Distant Dreams (21 page)

“You’re awfully quiet, Carolina,” her father said, putting an arm around her shoulder. “Didn’t you like the book I brought you? A few more trips to town and you will be able to start your own library.”

“It’s perfect, Papa,” she said, trying her best to sound enthusiastic. In truth she
was
excited about the book. Her father had finally managed to locate a work devoted to the railroad:
A Practical Treatise
on Rail-Roads
by Nicholas Wood. It was the 1832 edition of a British work published a few years earlier, with an added special section on American railroads.

Yet she couldn’t keep from thinking about York’s promise to help educate her. How could she explain to her father that she had hoped he would have taken longer than this to procure employment? She knew it was selfish to be unhappy for her brother when he was obviously elated with his sudden accomplishment.

She tried to smile and enter into the family discussion over York’s good fortune. “York will no doubt have President Jackson’s full attention when he shares his concerns over Mr. Clay’s American System.”

Joseph smiled and squeezed her shoulder. “No doubt.”

“Well, I for one am beside myself with joy,” Margaret joined in. “When Mr. Adams told me of your expulsion from college, I couldn’t help but wonder what was to become of you. It seems once again, God has controlled the situation from the start. My friends will be positively green with envy. Even the ones who despise General Jackson.”

“Especially those, Mrs. Adams,” Joseph interjected. “They would be even more desirous of an inside ear to the President’s office.”

“Well,” York said with a boyish grin, “now I feel completely justified in putting a fist to old Richard Bedford’s nose. Without such an inspiring act, I’d still be listening to them sing the praises of Henry Clay.”

Joseph narrowed his eyes a bit. “It wouldn’t be wise to consider settling further arguments in the same manner. Mr. Jackson is given to explosive shows of temper and in the past has had to back up his words with actions. I pray you will be a temperate man, son.”

Carolina listened to this exchange with little interest. Her mind was mulling over her losses. She idly fingered the pleats of her plum print muslin gown, wondering how she could compensate her plans. There were always her books, and Father seemed more than happy to purchase new volumes for her whenever she requested them. Perhaps she could teach herself Latin. What if she were to get hold of a primer used in the local boy’s school? She knew for a fact they had rote classes in Latin and Greek.

“And now for something that will be of particular interest to you, Carolina, as well as the rest of the family.”

“What?” Carolina asked distractedly.

Joseph paused when Hannah appeared in the doorway. “Bedtime, Georgia, Penny.”

“But, Papa, you were going to tell us some news,” Georgia protested.

With an indulgent nod, Joseph dismissed Hannah. “I’ll send them along directly, Hannah. Make their beds ready.”

“Yessuh,” Hannah replied and closed the door.

“Well, tell us, Papa,” Georgia insisted.

Carolina felt as anxious as her younger sibling, but her mind was also racing with thoughts of York’s announcement and its implications for her. Somehow this day had turned out to be most unusual.

“The news is this,” Joseph began. “We’re to have a houseguest.”

“Who?” Virginia asked, suddenly taking her eyes from the needlework in her lap.

Joseph smiled broadly at her interest. He looked to Margaret, whose puzzled expression matched Georgia’s and Penny’s. Carolina couldn’t imagine it being of any interest to her. Guests were not that unusual at Oakbridge. Perhaps one of her aunts would come for a visit. That could be entertaining. She’d not seen her cousins in some years.

“Well, do tell us, Mr. Adams,” Margaret said anxiously.

Joseph nodded. “Our houseguest will be none other than James Baldwin.”

“James!” Virginia exclaimed, then tried to recompose her voice. “Whyever would he be coming here? Isn’t he still recovering from his accident?”

“Exactly so,” Joseph answered. “That’s partially why I invited him to stay on at Oakbridge. I have hired him to do a job for me, and it seemed best to keep him from having to travel back and forth to Washington City.”

“A job, Mr. Adams? What job?” Margaret suddenly questioned.

“Yes, Father,” Virginia chimed in. “What job?”

Even Georgia and Penny echoed the words, while York obviously seemed to know of his father’s plans. Only Carolina remained silent. In her mind she was remembering her silly behavior on the night of James’ party. Now, she thought, I’ll have to live with James Baldwin’s superior attitude and, no doubt, his teasing. Perhaps it would only be for a few days.

Joseph took a seat on the settee beside his wife, obviously enjoying prolonging his news and tickling everyone’s curiosity. “I’ve hired James Baldwin to tutor Carolina and further her education.”

“What!” Margaret, Virginia, and Carolina exclaimed in unison.

Laughing at the unfeminine outburst, Joseph leaned back and casually draped an arm around Margaret’s shoulders. “For some time, it has been brought to my attention that Carolina wished to expand her mind with an unconventional manner of education. She desires to learn of the stars and the universe, the whys and wherefores of machines and such things, and of the many other mysteries of life.”

“I cannot abide such an unladylike endeavor. What will our friends say, Mr. Adams?” Margaret had actually paled. Carolina’s soaring hope began to deflate.

“Mrs. Adams, there comes a time when a person should do not what he feels will be deemed acceptable in the eyes of man, but in the eyes of God.” Joseph spoke with firm conviction.

“Are you telling me that God told you to do this?” Margaret asked indignantly.

Carolina stared at her father and mother’s exchange with open mouth. She noted that Virginia looked horror-struck.

“It’s not that God called down to me from on high, but rather after much prayer and searching for the right answer, James Baldwin practically fell into my lap. I approached him on the subject, considered the possible benefits to all members of this family,” he said, turning to wink at Virginia, “then asked him for an answer.”

“And he said yes?” Margaret asked with astonishment. “He, a college-educated man, agreed to tutor our daughter in masculine subjects of study?”

“I believe, Mrs. Adams, he too could see the possibilities in living at Oakbridge.”

Carolina could care less about those other so-called possibilities. She knew full well her father was implying the benefits that might bring Virginia and James closer to matrimonial bliss, but she didn’t let it concern her in the least. Her father had hired a tutor to teach her! Then she stopped her excited thoughts. That tutor was Jimmy Baldwin, the same tormenting soul who’d given her such grief as a child and with whom she had a less than becoming reintroduction at the party. He’d seemed far from inclined to believe she was in need of furthering her education on that night. Perhaps this was a sham on his part. Perhaps he only planned to gain residency at Oakbridge in order to spend his days in Virginia’s company.

“But it isn’t proper,” Margaret said sternly. “A young woman of Carolina’s age and maturity can certainly not be left alone for long periods of time with a young bachelor.”

“I could chaperon their sessions,” Virginia suddenly offered.

Carolina could tell by the “cat-in-the-cream” look on her sister’s face that she was already planning her days to be spent at James’ side.

“I think that might be the very answer,” remarked their father. “You could get to know each other rather well, what with seeing each other on a day-to-day basis.” Joseph smiled at his wife conspiratorially.

“Would I have to be tutored, too?” Georgia questioned, obviously appalled at the idea.

“What’s a tutor?” Penny asked, trying to stifle a yawn.

“Both of you need to be off to bed,” Margaret said, getting to her feet. She suddenly seemed much less hostile to the idea of James’ coming to Oakbridge. “I believe I see the benefits on which you were speaking, Mr. Adams.” She smiled over her shoulder at her husband. “Once again, you seem to have resolved a commonplace problem with a most unusual answer. Come, Penny, Georgia.”

The girls went quietly with their mother, while York yawned, stretched, and got to his feet. “I have packing to oversee. With your permission, I’ll excuse myself as well.”

Joseph waved him on, and Carolina reached out to touch York’s arm as he passed her. “I really am happy for you, York. I know you’ll enjoy Washington and your new job.”

York leaned down and kissed her on the head. “I wonder if you’d still be saying that if James Baldwin wasn’t coming to teach you in my place.”

Carolina grinned. “I suppose I wouldn’t be quite as gracious, but I’d still be pleased for you.”

“As I’m pleased for you. Sleep tight on these dreams, little sister,” York said and took his leave.

“What room will we put James in, Father?” Virginia asked almost shyly.

Carolina turned to her father. “Yes, where will you put him? Maine’s old room? York’s?”

“No,” Joseph replied. “His injuries will not allow for climbing stairs at present. He’s still working to get around on crutches, and the less he has to strain his leg, the quicker his recovery. I thought we might turn a couple of the downstairs drawing rooms into a bedroom and sitting room for James. He could hold his teaching sessions in the sitting room and not have far to travel should he grow tired and need to rest.”

“That’s wonderful!” Virginia said, and tossing her sewing aside, she got to her feet. “I’ll speak to Mother right now and get things started. We can arrange very pleasant accommodations for him.” She hurried from the room, obviously delighted with her new task.

“Well, what do you think?” Joseph asked when only Carolina remained.

“I don’t know what to say,” she answered honestly. “I’m stunned. When York announced his plans, my hopes were utterly dashed. Now you tell me I’m to have a regular tutor, not just studies fitted in here and there, but a scheduled period with lessons and such. I don’t know what to say because words seem completely inadequate.” Carolina felt herself close to tears.

“You are pleased, then?” Joseph asked, leaning forward.

Carolina threw herself at her father’s feet and hugged her head to his knee. “I’m more than pleased. I must be dreaming—only now I’ll really be a part of those dreams.”

“It’s no dream, Carolina. It’s what I’ve felt called of God to do for you.”

She looked up to meet her father’s gaze. His compassionate blue eyes met her dark inquisitive ones. “Did God really talk to you about me?”

Joseph nodded. “In a way. In here—” He thumped his chest. “I see so much of myself in you. So many dreams, so many hopes. I think God gave me a second sight to see past the conventions of this age. I think He let me know the path for your life will be anything but
conventional
. I sincerely believe that God looks at the heart and soul of a person before their gender. So why shouldn’t I?”

“Oh, Papa, thank you! Thank you for understanding. I’m glad you’re close to God. Maybe one day I’ll be close enough to Him, and He will talk to me as well.”

“I’m certain He will if you open your heart to Him,” Joseph said, giving her head a gentle pat. “Now, off to bed. Dream your dreams and know that in but a few days, they will come true.”

Carolina got to her feet, still dazed by the news. “I love you, Papa.”

Joseph stood and kissed her on the forehead. “And I love you,” he replied.

Carolina made her way to her bedroom and undressed in the silence of her room. On her bed was the book her father had brought back from Washington. Lovingly, she ran her hand over the thick volume. “
A Practical Treatise on Rail-Roads
,” she murmured. The author had composed this discourse to teach the technical details of the railroad. “Well, Mr. Wood,” Carolina whispered, “I’ll bet you didn’t write this with a fifteen-year-old girl in mind.”

22

The Houseguest

Oakbridge underwent a transformation over the next few days that heralded the arrival of James Baldwin in grand style. While Virginia and Margaret had their heads together over the accommodations for the new houseguest, Carolina found herself worrying about the entire affair. James hadn’t seemed the leastwise supportive of her interest in mathematics, yet here he had agreed to tutor her. To Carolina it seemed to hint of a situation not quite disclosed in full. He must want terribly to be with Virginia, she surmised while rummaging through the attic for the extra oil lamps her mother had instructed her to bring down. The thought of James and Virginia sharing stolen glances and intimate words while she was struggling to learn Latin and Greek didn’t appeal in the least to Carolina.

“I’ll bet she takes all of his attention, and I won’t really be tutored at all,” Carolina grumbled, finally managing to locate the lamps. Taking up a slender cobalt blue lamp, Carolina noted that the wick was practically new. The other one, a twin to the first, was in nearly identical condition. That was one less task to see to. Both lamps needed oil, but that would be easily remedied.

Carolina took the back stairs down from the attic, which led directly into the kitchen. Naomi was beating a mixture that looked like the batter of her famous applesauce cake. Putting the lamps down, Carolina went to the cupboard for oil.

“Is that applesauce cake you’re making?” she asked over her shoulder.

Naomi grinned broadly. “Mr. Adams says we’s havin’ Mr.

Baldwin in tonight. I figure this to be a sure winner.”

“Indeed,” Carolina replied. She went to the task of filling the lamps while Naomi poured the concoction into a large round pan. “Did Father tell you that Mr. Baldwin will be staying on here at Oakbridge?”

“Shor ’nuf, Miz Carolina. He says that boy is to be treated like family.”

Carolina grimaced, uncertain why she felt such frustration at the thought. No doubt her father and mother had already decided his future as a potential member of the family. They certainly seemed sold on the idea of wedding James Baldwin to Virginia. That wasn’t the problem, though; rather, it was the fact that she was being used to cement the match. But her father couldn’t be in on such a deception. Surely he was concerned for her future as well and was not simply using her! Whatever the whole truth, there seemed too much chance for her dream to turn into a nightmare, or at least to become an awkward and unpleasant experience.