The Pattern of Her Heart (12 page)

“Having difficulty with a few of our opinionated church members, Pastor?” She smiled.

“Some of the good ladies of the church think Reggie lacks the proper social graces. And I must admit they are probably correct. I hadn’t given much thought to the fact that she’s growing up and some of her behavior is inappropriate for a young lady.”

Elinor brushed a smudge of flour from the skirt of her utilitarian gray cotton dress. “Don’t permit Martha Emory or Nancy Sanders to force their rigid standards upon you. Childhood is precious. Reggie has ample time to learn the etiquette of a proper young lady. She’ll develop an interest when the time is right for her.”

“I suppose you’re correct, but Reggie can be quite a handful from time to time.”

“Are you attempting to convince me I should tell you no?” she asked with a broad smile.

“No, not at all. Yet I don’t want to . . . well, take ad-advantage of you, as I know you’ve truly m-more than enough to keep you busy,” he stammered.

“ ’Tis true I tend to keep busy,” she replied. “However, one more girl in the house ought not pose a great deal more work. I have time in the evenings when I can assist Reggie with her school lessons, and I think hearing about the mills from my boarders will interest her.”

“So you’re agreeable to the arrangement?”

“Only if you gain Reggie’s approval. I do understand that you’re faced with a difficult predicament, but if Reggie is forced to come live with me, I fear we’ll both be unhappy. However, you may tell her that I would be most delighted if she would agree to come visit for the duration of your journey. In fact, if it will relieve any anxiety she may have, tell her that she is welcome to stop by and visit with me about the arrangement.”

Justin beamed and exhaled a deep breath. “I’m relieved to know you are willing to entertain the possibility. And I’ll pay you the rate you would receive for a boarder and an extra five cents a day for checking her schoolwork,” he added hastily.

“No need to match a boarder’s rate, Pastor. I’ll have Reggie reside in my rooms. Otherwise, I’d be required to seek permission from the Corporation to have her stay in the house. This way, I’ll neither be giving up boarding space nor be required to obtain consent from anyone.”

“Yet you’ll be preparing her food and seeing to her laundry and other needs. I insist.”

Elinor glanced at the clock. “First we must gain Regina’s approval. Then we can decide upon the remaining details. However, the girls will soon be arriving for the noonday meal, and I must see to my hair and finish preparing their food.”

The words had barely been uttered when Justin jumped up from the settee as though he’d been struck by a volley of buckshot. “Forgive me. Not only have I come to your home uninvited and unannounced, but I’ve also detained you far beyond any reasonable expectation.”

A laugh escaped Elinor’s lips. “No need to rebuke yourself so harshly. I’ve enjoyed our visit and look forward to Reggie’s answer. When would you plan to depart for Maine?” She followed him to the door.

“If at all possible, I’d like to leave immediately following church services next week. I haven’t mentioned my departure to the church elders, but I’ve been in contact with a Congregational preacher, Arthur Conklin, who will be arriving in Lowell next Friday. He sent me a letter shortly after I arrived in Lowell and stated he’s interested in spending time in our fair city. Seems he’s visited England and now wants to draw some comparisons between our textile community and some of those he toured while across the sea— says he’s writing an essay regarding the impact of the textile mills on homes in America and abroad.”

“Doesn’t sound like overly fascinating reading material,” Elinor said with a giggle.

“No, I don’t suppose it does. However, he’s agreed to preach in my stead in exchange for use of the parsonage during my absence, and I am in hopes the elders will be agreeable to the idea. Of course, I wanted to have proper arrangements for Reggie before firming up the plans with the elders, although I’ve told Reverend Conklin he’s welcome to come and stay at the parsonage in any event,” Justin said as he opened the front door.

“That’s most kind of you. I’ll look forward to hearing Reggie’s decision.”

Elinor closed the front door and raced through her sitting room and into the bedroom, pulling the ribbon from her hair as she ran. One glance in the small mirror that hung over her dressing table gave her a start. She looked a fright. Damp strands of hair clung to her forehead, and a streak of flour lined her cheek. Too late to fret, she silently admonished herself. If she didn’t hurry, her bread would be ruined and there would be no food on the table for the noonday meal.

“You seem happy,” Lucinda said as she hurried into the house a short time later.

Elinor agreed. “Indeed! It’s a beautiful day, and all is well with the world,” she said while rushing back and forth, retrieving bowls of food from the kitchen.

Lucinda and Ardith stared at her as though she’d gone daft, but Elinor didn’t care. She continued to smile and was singing when the girls left the house to return to work. Perhaps it was the thought of having Reggie come and stay with her. The child would break the monotonous routine of her life, and that prospect held great appeal.

“Please make her anxious to come and spend time with me, Lord,” she uttered aloud before she continued singing the first stanza of “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name.”

Jasmine sighed as she settled into her mother’s beloved rocking chair in the parlor. The journey to Mississippi had taken its toll on all of them—especially the children. They hadn’t adapted to their new surroundings as smoothly as Jasmine and Nolan had hoped. Many tears had been shed since departing Massachusetts, but Jasmine continued to believe they would soon adjust.

Shadows were growing long across the willow-lined driveway leading to the Wainwright mansion when a knock sounded at the front door. Jasmine placed her mending in the basket beside her chair and hurried to the door.

She squinted in the early evening dimness. “Rupert Hesston? Is that you?”

“Has it been so long you’ve forgotten what I look like?”

She laughed and stepped back to permit him entry. “It
has
been a long time, but you haven’t changed so much that I wouldn’t recognize you. The lighting is inadequate,” she added.

“Well, I must say that
you
have changed dramatically. The years have been very good to you, Jasmine. But you always were a beauty. Did you know that when I was around eighteen years old, I attempted to convince our mothers we weren’t truly related so that I could call on you?”

“No, Mother never mentioned such a thing.”

For some reason, Rupert’s remark made her feel uncomfortable. Perhaps because Nolan had gone to visit with their overseer, Mr. Draper, and hadn’t yet returned. Silly! Rupert was, after all, a distant cousin on her mother’s side and McKinley’s closest friend during their childhood years. In fact, he was now related to her on both sides of the family, for he had married Lydia Wainwright, one of Uncle Franklin’s daughters and Jasmine’s full cousin.

“Come join me in the parlor. Nolan and I were going to visit you once we were a bit more settled here at The Willows. I apologize for my tardiness. There’s no excuse for not immediately calling upon you to express my condolences. Please forgive me.”

“No need for an apology. I can only imagine the difficulty of having to return under these circumstances. The harshness of this epidemic has been dramatic among our families and friends. Thankfully, Lydia was in Europe and escaped the illness, and I suppose I’m just too ornery to die.”

“Are there any other family members who survived?”

“Lydia is your uncle Franklin’s only survivor, though one of your uncle Harry’s grandchildren lived. I believe the boy has gone to make his home with a relative in Tennessee. Lydia might have been delighted to rear the child had she been here to make her wishes known. I truly despair over the thought of delivering so much bad news.”

“She doesn’t know?”

“She sailed for Europe in early June. She had no set itinerary, and although she has written to me, it’s impossible to send word back. There is nothing she could have done, and had she returned home earlier, she might have contracted the fever herself. Like you, she’ll have to deal with the shock, yet she won’t be forced to feel helpless and watch as her family dies.”

His words were a painful reminder of the horror Jasmine had been attempting to set aside ever since she’d arrived at The Willows. “I’ll look forward to seeing Lydia upon her return. Please tell her to call on me or send word if there is anything she needs,” Jasmine offered.

“That’s very kind of you. And what of my good friend and cousin McKinley? Did he return to Mississippi with you?”

“No. Like you, I had hoped he would accompany us. However, he found it impossible to do so at this time. His position and family . . .” Her words trailed off into silence.

Rupert stared at her as though he expected her to say more, but when she remained silent, he said, “I recall your father telling me McKinley had married into the textile industry.”

Jasmine was taken aback by the comment. “Married into the textile industry? I find it hard to believe my father would make such a comment.”

He brushed the end of his dark brown mustache with his fingers. “Not exactly his words, I suppose, but I do recall Malcolm mentioning the fact that McKinley’s father-in-law held a lofty standing within the textile industry and that McKinley had accepted a position with the mills. Hard to believe.”

Had she detected a note of disdain in his voice? Rupert had always been judgmental and derisive, even as a young boy.

“How so?” she inquired. “Do you think McKinley illequipped for such responsibility?”

“Not at all. He is bright—there was never a question of his intelligence. In fact, he made the rest of us look like dolts. What surprises me is his ability to embrace Northern ideals and attitudes. Of course, he had the influence of both you and his grandmother Wainwright. And I suppose when he fell in love with a Northern girl, it became easier to turn against his Southern heritage. He’s probably embarrassed to return.”

Jasmine narrowed her eyes as she attempted to keep her anger in check. “Neither McKinley nor I have turned against our Southern heritage. There are aspects of Southern life we do not embrace. However, we are not embarrassed by our beliefs. Rather, we are proud of them, Rupert.”

The sound of the children clattering down the stairs caused Jasmine to turn her attention away from her guest. The diversion gave her a moment to calm herself. She needed to control her temper. Nolan had cautioned her they would be better served by remaining friendly with their Southern neighbors and divulging as little information as possible regarding their future plans.

“Come here, children. I’d like you to meet one of our relatives,” she said as the three children were escorted into the parlor by Martha and Henrietta.

“Rupert, these are our children, Spencer, Alice Ann, and Clara. This is my cousin Rupert Hesston,” she told the children. Rupert smiled at the girls and shook Spencer’s hand as though he were a grown man. Spencer’s chest swelled beneath his cotton nightshirt.

“We’re off to the kitchen for some milk,” Martha said.

“And cookies,” Alice Ann added with a broad smile that dimpled her cheeks.

“Lovely family,” Rupert said as he watched the children leave with the two women. “Only whites working in the house now? What’s happened to your father’s house slaves?”

Jasmine dug the tips of her fingernails deep into her palms and forced a demure expression. “Many of the house slaves died during the epidemic. Martha and Henrietta accompanied us from our home in Lowell. They have been in our employ for many years, and our children are comfortable in their care.”

“But what of the others? I know there were some who survived, for I visited The Willows both while your father was ill and after his death. Did you relegate them to the slave quarters?”

Before she could answer, Nolan bounded through the front door and strode into the parlor. “I saw the horse out front and wondered who had come calling,” he said, looking first at Rupert and then at his wife.

“Nolan,” she sighed, relieved to have an ally. “I don’t believe you’ve ever met Rupert Hesston, a distant cousin and Lydia’s husband.”

Nolan stepped forward and shook hands with their guest. “No, I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure. Although I do recall hearing your name mentioned. You and McKinley were friends as young boys, weren’t you?”

“Indeed! We were inseparable, though different as night and day. I was in town earlier today and one of the locals mentioned some of the family had returned from up North. I hurried over, hoping that McKinley had returned. Of course, I’m pleased to see Jasmine also,” he hastily added.

Nolan gave a hearty laugh. “I understand completely. I know McKinley would be pleased to see you also, but circumstances prevented him from being here. And how is Lydia faring?”

“I was telling your wife a bit earlier that Lydia will be returning from Europe in the very near future. I know she’ll be pleased to see Jasmine, as they were dear friends during their younger years. How are you managing with your crop? Any problems getting the slaves to work for Mr. Draper? Always difficult when you have to put a new overseer in place, especially during a crisis,” he said.