporter of the Cause. As soon as he discovers that Jane has a brother who is a captain …” She put extra emphasis on the word and paused as though overcome. “Well, suffice it to say he would be most put out with me if I didn’t invite you.”

  “When you put it like that …” His smile warmed her heart.

  This was going to be perfect. He would have eyes for no one but her. By the time of the gala next month, he would be ready to propose.

  She needed to get inside and start preparing. Aunt Dahlia would be so proud.

  Chapter Ten

  Jonah’s mother studied him during the drive to La Belle. “I’m not sure why you thought it necessary to come along this morning.”

  “Are you saying I’m not welcome?”

  “Of course not. But you cannot be that anxious to see dear Camellia again, not when she is about to spend the entire weekend with us.”

  He yawned to cover his inner turmoil and looked out the window. Bright sunlight heralded the impending arrival of spring. Before much more time passed, it would be summer, and the Confederate forces would arrive to bolster New Orleans’ weak defenses. If the Union did not strike soon, it would be too late. The work on the ironclads in the port might be slow, but it was progressing. Now, right now, was the time to take the city. The local newspapers had carried news of the Union victories at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson in February. They even speculated that the real target was New Orleans and warned that an invading force could be expected to travel from Tennessee to attack the city. So why did the Federal forces hesitate?

  Jonah fostered a smile and turned to face his mother. “Perhaps I have an ulterior motive for joining you.”

  Her gaze sharpened. “Oh? Is there something or someone you want to tell me about?”

  For a moment, he wanted to confess his true agenda, wanted to tell his parent exactly why he had volunteered to come with her to pick up the girls. Mother was not as ardent in her support of the South as Father, and having someone he trusted to confide in would lessen the heavy burden of guilt and uncertainty.

  The words burned his throat, but he choked them back. Telling her might bring him some relief, but at what cost? Involving his mother would force her to be complicit. He did not have that right. “What if I said I wanted to spend more time with the only lady who truly holds my heart in her hand?”

  She sat back and laughed. “When did you become such a charmer?”

  “You wound me. Are you trying to say I have not always been a pleasant fellow?”

  “Of course not. But since you came back to New Orleans, you have been different. I’ve never known you to attend so many parties. Your father and I have begun to hope you are ready to pick a bride and settle down. And we would be delighted if your choice was a certain beautiful young student. You know how much we love all three of the Anderson girls.”

  His mouth tightened. “We’ve spoken of this before. Camellia Anderson is beautiful, but I want more in the woman I choose for a wife. Now if we were speaking of her older sister, Lily, it would be a different matter. She is a woman I admire greatly for her strong faith, her morals, and her independent spirit.”

  “Yes, but I can see some of those same qualities in Camellia. She only needs a strong Christian man to give her direction.”

  The carriage stopped then, ending their conversation, though her words echoed in his mind. As Jonah helped his mother alight, he wondered if it might be true. Was he being too hard on Camellia? Was she just young and in need of a guiding hand?

  He followed his mother into La Belle Demoiselle, his eyes widening at a pile of luggage that filled the foyer. He wondered whether one of the girls had been expelled or perhaps called back home by her family. Easing his way past the stack, he nodded to the assistant, whose name he couldn’t remember. Miss Lacy? Latrobe? It was on the tip of his tongue.

  “Welcome, Monsieur Thornton.” She smiled at him before continuing. “Madame. The young ladies are in the visitors’ parlor, awaiting your arrival.”

  Jonah could feel his mother’s speculative gaze on him, but he ignored her as he nodded. “Thank you, miss. I know the way.” He strode down the hall and held the door open for his mother to precede him. Both Camellia and her friend were seated on the sofa, their heads together as they studied some magazine. He had to admit they made a pleasing picture.

  Camellia stood and hurried to his mother as she entered the room, hugging her with an affection that seemed sincere. “Thank you so much for inviting us to stay with you.”

  “You are most welcome. I don’t know why I waited so long.” His mother touched Camellia’s cheek. “But we will make up for my oversight by filling this weekend with a great many activities.”

  “We are prepared.” Camellia looked back at Jane and gestured for her to join them. “Please allow me to introduce Miss Jane Watkins, my dearest friend and roommate. She is from Vicksburg.”

  Jonah slipped out of the room as the ladies got acquainted. He had a note to give Mrs. Dabbs—a list of the armaments planned for the C. S. Mississippi, the ironclad that was most likely to threaten U.S. naval ships once it was completed.

  The headmistress must have gotten word of his arrival, because she was waiting for him in the hallway. “I have planned a picnic for next week. Will you have the girls back before then?”

/>   “We’ll have them back here by dark on Sunday.” He pulled the note from his pocket, careful to keep it hidden in case they were being observed, and slipped it into Mrs. Dabbs’s hand as he bowed over it.

  “That’s good, then.” She wrapped her fingers around the piece of paper. “I know they’ll have a nice visit with your family.”

  He nodded and turned away, his heart pounding as he returned to the visitors’ parlor. He prayed the information would get into the right hands. Slipping back into the room a bare two minutes after his departure, Jonah was relieved to see the ladies had not missed him. He donned a bored expression and waited for a chance to interrupt.

  “Are you sure you won’t mind an additional guest for dinner?” Camellia’s question put him on alert. What was she planning?

  His mother tossed a look in his direction before responding. “Of course not, dear. Captain Watkins sounds like a fine gentleman. I’m sure my husband will be delighted to meet him.”

  Jonah frowned. Camellia might be a close friend of the family, but inviting a guest into his parents’ home before asking their permission was ridiculous. His mother might not mind her effrontery, but he did. “I thought this was a finishing school.”

  Camellia turned toward him, her face wearing a look of indignation. “What is your point, sir?”

  “My point is that any child would know better than to invite a guest to a gathering at which she is not the hostess.”

  Her eyes darkened, reminding him of a stormy sky. “I don’t see why it’s any concern of yours. He is Jane’s brother and has only recently arrived in New Orleans. Your mother does not mind if Captain Watkins comes, so I don’t see why you should take exception to the idea.”

  “My mother is far too gracious to tell you to your face that you have gone beyond the limits of acceptable behavior.”

  “Jonah.” Mother’s voice was gentle, but it stopped him from continuing his reproach. The look she gave him was full of understanding and something else. Did she pity him? Why? Did she think he had another reason for protesting Camellia’s behavior?

  Jonah snapped his mouth shut. Maybe she thought he was upset because this fellow was a soldier and he was not. He wanted to tell her, tell all of them, that he was a soldier. But his lips were sealed by the oath he’d taken.

  If she did not mind Camellia’s invitation to a stranger, he could not very well continue to chastise the girl. Jonah glanced around the room. “Do you have any bags for me to load into the carriage?”

  Jane and Camellia exchanged a glance. What now?

  Camellia lifted her chin, her gaze still exhibiting a desire to challenge him. “Our things are in the hallway.”

  Jonah spluttered. “The hallway? Do you mean to tell me that mountain of luggage is what you consider necessary for a two-day visit?”

  “I want to be at my best no matter what you may think.” She turned up her nose at him.

  “It’s not all hers.” Jane came to her friend’s rescue. “One of them belongs to me.”

  “And the other dozen belong to Camellia.” Jonah sighed and reached for the door handle. He’d better see to getting the bags loaded or they would be at the school until midnight.

  Jonah knew the first minute he saw Thad Watkins that the two of them were not going to be friends. He disliked everything about him, from his gray uniform to the way he looked at Camellia—like a wolf considering the lamb that was about to be its next meal. He practically drooled on her hand when he kissed it. And she must be an idiot to simper and preen so. Couldn’t she see that he wanted to devour her?

  When they’d been seated at dinner, Jonah had not been surprised to discover that the captain had been given the seat to his father’s right, the space reserved for the guest of honor. His sister, Sarah, was sitting between Thad and her husband. Camellia was sitting opposite Thad and did not appear to realize anyone else had joined them for dinner. Especially not him, the man sitting next to her. She had barely spoken a word to him all evening. Perhaps she was still smarting over his amazement at the number of bags she had brought for her weekend stay.

  Jonah thought she would be better served to follow her friend’s example. Ironic that Jane was the hero’s sister, as she had none of his brash egotism. Seated on his left side, Miss Watkins was a refined lady. She didn’t flirt or try to monopolize his attention like Camellia and her “war hero.” She divided her attention equally between Jonah and his mother as was proper. She had obviously paid much closer attention to their lessons on etiquette.

  “What happened then?” Camellia batted her eyelashes quickly enough to raise a breeze.

  Jonah’s father leaned forward as though waiting for Thad’s answer. He had a gleam in his eyes that seemed to disappear when he looked at his son. “What did that Yankee do when he saw you had him surrounded?”

  Thad chuckled. “He dropped his weapon, fell to his knees, and begged us to let him join the Confederacy. It seems old Abe Lincoln hadn’t paid him a dime in the eighteen months that he’d been a soldier.”

  Papa laughed out loud, leaning back and slapping his knee. “That’s why the South is going to win this war. We’ll never bow to Washington’s tyranny. Even the Yankees know it. That’s why he wanted to join up with the winning side.”

  Jonah could not keep silent any longer. “The newspapers don’t seem to share your optimism. I read again this morning that many experts think General Grant will come knocking on our doorsteps at any moment.”

  Sarah, always eager to avoid family strife, frowned a warning at him.

  But Jonah didn’t care. They all needed to face the truth. The South was not on the winning side. It was only a matter of time. Lincoln was not going to let this country be split apart. He would keep fighting for however long it took to preserve the Union.

  Instead of arguing with Jonah as expected, his father turned back to Thad. “It’s true that New Orleans is very vulnerable to attack. Every time I turn around, more of our local boys are being pulled away to defend some backwoods town in Georgia or South Carolina. Abraham Lincoln has been very vocal about his plans to control the Mississippi River. Our trade with Europe is the lifeblood of the South. If we lose the river, I’m afraid we’ll lose the war.”

  Thad’s eyes narrowed. “Yes, sir, you are right. I’m not at liberty to say much, but I can assure you steps are being taken. New Orleans has not been forgotten.”

  “I hope you’re right, young man.” Jonah’s father sighed. “But however this war turns out, I want you to know how proud I am of your service. I wish I could join you out on the battlefield myself, but I’m too old.”

  “You look like you’re in your prime to me, sir.”

  Jonah wanted to groan aloud. Would his father fall for such blatant flattery? From the pleased look on his face, apparently he would. Right now he was probably wishing Thad was his son. But Jonah could not let that disturb him. He had prayed for wisdom before he made his decision about which side to join. He had to keep faith that God would continue to lead him.

  A wisp of an idea slipped through Jonah’s roiling thoughts. Thad knew things, things that could be useful to Jonah’s superiors. Of all Jonah’s acquaintances, none remained here who were officers in the Confederate army. He needed to use this one connection to full advantage, no matter what it cost him personally.

  Jonah’s mother picked up a spoon and tapped it against the rim of her plate. “That’s enough talk of war and fighting. We will learn of the girls’ activities at their school. Jane, why don’t you tell us what you are studying.”

  She looked as frightened as the soldier Thad had told them about, surrounded by the enemy. “I … um … we’ve worked on our musical skills.”

  “That sounds wonderful. Do you play the piano?”

  Jane shook her head, her auburn hair gleaming in the light of the candelabra that hung above the dining table.

  “Don’t be so modest.” Camellia leaned forward, looking past Jonah. “Jane is an accomplished harpist, and she sin
gs like an angel.”

  Jonah could hear the affection in her voice as she praised her friend. He found that commendable. Of course, she knew she didn’t have to compete with Jane for the captain’s attention. In his experience, young ladies could be quite ruthless in disparaging each other as they pursued the attentions of prospective suitors. Camellia might not be as generous with her praise if the captain and Jane were not brother and sister.

  Sarah smiled at the blushing Jane. “You’ll have to sing for us later this evening, Miss Watkins. I would be most happy to accompany you on my parents’ piano.”

  Jane reached for her water and took a healthy gulp.

  “Their graduation will be a formal ball.” Captain Watkins’s statement drew everyone’s attention away from Jane.

  A rising tide of irritation made Jonah want to growl. Did he have to look at Camellia with such longing?

  “Miss Anderson has agreed to let me be her escort.” His smug voice taunted Jonah.

  Would this meal never end? Barred from reintroducing a military topic by his mother’s earlier comment, all Jonah could do was think about the captain dancing with Camellia, holding her close. He shook his head to clear it of the vision. He would have to find a reason to attend their ball … so he could learn more from Thad, of course.

  Jonah listened to the conversation flowing around him. Sarah offered to take the girls shopping for a special outfit. He expected Miss Fashion Plate to jump at the chance, but she didn’t. Jane explained why when she told them about the dress Camellia had brought with her from Natchez. The ladies discussed fabrics and colors, cooing over matching ribbons and lace and all manner of folderol. How long could they continue to talk about clothes? Even his surgeon brother-in-law looked like he was about to fall asleep.

  Finally his mother took pity on the men by announcing it was time for the ladies to retire. After they left the dining room, Thad and Father returned to their discussion of the war. Jonah listened carefully but discovered nothing new.

  Jonah excused himself and went to his flat. Of course sleep eluded him. Until Jonah thought to get out his Bible. Opening it to the Old Testament, he read about the trials of Joseph. At least Jonah had not been sold into slavery by his siblings. Yet Joseph had never given up his faith. And God had rewarded him and, through him, his people.