Wedded to War (28 page)

Phineas was running out of time.

In just two days, Alice and Jacob would be returning to Washington,
and so far, Charlotte still planned to go with them.

Crackling logs glowed in the marble fireplace of the Waverly parlor as tongues of flame licked at the rising smoke. Charlotte’s hair shone copper and gold in the firelight, her silk dress of rust-and-black stripes shimmered. The rosewater scent of her wasn’t nearly as sensuous as the violet perfumes of other women he had been with, but it was feminine and refreshing. She could frustrate him beyond all measure, but she was still the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Dazzling.

He had to win her.

“Darling,” he began. “Don’t you know that a man longs to protect the woman he loves?”

She looked at him from under black bristly lashes, a slow smile warming her face. “I admit, I didn’t understand what there was to be protected from before I went to Washington, but now I do.”

Heat rushed to his head. “Did someone hurt you? Did anyone touch you? Did—”

She held up her hands to stop him. “No, I’m fine.” She chuckled. “Only one man—a boy, really—made any sort of attempt to steal a kiss.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“It wasn’t worth mentioning. He is a fool, not a threat. I wouldn’t want you to worry.”

“You never know which fool will turn into a threat,” he said. “I wish you wouldn’t go back.”

Charlotte sighed and methodically stroked her cat, which was clearly enjoying the warmth of the fire. “We have been over this too many times to count. I wish you would not take this personally.”

“How can I not? You are making a conscious decision to invest yourself into this cause instead of into me and our future together.”

“This ‘cause’ is temporary. The war will come to an end. If you and I are meant for each other, that commitment will be forever. Am I not worth waiting for?”

A smile twitched under his black mustache. “Well played, my dear.”

“This is not a game, Phineas. Or is it? These never-ending volleys
of points and counterpoints—I’d like to think that we both desire to come to a resolution. Not a winner and a loser.”

The gold flecks in her hazel eyes began to glow brighter. She was getting angry.

“Of course, darling!” He took her hand in his. “We are on the same side!”

“Are we? Because I might as well tell you, I sometimes wonder about that.”

“Skip the riddles. Speak plainly.” He fought to suppress his impatience.

“You once said that we each fight for the Union in our own ways. At that time, you conceded that my way was by nursing. Your way was to inspire others to fight. Well, I think that stage is over now, Phineas. What else are you doing for our country? Or don’t you care enough to make any personal sacrifices of your own?”

Phineas was stunned. She had never spoken so boldly to him before.

“Your months away have loosened your tongue, I see.” His tone was as tight as the muscles in his face. “Perhaps Medical Director Tripler was right about the Sanitary Commission when he called you a bunch of ‘sensation preachers, village doctors, and strong-minded women.’”

It was the wrong move. Phineas winced as Charlotte rose to her feet, sending the cat, yowling, to the floor.

“Charlotte, I’m sorry. It was too far. Forgive me.”

“Phineas, we nurses have so many critics. I would hate to think that
you
are one of them.” Her voice trembled then. “Besides, who cares what Charles Tripler thinks? Major General McClellan publicly praises the Commission and our work. I know you wish I was not a nurse. It is a revolutionary concept, I know. But have faith in my character! I am not strong-minded. I am just trying to do good where the door has been opened to me.”

This rare glimmer of vulnerability filled him with a swelling desire to possess her, and with hope that it could be done. If he was careful.

“You’re right.” He stepped to her side and clasped her hands.
Lotions and almost a week of ladylike idleness had made them soft once again. When she was finished with this nursing business, her spirit could become just as soft in his hands, as well. But he must not push her too hard, or she would fly. Women could be skittish that way.

She searched his eyes now, looking desperate for his approval. It was a good sign.

“I want you to know that I am your greatest admirer, darling,” he said. “Obviously, I can’t just take leave of the university, but allow me to help the Sanitary Commission in another way. What do you need?”

“Everything.”

“What?”

“Our coffers are nearly dry. We’ve received more than sixty thousand donated items, but it’s a drop in the bucket. Mr. Olmsted and I drafted a letter ‘To the Loyal Women of America,’ calling on them to give more. It was in all the papers—did you not see it?”

“I tend to skip over articles directed to women.”

“Well, it was a desperate plea for contributions. Mother has been working unceasingly with the W.C.A.R. but you know the women of just one city can’t possibly supply the entire Union army. We need blankets, quilts, woolen socks, bed gowns, wrappers, undershirts, drawers, slippers, small hair and feather pillows and cushions for wounded limbs, cornstarch, condensed milk.” She looked at him pointedly. “And money. The Sanitary Commission receives not one dollar from the government. We need money. And lots of it.”

“Then it’s settled. I shall donate 10 percent of my salary, every month, for as long as the Commission needs it.”

Charlotte’s eyes lit up with something even more alive and beautiful than the firelight they reflected. She threw her arms around his neck. Phineas breathed in deeply, inhaling her rose water scent, and relished the warmth of her body in his arms. She lightly kissed his cheek before stepping out of the embrace.

“Thank you.” Her cheeks flushed.

“Just remember,” he said. “I am your greatest admirer.”

Phineas went to bed that night realizing that Charlotte would soon leave him. Again. It was not how he had planned the evening to end, but he did not fear losing her anymore.

Some horses were kept in line with a whip. Others responded better to a carrot.

Charlotte had expected Dr. Blackwell and the W.C.A.R. would want to send back some supplies with her when they left for Washington again. She had not expected part of that cargo to be human.

“Her name is Ruby O’Flannery. She will be of help to the hospitals, I assure you, doing menial work that the elite nurses should not be required to perform,” Dr. Blackwell explained to her now. “I have a ticket purchased for her already. I would just like you and the Carlisles to escort her down to the city and get her established in her work.”

“What would you like her to do, exactly?” Charlotte asked.

“She’s willing to be a washerwoman, and from what you and Alice shared in your letters, the hospitals could always use more of those.”

Nodding, Charlotte wondered,
What’s so special about this woman that Dr. Blackwell would pay her fare down to Washington, just so she can do the laundry?

“Just see that she is settled in. She is looking for her husband, who’s with the Sixty-Ninth New York Regiment. Surely your sister understands how trying such a separation can be.”

“Of course.” Charlotte promised to do her best for Ruby O’Flannery. If Dr. Blackwell had an interest in her, she must be a respectable woman.

T
he journey from New York had been long, but Ruby hadn’t minded. She could think of no greater freedom than to be sped away from the three-mile radius in New York City that had been her home since she landed in this country more than a decade ago. Here in Washington, she could start over. Do things right. Put the past behind her, find her husband, and let life in the slums become no more than a faded memory.

Ruby closed her eyes and indulged in a rare, but genuine smile. Maybe she did have a guardian angel. Perhaps the baby growing inside of her was the only way she would have gone to Dr. Blackwell, which was the only way she could have gotten her ticket out of misery. If she found Matthew in time, and they could … and he’d believe the baby was his … could she dare to hope? Could she keep the baby and her husband both?

A bugle call sounded faintly, and Ruby opened her eyes. The carriage that held her, Miss Waverly, Mrs. Carlisle, and crates of supplies was going uphill, to a four-story brick building surrounded by trees almost as tall. Leaves of crimson, mustard, and gold danced and bowed in the crisp wind.

Once at the white-pillared entrance, the driver helped the women down from the carriage and left the horses snorting and swishing their tails against the flies as he showed her inside the building.

“Let’s just let the hospital steward know about the supplies we’ve brought and we’ll see about getting you settled in somewhere,” Charlotte said to Ruby.

Before they had covered the length of the hall, a young woman in bright purple satin emerged from a room.

“Cora,” said Charlotte, her tone suddenly thick with accusation. “If you please, I would like a word with you.” She turned back to Ruby and Alice. “Pardon me, you must think I’m terribly rude, but this cannot wait another moment.”

Alice gently nudged Ruby and whispered, “Watch this.”

Cora straightened her French hat on her hair and smiled. “Is anything wrong?”

“Yes, Cora,” replied Charlotte, lifting her chin. “I’m afraid you are.”

“Me?”

“Indeed. I simply can no longer pretend that I do not know what you’re doing.”

“Why, whatever do you mean?”

“You know exactly what I mean, and I will not have it in this hospital another minute. The women here all have the men’s best interests at heart. All of us, that is, except for you. You, my dear, clearly have your own best interests at heart. It’s plain as day.”

“I never!” Cora gasped, but her cheeks did not redden with shame.

Ruby’s eyes widened as the two women squared off. Cora flashy and defiant, Charlotte staunch and indignant.

“You are no nurse, Cora. I don’t know if the men pay you or if your
own base satisfaction is payment enough for you, but either way, your depravity has no business here. You must leave now. Your presence hurts all of us. Women like you make it so much more difficult for honest women like Mrs. Carlisle and me—and Mrs. O’Flannery here—to be granted positions and to be taken seriously as nurses. And who knows but that you are spreading venereal disease throughout the wards. You must leave.”