propriety to the place."
Folding her arms across her chest, the black woman studied her. "Your mama knew that there was no one in this house who could read and write well enough to keep the ledgers and run this house the way she did. When she knew she was dying, she thought of you."
"But I can’t be like her. Look how quickly I judged her when I heard what her business was. Look how quickly I thought of turning my back on all of you."
"You’re young, child, and on your own for the first time in your life. All of us were frightened in the beginning. That’s why we’ve banded together here. We take our courage from each other."
Survival. Annalisa absorbed the sudden shock of knowledge. That was the mysterious bond between her mother and these women. They were all survivors.
Annalisa shook her head. "You don’t understand, Hattie Lee. I could do the ledgers easily. And I suppose I could learn to order the special things my mother selected to make this house so fine. But the rest of it . . ." She spread her hands. "To earn your respect and trust. To share a common bond with you and the other women of this house. Not to mention learning how to carry on intelligent conversations with the men who frequent this house. To sip wine, to wear fine clothes and pretend to be a woman of the world ..."
Hattie Lee’s eyes danced with new light. There was a chance the girl was wavering in her decision to leave. Tossing open the door to her bedroom, she beckoned the others, who were waiting just beyond the doorway. As they filed into the room, she said, "You leave that to us, child. As long as you’re willing to give us a chance, we’ll teach you everything you need to know." Her smile grew, and her rich, honeyed voice fairly sang. "Do you know who it was who taught your mother how to take the latest Paris fashions and wear them with a flair?" Chuckling, she added, "Old Hattie Lee can turn you into the finest lady in the South, child. All you have to do is say you’ll stay."
Annalisa hesitated. "I promised Sister Marie Therese that I would return to the convent within the month."
Delia’s sweet voice chirped, "You won’t find running this house any different from living in a convent, Annalisa. Take off their prim habits and our pretty gowns, and we’re all women underneath, are we not, amie? "
Everyone broke into peals of laughter at her innocent remark. Grinning, Annalisa caught her hand. "Now I know why my mother loved you so, Delia."
"But what is so amusing?" the girl asked, puzzled. "Is it not so?"
Annalisa sobered and glanced at the faces of the women who crowded into her room. While she had innocently labored over grammar and mathematics, these women had suffered the loss of home and family. While she had been sheltered in the convent, they had faced the terrible realities of a hellish war that left their land shattered. It was their labor, as well as her mother’s, that had provided her with a way of life that none of them would ever enjoy. And suddenly, Annalisa realized she would spend a lifetime repaying that debt.
What was it that Sister Marie Therese had said as they were parting? "Give your mother a chance to show you her world before making your decision."
She cleared her throat, surprised at how difficult it was to say what was in her heart. "If my staying here can help in any way, I would be honored to stay with you."
Hattie Lee’s face split into a wreathe of smiles. "Sweet Lord Almighty, child. We need you. And don’t you worry about anything. We’ll teach you everything you need to know."
"I hope I won’t embarrass you."
The women came forward to hug her or squeeze her hand.
"I am happy, chérie," Gabrielle whispered. "You won’t be sorry."
"I only hope you won’t be," Annalisa murmured.
Francine stared down at the young girl, her gaze skimming the prim, high-necked gown, the mass of tangled curls. With queenly elegance, she offered her hand. "I think you will do well," she intoned. "You
Folding her arms across her chest, the black woman studied her. "Your mama knew that there was no one in this house who could read and write well enough to keep the ledgers and run this house the way she did. When she knew she was dying, she thought of you."
"But I can’t be like her. Look how quickly I judged her when I heard what her business was. Look how quickly I thought of turning my back on all of you."
"You’re young, child, and on your own for the first time in your life. All of us were frightened in the beginning. That’s why we’ve banded together here. We take our courage from each other."
Survival. Annalisa absorbed the sudden shock of knowledge. That was the mysterious bond between her mother and these women. They were all survivors.
Annalisa shook her head. "You don’t understand, Hattie Lee. I could do the ledgers easily. And I suppose I could learn to order the special things my mother selected to make this house so fine. But the rest of it . . ." She spread her hands. "To earn your respect and trust. To share a common bond with you and the other women of this house. Not to mention learning how to carry on intelligent conversations with the men who frequent this house. To sip wine, to wear fine clothes and pretend to be a woman of the world ..."
Hattie Lee’s eyes danced with new light. There was a chance the girl was wavering in her decision to leave. Tossing open the door to her bedroom, she beckoned the others, who were waiting just beyond the doorway. As they filed into the room, she said, "You leave that to us, child. As long as you’re willing to give us a chance, we’ll teach you everything you need to know." Her smile grew, and her rich, honeyed voice fairly sang. "Do you know who it was who taught your mother how to take the latest Paris fashions and wear them with a flair?" Chuckling, she added, "Old Hattie Lee can turn you into the finest lady in the South, child. All you have to do is say you’ll stay."
Annalisa hesitated. "I promised Sister Marie Therese that I would return to the convent within the month."
Delia’s sweet voice chirped, "You won’t find running this house any different from living in a convent, Annalisa. Take off their prim habits and our pretty gowns, and we’re all women underneath, are we not, amie? "
Everyone broke into peals of laughter at her innocent remark. Grinning, Annalisa caught her hand. "Now I know why my mother loved you so, Delia."
"But what is so amusing?" the girl asked, puzzled. "Is it not so?"
Annalisa sobered and glanced at the faces of the women who crowded into her room. While she had innocently labored over grammar and mathematics, these women had suffered the loss of home and family. While she had been sheltered in the convent, they had faced the terrible realities of a hellish war that left their land shattered. It was their labor, as well as her mother’s, that had provided her with a way of life that none of them would ever enjoy. And suddenly, Annalisa realized she would spend a lifetime repaying that debt.
What was it that Sister Marie Therese had said as they were parting? "Give your mother a chance to show you her world before making your decision."
She cleared her throat, surprised at how difficult it was to say what was in her heart. "If my staying here can help in any way, I would be honored to stay with you."
Hattie Lee’s face split into a wreathe of smiles. "Sweet Lord Almighty, child. We need you. And don’t you worry about anything. We’ll teach you everything you need to know."
"I hope I won’t embarrass you."
The women came forward to hug her or squeeze her hand.
"I am happy, chérie," Gabrielle whispered. "You won’t be sorry."
"I only hope you won’t be," Annalisa murmured.
Francine stared down at the young girl, her gaze skimming the prim, high-necked gown, the mass of tangled curls. With queenly elegance, she offered her hand. "I think you will do well," she intoned. "You
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