Antebellum BK 1

by Jeffry S. Hepple

“That I can promise you.”

  “Well, honesty is as good a place as any to begin a friendship. What do you want to know?”

  “Nothing, at the moment. But from time to time I might want something a little more in-depth than the regular, everyday, street gossip.”

  “Fine. Before you go, I’ll give you a key to the back door. If you come here and I’m not available, write down what you want and give your note to the doorman. This is the best time of day to visit – if you don’t want to see or be seen by any of our clients.”

  “My being seen would probably hurt your reputation more than mine.”

  “Why is that?”

  “I’m thought to be a sapphist.”

  Carlotta raised her eyebrows. “Any truth in it?”

  Anna shook her head. “None. But my best friend, Nancy Vreeland, isn’t particular about the gender of her lovers, so people assume that I’m one of them.”

  “Ah, yes. I know of Nancy Vreeland. She is well regarded in both Washington and New York society. How do you explain that?”

  “Her being well regarded?” Anna smiled. “She’s beautiful, intelligent, very wealthy and her family is quite powerful in New York and Washington. What might be condemned in anyone else is considered a small eccentricity in Nancy’s character.”

  Carlotta shook her head. “There must be more to it than that.”

  Anna shrugged. “Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that Nancy makes no excuses, offers no apologies and is never petty.”

  “Interesting. I’d like to meet her.”

  “I’m sure she’d be delighted. I’ll bring her with me the next time I visit.”

  “You live together, I take it?”

  “Not formally. Her family’s home is in Manhattan, she has an apartment of her own there, a small house in New Jersey, and a cottage on Chesapeake Bay, but she often stays with me. She was almost a fixture in our house when we were girls. I think Mother considers her as her second daughter.”

  “It must be nice to have such a close friend.”

  “Yes.” Anna looked thoughtful. “Now that you mention it, I think I take Nancy’s friendship too much for granted.” She got to her feet. “Well, thank you, Carla. It’s been a pleasure meeting you. I’m grateful for your time.”

  December 24, 1852

  Van Buskirk Point, New Jersey

  Nancy Vreeland wrapped her arms around Johnny Van Buskirk and kissed him soundly on both cheeks. “Look at you. You’re all grown up.” She released him and wiped a tear off her cheek. “Where are Quincy and Pea?”

  Johnny had blushed beet red. “I uh – I haven’t seen Quincy,” he stammered. “That is, I haven’t seen him.”

  “And Pea?” she persisted.

  “Oh, Pea stopped off at Liberty Hall to show Beelzebub to Beauty Stuart. They’ll be along soon.”

  “To whom was he showing Beelzebub?”

  “An upperclassman. I think his real name is Jim or Jeb but his nickname is Beauty.”

  “Beauty? Well now. I look forward to meeting him.”

  “You needn’t. He’s anything but beautiful.”

  “Wait a second,” she said. “Why is it that you haven’t seen Quincy? Didn’t he travel with you?”

  “Pug graduated in June, Aunt Nancy. He’s stationed in South Carolina. I don’t know if he’ll be able to get a leave for Christmas or not.”

  “He graduated?” Nancy looked stunned. “Why wasn’t I invited?”

  Johnny shifted his feet. “I don’t know.”

  “You do know. I can see it on your face.”

  Johnny took a long time to answer. “You were invited,” he said without meeting her eyes.

  She shook her head. “I never received an invitation.”

  “Aunt Anna declined for you both.”

  “What?” she gasped. “In God’s name why?”

  He shrugged. “I’m not sure if Pug knows why. After graduation, he checked with the activities director and both your invitations were returned to the Academy with regrets. He saw them and said it was Aunt Anna’s handwriting.”

  “Well damn Anna,” Nancy said angrily. “She had no right to decline for me.”

  “Pug asked about you but we didn’t know why you weren’t there at the time.”

  “He asked about me?”

  “Yes. He seemed a little hurt that you weren’t there. He said that he’d expected you.”

  Nancy burst into tears.

  “Oh my.” Johnny looked toward the kitchen. “Aunt Anna?” he shouted. “Help.”

  “What’s all this?” Anna asked, hurrying from the kitchen.

  Nancy waited until Anna was in range, slapped her across the face and then ran for the stairs.

  “What the…” Anna put her hand to her burning face.

  “She asked me why she wasn’t invited to Pug’s graduation and I told her,” Johnny blurted. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s not your fault, Dear,” Anna said. “And don’t call him Pug. I loathe that nickname.” Anna dropped her hand from her cheek.

  “Tell that to him,” Johnny said. “He punched me for calling him Quincy in front of some other cadets on the day he graduated.”

  “Did he? Well, I’ll punch him back for you, if I ever see him again.”

  “Oh please don’t. It will only make him angrier at me.”

  “I’ll not mention it to him. Although I doubt we’ll be seeing him this Christmas. I think he’s in Charleston.”

  “Well, he may get leave,” Johnny replied hopefully. “He hasn’t answered my last letter, so I thought he might be on the way. Has he written to you lately?”

  She shook her head. “We’re currently not speaking to each other.”

  “I don’t understand the two of you,” Johnny said passionately. “You only have each other and yet…” He shook his head. “But that’s none of my business.”

  “It is absolutely your business,” Anna replied. “But I can’t offer you any insight. I have no idea why Quincy and I are so frequently at odds. I suspect it has to do with my personality. It seems that I’m universally disliked.”

  “I don’t dislike you, Aunt Anna. Nor does Pea or Father.”

  Anna laughed. “Your mother is noticeably missing from the list.”

  “Mother disagrees with some of your choices.”

  “Meaning she still thinks that Nancy and I are lovers.” Anna waved off the protest. “She’s not alone. It’s such a common belief that I’ve stopped denying it. There’s actually some advantage to it.” She looked up the stairs. “Speaking of Nancy, I must go up and see if she can be placated.”

  “She’s quite right you know,” Johnny said, gathering his courage. “You had no right to deprive her of attending Quincy’s graduation.”

  “Yes. I do know. It was a bad decision. But I can’t change it now.”

  “I’m sorry that I told her – I mean…”

  “It isn’t your fault.” She kissed him on the cheek and hurried toward the staircase.

  Johnny watched her until she reached the top of the stairs, then with a sigh, he wandered into the big parlor and walked to the fireplace. Portraits of his ancestors filled the walls. All but two of the men were wearing uniforms. Johnny looked down at his own gray West Point uniform and sighed.

  “Welcome to the long gray, soon to become blue, line, Brother,” Pea said from the doorway. “We who are about to die for our Country, salute you.”

  Johnny gave him a glare that might have peeled paint.

  Jeb Stuart crowded Pea aside, pushed his way into the room and did a full turn with his arms spread wide. “Look at this,” he said excitedly. “Look at all these heroes. Ya’ll should own this whole country by now.”

  “We did several times but we gave it back,” Pea said. He turned toward his brother. “Is Pug here?”

  Johnny shook his head. “There’s been no answer to my letter. Aunt Anna says that they’re fighting again and she hasn’t heard from him.”

  “Aw shit,�
�� Pea grumbled.

  “How would you like your mouth washed out with soap?” Anna said as she came into the room. “Where’s my hug?”

  Pea grabbed her up and swung her, then plopped her back on the floor with a kiss on her forehead. “Aunt Anna, may I present J.E.B. Stuart, better known as Beauty.” He bowed to Stuart. “Cadet Stuart, this lovely lady is my dearest Aunt, Anna Van Buskirk LaGrange.”

  “Beauty,” Anna said with a smile. “I can see why you earned that name, Mr. Stuart.”

  Stuart took her hand and kissed it. “I am ashamed of that name in the presence of such a true beauty as yourself, Madam.”

  “Oh dear.” Anna fanned herself dramatically with her hand. “A Southern Gentleman.”

  “A Virginia gentleman,” Stuart corrected. “I am charmed to meet you, at last.”

  Anna bathed him with a smile. “Welcome to Van Buskirk Point, Mr. Stuart. I hope that we have time for a conversation later.” She looked at Johnny. “Nancy wouldn’t talk to me. I’ll try again when she calms down. It’s not your fault.” She turned and hurried from the room.

  Stuart watched her until she was out of sight. “Dear God.” He walked to join the others at the fire. “That is a fine figure of a woman. She must have been something when she was young.”

  “I think she’s still a handsome woman,” Pea said.

  “I quite agree,” Stuart replied. “I may even be smitten.”

  “Play your cards right and she’ll take you to her bed,” Quincy said as he came into the room. “Sadly there’s no great distinction in such an invitation. Most of Washington has visited her bed, both male and female.”

  “That’s a filthy lie,” Johnny said angrily. “Take it back.”

  Quincy looked amused. “Or what?”

  “Or I’ll thrash you within an inch of your life,” Johnny replied.

  Paul put his hand on Johnny’s shoulder to hold him back and looked at Quincy. “He doesn’t mean it, Pug.”

  Johnny shrugged off his brother’s hand. “I do too mean it. I’m not afraid of you, Quincy. You can’t bully me.”

  “I can see that.” Quincy hung his coat on the coat tree. “I withdraw my comment. It was untrue and childish. I’m angry at my mother, but she doesn’t deserve my insult.” He turned toward Johnny. “Satisfied?”

  “Yes.” Johnny held his hands toward the fire but instantly lowered them so the others wouldn’t see that they were shaking. “Where did you come from? I just told your mother that you’re in South Carolina.”

  “I came from Baltimore where I’m now temporarily stationed,” Quincy said in disgust. “The army changes its mind like a woman changes her wardrobe. After Christmas it’s back to South Carolina and another new post and another island fort.”

  “We have just been to see Beelzebub, Pug,” Stuart said.

  “Did you ride him?” Quincy sat down on the couch and crossed his long legs and fixed Stuart in a mocking gaze.

  Stuart’s color came up. “The truth be told, I couldn’t even get a bridle on him. He tried to eat me.”

  “Don’t let it bother you,” Quincy said. “After you’ve been here a few days you’ll take on the Van Buskirk scent. Then you can ride him until he decides to throw you into a briar patch.”

  “Really?” Stuart looked at Pea for confirmation. “I mean, will he let me ride him if I’m carrying your family’s scent?”

  “I don’t know,” Pea said dubiously. “The bloody horse tolerates me, but I never turn my back on him.”

  “Since Grandfather died, other than Abe, the only person that Beelzebub likes is Aunt Anna,” Johnny said. “She, on the other hand, thinks he should be boiled down for glue.”

  The other boys laughed.

  Nancy came into the room. Her eyes were swollen from crying and she burst into tears again at the sight of Quincy.

  “Oh no.” Quincy took her in his arms and rocked her. “What’s all this?”

  “I missed your graduation,” she sobbed.

  “It wasn’t that impressive,” he replied.

  Nancy tipped her head back, kissed him on the lips, broke free of his embrace and ran from the room.

  “Who was that?” Stuart asked wide eyed.

  “An old friend of the family,” Quincy replied.

  “She is most welcome to be my friend,” Stuart said. “She’s a vision.”

  “She’s my mother’s age.” Quincy’s tone was unfriendly. “And you’re not her type.”

  Stuart raised his hands. “Forgive me. I have a penchant for older women and she doesn’t look that much older than us.”

  “Your penchant could be unhealthy,” Quincy replied.

  Stuart shrugged and lowered his hands. “I have given you the only apology that I’m willing to offer.”

  “Your apology is accepted.” Quincy looked at the others. “Uncle Robert may come. I ran into him, completely by accident, in Baltimore a few days ago. He didn’t recognize me at first.”

  “Is he still stationed in Nebraska?” Pea asked.

  Quincy nodded. “At a new fort called Leavenworth. He said that Fort Atkinson has been abandoned. He had some business with the War Department and was due to return today, but he said he’d try to take a few days leave to see us. He’s a full colonel now and very distinguished looking. I didn’t quite understand his duties. I think he may be the current Military Territorial Governor. I’m not sure.”

  “It must have been nice in the old days when the whole family gathered here for Christmas,” Johnny said.

  “Do you suppose they fought with each other the way we do?” Quincy asked.

  “All families fight,” Stuart said. “It’s the American way. Next Christmas y’all must come to Virginia to meet my family.”

  “By next Christmas we may come to Virginia to fight your family,” Quincy said.

  “Some of us might be on Virginia’s side,” Pea replied.

  “I pray it never happens,” Johnny said emphatically. “I would truly hate to choose.”

  ~

  Except for the ticking of the clock in the hall, the house was, at last, quiet. Anna tapped gently on Nancy’s bedroom door with her fingernail, then stuck her head in. “Are you asleep?” she whispered.

  “No,” Nancy replied from the darkened room.

  “Are you alone?”

  “Of course.”

  “Are you still angry at me?”

  “Yes.”

  “Can I come in anyway?”

  “Yes.”

  Anna stepped into the room and closed the door softly behind her. “I couldn’t sleep.”

  A match flared and Nancy applied it to a candle. “Bad conscience?”

  “Yes,” Anna said. “Terrible.”

  “Good. Suffer.” Nancy pulled back the bed clothes. “But get in here before you freeze.”

  Anna climbed into the bed and snuggled down as Nancy covered her. “I’m sorry.”

  “About keeping me from Quincy’s graduation?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m not ready to forgive you for that. In fact I may never.”

  “I don’t blame you.”

  Nancy blew out the candle and burrowed deeper into the blankets. “That was fun.”

  “What?”

  “Trimming the Christmas tree with the boys.”

  “Yes. I think young Mr. Stuart has a serious case of lust for you.”

  “Ah,” Nancy said. “That’s why you asked if I was alone.”

  “Sorry.”

  “Don’t be. Had he asked, I would have seriously considered saying yes before saying no.”

  “Really?” Anna giggled.

  “The enthusiasm and energy of a seventeen-year-old more than makes up for a few immature whiskers.”

  “You’re depraved.”

  “I know. Don’t you ever get – I mean – don’t you ever want to make love, Anna?”

  “To a man, you mean?”

  “Of course that’s what I meant. And it was a serious question. Answer it.�
��

  “There’s an occasional man in my life, Nancy.”

  “You’ve never mentioned one.”

  “I’m not as open as you are about personal things. It’s my mother’s way.”

  “Is there a man in your life at the moment?”

  “There’s a Washington lawyer that I see from time to time. But not recently.” Anna sighed. “If young Mr. Stuart asked me I might say yes.”

  “Why don’t you do something about it?”

  “Like what? Seduce a boy?”

  “No,” Nancy replied. “I was thinking of a man, not a boy.”

  “I try not to think about either.”

  “You better start thinking about one or both very soon or the opportunity is going to pass you by.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean you’ve only got another year or so before you start to dry up.”

  “Oh, Nancy. What a horrible thing to say.”

  “Remember your mother? She went from young to old, almost overnight.”

  “Yes. I remember. But she was older than we are now.”

  “Not much older.”

  “But she obviously still attracts men.”

  “Yes, but it’s her demeanor more than her looks. She seems, I don’t know, regal.”

  “Can I still attract a man, Nancy?”

  “Yes. But you need to work at it a bit.”

  “In what way?”

  “Face powder and a little rouge.”

  “No,” Anna growled. “I’m not going to become a painted old lady.”

  “The trick is not to use so much that it’s noticeable.”

  “Do you use makeup?”

  “Yes. I’ll show you how tomorrow.”

  “No. Not here with the boys. I’d be embarrassed.”

  “Okay,” Nancy agreed. “When we get back to Washington.”

  “I still need a target male.”

  “I have some ideas. I’ll tell them to you when we get home too.”

  Anna laughed softly. “Do you keep a list of eligible bachelors?”

  “Who said anything about bachelors? Forget bachelors. Every desperate woman is after them. Married men are more skilled and less likely to cause a fuss when you become bored with them.”

  “Nancy,” Anna exclaimed.

  “Be an old dried up prude if you want to, but if you’d rather enjoy life before it passes you by, married men are the answer.” She giggled. “Or women.”