Box Set: The ArringtonTrilogy by Roxane Tepfer Sanford Page B

permission. I forgot, and I apologize, Aunt Eugenia, for such
a thoughtless oversight.”
    His voice was smooth, and his hand gestures
flowed in the air as if he were waving a magic wand before him. And
perhaps there was some sort of invisible wand, for Eugenia’s glare
slowly vanished, and a tight, unnatural smile came to her face.
    “I see. Well then, I accept your apology,
Perry. However, please don’t allow such an oversight to happen
again.”
    “Of course,” he replied and tipped his hat to
go. “Until tomorrow, ladies.”
    He gallantly climbed up onto his horse and
rode off, leaving me to face Eugenia alone.
    “Get washed up for supper. You can eat in
your room while you make up for all the Bible studies you have
forsaken today,” she snapped and went inside.
    When I was up in my room, I breathed a long
sign of relief, plopped onto my bed, took out my journal, and
wrote:
     
    Today, July 25th, 1859, Perry Montgomery was
a true gentleman and apologized for his unseemly conduct. I am
relieved he will now see me as the young girl I am, though he
declared how beautiful I am. It is not easy to avoid falling madly
for a man who is so fine looking, however I am certain someday a
young, single gentleman will come into my life and sweep me off my
feet. Then all the tingles that run through my body will be
warranted. Then passion will be permitted, for the man I fall in
love with will be sent to me as my true, unadulterated one and
only.
     
    The morning of Eliza Sue’s party was warm and
dewy; the heavy mist of a lingering evening storm had finally
passed.
    Perry Montgomery wasn’t anywhere in sight as
we pulled up before his plantation house. Children were scattered
about, running and laughing as their mothers looked on while
conversing with the hostess and lady of the house, Myrna
Montgomery. I was hoping Perry Montgomery would stay indoors with
the other men, including Daddy, in the library, and stay far from
the women. But to my dismay, as I climbed out of the buggy, he
appeared. Eugenia was at my side, and for the first time I felt she
was a shield for me, a human shield to protect me from the
long-lasting stares and eager gazes I often received from men,
especially from one particular man.
    “Aunt Eugenia, Amelia, good to see you on
this fine day,” Perry Montgomery greeted us, after welcoming Daddy
with a hearty handshake and placing a simple kiss on his aunt’s
gloved hand. I stayed a step back, hidden behind Eugenia. She was
pleased with my reluctance to stray far from her side, though she
encouraged me to greet him like a lady and retain my manners.
    “Amelia, say thank you to Perry for inviting
you to such a nice party, then be on your way and play with the
other children,” she said in a cool, unconcerned tone.
    I eased out from her tall shadow and extended
my hand to Perry Montgomery, all the while keeping my eyes from
locking with his.
    “Miss Amelia, don’t you look lovely today.
Thank you for coming to my daughter’s birthday party. I hope you
have a wonderful time,” he said, as he took hold of my hand to
greet me with a kiss.
    My heart fluttered and my stomach sank all at
the same time as I felt his warm lips go through my glove and right
to the soft skin of my hand. With a quick jerk, I snatched my arm
away and hurried off as instructed, joining the small group of
children playing a game of hopscotch. Even the slave children were
permitted to play, and to my delight, Hattie was there.
    “Oh, Hattie,” I cried, falling into her arms,
“Daddy allowed you to share in Eliza Sue’s party!”
    “Momma insisted,” she whispered to me as she
gazed around to make certain Eugenia wasn’t in earshot. “Daddy came
to see her last night.”
    Hattie must have seen a worried look on my
face.
    “Don’t worry, they don’t know I overheard
them talking. They thought I was fast asleep.”
    I took Hattie and quickly led her away from
the children and into the woods where no one could hear