The Abolitionist’s Secret (24 page)

By any measure, the Haversham ball was over the top in terms of lavishness. There was a wild crush of carriages at the entrance to the large mansion, hordes of people packed into the ballroom, and copious amounts of spiked punch. A thousand or so candles lit the large room, adding to the heat.

Heather sat with Amanda Phillips, a childhood friend, as their body temperatures rose in the cloistered room. It was only late May, but the heated air was like August. They flicked their fans rapidly, hoping for even a meager breeze, and drank large amounts of the punch, which warmed their insides as much as the hot air warmed their outsides.

“Oh, I’m about to faint from the heat,” Amanda wailed. “Why don’t we head out to the balcony?”

“You know we can’t go out there on our own, Mandy, and I fear your mother and mine are in the middle of a strategy session and don’t want to be interrupted to accompany us outside. What would become of our reputations if we wandered out there alone?”

“This is why I’m glad you’re back in town,” Amanda smiled over at Heather. “For weeks now, I’ve had no one to tell me what was proper and what was not.” Amanda couldn’t help the slight dig, though. “You know, if Jasmine were able to be here, she’d say ‘Let’s do it, and hang the consequences.’”

“And that ‘hang the consequences’ attitude of hers almost got me and a lot of others into a world of trouble in Savannah. She really had no idea the firestorm she created with her foolish letter. We’re actually better off having her at home tonight. Our reputations will survive another day.”

Heather’s thoughts then turned inward, as she wondered if she would survive another day. Since leaving Georgia, she had no correspondence from David. Not that she expected to. She had made it quite clear that she was not interested in having contact with him, and that he should proceed with his life as the owner of one of the finest plantations in the state. But when he gave up on their relationship so quickly, it took her by surprise. Now as she thought about it and how easily she was forgotten, her eyes smarted with tears.

She had been putting on a brave face in front of her family, accompanying her parents to dinner engagements, and even attending a musical performance, but her heart ached for David’s reassuring presence in her life. Would she ever get over him? Would she be strong enough to make her way in the world as a spinster schoolteacher without a husband to help weather the ups and downs of life? Now that David had introduced her to the physical side of a relationship, was she willing to deny herself forever the luxurious feelings that he had woken within her? And to never have a child with a man she truly loved? Could her heart withstand that much pain? Would she be able to seriously entertain the likes of Blake Morgan? Or anyone else? Too many questions. She shifted in her seat as she and Amanda waited for the music to begin again. At least with people dancing, a bit of a breeze circulated through the crowded room, and she had something to look at, which took her mind off her swirling thoughts of David and what could have been.

Oblivious to Heather’s inattention, Amanda prattled on. “It’s all well and good for you to sit here and not crave any excitement. You’ve already had more than enough this season, which is still only a month old. Being courted by the lieutenant, getting engaged, going with him to Georgia, being placed in jail … ” She whispered this last part. “Well, how lucky can one girl get? I’d love to be swept off my feet by a handsome, strapping man.”

Amanda glanced around the ballroom. “Oh, look, there’s a handsome, strapping man now, and he’s coming this way!”

Heather looked up, following Amanda’s line of focus, and noticed Blake Morgan heading toward them. He did look handsome this evening, in his fine formal attire. The ultra-white shirt, the cut of his evening coat, the way his hair had been combed — all were meant to impress the ladies. And, obviously, it was having an effect, at least on Amanda. Heather sighed.

“It’s Mr. Morgan. He’s a client of Papa’s. We had dinner together a couple of nights ago.”

“You told me you had dinner with an associate of your father’s, but you left out the part about how handsome he was! Straighten up in your seat now, so you’ll be ready to introduce me to him.” Amanda’s gaze flashed over her friend. “Unless, of course, you’re interested in him for yourself.”

“Not particularly. I don’t want to get involved with another man anytime soon. But I was thinking about Jasmine.”

“Ah, but Jasmine’s not here now, is she?” Amanda ran a quick hand over her hair. “Such a pity. Lost opportunities and all that. You and I will have to be the ones to entertain Mr. Morgan tonight. Get ready. He’s almost here.” Amanda may have squirmed in excitement, but Heather squirmed in anxiety.

• • •

“Mr. Morgan. How nice to see you again,” Heather stood up and curtsied to Blake, as he bowed before her. “I’d like you to meet one of my good friends, Amanda Phillips.”

Blake bowed low in front of the tall attractive woman who towered over Heather. He was pleased to see he still had several inches on her. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Phillips. I hope you’ll both do me the honor of allowing me to take a spot on your dance cards.”

Amanda smiled up at the handsome man. “Since both of our dance cards are absolutely empty at this point, we can most definitely oblige you. In fact, if you like, you can claim two dances apiece.”

Blake’s smile widened, and a dimple winked from one cheek. He riveted his gaze on Amanda. She was well over five and a half feet tall, so his perusal of her was long and slow. She had voluptuous curves in all the right places. He reached out to her, taking one of her hands in his. Things couldn’t be going better.

“Shall we begin, then? The band is ready to play.”

Amanda turned to Heather, who nodded in approval. As Amanda and Blake moved to the dance floor, Heather sat back down, expelling a long breath. Charlotte, along with Amanda’s mother, Rebecca, returned from the refreshment table and claimed the chairs beside Heather. “Did I see that divine Blake Morgan just now?”

“Yes, he’s dancing with Amanda. Then he’s coming back to dance with me.”

“Oh, how nice. Maybe if the other gentlemen here tonight see the two of you on the dance floor, they’ll realize what idiots they are to leave you girls languishing at the side of the room.”

Heather smiled at her mother. “I don’t think these fine young gentlemen would take kindly to you calling them idiots.”

Charlotte reached over and took one of Heather’s hands in hers. “Well, if they let you and Amanda sit while they dance with the likes of that scandalous Mrs. Smith, what else can I call them but idiots?”

“Mrs. Smith does have her good qualities. She has lovely auburn hair, beautiful blue eyes and is a most graceful dancer. She can’t help it that Mr. Smith died after only six months of marriage.”

Rebecca Phillips whispered to Charlotte behind her fan. “Rumor has it that she wore him out in the bedroom, which is why he died so soon after their marriage. That’s why all these men are interested in her. They are dying to find out if the rumor is true.”

Charlotte fussed with her skirt as she listened to her friend. “It does so infuriate me to see Mrs. Smith claiming all the attention tonight. She has no need to marry again. Mr. Smith was quite well off, and now it’s all hers. I think she should plan an extended trip abroad.” She and Rebecca Phillips laughed as they watched the woman in question on the dance floor. Her partner looked like a lovesick calf.

Rebecca grinned. “So you are saying that Mr. Smith was quite well-endowed? That may be why Mrs. Smith kept chasing him around the bedroom.”

Heather saw Charlotte’s eyes sparkle with enjoyment. “That may very well be the case,” she replied as she began to laugh. It began as a well-mannered little laugh bubbling up like champagne from a bottle. Then, it became a full-blown guffaw that had her doubling over and holding onto her stomach. Heather couldn’t help but join in the scandalous fun. Soon, everyone on their side of the room was turning to look at the three ladies who were so obviously enjoying themselves.

Blake and Amanda returned just as Charlotte, Rebecca, and Heather began to get control of themselves. Heather withdrew a handkerchief from her reticule and hastily wiped the happy tears from her eyes before she stood up to claim her dance with Blake.

As they slid into the rhythm of the dance, Blake asked, “What did you and your mother finding so amusing? We heard your laughter from the dance floor. It was all I could do to keep Amanda dancing. She was so eager to discover what you found so humorous.”

Heather ducked her head to hide another grin. “It did feel good to laugh. There hasn’t been enough of that in my life this season. Nevertheless, it was just talk about the dresses we are seeing here tonight. You would not have found it nearly as amusing as we did.”

“You are probably right. So, let’s change the subject to one I might find humorous. Tell me about your sister. Your twin sister. Do you two look alike?”

“We are identical in appearance, yes.”

“But not in personality?”

“No, she’s much more flamboyant than I am. The life of the party.”

“I’m certain she’s disappointed that she cannot continue with the season, after her fall.”

“She’s been quite devastated, but I think she’ll be able to receive guests soon. You’ll have to pay us a visit.”

“I would like to meet her, and to spend more time with you, so I’ll look forward to it. And what of your friend, Amanda? What does her father do?”

Heather glanced up at Blake, hesitating a moment before she replied. “He is an industrialist, and a friend of Papa’s. I’m not quite sure if he even knows the companies in which he owns an interest, so I’m not able to enlighten you much. I’ve never been good with stocks and holdings. And other bank business.”

“Nor should you be. A woman doesn’t need to fill up her pretty little head with business ideas. You need to find a strong husband to take care of those parts of life, and you can concentrate on taking care of him and the children.”

“I have no interest in sitting at home waiting for my husband to return at day’s end. What kind of life would that be? Should I choose to marry, I want to labor side by side with my husband to create the best life possible for us.”

Blake looked over at his dance partner with a speculative gaze. She had been so quiet, both at dinner the other night and during the dance that her remarks were catching him off-guard. Where had the little mouse gone? Maybe there was more fire in Miss Heather than he had given her credit for. Damn! He had just decided to turn his attention to Amanda Phillips and now he had been presented with another side of Heather Fitzpatrick. He tightened his hold around her waist and smiled down at her. America was overflowing with riches.

Heather and Blake made their way from the crowded dance floor to the chairs at the edge of the room. Heather noticed the place was abuzz with gossip. Eager to hear what was being said, she thanked Blake Morgan for her turn on the dance floor and hastened to her mother’s side.

“What is causing all the excitement?”

“Oh, Heather dear, word has just come in from Washington, D.C. It seems a fight occurred on the Senate floor! Congressman Brooks attacked Congressman Charles Sumner with a cane, of all things.”

Heather sat for a moment, speechless. “I know Washington is more rough and tumble than New York, but why in the world would one congressman pummel another?”

“Because of a speech that Sumner gave in response to the Border Ruffians. They ransacked a town in Kansas a couple days ago, simply because it’s a staunch free-state area. Burned and looted some buildings there. I can’t believe grown men are acting like children, both in Kansas and on the floor of the Senate.”

“I fear this is only the start of it, Mother. I’ve seen firsthand how vital slavery is to the southern economy, and I have a bad feeling that the issue will never be peacefully resolved. Southerners won’t give up their way of life, or their slaves, without a fight.”

Charlotte took her daughter’s hand in hers. “I know how hard this has been for you, but don’t you think you’re exaggerating a little? Surely the South realizes they can’t fight the North. Why, we have all the industry and the major ports here. They have only their plantations.”

“And they will do everything in their power to preserve them. We know firsthand the extreme measures they’ll go to. Look what they did to me, tearing apart my engagement, putting me in jail … Oh, this just brings it all back again.” Heather could sense hot tears in her eyes and reached for her reticule to pull out her lace handkerchief.

“Your problems were caused by one vile person, though. It was not a movement.”

Heather took a moment to dab under her eyes. Then, she glanced up at her mother. “And I’m telling you it is a movement, Mother. Mrs. Whitman was not only responding to me. I could feel her panic when she realized that her way of life, the only lifestyle she had ever known, might dissolve before her eyes. If that were to happen here in the North, we would defend our right to our lifestyle with every man, woman, and child shouldering the burden together until we’d won. What makes you think the southerners are any less adamant?”

Charlotte patted her daughter’s hand. “I’m sorry this news has upset you, and brought back the memories of your awful experience, which you were only just beginning to put away. We’re here tonight to have fun and to put what’s past behind us. Tell me what you and Mr. Morgan talked about during your dance.”

Heather gazed at her mother again, a bit confused at the change in the course of the conversation. Her thoughts were still with David, Susan Whitman, and her brief time at Bellewood, where she had experienced such tender sweetness alongside abject terror.

“I’ll never be able to put the past behind me. My time in the south will stay with me forever,” she replied, softly.

“I know, darling, but you really must move on. And I believe Mr. Morgan is a most agreeable alternative, do you not?”

“I’m not so certain about him. He asked me about about Amanda’s father and what line of business he was in. It seemed like he was assessing the financial attributes Amanda might bring to a union. I think Mr. Morgan’s choice of whom he marries has little to do with how he feels about a woman and everything to do with the size of her father’s wallet. He’s also very eager to meet Jasmine.”