When Lily had escorted Emma and Davy to their grandparents’ home in Philadelphia, she’d been amazed at how untouched by war the red brick city had been. But as she rode atop a wagon seat along the Potomac River toward Mariah’s home, the expansive fields of the plantations and the opulence of the manors she passed left her awe-stricken. These aristocratic Virginia planters were far wealthier than she remembered. Even more breathtaking in this bare-tree month of November, a rainbow assortment of autumn leaves drifted placidly on the breeze as she and the driver passed beneath interlocking branches that created one glorious archway after another.
It seemed not even a whisper of the war had reached this place.
Lily knew that was not quite true. Mariah’s husband, Colin, had been blinded in the first months of conflict, a full year and a half before Beaver Cove and the other settlements west of Reading ever suspected they were destined to be attacked in such vicious, wolf pack-like raids.
“Miss.” The driver removed a hand from the reins and pointed. “We’re coming up on the Barclay’s Bay cutoff.”
Lily glanced ahead to the oak-lined lane leading to the elegant manor house. She’d been here only once before—for Mariah’s wedding—but the grand entrance was unmistakable. At least a dozen majestic trees graced either side of the driveway that circled a lovely fountain sitting like a diamond in the center of the expanse fronting the home.
“ ’Twas such a blessing, Mr. Harris, meeting you at the Potomac ferry crossing. Otherwise I should have had to take the stage the rest of the way into Alexandria and arrange transport from there. You saved me hours, if not an entire day. I do thank you for your kindness.”
The pleasant-faced gentleman guided the team onto Mariah’s lane. “Nonsense, lass. For a spell now, you’ve provided me with the company of a lovely young miss, and it didn’t put me out one whit.” A jovial smile tweaked his bushy salt-and-pepper mustache.
Lily knew that as the proprietor of a general store in a small settlement farther west, above the falls, he had spoken truly. “Nevertheless, I deem it a pure blessing.” She glanced ahead at the great white columns that graced the front porch and supported the balcony above. Mariah, daughter of a mere tradesman, lived in this house of splendor.
Mr. Harris reined his team to a halt and set the brake lever.
Lily’s anticipation mounted.
Before the merchant had time to climb down and assist her, the front door opened, and a butler stepped out. Neatly attired in black and white, the tall African came to meet them. “If y’all’s makin’ a delivery, take yo’ wagon on aroun’ back. I’ll fetch some boys to he’p y’all unload.”
Mr. Harris chuckled. “The onliest thing I got to unload is this gal. Says she’s kin to the mistress of the house.”
The butler took a closer look at Lily.
She could tell he didn’t recognize her. But then, she was still dressed in Nancy’s homespun. “I’m Lily Harwood, Mariah’s sister. I realize I’m not very presentable—”
The sudden patter of footsteps on the porch brought golden-haired Amy Barclay bounding down the steps. Taller now, and quite the lovely young maiden, she had obviously retained her youthful spirit. “Did I hear correctly? Is that you, Lily?” She turned to the butler. “Help her down, Benjamin.” Then, whirling around in a rustle of buttercream flounces, she ran back up the steps and hollered into the door. “Mariah! It’s your sister! She’s here!”
Lily’s heartbeat took up a staccato pace as Benjamin handed her down to the pebble drive. At any second, Mariah would emerge.
She’d barely circumvented the wagon when her beautiful sister came to the door, attired in a violet taffeta gown fit for a queen. But the smile she’d worn vanished as she halted where she stood. “Amy, I thought you said—Lily? Is that you?” With a most unladylike squeal, she grasped handfuls of her skirts and charged down the steps.
At her sister’s enthusiastic welcome, emotion clogged Lily’s throat. She could only manage a nod.
“Lily, Lily.” Mariah drew her into a brief hug, then thrust her an arm’s distance from herself and looked her up and down. “What on earth are you wearing? And your hands…” She picked one of them up. “They’re rough and chapped. And your hair. Your complexion—why, you haven’t even got a bonnet on for protection from the sun and the wind.”
Lily could only shrug. “I suppose I should have taken the time to purchase more appropriate clothing, but—”
“Oh, bother.” Mariah fluttered a hand as if details were of little consequence and gave her another quick hug. “You’re here now. Everything else can be easily fixed. Come with me, and we’ll get you in a nice warm bubble bath. And while you’re soaking, you can tell me all about it.” She barely paused for breath. “You do remember our darling Amy, don’t you?” Flicking a glance at her young sister-in-law waiting on the veranda, she swept Lily up the steps toward the grand entry. “She’s becoming quite the belle of the county, aren’t you, dear?”
“So you keep sayin’,” Amy answered in her airy drawl as she traipsed after Mariah and Lily across the parquet floor toward the graceful staircase.
“Now, with you here, Lily, we’ll certainly be the most popular home from here to Alexandria.” She slanted a frown at her. “That is, once you’ve had a few milk baths to turn your skin soft and creamy again. Mother Barclay has some simply marvelous oils and creams imported from the Orient.”
Mariah’s enthusiasm, the splendid sights…Lily could hardly take everything in.
Her sister stopped halfway up the stairs. “Whatever am I thinking? Amy, run down to the kitchen and tell them we need bathwater brought up right away.” She smiled and placed a hand on Lily’s shoulder. “I wasn’t expecting you for at least another week. Your letter said Mr. Waldon would return after the first of November, remember? But this is ever so much better. We shall have more time to get you properly outfitted before your first ball.”
“My ball?”
“Yes.” On the top landing, Mariah stopped in the upstairs lounge area and turned to face Lily. “I sent out invitations last week. I want to launch you properly into our little society. There’s no need for anyone to know about the rustic frontier life you’ve been leading, unless— Did you introduce yourself to anyone in Alexandria?”
“I never went there. At the ferry crossing, I accepted a ride from a merchant who lives somewhere above the falls.”
“Splendid. Oh, and Rose will arrive in a few days. I asked her to come early. I’m so excited! You, Rose, and I together again. The three of us haven’t been together since my wedding, and that was such a hectic time it hardly counts.” She stopped prattling, and a slow smile graced her lips as she gazed at Lily a moment, then pulled her close and gave her a longer hug.
Lily basked in the feeling of being utterly safe and loved and cared for.
When Mariah stepped back, her violet eyes glistened as she smoothed a hand along Lily’s cheek. “My baby sister is back where she belongs. God is so good.”
No amount of protesting during the next two weeks would stop Mariah and Mistress Barclay from fussing over her. Since Mariah had yet to conceive a child—a sadness she mentioned only once—Lily soon realized she was their new plaything, the new dress-up doll. Amy, who’d always been more interested in horses than fashion, whispered that she was monstrously relieved that attention had been diverted away from her for a change.
Lily had every intention of returning to Beaver Cove and to John and her adopted family, but she hadn’t managed to find the right words to placate her sister or the lady of the house. She did enjoy the pampering, the swish and rustle of costly fabrics, the scented soaps and perfumes, to say nothing of having someone swirl her hair into amazing styles. The corset, however, was another matter. She’d forgotten how binding those torturous contraptions could be, especially considering the delicious variety of food being served at every meal.
Then a most wonderful day arrived. Hearing laughter and loud talking downstairs, Lily peeked over the railing and saw that Rose had come…. Rose, the older sister who had mothered Lily since she was a tender four years of age. She and her two little ones had blown into this luxurious haven on a blustery mid-November day. Gasping with delight, Lily raced down the stairs to greet them, nearly tripping over the abundant petticoats she wasn’t used to wearing.
She ran right to Rose, who was attired in a fashionable dove-gray traveling costume. Lily wondered if Mariah had provided the lovely clothing, since Rose, too, lived in the much simpler surroundings of a small farm.
After reveling in hugs and kisses and cooing over pretty little Jenny, now four and a half, and three-year-old Ethan Nathaniel, Lily realized how sorely she missed Emma and Davy. She glanced at Rose. “Did Nate come with you?”
Mariah answered for Rose. “When does he ever?”
Giving her middle sister a patient look, Rose almost said something, but instead turned to Amy. “Dearest, would you mind taking my darlings to the kitchen for something to eat? They’ve not had a bite since early this morning.”
“We’d be delighted, won’t we, dear?” Mistress Barclay swept forth in all her regal elegance and took Jenny’s hand, while Amy latched on to Ethan’s. “It’s been months since I’ve had a chance to fatten these little cherubs up. Mariah, why don’t you take Rose upstairs to freshen up? I’ll have Cook send up a tray for you all.”
“Thank you,” Rose and Lily said as one while the matron ushered the children toward the butlery entrance behind the staircase.
“I received a note from Nate the other day,” Rose commented, accompanying her sisters up the stairs. “He and Robert hope to make it home for Christmas.”
Lily gave her an understanding smile. “Waiting can be unbearably hard.”
“Yes, but Nate’s family does what they can to help Star and me with the farm. They’ve been a real blessing to us.”
“That’s how the people of Beaver Cove have been to me. Like a family.”
“That’s lovely, you two,” Mariah piped in. “But now you’re both with your real family at long last. There couldn’t possibly be anything left to harvest, Rose, so I won’t take no for an answer. You and the children will stay here with us until Nate comes home.” Reaching the second floor, she caught both her sisters by the hand. “We shall have a marvelous time, just like when we were young. Remember how we used to talk about attending the grand balls in Bath’s assembly rooms?”
Rose chuckled. “I believe that was your dream, sister-of-mine.”
“My dream, your dream, it makes little difference. Lily’s coming-out ball is next Saturday, and the whole of northern Virginia is going to meet and be enthralled by the daughters of Harwood House.”
Rose erupted with her wonderful throaty laugh. “The daughters of Harwood House! What a clever way to put it.”
“I thought you’d be pleased. It has such a resplendent ring to it.” She hiked her perfect nose, then broke into giggles. “Come along to my dressing room. I believe I have just the gown to set off your eyes for supper this evening.”
Mariah never ceased to amaze Lily. She’d always been the beauty of the family, but so much more, as well. She possessed supreme confidence in herself. During the past months Lily had begun to attain a measure of that elusive attribute. But she now realized it was a mere shadow of Mariah’s. Even take-charge Rose was simply following along and doing her bidding.
The deeper timbre of male voices drifted up from the entry below as Mariah’s husband and father-in-law returned from a few days in Baltimore. With a joyous grin, Mariah ushered Lily and Rose into her bedchamber then left to greet the men.
At last Lily was alone with Rose. She gestured toward Mariah’s blue damask chaise, and after her older sister sank onto it, Lily joined her, perching on the edge. There was so much to tell Rose about John. Lily hoped to make her understand the need to return to him.
Rose took Lily’s hands in hers. “Baby sister, that missive I received from Nate also mentioned you’d almost been taken by Indians. Thank God you’re here now and safe with us.”
Lily nodded. “Truly, Rose, I’m thrilled to be here with you and Mariah. But I wish I were still at Beaver Cove.”
Angling her head, Rose searched Lily’s eyes. “Nate also mentioned he saw John Waldon kiss you on the mouth when he found you. And this was only weeks after his wife had gone to be with the Lord, was it not?”
Lily felt her cheeks flame. “He was profoundly glad to find me unharmed. As I said in prior letters, the Waldons treated me as if I were family.”
“If ‘twas merely a brotherly kiss, why are you blushing?”
Lily hadn’t said a word to Mariah about her intention to return to the cove, because she didn’t want to be harangued day and night. But she’d never kept anything from Rose…until now. “I was embarrassed. Nate thought there was much more to the kiss.”
“Nate.” A low laugh spilled from Rose. “Is it not amazing how much a man changes once he has womenfolk to protect?”
Or how closely a woman will guard a secret when she has a love to protect. Perhaps this wasn’t the time to confide in Rose, after all.
Lily’s spirits sank. Mariah was determined to find her a husband here among the wealthy Virginians. A coming-out ball, no less. Still, Lily knew she’d have to tell her sisters about her and John soon…and somehow make them understand.