Jared ran a finger around the rim of his glass. “What do you propose I do until then?”
“Pray that we find Rory in time.”
“And if we don’t?” he countered.
Silence filled the office for a few moments until Mitchell grinned. “Have you thought of remarrying?”
“Remarry? You want me to marry a woman I can’t even support?” He scoffed. “Not likely.”
“Her dowry could buy you some leverage with Delaney, or at least the bank.”
“Listen to you. You’re getting married tomorrow so you think everyone should be consumed in marital bliss.”
“It’s a thought. Besides, Elizabeth has a former Augusta Seminary classmate attending the wedding. I had hoped you’d agree to be her escort. Keep her company during the afternoon festivities.”
Chuckling, Jared shook his head. “Too priceless. You’ve waited
how
long now to drop this little request on me?”
“Only a week. I wanted to make sure you hadn’t changed your mind about coming,” Mitchell confessed. “Besides, Elizabeth just received word her friend is going to attend. She assures me Rebecca is a very beautiful woman and she comes from a wealthy family.”
“At least you didn’t say
likeable
.” He didn’t appreciate the position his attorney put him in, especially since he rarely went to social functions anymore. The last thing he wanted was to be saddled with a chattering female. However, Mitchell was more than his attorney. He was a friend and he rarely made requests. Jared took a breath before speaking. “I’ll consider it if you allow me to dance with the bride at the wedding.”
Mitchell smiled and came around his desk to shake Jared’s hand. “Absolutely. Try not to worry too much about this ordeal with Delaney.”
“Easier said than done.” He drained the rest of the whiskey from his glass and sat it on the credenza. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Jared left the office and headed to Maple Street to check with the postmaster for any mail. He prayed Rory wasn’t dead. If he could get his cousin to return to Oak Hill and show Delaney there were two Mr. Hollingsworths and explain his fool hearted actions, then perhaps the man would reconsider staking a claim on the plantation. Since this fellow wanted to auction it off, he surely cared more about the money than the land.
Jared opened the door to the post office and paused to allow a young woman to exit. As she passed, he smelled lemon verbena and saw the glow of her auburn hair peek from beneath her fashionable bonnet. Enchanted, he hesitated before going inside, choosing instead to watch the sway of her hips as she strolled down the street toward the Bakersfield Hotel. It had been years since he’d noticed a woman.
****
Rebecca watched in the mirror as the mulatto servant repinned her hair for the wedding. She’d left her maid at the hotel to help her aunt with Lucas while she attended the wedding festivities.
“Ah, there you are.” Elizabeth entered the guest room, looking flushed. “I thought I’d never get away from Mama to have a word with you.”
Rebecca dismissed the servant and turned to her friend. “You look beautiful.”
“I think so too.” Elizabeth grinned and slowly turned a complete circle showing off the dress. “I’m so nervous. Does it show?”
“Not at all.” Rebecca stood and helped her friend carefully sit down on the bed without wrinkling the heavy, beaded wedding dress of imported Italian satin.
“I can’t wait until it’s your turn to marry. I just know you’ll meet someone handsome, and he’ll sweep you off your feet.”
“Perhaps.” Rebecca doubted any man would give her a second look
with an infant in tow
.
Elizabeth fidgeted, touching a tendril of golden hair near her ear. “How’s Lucas doing?”
“Trying to crawl. He’ll be walking before I know it. The doctor says he’s healthy.”
“I wish you could have brought him out for the wedding. I do adore babies. Does he look like Mariah, or is it too soon to tell?”
“I’m not sure who he looks like. He does have my auburn coloring though, so I believe he must take after Papa.” Rebecca smiled. “But good heavens, I couldn’t have brought him today.”
“Why not?” Elizabeth asked. “It’s my wedding. Shouldn’t I invite who I want?”
“Aunt Josephine would have died at the mere mention of my bringing him here. She made a big enough fuss when I asked for her and Lucas to make the trip from Memphis with me.” Rebecca shook her head. “I’m so tired of being trapped out in the country, never seeing anyone. I feel we’re constantly in hiding. Josephine keeps us there for fear gossip might start about Lucas and damage her stellar reputation among the parish women. I believe she’s told them I’m traveling and she’s living at the cottage alone.”
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “I remember you telling me about your prim aunt when we were at seminary. It doesn’t sound as if it has been easy on you raising Mariah’s child as your own.”
“No. She won’t let me forget what I gave up by taking Lucas as my own. But I wouldn’t change one single day. I love him more than I could ever imagine possible. I’m so glad that scoundrel Delaney never knew he got Mariah with child during their brief farce of a marriage. I don’t know what I’d do if he tried to take my boy from me.”
“I can’t wait to have a child.” Elizabeth looked wistful for a moment. “But not right away. I want to enjoy
my
husband first.”
“Don’t be enjoying him too much or you’ll be starting a family sooner than you think,” Rebecca warned.
Her friend blushed and looked away as a knock sounded at the door. The mulatto servant peeked inside.
“Missy, your Mama be lookin’ for ya. Says it’s bout time and you ain’t got your veil on yet. She’s a waitin’ for ya. Now’s hurry up.”
“Thank you, Tilda.” Elizabeth stood with Rebecca’s help. “I love the pale green of your dress. I wish I could wear that color, but it makes me look ill.”
She smiled. “It’s one of the few colors that work well with my hair. Besides, it’s gay and alive. I’m so sick of black bombazine that I’ve had to wear every day for the last six months.”
“I detest black and having to wear it when Grand Mama passed away.” Her friend scrunched up her nose for a second but perked up again. “I’d better go or Papa will be walking the floor. He nearly wore a hole in the carpet when Hélène got married because she wasn’t ready on time.”
“All right. I’ll see you after the ceremony.”
“Oh, I almost forgot.” Elizabeth stopped near the door and turned back around. “Mitchell has arranged for you to have an escort for the afternoon. His name is Jared Hollingsworth. He’s a very nice man, though not very active in the social circles. I’ve never met him so I asked Mama about him, but she couldn’t tell me very much either. He owns his own plantation and runs it
without
slave labor.”
Rebecca took note of that last tidbit and smiled. “Mitchell didn’t have to go to any trouble on my account.”
“Nonsense. You don’t know anyone here, and I didn’t want you to feel lonely. I want you to have a good time. Besides, I’ll be able to enjoy myself knowing you’re in good hands.”
“If it’ll make you feel better.”
“Excellent. My older brother, Josiah, will introduce you. He’ll be waiting for you downstairs. Wish me luck!”
“The best of it.” She hugged her friend, careful not to crush her beaded gown. Then she watched Elizabeth move as swiftly as she could down the hallway.
Stepping back inside the room, she closed the door and quickly pulled the folded note she’d received at the post office the day before from her reticule.
Dear Miss Davis,
Thank you for agreeing to help me in this matter. Our mutual acquaintance has assured me you will be very discreet. I will contact you shortly after your arrival. You will recognize me by the yellow rose bud in my lapel.
Your devoted servant,
Hollingsworth
When Elizabeth said the name, Rebecca had known it sounded familiar. Could her escort for today be the same Mr. Hollingsworth?
Heart fluttering, she refolded the note and tucked it securely back into the hidden pocket she’d made in the lining of her purse. She’d been so frightened taking her first road assignment from the Vigilante Committee, especially now that she had Lucas. The thought of being caught and the consequences of the crime left her weak in the knees. Nevertheless, they’d chosen her for this important job and she vowed to see it through.
She poured a small amount of water from the pitcher into the washbowl and dipped a portion of a hand towel in it. She ran the damp towel over the back of her neck to calm her nerves and closed her eyes. When her pulse settled, she took a deep breath, picked up her elbow length gloves and slowly walked out of the bedroom and down the hallway.
She stopped for a moment at the top of the wide staircase to slip on her gloves and spotted Elizabeth’s brother waiting for her at the foot. When she reached the bottom, he offered her his arm with a gentle smile and walked her through the house to the back loggia where the many guests waited on the lawn for the wedding to begin.
Arrangements of fresh flowers decorated the perimeter of the yard. In the center, a dais signified the altar. White chairs positioned in rows around the dais were available for the guests.
Outside, she noticed a very handsome man dressed in black standing alone near the back of the fashionably dressed gathering of men and women. His blond hair was pulled back at the nape in a queue, and he stood military straight with hands clasped behind his back. The string quartet began to play and he turned toward them.
Oh my goodness! He’s wearing a yellow rosebud.
Rebecca’s mind went numb. She hadn’t expected to meet her liaison at her friend’s wedding, nor that he’d be
so
handsome. The mere sight of him astounded her.
Josiah motioned to him and the man in question came toward them.
“Mr. Jared Hollingsworth,” Josiah said. “I’d like you to meet Miss Rebecca Davis. Miss Davis, Mr. Hollingsworth.”
Rebecca nodded appreciation to the young Mr. Calhoun and curtsied when Mr. Hollingsworth took her gloved hand in his. Tingles of awareness halted her midway, and she forced herself to rise without prolonged hesitation. His blue eyes sparkled as she boldly stared into them, mesmerized by his handsome face.
“It’s a pleasure, Miss Davis. Mr. Cooper tells me you attended Augusta Seminary with Miss Calhoun.”
“Yes, I did. Did you also attend West Point with Mr. Cooper?” she asked, still unable to look away from his ruggedly handsome face.
“Class of forty-eight.” He offered her his arm. “We’d better take our seats. The ceremony should begin soon.”
Rebecca placed her hand in the crook of his arm. Her heart pounded as she walked beside him down the aisle to the reserved seats near Elizabeth’s family members. She felt honored to be included, and oddly, she felt sensationally alive being by this stranger’s side. She couldn’t explain what had come over her, but she had never felt more at home.
Awareness of him consumed her thoughts, and she paid little attention to the wedding ceremony. Yet, when Elizabeth and Mr. Cooper sealed their vows with a kiss, she wondered how it would feel to have Mr. Hollingsworth’s lips pressed against hers and his strong arms holding her close.
Rattled, she chastised herself for her thoughts. She was in Jackson on a mission, and Mr. Hollingsworth as fortune would have it, was her cohort. There was no room for daydreaming about him, even if she did find him handsome.
Today was a day of celebration, but tomorrow would be a day of joy for a very lucky young woman. Rebecca knew what role she would play in this mission, but she couldn’t help but be curious how Mr. Hollingsworth would go about doing his part. She’d love nothing more than to discuss it with him if the opportunity arose, but it was unlikely. Neither of them could risk being overheard.
****
Jared shifted in his chair beside Miss Davis. She was the first woman with whom he’d spent company since his wife had died in childbirth three years earlier. Charisse was his first love and had been a wonderful woman. Losing her and their son had nearly killed him, but fate had been cruel and left him to bear the burden alone.
Now here he was at Mitchell’s wedding playing host to this beautiful young woman whom he couldn’t deny he found attractive. As he’d walked her to their seats, he’d overheard murmuring. One guest wanted to know why he was there and another had wanted to know who she was and why she was here with him.
He feared word had already spread through the town about cousin Rory’s latest scandal, another black mark against the Hollingsworth name. As if he needed any help spreading scandal. He’d been doing fine all by himself being branded a societal outcast when his father had died, and he’d taken over running Oak Hill. Plantation owners from all around Jackson rebuked him for giving his father’s slaves their freedom and hiring those that wished to stay as tenant farmers instead.
Pushing those thoughts aside, Jared stole another glance at Miss Davis. Mitchell hadn’t lied when he assured him she was beautiful. He chuckled at his good fortune to escort this stunning woman. Her auburn hair glistened in the afternoon sun like honey dripping off the wax comb, and reminded him of the young woman he’d encountered in passing at the post office the day before.
Could it be her?
His thoughts wandered back to the vision of the young woman walking down the street toward the hotel. He hadn’t gotten a good look at her face, but the memory of her slender neck, the shape of her back and trim waist, not to mention the sweet smell of her that somehow still lingered in the air, stirred something deep inside.