settling in Savannah, she can teach the slaves on our plantation to read and write. Heather has helped to convince me that the day is soon coming when the slaves all over the south will be set free, and I want every last one of our slaves to be able to fend for themselves in this vast country.”
As David finished his speech, their meal was interrupted by the Fitzpatrick butler, who came into the room with a note on a tray.
“Forgive the interruption, Mr. Fitzpatrick, but this telegram just arrived for the Lieutenant, and it is marked ‘Urgent.’ It was brought over here from the hotel where he’s staying, since they knew of his location this evening.”
George took the note from his butler and handed it to David, who opened it quickly. He scanned the note, and then raised his eyes to Heather.
“It’s about my father. He’s taken ill, and Mother fears he won’t last the week. Mother’s always been a bit of a dramatist, so I’m sure it’s nothing. But, I need to leave for Savannah in the morning.”
“Oh, David, I’m so sorry for the news. I did so want to meet him.”
“And I want you to. Can you come with me?”
Heather looked to her mother for advice. Charlotte held her wine glass in her hand as she thought. Then, she turned to Heather.
“It would be scandalous for you to journey with David unaccompanied, and because of Jasmine’s injury, I can’t possibly go with you. I suppose you can take Colleen as your chaperone and go with David tomorrow. But you must come right back here after you meet his father and mother. I will need your help with the wedding preparations. Besides, it would not be seemly if you were to stay on the plantation beyond a few days since you’re not yet married.”
Heather could barely contain her excitement. This day was one she would always remember. She was engaged, which she thought would never happen, and she was leaving in the morning for parts unknown with her beloved. She couldn’t wait to share the news with Jasmine, who was eating alone upstairs in her bed. For the very first time in their lives, they would be apart. Heather hoped she could soak in a bit of Jasmine’s sass. She knew she was going to need it when she met David’s mother and Blanche, the now-spurned woman.
Chapter 16
Savannah, Georgia, Late April 1856
Heather and Colleen stared in fascination out the window of the fast-moving train, which was carrying them into the southern states of America. David was by their side, his hand in Heather’s, offering a reassuring presence in the face of this unknown. Heather turned from the view to smile at him.
“My stomach is quite tied up in knots, I’m so excited. I’ve never been this far from New York before. You’ve described your home to me, but I now want to know about the town of Savannah. Is it much like New York?”
“No, not hardly,” David replied. “Savannah has a much slower, more refined, pace than New York. The city was founded more than a hundred years ago by James Oglethorpe, and is very logically laid out around center squares that house a church or a market. There are huge oak trees in the town that are dripping with Spanish moss. We have no tall buildings like you find in New York. However, there is a well-known playhouse, the Savannah Theater, for entertainment, and a huge new park in the center of town that was recently built. Although its size doesn’t begin to compare with your Central Park.”
“Oh, may we go to the theater one night? What kind of performances do they put on?”
“Much the same as you have in New York. The theater mounts plays and musicals. It is the utmost in southern elegance, having been designed by William Jay. I can’t wait for you to see it, and compare the theater to those in New York. Fanny Davenport played there not too long ago. We’ll definitely have to plan a night out at the theater.” He leaned over to kiss the back of Heather’s hand before he continued.
“Most of the plantation
As David finished his speech, their meal was interrupted by the Fitzpatrick butler, who came into the room with a note on a tray.
“Forgive the interruption, Mr. Fitzpatrick, but this telegram just arrived for the Lieutenant, and it is marked ‘Urgent.’ It was brought over here from the hotel where he’s staying, since they knew of his location this evening.”
George took the note from his butler and handed it to David, who opened it quickly. He scanned the note, and then raised his eyes to Heather.
“It’s about my father. He’s taken ill, and Mother fears he won’t last the week. Mother’s always been a bit of a dramatist, so I’m sure it’s nothing. But, I need to leave for Savannah in the morning.”
“Oh, David, I’m so sorry for the news. I did so want to meet him.”
“And I want you to. Can you come with me?”
Heather looked to her mother for advice. Charlotte held her wine glass in her hand as she thought. Then, she turned to Heather.
“It would be scandalous for you to journey with David unaccompanied, and because of Jasmine’s injury, I can’t possibly go with you. I suppose you can take Colleen as your chaperone and go with David tomorrow. But you must come right back here after you meet his father and mother. I will need your help with the wedding preparations. Besides, it would not be seemly if you were to stay on the plantation beyond a few days since you’re not yet married.”
Heather could barely contain her excitement. This day was one she would always remember. She was engaged, which she thought would never happen, and she was leaving in the morning for parts unknown with her beloved. She couldn’t wait to share the news with Jasmine, who was eating alone upstairs in her bed. For the very first time in their lives, they would be apart. Heather hoped she could soak in a bit of Jasmine’s sass. She knew she was going to need it when she met David’s mother and Blanche, the now-spurned woman.
Chapter 16
Savannah, Georgia, Late April 1856
Heather and Colleen stared in fascination out the window of the fast-moving train, which was carrying them into the southern states of America. David was by their side, his hand in Heather’s, offering a reassuring presence in the face of this unknown. Heather turned from the view to smile at him.
“My stomach is quite tied up in knots, I’m so excited. I’ve never been this far from New York before. You’ve described your home to me, but I now want to know about the town of Savannah. Is it much like New York?”
“No, not hardly,” David replied. “Savannah has a much slower, more refined, pace than New York. The city was founded more than a hundred years ago by James Oglethorpe, and is very logically laid out around center squares that house a church or a market. There are huge oak trees in the town that are dripping with Spanish moss. We have no tall buildings like you find in New York. However, there is a well-known playhouse, the Savannah Theater, for entertainment, and a huge new park in the center of town that was recently built. Although its size doesn’t begin to compare with your Central Park.”
“Oh, may we go to the theater one night? What kind of performances do they put on?”
“Much the same as you have in New York. The theater mounts plays and musicals. It is the utmost in southern elegance, having been designed by William Jay. I can’t wait for you to see it, and compare the theater to those in New York. Fanny Davenport played there not too long ago. We’ll definitely have to plan a night out at the theater.” He leaned over to kiss the back of Heather’s hand before he continued.
“Most of the plantation
Similar Books
