Yellow Crocus: A Novel (23 page)
“You need not worry. I shall thoroughly impress your mother with my ladylike demeanor.”
“That is a good girl.” Edward patted her on the back. “I will not be present, of course, but Emma shall be. I have asked her to assist you, to treat you as a sister.”
“I shall be glad of her company.”
“T
ell me everything. I want to hear absolutely every last detail,” Mary commanded Lisbeth as they strolled through the gardens at Fair Oaks.
“The event was so lovely. Edward made his mother out to be so stern, but she was charming.”
“Where did you eat and what did they serve?” Mary asked.
“We had a tasty spread out on the veranda overlooking the gardens. The teacakes were the best I have ever eaten with the most delicious clotted cream. The watercress and cream cheese sandwiches were very dainty with no crust. We had tea, of course, but they also served the most wonderful hot chocolate. I believe they make it with cow’s milk. It was rich and delicious. At Fair Oaks we serve hot chocolate only on Christmas Eve, made with water. It is not nearly as rich. But Emma did not remark on it, so I imagine they have it at many special occasions. Watermelon, peaches, and strawberries were presented on a beautiful silver platter.”
Lisbeth continued, “It was all so tasteful. Their hands are so skilled that I did not notice when they replenished our plates, but they must have, for each plate was full at all times. I noted that Mrs. Cunningham does not acknowledge them as they come and go so our conversation was not interrupted in the slightest. Mrs. Cunningham put me entirely at ease. She asked me about my friends, my family, and my favorite styles. She knows ever so much about the latest fashions. We compared the merits of silk and velvet.”
Mary wondered, “Did you get a tour of White Pines?”
“Nearly all of it. It was so dear and clever how they found an excuse for me to see the private rooms of the house. It felt very natural, not forced in the slightest. Emma pretended to break a hair comb, then she asked me to accompany her to get another. Of course, one was not to be found in the first room, so we had to go on a hunt from room to room. We did not go to all of them, there are so many, but we went into quite a few. All the while Emma was speaking to me as if it were the most natural thing for me to be accompanying her through sleeping chambers.
“The house is lovely and has beautiful decor. Mrs. Cunningham has remarkable taste. It is such a lovely balance of traditional and modern. All the beds are new four posters in deep cherry and the spreads are the latest in silk damask. But the washstands are old-fashioned with inlayed wood and marble tops. Each bedchamber has a fine Persian rug. It all appears to be wonderful. Emma even devised a means for showing me the kitchen. She found a dish in one of the rooms and decided to return it to the kitchen. They must have planned the route for days. It was so thoughtful to give me such a complete tour in such a natural fashion.”
Mary beamed. “Oh, Lisbeth, I am so excited for you. You are the most fortunate girl to find such a good husband with such a dear sister and mother. His mother was not distasteful at all?”
“Quite the contrary, I think I shall learn much from her. And Emma and I shall be dear friends,” Lisbeth replied then she quickly amended, “Not dearer friends than you and I, of course.”
Mary smiled at Lisbeth then asked, “Did you see the grounds?”
“We took a walk in the gardens after tea. Casually I suggested we take a turn that would lead us toward the Quarters, but Mrs. Cunningham replied that nothing of interest lay in that direction. Apparently they do not think I need be concerned with the field hands. Since they wanted me to see the rear of the house, I can infer that I will be expected to oversee the house slaves. Eventually, of course, not right away. We have the same arrangement at Fair Oaks, so I am comfortable with it.”
Mary commented, “Lisbeth, only a week ago you wondered if Edward would be a good husband simply because he does not converse about books.”
“Yes, I do feel rather foolish,” Lisbeth agreed. “Thank heaven for you, dear Mary. I can speak such foolishness out loud and see what it is worth. How could I even consider not becoming a Cunningham and the future mistress of White Pines?”
“Hard to imagine you thought Matthew Johnson could possibly be a more suitable husband than Edward Cunningham,” Mary agreed. “Have you heard? He is moving to Ohio to farm. Daniel says he has become an abolitionist.”
“An abolitionist!” Lisbeth burst out. “I declare, I am so tired of hearing that awful word! It is all anyone speaks of these days. I wish we would simply secede and end all this tiresome conversation.”
“Father believes it will mean war.”
“I cannot imagine why. Who cares if we are one country or two? What is there to fight over?”
L
isbeth woke with a start. She did not remember her dream, but adrenaline rushed through her body from something that had disturbed her in her sleep. She lay in bed for a few moments, steadying her breathing and thinking about this day.
This was the day that would seal her life forever. Today she would be presented as Edward’s intended bride. Twenty years old, and her life was set. Her family was hosting a dinner to celebrate her birthday and their engagement would be announced.
Lisbeth acknowledged Emily, who had arrived with the tea tray. Emily set it upon the table by the divan and returned to her small chamber. Lisbeth rose. She poured herself a cup of the hot beverage, added two teaspoons of sugar and a splash of cream. Taking the cup with her, she went to the window to gaze out as she did every morning. The workers were already in the fields. She could barely see the pen of babies at the end of a row. Sarah, who was only six months older than Lisbeth, had two children being watched over while she hoed. Grandma Washington was long since dead, and Lisbeth no longer tracked who cared for the children of the field hands.
Lisbeth had a year to plan for the most lavish wedding of next spring, but it still seemed too soon. Mother had already given birth to Lisbeth and was pregnant with Jack by the time she was twenty. Lisbeth knew she should feel ready to be married, but she did not.
“Emily,” Lisbeth called out, “ I am going to wear the cream linen dress. Get it ready.”
“Yes, miss,” Emily replied.
Emily pulled out a corset and hoop skirt made from herringbones from the wardrobe. Lisbeth slipped the corset over her head and lay down on the bed. Emily bent over Lisbeth and pulled hard on the strings, bringing the edges of the corset closer and closer until they finally touched. Lisbeth rose, taking a few small breaths to accustom herself to the constriction. With a sigh, she put on cotton bloomers and then stepped into the four-boned hoop skirt. She raised her arms to allow Emily to lower the linen dress over the underskirt.
Lisbeth sat in front of the vanity while Emily slicked down her hair and arrange it in a hairnet.
“Emma will be bringing her maid this afternoon. I believe her name is Margaret. You will spend time with her while she is here. She will start to familiarize you with the routines at White Pines.”
“Yes, miss.”
Lisbeth explained, “We are both fortunate to be moving to such a grand estate.”
“Yes, miss.”
“Do you not agree?” Lisbeth demanded.
“It is not my place to agree or disagree, miss.”
“You do not believe I am making a good marriage?” Lisbeth was outraged.
“Miss, it is not my place to say.”
“Please, Emily,” Lisbeth whined. “I want you to speak the truth to me.”
Emily replied in a steady voice, “You do not seem to be pleased.”
“That is not true!” Lisbeth protested. “I am delighted at this match. This is all I could have dreamed of. White Pines is a beautiful home. Emma is the kindest sister I could have hoped for. Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham have done everything imaginable to extend a welcome into their family.”
Emily ventured carefully, “And young Mr. Cunningham?”
Lisbeth’s eyebrows furrowed. “What do you mean by that question? Edward is a handsome gentleman. His manners are impeccable. I am finished with this conversation. Have you completed my hair?”
“Yes, miss.”
“Then leave me be!” she scolded.
Emily stepped back, but Lisbeth did not rise. She sat in stony silence, staring at her reflection. A fury that she did not understand buzzed through her veins.
“I do not know what is the matter with me!” she declared out loud.
Emily stood by silently. Lisbeth rose and crossed over to the window. She watched the scene before her, hoping it would calm her as it had on many other occasions. But today it did not help. She paced the room, which only served to agitate her further.
“I am sure these are just premarital nerves,” Lisbeth declared. “Mother says everyone has them.”
Emily nodded.
“I believe I need a rest. I will lay down for a few minutes.”
“As you like, miss. Shall we remove your clothing?”
Lisbeth sighed. “No.”
Tears of frustration worked at the edges of Lisbeth’s eyes. She did not have time to undress and redress, so she would not get the rest she hoped for. She sat on the edge of her bed, careful not to muss her clothing. Without thought, her hand snaked under her pillow to find the comfort of Mattie’s shell. She rubbed it between her fingers until she was relaxed again.
Instead of returning the shell to its hiding spot, she reached up to tie it around her neck. She carefully tucked it under the high neckline of her dress. She examined herself in the mirror over the fireplace. The shell was invisible under the cream-colored fabric, but she could feel its comfort against her heart.
“Emily, is this visible to you?”
“No, miss. No one would think you were wearing it,” Emily replied.
A few hours later Edward proved Emily wrong. The group of celebrants were gathered in the garden. Old women and men perched on chairs around small tables with bouquets of wild flowers. Young men and women sat on blankets, enjoying boisterous conversations. Lisbeth sat on a blanket next to Mary. Mary’s beau, Daniel Bartley, was telling them an amusing story. Lisbeth’s heart caught when she saw Matthew Johnson walking toward her. She smiled across the distance, but before Matthew reached her, Mr. Wainwright asked everyone to gather around. Lisbeth gave a shy shrug to Matthew before standing beside Edward. A horseshoe of people gathered around Lisbeth, Edward, and their parents.