"Ah, yes, now you would see he is a sober little man, much as you were a sober little woman."

I blushed with this tender intimacy. "And the twins?" I asked. "How are they?"

He laughed. He said that f.a.n.n.y was proving to be a handful. Mama was keeping a tight rein on her since she and Eddy, Ida's son, had developed an interest in each other. f.a.n.n.y alone, he said, was a handful, but f.a.n.n.y in love was a force to be reckoned with. Beattie, he a.s.sured me, was the same gentle girl she had always been, and she had taken over the care of Sukey.

"And Sukey-" My question was interrupted by Mr. Madden's sudden appearance. He came forward to greet Will, then informed me that Meg and the tutor were waiting for me. sudden appearance. He came forward to greet Will, then informed me that Meg and the tutor were waiting for me.

"Mr. Stephens will be here for two days," he said kindly when he saw my reluctance to leave. "You will have time for other visits, my dear."

I knew to excuse myself as Mr. Madden waited to settle himself in a chair.

It was a Thursday, so I was surprised when Marshall joined us for dinner that afternoon. Marshall had not responded to the announcement of my engagement any better than had Meg, though Meg was over her upset as long as I did not discuss Mr. Boran. I was on my way to her room the night I overheard a terrific row between Marshall and Mr. Madden. Their voices from the study were so loud that I could plainly hear them from the top of the stairs.

"I said, I refuse to release her! You know I still have rights to her."

"True, Marshall, the estate does. But her indentureship was not well defined, and surely you see why she must be given this opportunity."

"Opportunity! He has little to offer! He is nothing but a lecherous old man!"

"Take care, Marshall. This man is a colleague of mine."

"Uncle! You cannot presume that she will be happy!"

"Your aunt seems to think otherwise. She believes that this will be a good fit for Lavinia. And Lavinia is not opposed."

"Lavinia? Opposed? I've known her all of my life. She is the gentlest creature I've ever seen. When has she ever opposed anything?"

"I'm sorry, Marshall, but this marriage is Mrs. Madden's wish. I'm afraid that I must overrule you on this matter."

"I refuse to go along with this! You cannot-"

"You know that I can, Marshall, and I will!"

The study door slammed, and after I slipped back to my room, I sat at my little desk, too despondent to cross the hall to visit Meg. I did not want to go through with the marriage, but I saw no way out. What alternative was available? Besides, I had made the commitment.

Little had changed after the announcement of our engagement. The Sunday dinners continued as before, though Meg refused to take part in the social gathering that always followed, where Molly clung to my side and Mr. Boran's eyes never left me. Mr. Boran and I had met privately only one time, the evening of our formal announcement, when he presented me with an emerald brooch. He did so while he made a stammering remark that emeralds could not enhance my beauty, but as they were the finest, they might hold up to my loveliness. I thanked him, pinned the gift to my dress, and found myself at a complete loss for conversation. Before I could stop him, he was on his knees. He reached for my ungloved hand and began to cover it with such ardent, damp kisses that I could only observe his growing pa.s.sion with alarm.

Imagining Meg witnessing her Mr. Boring at work, I had a fleeting impulse to laugh, but when his lips moved up to my wrist, I claimed back my hand, rose quickly, and suggested that we join the others. Mr. Boran's eyes were glazed with desire, and I wanted to strike him when he jumped to his feet at my command. Yet as I wiped the remnants of his love kisses from my hand, for the first time ever, I felt the exuberant power of my womanhood. With horrid premonition, I saw in the future the likelihood of this man becoming a victim of my own unhappiness. Appalled at the thought, I was kinder than ever to the besotted Mr. B. for the rest of the evening, while Miss Sarah made much of my new jewelry.

Marshall had distanced himself from me following his argument with Mr. Madden. During our Sat.u.r.day cla.s.s, I often caught him observing me, and when I met his eye, he would turn away as though angry. Over the following weeks, without excuse, he often cut short our cla.s.s and asked Meg to tell Miss Sarah that he could not stay for dinner.

THIS DAY, WITH W WILL AS a dinner guest, Marshall was pleasant enough at the start of the meal, although, with each gla.s.s of wine, he challenged Will in increasingly cool undertones. a dinner guest, Marshall was pleasant enough at the start of the meal, although, with each gla.s.s of wine, he challenged Will in increasingly cool undertones.

I could scarcely contain my excitement with Will's presence. I proudly observed his grace and good manners, though it was true that had I not caught his eye, he might have used his dessert spoon for his soup. But he saw my signal and winked his thanks, then followed my example. proudly observed his grace and good manners, though it was true that had I not caught his eye, he might have used his dessert spoon for his soup. But he saw my signal and winked his thanks, then followed my example.

Miss Sarah kept the conversation flowing. Meg encouraged Will to speak of the farm and of my earlier years there. He told some stories of my childhood that he claimed exhibited my precocious nature. After one such tale, with everyone laughing, he ended by saying how very much I was missed at Tall Oaks. I couldn't help but smile broadly when his eyes rested on me.

We were all startled when Marshall stood to raise his winegla.s.s. With flushed face, he spoke louder than was necessary. "Let us toast Lavinia," he said. "I have high hopes that soon she will be returning to Tall Oaks with me. But this time it will be under improved circ.u.mstances."

There was silence. Meg kicked me under the table. Will choked and began to cough. Finally, Mr. Madden responded. "Yes ... well ... one never knows, Marshall, ah ... what the future might hold. But," he continued, "perhaps it more appropriate that we toast Lavinia's upcoming marriage to Mr. Boran."

Although my head was down, I could feel Will's astounded eyes on me. I was grateful when the toast was over and Miss Sarah rang the bell for dessert.

THAT FIRST EVENING OF W WILL'S visit, after a light supper, he asked permission to escort me on a walk. Miss Sarah agreed but suggested that Meg accompany us. After a short distance, Meg pointedly began to lag behind. As Will and I walked ahead, he broke the silence. visit, after a light supper, he asked permission to escort me on a walk. Miss Sarah agreed but suggested that Meg accompany us. After a short distance, Meg pointedly began to lag behind. As Will and I walked ahead, he broke the silence.

"Belle was right, you know."

"About what?"

"Years ago, on a wagon ride to church, you told me that Belle said you would grow up to be a beauty."

I blushed to remember. "Thank you, Will."

"Is it true, Lavinia? Are you to be married?" he asked.

"It was sudden-" I said.

"Is it what you want?"

"I don't-" I began slowly.

Again he interrupted. "And what did Marshall mean at the dinner table when he spoke of you returning with him?"

"I don't know," I said. I began to walk quickly; without reason, tears were threatening.

Will reached for my arm and pulled me to a stop. He turned me to face him. "Lavinia, I might be foolish for saying this, but I've always thought of you as my girl."

My chest ached. His words sounded genuine, but before I could respond, before I could bring up Belle and question his relationship with her, Meg caught up to us. "Mother says that I am to stay with you," she said, rolling her eyes.

Will graciously offered his other arm to Meg. As he did so, he leaned over and spoke in my ear, his nearness so affecting that I felt weak. "We will talk later," he said, but to my frustration and regret, we did not have the opportunity to meet in private again that evening.

I read Belle's letter that night. Her sentences were short and puzzled me.

To Lavinia- Everybody here is doing good. I don't write to say I'm coming to stay with you and Mr. Cardigan because things change here. Will is going to tell you about it. I don't say no more. I hope you remember that Will Stephens is a good man. That's all I have to say. Everybody here is thinking of you every day.

Belle Pyke

At the bottom of her letter was my first note from Sukey, now a grown-up seven-year-old. It read: Binny. I remember you. Do you remember me. Sukey Binny. I remember you. Do you remember me. Sukey I puzzled over Belle's letter yet realized she knew nothing of Cardigan's death, nor of my engagement. I thought of the letter I should have written to her. I had stalled, not wanting to put on paper the loss of my brother and that it meant I had to retract my offer to have her join me. Then, too, neither was my engagement to Mr. Boran a fact that I had been eager to share. Sukey's note touched me deeply, and I might have suffered from it had I not the knowledge that Will Stephens was asleep in the house and I would see him again the following day. I should have written to her. I had stalled, not wanting to put on paper the loss of my brother and that it meant I had to retract my offer to have her join me. Then, too, neither was my engagement to Mr. Boran a fact that I had been eager to share. Sukey's note touched me deeply, and I might have suffered from it had I not the knowledge that Will Stephens was asleep in the house and I would see him again the following day.

MARSHALL WAS BACK IN THE morning. The three men had a meal together in the library, and despite my growing impatience, their meeting continued on through the day. In the late afternoon, I put up my hair and changed into my best dress, a soft yellow muslin. I took a book and went outdoors to sit in the back garden under an arbor shaded by grapevines. morning. The three men had a meal together in the library, and despite my growing impatience, their meeting continued on through the day. In the late afternoon, I put up my hair and changed into my best dress, a soft yellow muslin. I took a book and went outdoors to sit in the back garden under an arbor shaded by grapevines.

The garden was enclosed by a picket fence and prettily edged with green thyme and scented with pink roses. I hoped that Will might find me there when the meeting was over. Instead, it was Marshall who appeared. He thrust open the back door, slammed it behind him, then began to pace back and forth on the brick walk. I called out to him, and when he did not hear me, I called again. He strode over. "What is it?" he asked, his eyes dark with fury. When I sensed that I might become a casualty of his anger, I was uncertain how to answer.

"What is it?" he repeated.

"Marshall." I kept my voice calm and soft. "Come, sit with me. What is the trouble?"

"That b.a.s.t.a.r.d!" he said, sitting down and looking back at the house.

I touched his arm lightly. "Marshall," I said, "please. Tell me. What is the trouble?"

He stood. "We've just wasted the greater part of the day, all because of that wh.o.r.e!" When he saw me flinch at the word, he sat again. "I'm sorry, Lavinia, but you did ask." He leaned down and rubbed hard at his eyes. "It's that woman Belle! She has been nothing but trouble all of my life, and still it continues."

I forced myself to silence.

"She was my father's wh.o.r.e ever since I can remember. My mother tried all of her life to get rid of her, and Father would not even discuss it. My G.o.d! Will it never end!"

"But she is not-" I could no longer restrain myself.

"I will not hear a word in her defense!" he shouted furiously. "It was she who drove my mother to madness. And now! Now she's Stephens's wh.o.r.e. He wants her for himself. His sole purpose of this visit was to acquire her so he could set up house with her. The only way he will continue on in my absence is if I agree to sell her and their b.a.s.t.a.r.d child to him on my return."

I could scarcely breathe from the shock. "And will you agree?"

"I have no choice. It's the only way he'll stay on, and besides, my uncle can agree to it without my approval, which he has told me he will do."

"And that is all he asks?" I said.

"Hardly," Marshall sneered. "He also wants Ben and his woman and their two brats."

"But where will he take them?" I asked.

"My father gave him land that borders mine. He will set up his farm there."

I knew that I was going to be sick and could take no more. Without apology, I abruptly fled to my room, leaving Marshall alone on the garden bench.

That evening, when I pleaded a headache, Meg brought me my supper. She asked no questions. Miss Sarah came the next morning to tell me to hurry, that Will was waiting to see me before he left. I refused. I had always suspected Will's relationship with Belle, but to have it confirmed was almost more than I could endure. I shed no tears when Miss Sarah closed the door and went down to tell him my headache continued but that I wished him well on his journey home.

IT WAS AFTER W WILL'S VISIT that a melancholy wrapped itself around me, affecting me so deeply that Miss Sarah came to me and expressed her concern. that a melancholy wrapped itself around me, affecting me so deeply that Miss Sarah came to me and expressed her concern.

I did not tell her of my reawakened love for Will, nor of my sadness in learning of his intent to take Belle into his own home. I dared not tell Miss Sarah of how the very thought of marriage to Mr. Boran repulsed me, of how I saw no way out. Instead, I explained away my gloom by telling her only part of my truth, of my great longing for Tall Oaks and all the people there. Miss Sarah asked if I might care to accompany her to the hospital to see Miss Martha. She had recently had word that Miss Martha's condition had improved somewhat.

"Would it help you to overcome these low feelings if you were to see Miss Martha again?" she asked.

"Yes," I said, "yes, it would."

"You are older now," she rationalized her decision. "Why, by next year you will be a married woman."

My visits to the hospital had ended in the spring. Now, eager to see her, I asked if we could visit the following day. Miss Sarah agreed, but only after she extracted a promise that I would resume my daily good cheer.

We left for the hospital in the late afternoon. We were both tense when we were admitted through the front door. Echoing clangs and shouts greeted us from the interior, and I was relieved that we did not have to wait but were taken immediately to Miss Martha's cell. She lay sleeping amid the din. The golden afternoon sun shone through the high window, but the iron bars cast gray shadows on the whitewashed brick walls and across Miss Martha, curled on her straw pallet.

The attendant informed us that she had just been given a large dose of laudanum and would likely sleep through our visit. When he left, he locked the door behind himself. Miss Sarah, her face as white as the walls, perched in a corner on a low stool that was chained to the floor.

I went directly to Miss Martha, crouched at her side, and softly called her name. She woke much like a child, rubbing her eyes and murmuring to herself.

"It's me, Miss Martha," I whispered. "It's Isabelle."

Behind me, Miss Sarah gasped. "Isabelle?"

Miss Martha pulled her hands back from her face, and through heavy-lidded eyes, she peered at me. "Baby?" she asked.

"Sukey?" I said. "You want Sukey?"

She nodded.

"Who is Sukey?" Miss Sarah asked, but I did not answer. Miss Martha had reached for my hand and began to recite a line from Sukey's storybook: "'Make her a present of a fine gold watch. Make her a present of a fine gold watch.'"

"Yes, yes," I soothed, and joined in to recite the line with her over and over until her eyes, drug-heavy, closed again. When I turned to Miss Sarah, her eyes were wet.

"I knew nothing of ... if only I had known what comfort you give her," she said.

Once settled in our carriage, I told Miss Sarah of the fondness I felt for her sister and I explained about Sukey and her book and the part they played in soothing Miss Martha.

"If only I had known, if only I had known," Miss Sarah repeated. Finally, in an effort to ease her, I confessed to my earlier visits. I had expected her ire, but instead, Miss Sarah blessed me for my actions.

I asked for permission to visit regularly, and following that day, a carriage was readily provided for my use. Miss Martha almost always recognized me, and it quickly became known to the attendants that my visits were a comfort to their patient. The first tool they allowed me was Belle's hairbrush, and I used it as Mama had taught. As I gently groomed her tender head, Miss Martha relaxed under my familiar touch. In the weeks following, a grateful matron gave me permission to bring books and to read to Miss Martha. Though everyone praised me for the comfort I brought, no one knew that I received as much from these visits as did Miss Martha.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Belle

MAMA WAS WORKING HERE WITH me, pickling beans, when Will Stephens gets back from Williamsburg. I know something's not right when I see him coming up to the kitchen house with his shoulders leaning down. me, pickling beans, when Will Stephens gets back from Williamsburg. I know something's not right when I see him coming up to the kitchen house with his shoulders leaning down.

I say, "Come in, Will, sit down," then Mama asks him if he wants something to drink.

"That sounds good, Mae," he says. "I'd appreciate some water."

"How'd it go?" I ask, soon as he drinks the water. Mama gives me a look to stop rushing him, but I can't take it no more.

He smiles at Mama, gives the cup back to her, and says, "Thank you, Mae." Then he breathes in deep before he starts talking. "Everything is in order, Belle. You, Jamie, Ben, Lucy, and their boys will come with me when I finish my contract out here."

I sit down and Mama sits down. When n.o.body's saying nothing, I say, "How is Lavinia?"

Will looks at his feet. "She was already engaged to be married."